Injured Swan Kurt Tippett is set to remain with the Swans in 2019, despite retiring from football in January this year from injuries sustained through 2017.
Citing doubts over his body's ability to recover and return to the rigours and demands of AFL football, the 178-game veteran shockingly announced his immediate retirement after undergoing an ankle reconstruction after the end of the 2017 season.
While he still had three more seasons to run on his newly negotiated contract, the Swans and Tippett reached a settlement where the Swans wouldn't have to carry his massive salary through to 2020.
While the settlement figure has never been publicly disclosed, The Daily Telegraph believed at the time that it was heavily front-loaded, while there was speculation that the total payout was in the region of $1.2m ~ $1.4m.
As per the settlement, the club announced in January that they would retain Kurt Tippett on their list in 2019 to satisfy the terms and salary cap rules, despite Tippett effectively being retired.
The club announced today that they had delisted Kurt Tippett ahead of the rookie draft, with the intention to re-draft him as per their agreement.
"In keeping with AFL rules and regulations, it is the club’s intention to re-draft Tippett in the upcoming AFL Rookie Draft so that the club can fulfil the terms of an agreed settlement.
"Tippett, who retired from AFL football in January 2018 due to injury problems, is not fit for football and has no intention of returning to the AFL.
"With this statement we consider the matter closed. No parties will make any further comment."
Contrary to current reporting, this is not a new deal the Swans have made with Kurt Tippett since the close of the season. The agreement was reached in January this year and announced almost 10 months ago.
By delisting him and re-drafting him as a rookie, up to half of his contract will be excluded from the salary cap, as per AFL rule 10.15 c (ii).
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