Player Contract Status

[G-Mo77]

We're taking the piss if we're signing guys like TOB.

[whythelongface]

We're taking the piss if we're signing guys like TOB.

But we need players like O’Brien for cover. We can’t get rid of every fringe player and replace them with potentially another fringe player who is untested at this level. Thus we are limited in the number of effective list changes we can make. May as well keep on a player or two that we know can cover, to some degree, in the event of injury.

[G-Mo77]

But we need players like O’Brien for cover. We can’t get rid of every fringe player and replace them with potentially another fringe player who is untested at this level. Thus we are limited in the number of effective list changes we can make. May as well keep on a player or two that we know can cover, to some degree, in the event of injury.

And untested player might be better. O'Brien is no good now and won't improve at all.

[bulldogtragic]

And untested player might be better. O'Brien is no good now and won't improve at all.

Often injured too. Not much of a back up in the rehab group. Might need a back up for him.

[whythelongface]

And untested player might be better. O'Brien is no good now and won't improve at all.

True about the untested player but given the amount of players that could be turned over (up to 12) there will be a number of misses. Whilst we think that TOB is no good at least we know he can play at AFL level as a depth player. An unknown quantity is just that and you are unlikely to play that player in the event of injury. Hence you need players like O’Brien as cover (as much as we may not like it). Thus I see no issue giving a few players like this rolling one year contracts.

[Bullies]

True about the untested player but given the amount of players that could be turned over (up to 12) there will be a number of misses. Whilst we think that TOB is no good at least we know he can play at AFL level as a depth player. An unknown quantity is just that and you are unlikely to play that player in the event of injury. Hence you need players like O’Brien as cover (as much as we may not like it). Thus I see no issue giving a few players like this rolling one year contracts.

He was at Hawks for nearly 10 years and was no good there. He is one ordinary footballer. He is what is known as a list clogger and gets paid for it. Bad move by the club if they leave him on the list.

[whythelongface]

He was at Hawks for nearly 10 years and was no good there. He is one ordinary footballer. He is what is known as a list clogger and gets paid for it. Bad move by the club if they leave him on the list.

I don’t disagree but you can’t get rid of all ‘list cloggers’ in one full swoop unless there are players out there that are more needs based. Whilst he may be an average footballer he can still play a role if called upon. Similar to others that have been mentioned eg Duryea, McNeill etc definitely need to get rid of some but you can’t get rid of all. Every club is in the same boat and will always have players that are deemed not good enough on the list (but can potentially play a role). You can’t just have a list of developing players or young recruits from 22 to 44, you need experienced players that aren’t good enough to be regulars to help balance the list and can brought in on an as required basis - hence I get the need to sign a player like O’Brien whether I personally like the decision or not. Hopefully in time we get better quality back up players - not easy to manage and there will always be criticisms as to whom is retained and not.

[ledge]

I don’t disagree but you can’t get rid of all ‘list cloggers’ in one full swoop unless there are players out there that are more needs based. Whilst he may be an average footballer he can still play a role if called upon. Similar to others that have been mentioned eg Duryea, McNeill etc definitely need to get rid of some but you can’t get rid of all. Every club is in the same boat and will always have players that are deemed not good enough on the list (but can potentially play a role). You can’t just have a list of developing players or young recruits from 22 to 44, you need experienced players that aren’t good enough to be regulars to help balance the list and can brought in on an as required basis - hence I get the need to sign a player like O’Brien whether I personally like the decision or not. Hopefully in time we get better quality back up players - not easy to manage and there will always be criticisms as to whom is retained and not.

Pretty simple really . You delist a player for a better player, if no better player is around you keep them .
Especially if you need experience and are in the “ premiership window “
We are in mid space at the moment our up and coming stars ( which I believe will be a great group) are still young and learning, so in the next two years they will start hitting their peak . We have the next two drafts/ trades to get fast , hard mids to compliment them.

[Happy Days]

If we re-sign O’Brien I will not be attending games he is selected for. Gotta have some self respect at some point.

[hujsh]

Pretty simple really . You delist a player for a better player, if no better player is around you keep them .
Especially if you need experience and are in the “ premiership window “
We are in mid space at the moment our up and coming stars ( which I believe will be a great group) are still young and learning, so in the next two years they will start hitting their peak . We have the next two drafts/ trades to get fast , hard mids to compliment them.

If that was our approach we'd never draft players with potential and would just load up with state league players and maybe first rounders. Sometimes it's appropriate to cut players loose for the chance their replacement can show something more longer term.

[Go_Dogs]

Sammy Power has flagged that there won't be a lot of changes to the list given we are only looking to draft in 2 to 4 players and I assume add 2 more via trades.

If that holds true then there will be a few 1 year deals offered to the players coming out of contract.

But we need players like O’Brien for cover. We can’t get rid of every fringe player and replace them with potentially another fringe player who is untested at this level. Thus we are limited in the number of effective list changes we can make. May as well keep on a player or two that we know can cover, to some degree, in the event of injury.

It’s an interesting debate / approach here.

While we need to turn the list over, we do need some coverage and depth across most areas. While TOB has been disappointing in the games he’s played and his injury history not good either, he can play roles at either end of the ground. I suspect Bruce deciding to pull the pin (different roles I know) and Darcy also struggling with injury have made this decision for us.

Personally I don’t like it as I’d like to see depth players pushing for the 22 regularly and actually staying on the park for most of the year.

On the broader issue of how much we should turn the list over, while we may not have a bunch of early picks, at some point we need to back in our talent identification and target players with some key attributes who also have some development areas and back ourselves in to turn them into AFL players. We seem gun shy here. Every post won’t be a winner but if we can add one 100 game plus player out if 3 late selections that would be an amazing result. Too often we’re keeping blokes for a few years who we know won’t do that, and then using late picks of blokes who are good allrounders at VFL level but lack any genuine AFL attribute.

[Throughandthrough]

If we re-sign O’Brien I will not be attending games he is selected for. Gotta have some self respect at some point.

Renew your membership. Won’t need to miss any matches

[G-Mo77]

TOB and McComb gone. Good decision.

[jeemak]

Add Raak to that.

[kruder]

I can understand the recruitment of TOB, we have been in desperate need of an interceptor but it just didn't work out. Raak and McComb on the other hand have never had AFL attributes, I see those decisions in a very different light.