Will monster seven-year North Melbourne deal sway Andrew Gaff?

[Hogg]

West Coast remain in limbo on Andrew Gaff’s future, with the star midfielder yesterday expressing “hope” he would stay with the club, but also confirming interest from a cashed-up North Melbourne.

The Weekend West understands Gaff is wrestling with a monster offer from the Kangaroos worth about $1 million a season over seven years.

Outwardly the Eagles have remained optimistic that Gaff will stay.

But North, who look likely to snare out-of-contract Port Adelaide midfielder Jared Polec, are also privately confident the on-baller will join them in 2019.

Gaff has returned to Perth from Victoria where his father Paul has had a major health scare, and he was in the coaches’ box for last Saturday night’s thrilling qualifying final win over Collingwood.

During his regular spot on radio station mix94.5, Gaff was asked if he would like to stay at the Eagles.

“Yeah, I hope so,” he said.

“It’s still something we’re working through with my management and the club.

“With what’s happened, there’s sort of more stuff to think about, which we’ll continue to do over the next few weeks. With the team playing finals, that’s the priority.

“As I said to them when I got back to Perth, I’m so committed to what the boys have in front of them for the rest of the year, I’m focused on that.”

It is the “stuff to think about” which will be the concern, with West Coast, who recently clinched a fresh deal for defender Jeremy McGovern worth almost $6 million over five years, unlikely to be able to come close to matching the Kangaroos’ offer for the restricted free agent.

The Eagles have traditionally been reluctant to stretch contracts beyond five years after experiencing bad results from long-term deals to retain players when Fremantle entered the competition in the 1990s.

Gaff is serving an eight-week suspension for his off-the-ball hit on Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw in the round 20 western derby. But that incident is unlikely to be a major factor in contract talks. His father’s health could be an issue after he had surgery for a serious heart condition.

“He’s in a rehab hospital at the moment and he’s going to be there for another couple of weeks,” Gaff said.

“When you don’t move for four or five weeks you’ve got to learn to do these things again and to get fitter and stronger again.

“I’m happy to see that he’s getting better and he’ll be good in a couple of weeks’ time.

“Once he’s back home we’ve got to change a few things around the house, but he’s in a good space now and it’s a good thing for the family.”