For a club to sacrifice something other than cap space would put a roadblock to getting the deal done.

Hence, it wouldn't be 'free' for the players.

And $750k a year for 4 years is it's own vice, 45.

Goddard and Watson are good but can they and Stanton carry that midfield with about 1/5 of the cap?

I understand what it is and why it is, I just hadn't really considered the notion of such a high profile player going to such a high profile club for nothing.

The taste in the mouth doesn't get in any better after reading this article about Goddard.

Cap space is a vice, but as someone around here would say, you gotta pay someone (YGPS).

I understand what it is and why it is, I just hadn't really considered the notion of such a high profile player going to such a high profile club for nothing.

The taste in the mouth doesn't get in any better after reading this article about Goddard.

Cap space is a vice, but as someone around here would say, you gotta pay someone (YGPS).

Yes, and it the prerogative of the Bombers to pay around $2m for 3 players. But success has to follow because for the next 3 or 4 years the list of good players won't change much and that midfield of Watson, Goddard, Stanton, Hibberd and Heppell have to get it done.

You say it shouldn't be that easy for a high-end team to get a high-end player but it is just as easy for a low-end team to get a high-end player AND that low end team won't have to give up draft picks to do it.

It will happen soon enough - a high profile FA will get to a low-end club and we will all praise the way the system has allowed the competition to even up.

Yes, and it the prerogative of the Bombers to pay around $2m for 3 players. But success has to follow because for the next 3 or 4 years the list of good players won't change much and that midfield of Watson, Goddard, Stanton, Hibberd and Heppell have to get it done.

You say it shouldn't be that easy for a high-end team to get a high-end player but it is just as easy for a low-end team to get a high-end player AND that low end team won't have to give up draft picks to do it.

It will happen soon enough - a high profile FA will get to a low-end club and we will all praise the way the system has allowed the competition to even up.

Yes, that may be the case.

And I hope it happens just as often as the high-end clubs.

I just get the gut feeling that overtime the more successful clubs with big support will gain a decent slice of the pie, because players will be attracted to either finals and/or clubs with big support.

But I guess that's the challenge for the lower less supporting clubs to buck that trend through decent list management and smart recruiting. If it is indeed a trend. At this point in time it's mere speculation. I guess that's why the salary cap is so important. And Ken Wood....

We are entering a new world now boys and girls.

Clubs will look to spend when entering or in a premiership window and offload expensive stars when outside a premiership window. I supect the Saints are secretly not too upset at Goddard leaving them as they would think they are at least 2 to 3 years away from re-entering the premiership race and by which point BJ is slowing down.

This saves them 2 Million $ over the next 3 years and gives them a valuable first round draft pick to re-build with. When their window re-opens they'll have cash stockpiled to go to market and maybe pinch a Michael Hurley from the Bombers to load up for their own premiership tilt.

This is very much how it works in US sports. The Lakers have this year added Dwight Howard to their list in an effort to land another championship while Kobe is still a superstar. The contrary element to this argument is that other leagues worldwide with Free Agency type models do tend to be dominated by the top 15% richest and most powerful clubs. This is a worrying possibility for us and several other AFL teams.

It's up to the clubs to be smart about it and the AFL to be strong with their policies and be prepared to alter them to avoid a farcical EPL type scenario where only 5 or 6 teams are any chance to win the flag every single year and the rest are simply making up the numbers/fighting to avoid relegation.

Apologies to the EPL fans but I just can't accept what that league is. It is nothing more than an arms race. It is garbage!

Yes, that may be the case.

And I hope it happens just as often as the high-end clubs.

I just get the gut feeling that overtime the more successful clubs with big support will gain a decent slice of the pie, because players will be attracted to either finals and/or clubs with big support.

But I guess that's the challenge for the lower less supporting clubs to buck that trend through decent list management and smart recruiting. If it is indeed a trend. At this point in time it's mere speculation. I guess that's why the salary cap is so important. And Ken Wood....

The fundamentals of the AFL are pretty even - we all decry the great divide in FD spending as if it is the end of the game itself. Compare that to other codes.

Better run clubs will keep their talent and attract other talent and will be successful. Now we have sat on our hands for a while but I am fairly confident that we have realised the importance of the difference in FD to the better clubs and have great people in charge.

I don't see FA as the beginning of the end of the Demons - I see it as a challenge that won't affect us negatively for a few years and one we can meet and profit from if we are doing the right things.

This is just a new aspect to AFL footy and that is that, so let's stop wringing our hands over what might be in 5 years time.

Fill the War Chest Demons. We are going to need it over the next years and beyond.

Fill the War Chest Demons. We are going to need it over the next years and beyond.

F$*k the War Chest, I want to win games.

NO ONE is coming to us.

F$*k the War Chest, I want to win games.

NO ONE is coming to us.

exactly....$$$$ are our only sweetener right now.

It's important to remember that St Kilda had the option to match this contract.

Sure, it's not common for a team to hold onto a player that wants to leave, but look at ROK.

And one more thing - I could not care less about moving back 1 or 2 spots from 13 to 14/15.

Draft well at either pick and you will get a very good player.

......

I guess the annoying point is that other clubs end up wearing the recruiting costs for Essendon getting Goddard.

I agree that older players should be given every opportunity to get to their club of choice, but for the Bombers to get him for nothing but salary cap costs seems like BS. Might also [censored] me off that its the Bombers!

I agree with you in essence, OD, but since we are cursed Melbourne I would expect St Kilda to pick up the next Judd with the pick before ours.

Like when they picked Ball when they could've had Judd?

This thread title is very misleading.

We don't 'lose' 13, it just becomes '14'. Not exactly Armageddon...

This thread title is very misleading.

We don't 'lose' 13, it just becomes '14'. Not exactly Armageddon...

When I opened it I was expecting to read some article about tanking penalties and loss of picks...