Marc Murphy is set to sign a four-year contract with the Blues, turning his back on free agency according to The Age.
The 26-year-old has all but agreed to terms until the end of 2018 on a deal that could be close to $700,000 a year.
Attention will now intensify on midfielder Bryce Gibbs, a restricted free agent at season's end, with Adelaide and Port Adelaide declaring their interest.
Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite and Kade Simpson are also out-of-contract this year.
Gale to blow in?
The Age has flagged current Richmond boss Brendon Gale as a possible successor to Andrew Demetriou.
Gale spent time at the AFL Players Association which is regarded as a pathway to executive positions within the league.
Caroline Wilson says Gale is “a good public performer and boasts a strong football and legal pedigree, remains at 45 the best-credentialled club chief executive to claim a chance of a place in the running to replace Andrew Demetriou at the helm of the AFL.”
Spending tax thumbs up
The AFL’s richest clubs will accept a football department luxury tax after 18 clubs approved the framework for equalisation measures at a meeting in Adelaide.
The tax could mean a 75 per cent levy for every dollar they spend over a set mark and an overall revenue tax will also be applied on a sliding scale, with a ceiling of $500,000 for wealthy clubs.
Details are being finalised, but the football department tax could kick in at $8.5 million-$9 million and would exclude the $10 million player salary cap.
Collingwood’s footy budget last year was $22.5 million, with about $12 million was over and above player wages.
