Seagulls put money where their mouth is

[aker39]

This was posted on another site, but I couldn't recall reading anything about it here.

http://maribyrnong-leader.whereilive...s-rookie-list/

WILLIAMSTOWN believes in Liam Picken and is prepared to put up money that he will make it as an AFL player.
The Seagulls have confirmed they gave $20,000 to their VFL partner the Western Bulldogs to help pay for the cost of having him on their rookie list.
“We think it’s a very good investment in Liam and for our alignment with the Bulldogs,” Willy general manager Brendan Curry said.
“It will be money well spent. We’ve got enormous faith in him. He’s ready to step up.”
Liam is the son of former Collingwood champion Billy and shared Willy’s best and fairest last year. He was also selected in the VFL team of the year.
While his father was a centre half back, Liam is a midfielder/flanker who can play run-with roles and go forward to kick goals.
Perseverance put him on AFL list.
“He’s been playing in the VFL for four years and he’s developed from a scrawny little country kid into a really good VFL player,” Curry said.
“We think he’s going to be a great success story and come through the system and be a good player for the Bulldogs.’’
Curry said he was sure the Bulldogs were sold on Picken before Williamstown showed them the money.
Willy intend to set aside $20,000 each year to help the Western Bulldogs pay for a rookie selected from a VFL club.
“He doesn’t have to be a Williamstown player. If we see a guy we think warrants being on an AFL list, as we did with Liam Picken, we’ll give him an opportunity,” Curry said.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Thanks Aker. That's great. Good on 'em.

[Dancin' Douggy]

PS. Always loved Billy Picken and his tongue out marking style

[Sockeye Salmon]

PS. Always loved Billy Picken and his tongue out marking style

And his commentary

[lemmon]

Well done Willi its a big investment for a VFL club lets hope Liam and the dogs repay the faith.

[soupman]

Very impressive commitment from Williamstown. I guess this means every year from now on we'll be acquiring a VFL player for our rookie list. I like the idea of giving those guys a second chance, I'm betting Pod's is annoyed this didn't come about 8 years earlier.

[Bulldog Revolution]

So thats the second son of Billy we've had on the list

I hope his is a more positive contribution that the last

[Cyberdoggie]

Very impressive commitment from Williamstown. I guess this means every year from now on we'll be acquiring a VFL player for our rookie list. I like the idea of giving those guys a second chance, I'm betting Pod's is annoyed this didn't come about 8 years earlier.

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but the way i see it, williamstown would rather Picken stayed with Williamstown/Bulldogs than go to another afl team rookie list and end up playing for say Coburg. So the money that they would be paying Picken anyway as part of his salary is given to the bulldogs so they can keep him on their playing list as well.

[LostDoggy]

Local paper says they also got ex Pies Chris Egan

[mighty_west]

Local paper says they also got ex Pies Chris Egan

Willy have lost alot of players since last season, so Egan is a good get.

[mighty_west]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but the way i see it, williamstown would rather Picken stayed with Williamstown/Bulldogs than go to another afl team rookie list and end up playing for say Coburg. So the money that they would be paying Picken anyway as part of his salary is given to the bulldogs so they can keep him on their playing list as well.

Thats one way of looking at it, but it seems a win/win for both clubs, without that money from Willy, the Dogs would have gone in one less rookie, and given Pickens excellent work ethic, like with Morris & Boyd, will hopefully forge a very good career at the Whitten Oval.

[soupman]

Thats one way of looking at it, but it seems a win/win for both clubs, without that money from Willy, the Dogs would have gone in one less rookie, and given Pickens excellent work ethic, like with Morris & Boyd, will hopefully forge a very good career at the Whitten Oval.

And building upon that, Williamstown get a talented VFL player for quite probably less than they would have to pay on the open market.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I don't think we had this kind of relationship down at Werribee.

I hope this works out to be another M.Boyd.

[mighty_west]

I don't think we had this kind of relationship down at Werribee.

I hope this works out to be another M.Boyd.

Not at all, there always seemed to be an us verses them thing going down at The Bee's.

[soupman]

I don't think we had this kind of relationship down at Werribee.

I hope this works out to be another M.Boyd.

Or a Sam Fisher preferably.