Port Adelaide premiership player and polarising media pundit Kane Cornes is of the view that Geelong midfielder Cameron Guthrie's form warrants a steep pay rise.
Guthrie, 28, has picked up where he left of in 2020 - a year in which he was named the Cats' best and fairest player, as well as earning a maiden All-Australian blazer.
Still, the Calder Cannons product is yet to agree to a new deal with the Kardinia Park club and will become an unrestricted free-agent at the cessation of this season.
With so many fantastic footballers already on the Hoop's books, Cornes pondered publicly about whether the Cats could afford to keep the rugged looking midfielder.
โBest and fairest in a side that made the Grand Final last year and an All-Australian,โ Cornes stated via AFL Media.
โUnrestricted free agent, so letโs watch this with real interest.
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โWeโre up to Round 21 and their reigning best and fairest winner โ who is their second-best midfielder behind Patrick Dangerfield โ is out of contract.
โThereโs a squeeze on because they paid [Jeremy] Cameron a whole heap of money, Dangerfieldโs not cheap, [Tom] Hawkins, Joel Selwood and Tom Stewart and others arenโt either โ how do they fit him in?
โWhichever way, heโs in for a massive pay rise and he deserves every cent.โ
If Geelong are unable to financially satisfy the burgeoning star, there will be no shortage of suitors for the former first-round draftee's services.
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Guthrie has averaged a mean of 25.1 disposals across the past pair of seasons - a figure that he surpassed in his side's 20-point victory over North Melbourne on Saturday when he found the Sherrin on 29-occasions.
Geelong and Guthrie are set to face the GWS Giants in Round 21 before completing their home and away campaign against the Saints and Demons respectively.
