Jack Martin linked to a move from Carlton Blues as side chases Sydney Swans gun Will Hayward; player movement

Carlton are the front-runners to secure Sydney free agent Will Hayward as clubs circle out-of-contract Blues forward Jack Martin amid a salary-cap juggle at Ikon Park.

Martin is at the end of a five-year deal, which was heavily front-ended, and has been sought by several clubs including two interstate.

Due to a tight salary cap, Carlton’s senior players have signalled they would be open to deferring payments or modifying contracts to enable the Blues to chase players who suit their needs, whether that is Hayward or others.

But the potential exit of Martin, 29, who is yet to enter meaningful contract negotiations with Carlton, would create a small amount of salary-cap room, even though his deal was front-loaded.

The Blues are eager to land Hayward, who is a restricted free agent because his back-loaded deal landed him in the top 25 per cent of Sydney’s pay earners this year.

The Swans might not to have the scope to pay Hayward what he would get from rivals, even including the Blues, who are at the front of a queue for the free-agent forward just ahead of the two South Australian teams and Melbourne.

While Hayward is not certain to leave the Swans, rival clubs have pursued the forward knowing he was facing a reduction in his current deal, which placed him among the 10 best-paid Swans this year. A source said the Swans offered improved contract terms recently but that the Crows, with their younger list profile, would be in a position to outbid Carlton or Sydney.

If he were to leave the Swans, Hayward is open to move to Melbourne and to continue to play for a team in premiership contention. He has no beef with the Swans, who are facing salary-cap pressures, following the re-signings of superstars Errol Gulden and Isaac Heeney, and James Rowbottom and Ollie Florent. Key forward Logan McDonald is in negotiations over a new deal.