Undeeterred

A lot extra money is speculation at this point. He might love Perth but that will be overriden by playing for a good team. And it's Goodwin's plan that he loves, not Roos'. Freo are stuffed. You say they're not like Carlton, maybe they're even worse. Carlton have at least admitted they need to reset and are starting to come out the other side. Freo aren't even close to bottoming out yet, let alone rebuilding.

I just can't see Hogan playing the next 5 years in a dismal Freo rebuild just to go home and make a bit of extra money. They are factors, but surely will be overriden in the end by the fact that Freo are in deep, deep [censored].

Done the rounds on this one already (I think even on this thread). Darling and Kennedy still have enough footy left in them that it would make it really hard to fit him in now. And I just can't see how they'd fit him under the cap.

Agreed. Carey will just calm him down I reckon, bring him back to earth a bit.

Yes, but it doesn't have to. There's no other player in the league contracted until the end of next year whose contract status anybody is even remotely discussing. I know he is important etc etc, but it's just a waste of energy! Anyway, rant over!

Yes please. It's so boring trawling through this thread to look for something that is actually relevant.

Are we really going to go round and round and round this for two whole years? Just enjoy watching him play footy for a while!

Double edged sword, I reckon. A couple of times he stops playing the ball and whinges at the umpires - that has to stop. Also had a couple of cracks at the delivery yesterday, which is fine, but not a great look when you're screaming at your teammates and throwing your arms in the air....

And after the coaching team had given him a rocket by sticking him in midfield so he would be forced to break out of a jog. If he led hard today, he could have kicked 6 no troubles.

I don't think so. Clearly the balance of power in this employer/employee relationship is with the employee. The same as every other organisation that is trying to retain the best talent - you have to be a place where people want to work...

So good to have players that the wider competition are noticing. Has been a while (see, eg, Jones being left out of top 50s his whole life despite being a beast). Can't wait to have Petracca back with Hogan, Brayshaw, Salem etc next year. I reckon we're really building and people will sit up and take proper notice soon.

Except the guy who got it over him is a FF/CHF. And I watched the GWS game. And Jesse's was far better. Jaded is right. The selectors are idiots.

Just saw the replay of that one hander. What a freakin' superstar this kid will be. Worth all the hype and more.

Wouldn't trade him for anyone, or really any combination of picks. Definitely not Fyfe. He's a bona fide star and the first we've had in a very long time.

Nope - that last one from the boundary line in the wet was a stunner.

Yet still leads the league in contested grabs.

He's just desperate to lead as well, which is fantastic for such a young bloke. Loves responsibility.

Was that the one we were up by about 45 points and beat them by 3 or something?

I know it is the deal, I'm not an idiot. But the 'deal' is just a construct, you can make a sport and a league work any way you want to. The last sentence is just your opinion. You might notice the EPL has pretty strong rights of ownership over players too. The only real difference is end of contract and I see no reason why players should be stopped from moving to the club of their choice, within some broad restrictions like not in the first couple of years, for example. That's just my opinion!

In fact, what would be much better is to do what most other world sports do and give the players the freedom to move when they want to, within very broad parameters. The idea of 'owning' the rights to players and therefore holding them hostage is ludicrous. The idea of my employer being able to direct which competitor I can and can't work for is just laughable and I'm yet to hear a good reason why footballers should be any different.

Geez Collingwood are turds. They're perfectly willing to pillage our player who wants out for personal reasons when it suits, but when their own player wants out, they tell him basically to get stuffed and tell Brisbane he is worth more than a pick 4. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/collingwoods-beams-in-bid-to-go-home-20140924-10lkmt.html I hope the karma bus drives straight over the top of the lot of them.

Nup - he's far silkier than Watson.

Well, it is a small picture, short term memory kind of place.

Anybody else aware he's played about 7 games?? How bout we suspend judgement until he's got 20-30 under the belt.

When I saw the title, I thought maybe Neeld had wandered down to Casey and let him have it there too...