Cam McCarthy takes indefinite leave

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

6 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Who is his manager ? 

Colin Young

[KingDingAling 3,758]

19 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Freo already offer their first round draft picks for the next two years. What more could they have done?

I just read this on Big Footy (make of it what you will).

"Picks for last years draft weren't valued by GWS at the time due to how things stood with academy prospects and how they were moving about for later picks and points. Freo never put a realistic offer to GWS"

So perhaps Fremantle's offer wasn't satisfactory to GWS.

[dee-luded 2,959]

1 hour ago, Choke said:

Maybe Scully vomited on him.

or pizzed on him, maybe it was just a breath of fre$h air,  from the $cullDog.

[dee-luded 2,959]

13 minutes ago, KingDingAling said:

I just read this on Big Footy (make of it what you will).

"Picks for last years draft weren't valued by GWS at the time due to how things stood with academy prospects and how they were moving about for later picks and points. Freo never put a realistic offer to GWS"

So perhaps Fremantle's offer wasn't satisfactory to GWS.

maybe Freo already new last movember,  that the great mccarthy was getting sick,  & that he would need to stand out of footy to recover...?  maybe a trip west would freshen his Ni Mi Hi's ???

Edited January 29, 2016 by dee-luded

[John Crow Batty 8,871]

3 hours ago, Good Times Grimes said:

The AFL needs to introduce an offer-sheet system like there is in the NHL, whereby the club with which the player signs has to provide compensation in line with the salary that they agree to pay them.

For example, McCarthy signs with Fremantle for $500k/season, Fremantle has to give GWS it's first round pick for the next two years.

See here for a better explanation.

I would go a little further than just salary/draft weighted compensation. The spurned club has also lost plenty for the development and marketing of the player and team and they can reasonably argue that losing such a valuable player will cost them games and premiership points in the future irrespective of compensation received.  Clubs that draft players who willingly spurn their club and contractual obligations should not only be forced to pay monetary/draft compensation but also hand 2 to 4 premiership  points for the following season to the spurred club. Money comes easy for rich clubs but few would have the nerve to sacrifice premiership points for any player because it can come back to bite them hard. A tough approach is needs because it's starting to get out of control.

Edited January 29, 2016 by america de cali

[McQueen 17,865]

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

How do you predict a problem when at the end of his first year he signs a 3 year extension ?

When he was seeking a trade to Freo it was one year into a 3 year contract.  He'd fulfilled 33.3% of said contract.

The rest of my post said:

"AFL clubs need to somehow predict the future."

Clearly he's an extra special case.

[Captain Todd 171]

special like Scully?

[Kumamoto_Ken 1,531]

4 hours ago, chook fowler said:

he's setting himself up for some terrible sledging.

I would have thought he'd be used to it...

 

[DeeSpencer 25,740]

I've had to change my opinion a bit after hearing that he seems genuinely unwell and GWS were aware of the issues at the time.

He should be back with his family, he's only 20.

Freo's offer was probably fair given the circumstances and GWS probably should've just swallowed their pride. Shame to see a talented player struggling to fulfil it.

[DemonFrog 1,354]

To be honest who really would want to play for GWS?

I completely understand that he would want to return to WA.

[CityDee 738]

Not every 18 year kid should be made to move interstate. who knows what the home situation is , he may be needed or simply homesick.  mental health is real.

[Lucifers Hero 39,997]

I can't help but think the personal issues with McCarthy run deeper than 'homesick'.  What budding elite player would sit out a year of football and do a dummy spit just to prove a point?  What club would so readily give that player extended time out to move back to the other side of the country if the issues weren't serious?  If he wasn't training well or unmotivated play him in the reserves instead. 

Maybe GWS underestimated his issues 3 months ago.  Maybe there are things happening in WA that are very distressing for him.   He may drop out of footy all together.  I have no idea but this seems a very unusual situation.  GWS deserve credit for now reccognising there is a real issue and looking after his overall health and wellbeing.  

I just don't see this as a Mccarthy ploy.  I very much give him the benefit of the doubt, wish him well and hope he returns to football sooner rather than later.

[beelzebub 23,380]

Doesn't sound like he's cut out for AFL.

He may want to reevaluate where he's going.

Edit. Before some Nong has a go. I'm not beratinv anyone for such, its just commentary. We can all have dreams and ideas only to find its not what we thought when/if we get there.

Edited January 29, 2016 by beelzebub

[Mach5 4,768]

Not sure if anyone heard his interview with SEN last season after winning a Rising Star nomination, but he was quite funny and a unique character, but openly talked of still barracking for Freo. I've never heard anything like it, but the writing was on the wall.

Call me a skeptic, but this talk of health issues has a smell about it, after an ultimately failed but aggressive campaign to get to Freo last year.

[Roger Mellie 4,037]

12 hours ago, Kumamoto_Ken said:

I would have thought he'd be used to it...

 

 

[beelzebub 23,380]

Me thinks this has a bit to go in playing out.

[Gator 17,383]

8 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I've had to change my opinion a bit after hearing that he seems genuinely unwell and GWS were aware of the issues at the time.

You may be right and I'm not up to date with all the papers, but where is it stated that GWS were aware of him being "genuinely unwell" ?  And what's wrong with him ?

[Mach5 4,768]

33 minutes ago, ProDee said:

You may be right and I'm not up to date with all the papers, but where is it stated that GWS were aware of him being "genuinely unwell" ?  And what's wrong with him ?

Homesickness. A truly debilitating condition...

Honestly, listening to him, the kid wouldn't be all that bothered by missing a year of footy, in my eyes.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

20 hours ago, robbiefrom13 said:

I disagree.  It's a restraint-of-trade thing, I think: the AFL dictates to teenagers who they are allowed to work for - they are like slaves being sold on the block.  

If a boy was "chosen" by Essendon - or GWS for that matter, or anyone who for whatever reason they didn't want to work for - we call him names for not wanting to go there, or stay when the concerned club refuses to trade him.  Have in mind we are talking about someone of outstanding skill - absolute elite in his field; and he has no say over where he works.  Smacks of Stalinist Russia to me, and I will be interested to see one day a legal challenge to this system.

The draft is one of the cornerstones of the league along with the salary cap. When you sign up to play you know that's what you're getting in for. Don't like? Don't play.

Comparing it to slavery where people were kidnapped, taken across the other side of the world in appalling conditions and forced to work for no pay under penalty of brutality or death is complete hyperbole. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

3 hours ago, CityDee said:

Not every 18 year kid should be made to move interstate. who knows what the home situation is , he may be needed or simply homesick.  mental health is real.

He wasn't "made" to move interstate - he elected to enter a draft knowing it was more likely than not he would be draft by one of the 16 clubs not in WA. If he wanted to stay home he should've not entered the draft or figured out something else to do with his life.

He signed a contract extension before he had shown anything on the field. So he wanted the security of the contract with GWS before any interest was shown from anyone else but after a half decent season has some other offers coming and doesn't want to live up to his end of the contract. Stuff him, where is the responsibility on the players these days? If there was no offer from Freo what would he have done? Continued playing at GWS? Or go home forsaking his footy career?

[chook fowler 19,459]

it sounds to me like more like a specific anxiety disorder than simple homesickness. GWS. are paying the price for not trading him - they were offered some good deals. More fools them for not taking it.

Dont think the comparison with 18th century barbaric slavery practices is apt.

Edited January 29, 2016 by chook fowler

[dazzledavey36 55,005]

Apparently was reported on channel 7 in perth that Cam is suffering from anxiety and has lost 9kg since last year.

[Redleg 40,981]

20 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Apparently was reported on channel 7 in perth that Cam is suffering from anxiety and has lost 9kg since last year.

Sun today said he was suffering from "anxiety and depression". If true, it can be debilitating and very distressing.

[John Crow Batty 8,871]

If you can't get what you want, anxiety and depression Is a typical consequence. I am sure most of us have been through it. 

 

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

This is as weak and pathetic as Mitch Clark

Have they started calling him 'brave' yet?