Rivers and Gysberts to Geelong?

[Geddy Lee 582]

Would be shattered if Jared left. I am a huge fan. Think people are undervaluing him on here.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Do you think that former club captains Stan Alves and Greg Wells regret leaving and playing in premierships ? Do you think if they had their time over they'd be one club players and not premiership players ?

Probably not. But that doesn't mean that, as a supporter of this club, they will ever hold the same affection for me as someone like Robbie Flower.

Players are clearly entitled to do whatever they want - I wouldn't contend otherwise.

However, as a supporter, I will assess them through that lens - and, if they look after themselves ahead of the club, I will judge them accordingly.

It doesn't necessarily follow that I'll dislike or begrudge them, but I won't think of them in the same way as I think of those players who have given their all to the club, including sacrificing potentially better short term opportunities elsewhere.

There must be some reward for putting the club's interests over the individual's interests IMO. Absent that, you have an ordinary club culture.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Probably not. But that doesn't mean that, as a supporter of this club, they will ever hold the same affection for me as someone like Robbie Flower.

Players are clearly entitled to do whatever they want - I wouldn't contend otherwise.

However, as a supporter, I will assess them through that lens - and, if they look after themselves ahead of the club, I will judge them accordingly.

It doesn't necessarily follow that I'll dislike or begrudge them, but I won't think of them in the same way as I think of those players who have given their all to the club, including sacrificing potentially better short term opportunities elsewhere.

There must be some reward for putting the club's interests over the individual's interests IMO. Absent that, you have an ordinary club culture.

Your feelings towards them are irrelevant.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Your feelings towards them are irrelevant.

Perhaps to you.

[Demon16 69]

i don't mind that players leave clubs to play in a premiership with another club, but I've never understood how they can be satisfied with it. i think it's hollow, but hey, whatever blows your hair back.

[demoniac 1,243]

Interesting decision for Rivers.

Turns 28 soon. Might have 3 or 4 years left. Is 2013 the season to be joining the Cats. Will they be top 4 premiership contenders or will they be making up the numbers in the 8. Champion teams all come to an end. Champions retire and are not replaced with players of that quality. Their replacements may have potential but we don't know if they will reach the levels of their predecessors.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

I'd be disappointed to see Rivers leave as I think he still has plenty to offer and, when he had a few years of injury problems, the club stuck by him. Can understand why he would leave but would have hoped to have seen a little more loyalty.

The problem for us is that there will be a number of teams interested, Geelong and St. Kilda are the two who come to mind, and they are in a better position than us and can probably offer him a contract that would be around the mark of what we can offer. It would be a real shame to see him leave, and like I said a bit more loyalty would have been nice, but I understand his position.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Perhaps to you.

Not perhaps.

And more particularly they're irrelevant to the players.

[Goat 98]

Aussie Rules ITK ‏@AussieRulesITK

Jared Rivers going to the Geelong Cats @CatsInsider is pretty close to a done deal #AFL

seems to be right most of the time

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

Aussie Rules ITK ‏@AussieRulesITK

Jared Rivers going to the Geelong Cats @CatsInsider is pretty close to a done deal #AFL

seems to be right most of the time

Let the hate begin.........

[Matt Demon 1,387]

Hmmm maybe I should start thinking of a new name

[PaulRB 5,985]

I don't think Geelong have another flag in them.

Be a shame for Jared to leave Melb to chase a rainbow.

[deeflog 679]

Aussie Rules ITK ‏@AussieRulesITK

Jared Rivers going to the Geelong Cats @CatsInsider is pretty close to a done deal #AFL

seems to be right most of the time

a real shameif this was to eventuate,but i guess all we can say is thanks Jared, you have been a fine player for the mfc

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I want Riv to stay we need him. But I can't blame him for going.

[Deers 202]

Let the hate begin.........

What hate?

Jared's been a great player, a great clubman and a warrior in defence.

For his sake I'm happy to see him look elsewhere. With an ageing body and losing the leadership role, I think his cards were marked anyway. He's not part of the future and we'll capably replace him.

Good luck and thanks.

[stuie 7,374]

I don't think Geelong have another flag in them.

Be a shame for Jared to leave Melb to chase a rainbow.

When he has a pot of crap at Melbourne already...

[Wiseblood 24,636]

More money now frees up to throw at top line free agents like...

Oh, wait...

[stuie 7,374]

Just wondering what happened to the OP in this thread? Has turned out to be pretty spot on, why was it deleted?

[dee-luded 2,958]

i don't mind that players leave clubs to play in a premiership with another club, but I've never understood how they can be satisfied with it. i think it's hollow, but hey, whatever blows your hair back.

HaHa, is that why Nathan needs committing!

we need more chrome domes

[jnrmac 19,235]

No he won't.

The players didn't fight for FA to just void it when they get it.

The rules have changed - he has every right to leave and do it as a FA, and we will get a comp pick based on whatever the rules say.

Brave new world.

I didn't say it was likely just that it was possible.

[Jaded No More 58,713]

Can't begrudge him.

Gave us his best years and experienced less than zero success.

Deserves to try and find some elsewhere, when realistically his body only has 1-2 years left.

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

What hate?

Jared's been a great player, a great clubman and a warrior in defence.

For his sake I'm happy to see him look elsewhere. With an ageing body and losing the leadership role, I think his cards were marked anyway. He's not part of the future and we'll capably replace him.

Good luck and thanks.

Maybe hate was the wrong word - I was expecting more anger from the troops if the twitter was accurate... Guess we'll wait and see once it is announced

I say good luck to him... We've all been watching the MFC too long if we think we are losing anything more than experience ... Great bloke, average AFL player...

[demoniac 1,243]

Can't see the Cats getting back in the top 4 for a few years so I suspect Rivers won't get the flag that he is chasing. Still the Cats might make the bottom of the 8 so he might get a few finals. Its always interesting to see the decline of a great team. In many ways its the death of a thousand cuts. Even one or two key structural players retiring has a significant impact. Geelong have yet to replace Ottens and will now lose Scarlett. The Cats also have a significant number of best 22 players who are in their late 20s and early 30s and have crammed almost an extra season into the last 5 years. Some players hit a wall, others decline slowly. Even a 5% drop off from these players significantly impacts the team performance. You only have to look at some of the games the Cats played this year when champions for the the first time since 2006 looked like mere mortals party as their performance dropped and partly as other players form dropped or new players did not step up and the team method suffers.

In the broad though this is the brave new world of free agency. Hopefully we'll be in our Premiership window in a few years and if we have a need we'll be able to raid another club for a free agent.

Good luck Jared if you do go. A fine servant of the Dees and a player who had to overcome a serioously debilitating injury in OP. A great reader of the play and judge of a mark and a spoil. The greater emphasis on forward 50 pressure in recent years put pressure on his decision making making and execution. Never a genuine key defender and not a natural rebounder or ball carrier which puts a question mark over his exact role in today's footy. Showed he could add another string to his bow when moved forward this year.

[rpfc 27,591]

I didn't say it was likely just that it was possible.

I don't think it is.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Can't see the Cats getting back in the top 4 for a few years so I suspect Rivers won't get the flag that he is chasing. Still the Cats might make the bottom of the 8 so he might get a few finals. Its always interesting to see the decline of a great team. In many ways its the death of a thousand cuts. Even one or two key structural players retiring has a significant impact. Geelong have yet to replace Ottens and will now lose Scarlett. The Cats also have a significant number of best 22 players who are in their late 20s and early 30s and have crammed almost an extra season into the last 5 years. Some players hit a wall, others decline slowly. Even a 5% drop off from these players significantly impacts the team performance. You only have to look at some of the games the Cats played this year when champions for the the first time since 2006 looked like mere mortals party as their performance dropped and partly as other players form dropped or new players did not step up and the team method suffers.

In the broad though this is the brave new world of free agency. Hopefully we'll be in our Premiership window in a few years and if we have a need we'll be able to raid another club for a free agent.

Good luck Jared if you do go. A fine servant of the Dees and a player who had to overcome a serioously debilitating injury in OP. A great reader of the play and judge of a mark and a spoil. The greater emphasis on forward 50 pressure in recent years put pressure on his decision making making and execution. Never a genuine key defender and not a natural rebounder or ball carrier which puts a question mark over his exact role in today's footy. Showed he could add another string to his bow when moved forward this year.

The Cats actually believe they are still capable of winning a flag with the remaining stars and the new kids they have recruited; after seeing them play Freo the other week I don't think they are within a bull's roar of it.

Riv certainly won't get them there and they will need a fair infusion of talent to enable them to challenge for a flag in the next 5 years.

They remind me of Carlton when they hung on to their stars until they were too old and refused to rebuild (John Elliot; Carlton don't rebuild).