hemingway

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.

Can't help but feel that the whole circus is unseemly and almost indecent. Like a group of men haggling over a parade of prostitutes on a street corner with the pimps (player managers) urging on the suitors with their hands out for the shekels. The authorities/police (the AFL) pass by and turn a blind eye to it because they get kickbacks. Its a win win for all. But everyone is demeaned in the process. The unholy alliance between the media, the AFL, the clubs and the players all prosper as everyone seek to have their senses and desires satisfied. However, over time, the greed and the behaviour corrupts the decency and indeed the culture of the game. The sad thing is that it is just going to get a lot worse in the future. .

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.

Fair point DJ. Your comment about Riewoldt is also fair. Some footballers can turn it around but many don't. That's the dilemma with Hogan. Unfortunately, its not about equivalent trade. I wish it was. I agree that getting May for Hogan and another pick does not seem equitable. However, Hogan has indicated a desire to return home and will not extend his contract beyond 2018, suggesting that if he does not go now, he will go in 12 months. Like others, I would love for Hogan to stay but at the same time don't see the point of having him around only for another season when he has telegraphed his intentions. Hogan returning for only one more season is the worst of all scenarios, unless you speculate that he will help win a flag in 2019. So you go to the May trade scenario. The Club obviously believes that is our best possible deal. However, May is not of equivalent vale. Its simply about getting the best trade possible and avoiding the predicament that Hogan stays for another season knowing that he is gone in 12 months.

Hogan will never be a defender. He does not play like one, his defensive pressure is poor, he has a turning circle like the Queen Mary and his second efforts are non existent. He is simply not agile enough. Put him down back with Oscar? I don’t think so. Poor old Nev would have to cover both. A gun forward who could kick 100 placed down back for team balance playing on forwards with half his capability. Hogan would be delighted! How to demotivate a player in one move. Your playing at CHB this season son for reasons of team balance. That ok? Don’t worry you will still get 850k per year. Take it for the team!

A ridiculous proposition.

Red, he would call it "constructive lying""

How the wheel turns. He left Melbourne as the best thing since sliced bread. Who would want to play for crappy old Melbourne when you get more money and success at GWS. He would return to Hawthorn as just another professional footballer plying his trade. Karma. No premierships, no medals, just a millionaire!

Perhaps the biggest get. I spent a good part of the year worrying about Max going down. Every time I saw him in a heap on the ground, I would look to see if he got up without a limp or injury. We were seriously exposed without a backup ruckman particularly at finals time. Just hope that Preuss has what it takes.

Modesty Lucifer, that's your game, also Red. Leave bragging rights and egos to the rabble.

The now fractured family club

Always on the cards

What entertainment. Anyone taking this circus seriously needs to join my psychotherapy group. I recommend it.