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Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
So who's ready to send in 20c with me?
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...27-1muabc.html
While his brother Daniel is already an All Australian with the Adelaide Crows, Western Bulldog Michael Talia is playing himself into a healthy new contract.
Talia's strong season continued on Sunday when he held Adelaide captain Taylor Walker to a goal and five marks in the Bulldogs' stunning 57-point win at Etihad Stadium.
While the Dogs had a tough afternoon against Hawthorn in round three, a week earlier Talia had held Richmond star Jack Riewoldt to only two goals, including just three disposals and one mark in the first half, as the Dogs surged to victory.
Talia was out of favour at the Whitten Oval last year, managing just the three senior matches, after receiving a Rising Star nomination in 2013.
However, under new coach Luke Beveridge, he has flourished, and provided the Dogs with the key-position tall they had craved to work alongside vice-captain Jordan Roughead.
The Dogs had hoped Talia would emerge through the pre-season, with Beveridge saying his club could no longer rely on veteran Dale Morris to be an undersized key-position option.
Morris was absent through injury on Sunday, while Talia was instrumental in curbing one of the league's most potent forwards.
Talia's ability to also provide rebound will help him personally, for he is off contract at the end of the season. Should his strong season continue, industry sources believe he could command between $400,000 and $450,000 a season.
His manager, James Pitcher, of Precision Sports and Entertainment Group, had preliminary discussions with the Dogs over summer, with both parties content to wait before opening serious negotiations.
While he is still learning his craft, with just 20 matches to his credit, Talia is the same height as Richmond's Alex Rance - regarded as the league's premier defender - but is three kilograms lighter. Talia is 22, while the out-of-contract Rance, set to command more than $700,000 a season, turns 26 in October.
Talia could decide to sign a short-term contract, if it's felt his improvement trajectory could continue to be at a rapid pace.
Heading into another test against Sydney on Saturday, Beveridge said he had been delighted with Talia's improvement.
"He's just getting better every week," Beveridge said.
"He's accumulating from an offensive point of view, but he's getting the job done defensive. We were really happy with his game.
"His teammates are working for him and getting into space for him. I'm really happy with the way he's using the footy."
- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
He was also a Bulldogs supporter and has strong family ties to the club.
Can't see him going anywhere.
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
I hope we don't just think he'll stay because he follows the club.
Remember thinking the same with Ward.
We've had only a small sample size, but Talia's form has been a godsend .
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Originally Posted by
Remi Moses
I hope we don't just think he'll stay because he follows the club.
Remember thinking the same with Ward.
Ward was an Essendon supporter who idolized Kevin Sheedy growing up.
Sheedy was at GWS when he jumped ship
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
If he keeps performing then great. If we keep performing as a team, we won't have to sell him anything as good money and good mates on a trajectory to the pointy end of future Septembers will do the selling for us.
Realistically, we could try to back end the deal if we assume some of Bob, Boyd, Picken or Morris retire by the end of next year and free up some cap space.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Wasn't he a Carlton supporter growing up?
The curse is dead.
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Pretty sure Michael followed the Doggies as a kid but his brother followed someone else, (maybe Collingwood) even though their Grandfather Harvey Stevens played in the 54 premiership and Harvey's father Arthur also played for the bulldogs. (64 games). Arthur was a ruckman and played for Victoria as well. Harvey did play for Collingwood before joining the dogs including in their 1952 Grand final team.
Pretty good pedigree.
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Michael barracked for the Bulldogs, Daniel barracked for Carlton.
Western Bulldogs: We exist to win premierships
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chef thanked for this post
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Originally Posted by
Greystache
Michael barracked for the Bulldogs, Daniel barracked for Carlton.
Tom Boyd barracked for Carlton....
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
He is looking very much like the player we have hoped he will become. We will sign him before seasons end I think (I hope).
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Originally Posted by
bulldogtragic
Tom Boyd barracked for Carlton....
Bonts barracked for Richmond
If you kicked five goals and Tom Boyd kicked five goals, Tom Boyd kicked more goals than you.
Formerly gogriff
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Geez I envisage a Geelong pay cut scenario at some stage to keep these boys together for a few flags. Hopefully we get one or two out of them first before the wolves come baying.
But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Originally Posted by
1eyedog
Geez I envisage a Geelong pay cut scenario at some stage to keep these boys together for a few flags. Hopefully we get one or two out of them first before the wolves come baying.
I think we're well positioned for that. We have a huge concentration of guys around a similar age that are growing up together and socialising outside of football. They have a lot of character and are making the club their own and building something special. I think a lot of them will want to hang around to see it through, even if it means taking slightly less money than they could have earned elsewhere
Success draws people in, Sydney added Tippett and Hawthorn added Frawley right after winning flags as opposed to having an exodus of players who won a flag then went elsewhere for a larger pay day
If you kicked five goals and Tom Boyd kicked five goals, Tom Boyd kicked more goals than you.
Formerly gogriff
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Pffft, clearly a planted piece of information and subsequent article.
If his market value according to his manager is $400-450, then a three year deal at $450 into 2 x $350 is the most we'll have to worry about.
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Re: Bulldog Michael Talia set for a healthy pay day
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Bonts barracked for Richmond
So did Bob.