As reported on NAB Trade Radio, the Melbourne Football Club are currently in negotiations with Colin Garland in regards to an early retirement. Colin is still contracted for 2018.

More to come.

Not surprising and seems like a logical formality. He signed up for coaching role with the club during the year. Considering he has barely played at AFL level for 2+ years, likely won't get another AFL game anywhere ever again, and has a coaching gig already in place... makes sense he retires from playing and focuses on his coaching gig. It would be a good result for the club to get him to retire from playing to clear up a spot on the list for the upcoming draft. Garland can then properly commit to coaching for his future.

Somewhat inevitable and sad, particularly since his entire career has encompassed the hard times.

I hope the club and Colin work things out and that he remains in a role at the club.

Freeing up a spot and some money for Watts...sorry... I shouldn't have gone there.

His contracted salary will still be included in our cap, so no relief on that side.

But it makes perfect sense to free up a spot on our list. Even without the knee reco, he would have struggled to get a game this year, let alone next year with Lever coming in.

2 minutes ago, mo64 said:

His contracted salary will still be included in our cap, so no relief on that side.

But it makes perfect sense to free up a spot on our list. Even without the knee reco, he would have struggled to get a game this year, let alone next year with Lever coming in.

If he retires I imagine there will be a settlement of an amount lower than his 2018 contract and only that amount will go against the cap.

It does seem a logical step. 

 

I've always liked what he brought to the side, even if sometimes I was a little over the top in my defence of him (sometimes intentionally).

He has been a great servant of our club, but the injury may have sealed his fate.  I'll echo WJ's comments and hope that this ends well for both parties and that he can still have a role to play at the MFC.

All the best, Col.

Good man that Colin Garland. From the Jack Trengove school of unlucky buggers.

13 minutes ago, demoniac said:

If he retires I imagine there will be a settlement of an amount lower than his 2018 contract and only that amount will go against the cap.

It does seem a logical step. 

 

It doesn't work that way because clubs could rort the cap. That's why the length of the Buddy to Sydney deal raised so many eyebrows. If he retired before the 9 years, his salary is still included in the cap.

will always remember when he went up forward against the bombers and snagged a few on the G in the bright lights

This is the result of the club not being willing to make a hard call on either King or Filipovic.

As a result a guy that could have been majorly important to Casey's chances of faring well next season is being cast aside for two guys who will be lucky to get a game at Casey this season. With no VFL development side this year, I hope they realise that one of our ruck back-up back-ups will be sitting watching each week.

And I hope that if they offer Garland a coaching contract, they also secure his services as a playing assistant coach at Casey under Rawlings. He was majorly missed down there this season.

 

3 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

This is the result of the club not being willing to make a hard call on either King or Filipovic.

As a result a guy that could have been majorly important to Casey's chances of faring well next season is being cast aside for two guys who will be lucky to get a game at Casey this season. With no VFL development side this year, I hope they realise that one of our ruck back-up back-ups will be sitting watching each week.

And I hope that if they offer Garland a coaching contract, they also secure his services as a playing assistant coach at Casey under Rawlings. He was majorly missed down there this season.

 

Not sure there is much sense to that post.  King was always going to get another year having shown some promise and only being one year removed from a knee reco.  Filipovic is irrelevant because he is on the rookie list and not taking up a list spot relevant to the Garland situation.    With Spencer being delisted, surely they will be able to play King and Filipovic in the same side anyway.

Col Garland. A good honest footballer and clubman.

Stiff to play your entire career and not play finals football. Will always be remembered fondly as a battler who tried his best.

I wish him well with his coaching.

Col is heading down the coaching and development path. He's been doing considerable work with our women's team.

Well respected. Wish him all the best.

No matter where it is Colin Garland will make a great addition to the coaching ranks. He is patient, reasoned, and pragmatic. Good luck to him. If he is involved with our AFLW side then they will be better off for it. Thank you for the service Colin.

Onya Judy

Always loved Col. An honest toiler and clubman with a gentle face, who went about his business with little fuss.

I'd love to see him play an ongoing role with MFC, as suggested with the women's team, that'd be awesome! 

And a pretty 'long leg' out of defence, as Bruce Mc-A-Vomit may put it. 

All the best, Judy!

I always knew he was shy, but I didn't realise he was retiring All the best, Col. As others have said, I hope a coaching gig can be worked out.

“I told my manager I didn’t want to speak to any other club, but it’s funny after seeing one of my great mates win a premiership on the weekend, because you have to be envious of success,” he said.

“I was watching the game and people said ‘wouldn’t you love success?' and I said ‘it wouldn’t mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne’

Col had his faults but was a demon through and through. Also loved the slight at good old chip

3 hours ago, mo64 said:

It doesn't work that way because clubs could rort the cap. That's why the length of the Buddy to Sydney deal raised so many eyebrows. If he retired before the 9 years, his salary is still included in the cap.

Think if it's retirement due to medical reasons then there's a 50% reduction on the life of the contract, so only half his salary would count next year.

Hope he stays on coaching for a few years if he is helping facilitate this

1 hour ago, qazwsx said:

“I told my manager I didn’t want to speak to any other club, but it’s funny after seeing one of my great mates win a premiership on the weekend, because you have to be envious of success,” he said.

“I was watching the game and people said ‘wouldn’t you love success?' and I said ‘it wouldn’t mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne’

Col had his faults but was a demon through and through. Also loved the slight at good old chip

You gotta love that quote from Big Col, never lost his cool through out all those bad years respect.

Another loyal Demon. I spoke to him in August and he was going well with rehab and expected to start in the late October preseason training. 

He is 100% Demon. Showed great fighting spirit despite our low spots.

Maybe Demons wanting to free up more salary cap room !!

I think Col could carve out a late career in Gaelic Footy. Has the shape and the motion.

back to the Lever thread, Watts and Judy out of my starting 18.... Anyone who thinks it's just a business has the soul of a Swiss bureaucrat.

Edited October 16, 20178 yr by DaisyDeeciple
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