rpfc

Yes, he should. There is a huge difference between being competitive and hating failure and losing all confidence and not coping with failure. Toumpas' heart is in this, which was the point GTG was making, but he cannot seem to function when things are not going well, when he fails. He needs to tell himself that if he does fail as a footy player - life will go on, it isn't the end of his worth as a person - don't be afraid of that eventuality. Now go and try to make something of your career, knowing you won't be defined by it.

Save it to your favourites - if you use the site map back to the list of boards - you will see it there.

Well, I know a number on here feel the same as you... Chalk it up to GroupThink © I guess, so I don't have to think about it anymore...

No digging in of the heels: So the player can stay on those demands or leave through the draft. Or be traded like any OOC player.

Perhaps this should be on the general board...

I was very worried about this - the first test of the Restricted aspect of the Free Agency package brought in three years ago. Eventually, a team would have a player that wishes to leave for a contract that they would be happy to meet: Patrick Dangerfield $4.8m over 6 years. If this were the NBA, the Crows would have 'met' those terms and Danger Mouse would still be a Crow for another 6 years. That is how their RFA works. The AFL's version has meant that the club has to trade that player or risk losing him for nothing in the draft - essentially the same as an OOC player like Howe will face if he is adamant to leave the Dees. So RFA in the AFL is meaningless. An avenue for a club to keep a star player on the players terms - the reason why the NBA has it - is mitigated. The players have to forfeit some power in the new landscape or we will continue to have a lopsided competition. They don't even have to forfeit this - I would fight to take away their Trade Veto - that would make the game a great deal fairer. But the players should be careful no to ruin the game they profit from...

Well, they have installed the pre-cursor to that with Sydney's hamfisted restriction on trading the last two years and now their max $450k contract stipulation for new players. So that might be a chance to happen.

I can see a problem with accusing a number of people with the same view point of groupthink... Frankly, it's an easy out for an individual who shares a view with a minority of people to simply dismiss the majority of having 'goupthink.' State a case, defend it, let people decide, change your mind if the facts demand it, or stick to what you think. Rinse and repeat.

For those that are not aware - every year Demonland has a Draft and Trading Board usually named after a pun of some sort. This year it is the Taylor Made Trade and Draft Board (named after our head recruiter who has a pretty decent strike rate at the minute it has to be said...) Link here: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/forum/36-the-taylor-made-trade-and-draft-board/ So if you are wondering why there is nothing on here about drafting, trading, etc - it's over there...

Yes. Yes it is.

Clever. For a second there I thought I was in the Harley Bennell thread...

Ok, mate. Go and tell Jimmy Toumpas that. Productive.

Hey...

Alright then, spend the rest of the day posting in Shakesperean English...

Not a big fan of the creeping lack of respect that has risen up about players of late. Maybe we do it this odiously every year - I am just not a big fan TBH. Don't see the need for it.

Please don't say "me thinks"... I don't mind some petulance but it was so odious at times - just needs to be more subtle with how he reacts to delivery (not like Richo) and the umpires (not like Jack Riewoldt)...

You don't have to play AFL, it's not the highest of all callings as some on here think it is.

We did. Howe didn't agree to go to GWS and to be fair to Jeremy - they were running around in a panic on the last day looking for anything and everything. Can you make a life altering decision that affects other people in a few hours of notice?

And Martin.

It read it as we were selling and not getting near the price we were hoping for. Frankly, good! I don't like the idea of just getting rid of someone just to get rid of them. Watts isn't a cancer, he's a player with elite skills and some fundamental flaws but just came off his best year. String 5 months together like the two he had this year and he will be a valuable role player on a flank.

Wow, what a question. I don't think that has even been thought of at AFL HQ - not writing things down allows them to make something up that best suits the narrative that plays better in the media so I really cannot tell you. But it isn't written down anywhere... I would say they will allow him to name different contract terms if he enters the draft, as it will give Geelong the best chance to grab him, and really the AFL wants the player to go wherever he wants to go so that the PFA doesn't have 'Restraint of Trade' fit.

That midfield needs talent - if like the Roos we are too heavy on inside mids - then we can find some outside players. On the scale of 'problems to have' it's a step up from where we are...

If you get players like this for relatively nothing then fine, but excited I am not.