rjay

I see this argument used a lot but I'm not so sure it holds up or is as easy to make as many say. I think players are bound by the conditions of the AFL and are contracted as such. In effect the AFL are really the employers, the clubs are divisions or franchise holders if you like. An employer can move people around in the organisation but of course the employee has the ultimate say and can leave. If a player doesn't like it then he could move to the VAFL, WAFL or other organisation. It's not as simple as a restraint of trade, it's just the other organisations don't have the prestige and money of being employed in the AFL. There maybe other legal precedents that could be argued, I would have to defer to the legal minds on this but I don't think restraint of trade would be the problem. The players still have a choice as we all do within reason.

I don't know about everyone else but I used to think a contract meant something. In fact back in the day a mans word was his bond. ...but now it seems you just sign a contract and abandon it when it no longer suits. The Beams thing is the last straw for me. In Hogan's case, those saying that if he stays we need a long term commitment. He might as well sign on for 5 years and boot off next year if he feels like it. It's definitely time that clubs are able to trade players in contract to wherever the club wants. At least that would put some value back in the contract.

I prefer the current F/S system and points for the academy kids but don't like the academy system. I think the academies should only be for NSW & Qld as previously. They need to develop their areas and get homegrown talent in to grow the sport. Because a few good ones like Heeney and Miles came through the Melbourne clubs started jumping up & down. The system as it stands now is a nonsense. For the betterment of the game it needs to be scraped.

Sydney.... A bit like Buddy it was always Sydney not GWS. Freo are the new GWS, Hogan is bound for Sydney. ...there you go 'sue', that should get the 300 easily.

I reckon Roosy would have given the inside mail to Dew...he is a Dom fan. The terms would want to be very good for him to make the move though.

Well you aren't correct, there are other clubs interested and one would surprise.

You are underselling him, at his best he would be way ahead of Smith. However... @Pennant St Dee I'm interested in your reply on this thread. I think I know what it will be but maybe there has been a big revelation and he is a changed man. If so hard to see why Freo would dump him now...

There were a couple of well known "rousers of rabble" on the site for a while...I guess some are pointing to a similar posting style. Does it really matter? Probably not...

Love Robbie Gray but at 31yo start of next season if you look at the Lewis & Mitchell trades he would be worth peanuts on the trade table. Pick 51/87 or a trade for Garlett should get it done... ...and yes I'm not serious but I don't think Port are either.

I don't think we will be chasing Kelly...let someone else pay way overs for him. We have a couple of our own we will need to secure in the next couple of seasons.

Doing a reverse Clark...

He has some solid interest in Melbourne so unless the GC are going to give him an exceptional deal he won't be headed there. Players still have control of where they go under present AFL rules and as much as we may like to package a deal Dom still has the final say.

I know that he has had some interest whether anything comes to pass is yet to be seen. As for your insiders/outsiders point I'm not so sure they agree with that in clubland. Despite what is said by many on here Dom can play and will easily find a home.

I wouldn't bet on it... It might be option 3, other clubs expressing interest. i think it's bit of all 3...

Petty is a different type of player, intercept mark, zone off and still very immature in a football sense. Keilty is nowhere near the class off May and I think even his brother would agree with this. They would not be even close to playing a similar role to May.

He has interest from Victorian clubs so I would think if the trade & deal is right he will be on the move. He is a good player, it's just our list has similar types and the FD are backing others ahead of him. Will be a good addition at a club that he suits (clubs with plenty of outside run to cover) as he was for us when he first came on board.

Perfect pick up for Port...

Good luck trying to get a fair deal from the clown Josh...

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Ryan O'Keefe. Wanted to leave Sydney, was out the door but they couldn't agree on a trade, ended up staying and went on to win the Norm & a Premiership. Not everything is black & white...but we do hold the cards.

As Roos said a few weeks back the media and football industry in general can be like sheep...the whole thing gains momentum and they just tag on and then we get this almost hysteria about it (whatever the issue is)... Think the Carlton priority pick scenario as a recent example. The media built it up from maybe to a roar that they must apply and would be certain to bet a priority pick they would be mad not to apply. The AFL commission knocked it down...for good reason. ...and it all died down.

We could still get a reasonable pick. St Kilda have players on the move so their picks will change, it's not static. We could also have access to future picks or Kent's move could be linked in to our KK deal...

They will have the Gaff money...so I would expect salary cap may not be an issue.

I think he has the upside of someone like Yeo... A pretty convincing reason to buy.

Yep, I think we're on the same track. I just wouldn't put him with the others on the list. I think he has some good exposed form, the others really didn't. They were more spec picks... The spec here is whether he can get over the previous injuries. I'm excited about him as a prospect, I was trying to think who we could bring in without going down the big fish path. There had to be someone out there that would be a perfect fit for us and I think the FD uncovered him.

I wouldn't put KK in either of these categories. He's a much better player than all listed. He has played quality footy but injury has been an issue, in the first list none of those had proven form apart from the odd game for a couple of them. He's certainly nothing like Watts and that acquisition. Jack got nowhere near top 2 in our b&f good or bad years. The bet with KK is nothing to do with form and more to do with getting him injury free and confident in his body.