This is a really good post - thanks for taking the time to post it.

The problem I have with what you have heard, which I actually find disappointing if true, is that Chip was a leader of the club and had plenty of opportunities to re-sign well before this became the saga that it did. And surely he knew that the stance he elected to adopt would turn into the saga that it did.

In this regard, I'm not expecting the same saga to eventuate in relation to procuring Nathan Jones' long term commitment to the club. But he is a real leader for this club.

I think Chip is a little simple and thought "yeah, this is just how FA works, I can have a look around to see what I'm worth to other clubs, but at the end of the day I'm good enough to have the option of staying if I want to..."

Unfortunately Roos, Jackson et al are proactive and have moved on.

Surprised he didn't see it coming, spending all year in attack...

Yes, he must be ruing the turn of events - going to be at back to back reigning premier on (hopefully for us) $600k per year for the next four years.

Tough life.

DaleDee, if you insist on providing posts with a degree of substance I'll have the moderators on to you quicker than you can say free agency. Best you don't post again. Unbelievable.

Agreed. Shameful behaviour.

Thanks for your post DaleDee. An interesting perspective.

Yes, he must be ruing the turn of events - going to be at back to back reigning premier on (hopefully for us) $600k per year for the next four years.

Tough life.

Don't know about that.

Just that it was a rude shock to him when dropping the hint that he might stay, looking to see if he could push up his value, and was subsequently told "mate, it's probably better if you keep looking for another home."

Left a bitter taste in his mouth, especially as the season was still going and he had to keep running out in the red & blergh.

Autocorrect, but I'll leave it there.

Don't know about that.

Just that it was a rude shock to him when dropping the hint that he might stay, looking to see if he could push up his value, and was subsequently told "mate, it's probably better if you keep looking for another home."

Left a bitter taste in his mouth, especially as the season was still going and he had to keep running out in the red & blergh. blue

Autocorrect, but I'll leave it there.

Why? He was still getting paid to play wasn't he!!! That will teach him (and forewarn other players) to not play games with Roos!

Corrected our team colours for you. Disrespectful of you to not.

Hi Dale,

I actually posted a similar thing last week.

It seems you got some good mail.

Frawley was a bit flat to find out we'd moved on, since he thought we'd still be an option in spite of his whoring himself around for months.

I guess it's the old "wait... You can't break up with me... If anything I was thinking of breaking up with you..."

This revelation for Frawley coincided with his more lacklustre efforts later in the season, as hilariously, he felt betrayed.

Good footballer, Frawley, but a simple bloke.

It's also tough when 17 clubs are telling you how amazing you are... All except the one you play for.

This may well be true, but what if we don't get pick 3? Playing with fire.

Hi Dale,

I actually posted a similar thing last week.

It seems you got some good mail.

Frawley was a bit flat to find out we'd moved on, since he thought we'd still be an option in spite of his whoring himself around for months.

I guess it's the old "wait... You can't break up with me... If anything I was thinking of breaking up with you..."

This revelation for Frawley coincided with his more lacklustre efforts later in the season, as hilariously, he felt betrayed.

Good footballer, Frawley, but a simple bloke.

It's also tough when 17 clubs are telling you how amazing you are... All except the one you play for.

I actually hope that if this is the case that this little snippet makes its way to the list. I know we chop and trade players without too much sentiment but it will send a message to the group that if you want to "put you contract talks on hold and just concentrate on playing footy" there may not be a contract waiting for you when you are ready to talk.

Why? He was still getting paid to play wasn't he!!! That will teach him (and forewarn other players) to not play games with Roos!

Corrected our team colours for you. Disrespectful of you to not.

I dunno... They were better this year, but they still played like the red & blergh a fair bit at times.

I'll be much happier when they consistently give me no reason to make such bad puns.

Given the investments we need to make in our Midfield, Chip was one of a few players with any currency who we could do without.

Roos tested our backline to see if they'd stand up without him, and they did...

If we take last years trade of pick 3 for Tyson and Salem (plus other bits I know). Would we see trading Frawley for a Tyson quality mid (plus half a Salem) as a win or loss?

Gotta break eggs to make an omelette.

Ooops the Dawks went a little bit early and uploaded "James Frawley happy to be a Hawk" on their website. Thumbnail of him in a Hawthorn shirt and all. Video has since been deleted

Ooops the Dawks went a little bit early and uploaded "James Frawley happy to be a Hawk" on their website. Thumbnail of him in a Hawthorn shirt and all. Video has since been deleted

Was it filmed earlier in the year?

I am firmly of the opinion that Frawley was stitched up by the Hawks pre season and that to avoid another Scully saga he had to play an elaborate charade including feigning interest he might stay and also string along other clubs who were interested in his services. I was convinced he was gone mid season and am amused that some now suggest he was burned by Roos. Roos knew what was happening and prepared for life without Frawley from the beginning of the season.

Roos was in a bit of a bind. He once said he would refuse to play a player who had committed to another club. Us fans would probably agree with this sentiment. But Roos knew Frawley was leaving and was discouraged from dropping him because to do so would threaten compensation.

Roos was in a bit of a bind. He once said he would refuse to play a player who had committed to another club. Us fans would probably agree with this sentiment. But Roos knew Frawley was leaving and was discouraged from dropping him because to do so would threaten compensation.

I think it more likely the lack of tall forwards meant we had to use Frawley so Roos did the next best thing and took him out of defence and moved him forward.

I think it more likely the lack of tall forwards meant we had to use Frawley so Roos did the next best thing and took him out of defence and moved him forward.

Yes, that's a fair call.

Oh god he couldn't even wait for the papers to dry before doing an interview and declaring he's a happy Hawk.

Yeah I'm really buying the story that he's upset that we didn't fight to keep him.

Pathetic behavior from a so called leader. What a joke.

Yes, he must be ruing the turn of events - going to be at back to back reigning premier on (hopefully for us) $600k per year for the next four years.

Tough life.

It's the decision of a follower and not a leader, they will make me a Premiership and Finals Player, where the likes of Boak say right I want to be a leader and want to play finals but I'm staying at this club and I'm going to give everything to make sure we do it, who is coming with me.

I understand Frawleys decision but it actually says a lot about him, Brian Lake was in the twilight of his career and made the decision to try and win a flag and whilst I also understand his decision it also says a lot about him. Here was a AA at his previous club who was overweight, struggled to get out on the park and wasn't prepared to play through the pain of niggles.

My how that changed when he moved clubs, he lost weight and was determined and played through games hurt for fear of missing out on something. People can talk about that being the culture of Hawthorn but to me whilst that is a very big part of it, IMO it shows the true colours of the likes of Lake and Frawley as followers.

Frawley will do well he will have good players around him, but I can almost guarantee when the chips (pardon the pun) are down and if they go through a bad patch without the Mitchells, Hodges, Lewis and Roughies at the club it wont be Frawley and Lake standing tall and saying right boys lets dig in and make this happen.

We drafted plenty of talented followers and need more Nate Jones's, Viney's, Cross's, if there is a chance of drafting a Hodge, Lewis, Roughie and a Joel Selwood type for their leadership then by god we better get that call right as opposed to the kid who is a great kick and has been very good at underage level, Brayshaw playing whilst clearly hurt and seeing him when things aren't going his way still trying to provide physical pressure is a glimpse of this, seeing Petracca wanting to hurt opponents at every tackle is another good sign.

Chip the follower is gone Pick 3 needs to be used to get the future leader we crave by whatever means be it via draft or trade

Frawley will do well he will have good players around him, but I can almost guarantee when the chips (pardon the pun) are down and if they go through a bad patch without the Mitchells, Hodges, Lewis and Roughies at the club it wont be Frawley and Lake standing tall and saying right boys lets dig in and make this happen.

Excellent point

It's the decision of a follower and not a leader, they will make me a Premiership and Finals Player, where the likes of Boak say right I want to be a leader and want to play finals but I'm staying at this club and I'm going to give everything to make sure we do it, who is coming with me.

I understand Frawleys decision but it actually says a lot about him, Brian Lake was in the twilight of his career and made the decision to try and win a flag and whilst I also understand his decision it also says a lot about him. Here was a AA at his previous club who was overweight, struggled to get out on the park and wasn't prepared to play through the pain of niggles.

My how that changed when he moved clubs, he lost weight and was determined and played through games hurt for fear of missing out on something. People can talk about that being the culture of Hawthorn but to me whilst that is a very big part of it, IMO it shows the true colours of the likes of Lake and Frawley as followers.

Frawley will do well he will have good players around him, but I can almost guarantee when the chips (pardon the pun) are down and if they go through a bad patch without the Mitchells, Hodges, Lewis and Roughies at the club it wont be Frawley and Lake standing tall and saying right boys lets dig in and make this happen.

We drafted plenty of talented followers and need more Nate Jones's, Viney's, Cross's, if there is a chance of drafting a Hodge, Lewis, Roughie and a Joel Selwood type for their leadership then by god we better get that call right as opposed to the kid who is a great kick and has been very good at underage level, Brayshaw playing whilst clearly hurt and seeing him when things aren't going his way still trying to provide physical pressure is a glimpse of this, seeing Petracca wanting to hurt opponents at every tackle is another good sign.

Chip the follower is gone Pick 3 needs to be used to get the future leader we crave by whatever means be it via draft or trade

Great post.

Do you see leaders or followers in Brayshaw and Petracca? Do you think they're the tyro to stick through the hard times?

I think he'll stay.

Given the investments we need to make in our Midfield, Chip was one of a few players with any currency who we could do without.

Roos tested our backline to see if they'd stand up without him, and they did...

If we take last years trade of pick 3 for Tyson and Salem (plus other bits I know). Would we see trading Frawley for a Tyson quality mid (plus half a Salem) as a win or loss?

Gotta break eggs to make an omelette.

Good post PaulRB. Sums it up well. Chip tested the waters to see what he was worth. He had plenty of time to recommit. Thought he could always come back and be offered similar. Roos played the situation like a guitar!

So when is compensation confirmed?

Great post.

Do you see leaders or followers in Brayshaw and Petracca? Do you think they're the tyro to stick through the hard times?

They both showed signs of leadership but only seen them both live once, two others who stood out as leaders through the U/18 champs both will go very late in the draft if at all as they both are undersize, Lonie from Vic Country and Daniel from SA

I think Chip is a little simple and thought "yeah, this is just how FA works, I can have a look around to see what I'm worth to other clubs, but at the end of the day I'm good enough to have the option of staying if I want to..."

Unfortunately Roos, Jackson et al are proactive and have moved on.

Surprised he didn't see it coming, spending all year in attack...

I think you mean 'fortunately'.