WESTERN Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia has revealed the club has offered young star Callan Ward a five-year contract to stay at the Whitten Oval.

Ward’s wares are being heavily pursued by Greater Western Sydney, which has reportedly offered him a five-year, $4 million contract.

But Fantasia told SEN radio the Bulldogs have offered similar terms to that of the GWS offer.

"We’re offering a five year contract, no doubt about that," Fantasia said.

"I’m not sure what their offer is and I think it’s around three, four or five [years].

"We would be looking at the same thing."

Fantasia said Ward has told the club he will tell them of his intentions early next week.

"We’re still very hopeful, and he’s given us an indication that he’ll let us know early [next] week and I guess he wants the weekend to finish off his thinking," he said.

Fantasia and CEO Simon Garlick met Ward and manager Paul Connors at the player’s house recently for an honest and open discussion.

Fantasia admitted the club had asked Ward straight out whether he had signed or had an agreement with GWS.

"Yeah we have," he said.

"If it was nearly anyone else I’d be thinking there’s no chance whatsoever [that Ward would remain at the Bulldogs]."

"This kid is such a natural, honest person."

If Ward does depart it will be shattering thing for the club, according to Fantasia.

"I think it hurts us more if [Ward] leaves compared to Geelong with Gary Ablett [leaving for the Gold Coast]."

"He takes life very simply and he’s just a remarkable young man and that’s why it’s going to hurt us [if he does go]."

Like Gary Ablett leaving for the Gold Coast last year, the money aspect is a major issue for clubs who are finding it difficult to compete against the expansion clubs.

Fantasia says the club’s offer to Ward is well above his market value at the start of the year.

"You’re talking 40 or 50 per cent on overs and that’s looking at it when we’ve placed him in our top four or five [players at the club]," he said.

The Western Bulldogs did offer Ward a sizeable contract at the start of the year, something that Fantasia indicated had evolved over the season.

"You’ve got to remember that we actually put together a pretty solid package, for a young man developing his craft before the season started," he said.

Fantasia said the club hopes to have selected their senior coach some time in September, but he said the issue has not affected Ward’s decision either way.

"[The coach] doesn’t have any influence on his decision," he said.

Meanwhile, Bulldogs fans vented their frustration over Ward's situation during Saturday's 46-point win over Fremantle with mild boos and jeers when he went near the ball.

Caretaker coach Paul Williams, who again said he expected to know of Ward's future this week, said it was unacceptable behaviour.

"It only happened in the first little bit [of the game], and I think they even checked themselves a little bit," he said.

"It was disappointing but we and the crowd moved on and I'm sure they looked at it and thought, we don't need to do that no matter who it is.

"I don't think any of us in footy or sport like anyone being booed, whether it's your teammate or the opposition.

"It's not the Aussie way."