GWS gives gun midfielder “blessing” to speak with Victorian clubs

GWS has given gun midfielder Dylan Shiel permission to meet with Victorian clubs in the coming days.

Shiel, who is contracted for next season, has been linked heavily with several clubs.

He is reportedly “priority number one” for St Kilda, who is believed to have offered as much as $8 million over six seasons for his services.

Rory Lobb, who is also contracted, has been given permission to meet with West Coast and Fremantle in Perth.

“Those couple of boys are out there gathering information and will be catching up with some clubs, as we work through some things that we need to (work through),” GWS list manager Jason McCartney said in a statement.

“But while those conversations are happening with other clubs, we’re also in constant communication with those players and their managers about what 2019 looks like at the GIANTS.

“The majority of our group is contracted through season 2019 and beyond, so we’re in a really good situation there.

“We’ve had a number of good chats with our players this year and they continued when we wrapped up our exit interviews last week.

“There’s a bit to work through and it’s always an interesting time (of the year).”

McCartney stressed the club’s priority was to win a premiership.

“We’re really confident that we have the group to do that, but we also understand the other side of it,” he said.

“Rory comes out of contract next year and Dylan becomes a free agent, so the (level of) compensation (we receive if he leaves) is taken out of our hands and rests with the AFL.

“So, you’re weighing up a number of things, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge.”