Heard this morning the Players Association want to push for 6 years to engage FA rather than 8.

Better get used to the revolving door.

That will be the final nail in the coffin for bottom teams...

What a joke

That will be the final nail in the coffin for bottom teams...

What a joke

No it won't.

As long as there is a cap there will be chances for talent to move in both directions.

And players holding out for their value is good for the competition. Clubs getting players to stay on smaller contracts is bad for the competition.

In the US, it is extremely rare for teams to re-sign players outside of the offseason and even outside of the offseason that they are off-contract.

I am sorry, calm down and get used to it.

It is their job and future and Frawley taking his time doesn't faze me at all. We either keep him or we have a top 6 pick and a spare $700k.

Clubs dither on players and see their options - players have every right to do the same.

It's not a failure of leadership.

if its money he wants, he'll go to the highest bidder... If its success he wants, then he'll go to Sydney... Ether way, i can't see him staying...

Sydney won't be an option. Absolutely no salary cap space for someone his price plus don't need him. Hawks need him desperately and have the salary cap space.

I still think he has already sorted a deal. I think it was sorted in meetings last year like Sydney and Franklin.

He wants to play finals and like every player so should he. Does he want to walk into a team who already has a proven finals team. A premiership window thats wide open. If he does then he is SO gone its not funny.

Does he want to play finals in a team that built him up, that he has spent years with, that it will mean so much more playing in. Well then he will stay.

I would love for him to stay a Demon, i would enjoy watching him run out for the Dees in September. I honestly think that is not too far away with our team/squad and direction under Roos and the FD.

The question is does Frawley want to wait that long or does he want to do it now?

As i said, i think a deal was sorted last year. Well before Roos, well before Tyson/Vince/JKH/Salem/Cross (no particular order) and WELL before the performance of the club this year.

He wants to play finals.

Wouldn't it be ironic if he played a final against us and we beat him next season.

Wonder how he would feel then!

The grass isn't always greener (I wouldn't have said that last yr)

No it won't.

As long as there is a cap there will be chances for talent to move in both directions.

And players holding out for their value is good for the competition. Clubs getting players to stay on smaller contracts is bad for the competition.

In the US, it is extremely rare for teams to re-sign players outside of the offseason and even outside of the offseason that they are off-contract.

I am sorry, calm down and get used to it.

It is their job and future and Frawley taking his time doesn't faze me at all. We either keep him or we have a top 6 pick and a spare $700k.

Clubs dither on players and see their options - players have every right to do the same.

It's not a failure of leadership.

Is this based on the presumption that all caps are the same? *cough* cost of living allowance *cough*

I'm not saying that players shouldn't wait, I'm not disputing that its a failure of leadership, I'm not saying players should stay on smaller contracts or questioning their right to earn a living.

What I was saying refered to WYL's comment.

Less successful clubs, like bottom 4-6 clubs, will simply become farms for talent.

They spend their top picks, take the risk, develop them and in (now being raised) 6 years more successful clubs which can poach them?

Throw in other struggling clubs, new clubs, and what - as compensation IF they are a UFA the most we could get is one after our first pick?

Your access to young talent gets gets minimized from increased draft pick competition from new expansion clubs and other struggling clubs THEN you get your old talent poached from other clubs for little, and in some cases no compensation!

It will be a cycle... and if you don't pick well in the draft then you're [censored]

This is a big call but Tom Mcdonald is becoming a more important defender then Frawley. Just needs to know his limitations. Mcdonald has taken some huge scalps this year and im surprised he isnt getting talked up as a genuine All Australian smoky.

I'd prefer Frawley rebounding from defensive 50 than McDonald though. He's a better kick and a marginally better decision maker.

I'd prefer Frawley rebounding from defensive 50 than McDonald though. He's a better kick and a marginally better decision maker.

I think the thing is Mcdonald is only 21, and played 50 games, this bloke is one of the better defenders in the comp already, just need to improve him kicking and i reckon he could be around the mark of All Australian pretty consistantly for 8 years

He wants to play finals.

Wouldn't it be ironic if he played a final against us and we beat him next season.

Wonder how he would feel then!

The grass isn't always greener (I wouldn't have said that last yr)

Does Gerard Healy going to the Swans ring a bell ?

It gave me much pleasure that we towelled up the Swans in the 1987 finals when Healy jumped ship to play with the Swans as they were a real finals side

( but as you can see - i don't hold a grudge)

Currently we are a better team with Frawley in it.

However, if he was to leave and we consolidated our team with 2 quality mids plus a fit Hogan it is hard to argue that we wouldn't progress far quicker. Obviously if Hogan isn't 100% we may consider another KPF.

Frawley seems like a great fella, but whomever is advising him is doing a poor job. I get the feeling his initial call for wanting to see improvement is now changing as we show these signs.

I understand he has played during a terrible time at Melbourne and in a terrible position. I don't begrudge him for exploring free agency, BUT, what I would like to ask is, as a leader of the club James, what have YOU done to improve the team?

Stop talking, just play footy, either way we will be on the right track.

Heard this morning the Players Association want to push for 6 years to engage FA rather than 8.

Better get used to the revolving door.

Heard that and loved the follow up of trying to say it would assist the lower clubs, absolute carp it's all about players having more bargaining power.

10 years IMO if at all

This thread just keeps on giving.

Once again, there's no evidence Frawley is necessarily looking to jump ship, just because his management are talking with other clubs (if indeed they are). In this age of free agency, players will use opposition clubs to drive up their worth. Frawley and his management may well intend to stay at the MFC, but still talk to the opposition, because they'll get a better price from the MFC. Footy is a business these days and this is a tough, physical, professional job that probably takes years off your life. I don't begrudge players for 'holding their clubs to ransom'. Footy careers only last so long. Cash in (literally) while you can. Frawley's manager is doing the right thing and he has a business to run.

That will be the final nail in the coffin for bottom teams...

What a joke

There will be no more"project player" drafting.

Players will be drafted for the "now"

That is not all bad.

The better we perform without him playing in defence the lower our offer should become.

I suspect that, given the need for a big body up forward, that it may be a stroke of genius on Roos' part to show Chip that he isn't actually indispensable and that he cannot hold the club to ransom.

I hope he stays, but will not be devastated if he doesn't, which I would have been had we endured yet another season of zero progress such as we have endured for so many years recently.

IF his true reason is to enjoy some success and play in finals, then hopefully he will se the light at the end of the tunnel and stay to enjoy that success with colleagues who have gone through the hell with him.

Could not agree more. These are my sentiments exactly.

Is this based on the presumption that all caps are the same? *cough* cost of living allowance *cough*

I'm not saying that players shouldn't wait, I'm not disputing that its a failure of leadership, I'm not saying players should stay on smaller contracts or questioning their right to earn a living.

What I was saying refered to WYL's comment.

Less successful clubs, like bottom 4-6 clubs, will simply become farms for talent.

They spend their top picks, take the risk, develop them and in (now being raised) 6 years more successful clubs which can poach them?

Throw in other struggling clubs, new clubs, and what - as compensation IF they are a UFA the most we could get is one after our first pick?

Your access to young talent gets gets minimized from increased draft pick competition from new expansion clubs and other struggling clubs THEN you get your old talent poached from other clubs for little, and in some cases no compensation!

It will be a cycle... and if you don't pick well in the draft then you're [censored]

My post was in two parts - the first three lines were about your worries, the rest was about the damnation of Frawley by posters.

It will not be as simple as a 'farm for better clubs' and with any model - if you don't draft well you're stuffed.

I know we have lacked KPF's this year but the fact he's gone from back to forward could also mean that we are preparing the backline for life without him?

We have also signed a couple of players in the last few days. Could that be that the club now know what money is left and where it lies?!

Both points probably have nothing to do with anything, but interesting points.

I think he's gone. Just my opinion.

So why has Dunn come out mid year to sign rather than waiting until the end of the year?

It says something about the character and personality of the player.

Last year with Watts and this year with Frawley are very different situations. The environment of the club is also very different.

It's a very poor reflection on a guy who is one of our more senior and experienced players.

Very much mirrors what I remember of the Scully/Trengove situation, where Trengove signed up long term after 186, whereas Scully was very, very silent.

The comment that worried me the most was something along the lines of "I'm looking for 100% improvement all the time or improvement 100% of the time. To me that was a give away. Setting a standard that can't be reached. At the beginning of the year it was "I'm looking for improvement." Now there's clear massive improvement he's moving the goalposts. It's not just 100% improvement but it's also the chance of a Premiership. What does that tell you. Tell's me he's gone.

I don't especially blame him. He's been the player most under the pump for his whole career being the last line of defence being bombarded and not able to compete properly no matter how well he plays. Week after week, year after year for 8 years. But on the other hand, that's all being fixed now and as others have said we are probably one of the teams with the most upside over the next 3-5 years. Could you say that about the Hawks who's window is closing week by week. I believe they are the most likely destination. They have a desperate need for him with Lake about to retire, they have plenty of room in the salary cap. They are a great Club, although most of their stars will be gone in 2-3 years and they'll be doing a major rebuild by then whereas we've done ours. I wouldn't go to Freo if I was him. They are also going to need to go through a rebuild over the next 2-3 yrs. They already seem to be dropping off, although there is a lot of season still to go. Plus they are Freo which means interstate travel every other week.

This. He'd be mad to go to Hawthorn the second this year is done.

My thinking was he was gone, but i'm not convinced now. That said i agree with posters who have suggested Roos has him up forward is an indicator he is planning for life without Frawley. Initially the move was born out of necessity but not so much now. Roos is pragmatic and synergy down back is vital. Having a key defender play in that back half unit all year would rock that synergy if he was to leave.

Sydney won't be an option. Absolutely no salary cap space for someone his price plus don't need him. Hawks need him desperately and have the salary cap space.

TBH Hawks could be further away from a premiership than we are If he wants a premiership he will have to make a right club choice an that will be difficult given the results this year

TBH Hawks could be further away from a premiership than we are If he wants a premiership he will have to make a right club choice an that will be difficult given the results this year

How do you figure that the Hawks are further away from a premiership than we are. Thats not a big statement - thats a HUGGGGEEEEE statement.

If you are referring to their form over the last few weeks - I think checking on who they have out of that team may give some indication as to their form slump.

SO as a follow up who does he choose to play premiership next year which club will guarantee this outcome as I said he may be better off to stay at the Dees

My thinking was he was gone, but i'm not convinced now. That said i agree with posters who have suggested Roos has him up forward is an indicator he is planning for life without Frawley. Initially the move was born out of necessity but not so much now. Roos is pragmatic and synergy down back is vital. Having a key defender play in that back half unit all year would rock that synergy if he was to leave.

I disagree, B. Frawley's agility and work rate is far high than Gawn's. Let's have this conversation when Hogan returns.

Earlier in the year I thought he was a goner for sure!

Although after his recent interview I feel he is telling the truth and literally waiting to see his options and the clubs direction from an operational perspective.

Interestingly a lot of the boys are speaking about finals and I don't think its too far away (not this year) once a few smaller things are cleaned up, the belief around the club has certainly risen.

If Roos extends I genuinely feel he will too as he's stated multiple times. He's gone through enough coaches in his time and he wants to see who will be his next. I think that's fair enough.

Abit like watts last year, I think he wants to see who the successor is, although fair chance the club would have a decent idea by now