Kurt Tippett leaves the AFL Commission last Friday in the back seat of a car. Picture: Norm Oorloff. Source: News Limited
How the Sunday Herald Sun told you Tippett would be a Swan on October 7. Source: Herald Sun
GREATER Western Sydney will not pursue controversial ex-Crow Kurt Tippett in the pre-season draft because he is asking for too much money.
In a statement released this morning, GWS chief executive David Matthews said the club could not afford to pay Tippett for his services.
"Internally we established a value for Kurt Tippett based on his capabilities and whilst we were hopeful, his terms submitted this week confirmed that we are simply not in a position to pay what he wants, particularly for a player who will miss most of the year through suspension, " Matthews said.
"We will continue to look closely at talented and mature players who become available and have an opportunity to add to our list at next week's pre-season and rookie drafts."
With GWS pulling out of the race, it is almost certain AFL premiers Sydney Swans will snap up the tall forward.
Tippett will miss the first 11 matches of next season because of his part in the Crows' and his dodgy 2009 third-party dealings and draft tampering.
The 25-year-old cannot play football at any level during his sanction (this includes state league, suburban league and country league) but he is able to put in a full pre-season with the club that chooses him in the draft next Tuesday.
If the Swans do pick Tippett, the first game he is eligible to play will be against Port Adelaide on June 22 next year.
Tippett has lodged his minimum terms for the draft but it is understood they are shy of a reported early offer from Sydney of $3.55 million over four years, which had bonus clauses that can no longer be fulfilled because of the suspension.
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