Just click the link mate, and not worry about it for a while.
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I reckon he'll stay. Here's why:
1. This is now VERY public that we "don't want him" at the dogs.
2. We've said we won't just give him away.
3. Telling everyone that we're so keen to get rid of him isn't going to get them to offer up a pick based on his potential (which is a very early pick... let's face it, he's already been All Australian and is in the top 15 goal kickers in the past 3 years, and half of that time he's been "down" on performance. His potential is huge). Teams will offer up discounted picks.
4. We're now saying that it's not irreparable.
I think we won't get an offer we're willing to accept and we're just using this process as a kick up the arse for Jake and for the rest of the team. Hopefully he joins Libba back at pre-season 2 weeks early.
He's gone MrM. Best you get over it.
He's not your typical mudium forward either.
Gary Ablett wasn't a tall. If Geelong had traded him under the same circumstances as we are trading Stringer (and I'm now no longer convinced he's gone after reading Bevo's statement, that's an easy statement to walk back on. Bevo could have said it much differently. He chose those words carefully) they would have got the earth.
Stringer is worth one, if not two first round draft picks. If we don't get what we want Jake will play for us next year.
So now that its in the open lets sort this mess out!
There a few side and longer terms games at play here.
As others have eluded, next years draft, we will need picks for our F/S. so lets look at building for that draft.
To me that means Letting Jake stay and him going under free agency next year, keeping our draft intact next year, OR alternatively swapping for picks next year, I'm certain a team like Carlton, who lets be honest have one of the most dismal forward lines in the land are crying out for a Jake, they will throw up their 1st rounder from next year as well as a combo of 2nd rounder swaps
That leaves us in the hole this year, and makes keeping Crameri a great option, He's pretty much the same player as Jake in terms of final output, out net gain/loss is minimal from an on field perspective.
It does however give us a massive salary cap advantage! lets hope we can exploit that at some stage!
That rarely happens. Out of contract players get traded to their club of choice, generally with a minimum of fuss and the existing team getting bent over.
The time to trade a player is when they are under contract, especially when there are suitors with money to throw around for trade targets.