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$3m for Sam Darcy? The one club that might just do it
SEN • June 23rd, 2025 1:43 pm
The Tasmanian Devils should prepare to offer Sam Darcy in excess of $3 million a year to become the club’s marquee signing ahead of 2028, according to Brent Costelloe.
Off the back of AFL Legend Buddy Franklin’s valuation of the Bulldogs youngster, the SEN Tassie Breakfast host says Darcy is the ideal candidate for the Devils to chase.
Having been hampered by a knee injury through much of May, Darcy made an incredible return for the Bulldogs in their Round 14 clash against St Kilda booting three goals.
He’s been labelled a “generational talent” by Franklin who values him in the ballpark of $2-2.5 million.
"I think Sam Darcy, if I was Tassie starting up and the cheque book was there, you're going $2.5 to $3 million, he's worth that every day of the week,” Franklin said last week.
Costelloe concurs with the retired legend and said the Devils should be chasing Darcy who is contracted until the end of the 2029 season.
“Do you agree with Buddy that if you are the Devils and you’re going after Sam Darcy you will have to pay him $2.5-3.5m a year?” Tim Paine asked Costelloe.
“I think you have to (pay him that) to prize him out of Whitten Oval,” Costelloe said. “But gee he would be worth every cent right now wouldn’t he.
“I’m taking that deal and (Matt) Rowell for $2 million.
“Let’s take them all.
“Pay Darcy $3m and $2m for Rowell. It’s not a bad start though either is it.”
Amid ongoing concern about the future of the Devils, Costelloe and Paine hosted Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff for an update on where things stand after Dean Winter launched a petition of no confidence in the current government which has forced a July 19 election.
Asked if advocates for the stadium and Devils should be worried, Rockliff said: “No they shouldn’t be, we’re the government that got the 19th license.
“My opponents have been all over the place – a different position every day.
“We maintain communication with the AFL, I spoke to them around the time of Winter forcing us to an election and they accept that they will work with an election and they will.
“We are listening to all Tasmanians around the stadium which is more about the economy, the areas outside the football, entertainment and hospitality etc and jobs. We are committed to get the job done and start constructing. We will get it done.
“I will always be committed to this. We cannot put this at risk; we have worked too hard to get where we are. There's no point crying about it we just have to make sure we finish the job.”
Tassie Breakfast with Tim Paine & Brent Costelloe – Mondays and Fridays 7am – 9am on SEN Tassie - 1629am Hobart, SENTrack 1611am Launceston & Devonport and the SEN App
