Pendlebury move causes free agency compensation shock for Hawks, Suns

Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury’s move to the Gold Coast as a free agent is likely to dilute the compensation the Suns would receive for losing Ben King, complicating the coveted spearhead’s planned move to Hawthorn.

The Suns and Hawks were stunned to discover that if the AFL’s games record holder and oldest player moved as a free agent to the Gold Coast that it would potentially impact the compensation the club would receive for losing King.

It had been assumed that at Pendlebury’s age - he turns 39 in January - his move would not draw compensation for Collingwood, nor effect compensation for the Suns if King left as a free agent.

King is yet to formally declare Hawthorn as his preferred destination but has told the Suns he wants to leave as a free agent to return to Victoria.

Hawthorn have been hoping that the Suns would not match contract terms for the restricted free agent and accept the expected compensation pick at selection seven in the draft.

Pendlebury coming in as a free agent could push any King compensation back to an end of first round draft pick.

If there was a risk of the compensation for King being pushed back to an end of first round pick because of Pendlebury’s arrival, the Suns would be likely to match the contract terms and force Hawthorn into a trade for King.

Having to trade for King would then impact the Hawk’s ability to trade for Zach Merrett from Essendon, who is expected to again ask for a trade to Hawthorn this year.

Free agency compensation is determined based on the net result of free agents entering and leaving the club. Clubs are not formally told in advance what compensation pick they would receive from free agents coming in and out and the AFL formula for deciding compensation is deliberately kept confidential.

The Pendlebury position is academic for now as no contract terms have been lodged with the AFL for either Pendlebury or King, in order for the league to officially decide on compensation, but the clubs have been warned that the veteran’s age is only one of three factors to consider in free agency. The amount and length of the contract is just as important.

Above the age of 31, it doesn’t matter how old a player is as far as free agency compensation is concerned.

To preserve their potential compensation for King, Pendlebury and the Suns could ask Collingwood to delist him. That way he could go to the Suns as a delisted free agent.

Delisted free agents do not draw compensation.

Collingwood, however, have been reluctant to delist Pendlebury, being uncomfortable with the idea of delisting the club’s greatest ever player.

The Suns and Collingwood could also do a minor trade for the former captain and two time premiership player.

Such an arrangement occurred when former Hawthorn premiership captain Sam Mitchell moved to West Coast at the end of his career. Like Pendlebury’s move to the Suns, it was part of a transition plan into coaching after a brief playing period.

Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specialising in AFL and athletics.Connect via X or email.