hemingway

I actually think that Preuss is the more important pick up in terms of back up and game day options

Hmmm, and here am I thinking that this is all a bit of fictional fun!

Inanimate objects ?

Clearly the case, given the players love for the man. You have to have something going for you to gain the love and respect of your playing group. I always thought that Goody lacked emotional intelligence but clearly I am wrong and as you say he keeps the important stuff in house and feeds the media with media speak.

It gives you a nice warm feeling when you hear May's comments. A coach that the players love, finals success, a destination club etc etc. Its like a new club. But Goodwin is at the centre of it all.

Uncle, when you stand up in a court of law to answer the charges or offences, it will be difficult to argue a defence of "apparently but not consciously" your Honour. Particularly, once all the witnesses have been called, both participants and observers. You might want to talk to Red who probably went to school with the Judge. And you better hope the Judge is not of the fairer sex. Otherwise you will get a life sentence. Then you will have to entertain yourself in the privacy of your own nice little cell. Although probably not very different from what you get up to in your dungeon at the Manor.

Which open marriage Uncle, I have had a few. Its mainly about disappointment, recriminations, sadness, unrequited desire, selfishness, jealously with a little bit of shame thrown in at the end. Need to know more?

I remember how good I felt when I saw Big Carl run out in Demon Colours for the first time. We finally had a guy to scare the pants off the opposition. Ray Biffen did also but he created mayhem in the goal square whereas Big Carl was like a marauding Hannibal coming down from the Alps. We are developing a take no prisoners team.

Love seeing a rough tough mean looking head in Demon colours.

I had forgotten how exciting and interesting this thread was until I sneaked on board to have a look. Very reassuring that you are back talking about bananas. So reassuring in these troubled times.

I must admit to feeling completely cold and indifferent to this trade. Usually I feel emotionally tied to players and always hate to see them go. Not a criticism of Jesse just the way I feel. And the Club has gone about its business in an entirely professional manner.

Standards have slipped. But when you look at what else is on, perhaps this is not so bad. No just reflective of the general standard of daily TV. Lowest common denominator. And the sad thing is..........people will watch it.

mate, he did not want to play for us and would have been gone in 12 months. they had no choice but to trade him out

your full of joy and positivity

Good that the deal has been done. Despite his talent, it was always been what he could do for us. He had some good games but overall his contribution was patchy at best, when we could get him on the paddock. He has not been the worth the coin he was being paid and certainly not worth more based on his performance. Sick of the constant speculation around this guy. We are building a team where everyone has a role. We were not building a team around one player.

exactly RBMB.

Agreed if Hogan has made it clear that he will not be at Melbourne beyond 2019. Mahoney is between a rock and a hard place. So I would not judge him on the Hogan scenario. The best deal possible depends entirely on what other parties want or are prepared to give up.

just gets worse, reason to call the trade off.

Its the first name that worries me.

Anyone who has participated in negotiation knows that once the bargaining process is well advanced or moving to a critical point there is enormous psychological pressure to get the deal done. Previous bargaining strategies are altered and what you are prepared to offer or accept changes. No-one wants to walk away without a resolution, knowing that at sometime down the track the differences need to be resolved. I expect this is the case here. Which is another reason why I think the parties will get the Hogan deal done.

I like this Daisy, it explains everything.

Agreed Diamond

A useful iteration thanks DJ. I suppose my main point is that recently we have had a whole string of ""go home"" reasons and if devalues the importance or even relevance of a contract, unless you have the application of basic minimum standards. Despite your comments, unless you have some consequences for breaking a contract, the latter becomes just a memorandum of understanding without any legal force. Perhaps the Kelly case is more to the point where you have a club and its supporters envisaging a 2019 season and beyond with a gun player and then overnight he's gone. Geelong have reason to feel cheated irrespective of the reasons.

What is the worth of a contract in terms of tenure? Not much if you consider what has been happening recently. The emotional notion of a player wanting to "go home"" seems to be an acceptable reason and clubs take a pragmatic view that they do not want to keep a player who is not committed. This encourages the club to get a good trade deal. In other words, clubs become opportunistic in their view of the whole thing. One thing feeds the other. How do you change this behaviour or indeed do you want to? My point is that if you think contracts are important then you need to hold both parties to his terms at least in regard to tenure. Otherwise, the whole contract thing is a charade, and not worth the paper its written on. Signing a player for a specific period of time is meaningless. The only way for this to change is for clubs -not to recruit interstate players so that the go home factor does not become an issue. -include further provisions in the contract that make it clear that both parties will be held to its terms other than in the case of death or disability -include cost penalty provisions where a party is in breach. -to ensure that all clubs hold to the terms of the contract and not take the expedient view of trading out the unhappy player. These suggestions may appear unrealistic but the alternative is to have an industry where the importance of contracts becomes totally devalued, thereby destabilizing player lists, club planning and coaching strategies. There is acceptance by supporters that top players become targets for other clubs and that players can try and get the best deal for themselves. Yet at the same time, supporters will become disillusioned if there is the sense that players can just move club at the drop of a hat, on the grounds that they want to go home. Sure they can go home but consistent with the terms of their contract.

It appears to be an open marriage But in my experience, it rarely works, as one side or the other feels jilted and cheated. However, sometimes it allows each side to see that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. And when they munch on that green grass it can be downright disappointing.