James Fantasia

[GVGjr]

I've read a lot of criticism and frustration leveled at Eade, Smorgon and the players but nothing directed to the Football Operations Manager. How does Fantasia escape the same level of scrutiny?
No doubt he has done some good things at the club but we have bungled a couple of trades since Clayton left and now we are having a bad run so surely Fantasia should be put under the microscope as well.

[Sedat]

Excellent thread topic GVGjr.

Fantasia is largely derided by Adelaide supporters for being a poor recruiter, and I personally struggle to come up with anything of value he has brought to the table at the Dogs other than to lighten Rocket's non-core footy load (which to be fair was out of control in 2007, so someone was needed to fill this role).

Upgrading Mulligan and giving a fringe player like DJ a 3 year deal rank among the more ridiculous decisions that Fantasia has signed off on - 3 years!! I don't think DJ has even played 3 games in the last 3 years.

He certainly didn't handle the Lake contract negotiations particularly well either to be honest. Clayton's expert contract negotiation skills have been missed as sorely as his eye for talent, perhaps even more so.

When it was Rocket and Clayton together, I had supreme confidence during trade week that we won't get reamed (we never did) and that we will keep everyone we want to - I don't feel anywhere near as confident with Fantasia and Dalrymple behind the wheel alongside Rocket.

[chef]

Excellent thread topic GVGjr.

Fantasia is largely derided by Adelaide supporters for being a poor recruiter, and I personally struggle to come up with anything of value he has brought to the table at the Dogs other than to lighten Rocket's non-core footy load (which to be fair was out of control in 2007, so someone was needed to fill this role).

Upgrading Mulligan and giving a fringe player like DJ a 3 year deal rank among the more ridiculous decisions that Fantasia has signed off on - 3 years!! I don't think DJ has even played 3 games in the last 3 years.

He certainly didn't handle the Lake contract negotiations particularly well either to be honest. Clayton's expert contract negotiation skills have been missed as sorely as his eye for talent, perhaps even more so.

When it was Rocket and Clayton together, I had supreme confidence during trade week that we won't get reamed (we never did) and that we will keep everyone we want to - I don't feel anywhere near as confident with Fantasia and Dalrymple behind the wheel alongside Rocket.

The even crazier thing is we even traded for him when we could have just picked him up for nothing.

[Sockeye Salmon]

The even crazier thing is we even traded for him when we could have just picked him up for nothing.

Had we kept pick 57 I know we would have selected Schofield anyway, so no harm done.

[boydogs]

Had we kept pick 57 I know we would have selected Schofield anyway, so no harm done.

I thought Puopolo was above Schofield on our list, but was taken at 66 by Hawthorn before we selected Schofield at 74

[GVGjr]

Had we kept pick 57 I know we would have selected Schofield anyway, so no harm done.

It's not really the point. The fact is the mistake shouldn't have been made and Fantasia should have made sure it wasn't.

[chef]

Had we kept pick 57 I know we would have selected Schofield anyway, so no harm done.

That depends on who we would have taken with pick 74.

[Sockeye Salmon]

That depends on who we would have taken with pick 74.

Skinner

The other two we wanted were Jeremy Howe of Melbourne (pick 30-ish) and Ariel Steinberg (?) of Essendon who went about pick 40.

Puopolo was further down the list.

[GVGjr]

Upgrading Mulligan and giving a fringe player like DJ a 3 year deal rank among the more ridiculous decisions that Fantasia has signed off on - 3 years!! I don't think DJ has even played 3 games in the last 3 years.

He certainly didn't handle the Lake contract negotiations particularly well either to be honest. Clayton's expert contract negotiation skills have been missed as sorely as his eye for talent, perhaps even more so.

When it was Rocket and Clayton together, I had supreme confidence during trade week that we won't get reamed (we never did) and that we will keep everyone we want to - I don't feel anywhere near as confident with Fantasia and Dalrymple behind the wheel alongside Rocket.

He upgraded or signed off on Mulligan when we clearly had the opportunity to just give him another season as a rookie.
We upgraded Hooper too early from my perspective. 3 year to DJ is an unnecessary risk and really our list management isn't great. As you say, the Eade and Clayton partnership was a good one although my views have been that we never cut into the list deep enough before Clayton's departure.

Rocket might be part of the problem with some player retention etc but in my opinion if Rocket doesn't get another contract Fantasia's position should be untenable as well.

[Greystache]

It's a good question GVGjr, to be honest it's probably because the average supporter calling for Eade's head doesn't actually know what Fantasia's job is.

Like we've discussed in other threads, there's been some strange list decisions in the past 2 years and Eade wasn't the final decision maker.

[boydogs]

The list is fine, the application has been inconsistent. I read last week we had won more quarters than anyone, and just been smashed in lapses. Eade hasn't got the players following instructions. The list is not that different to last year, its underachieving this season.

I'm not calling for Eade's head, but he and the players have a job ahead of them.

[Topdog]

It's a good question GVGjr, to be honest it's probably because the average supporter calling for Eade's head doesn't actually know what Fantasia's job is.

I'm not calling for Rockets head but I was never 100% certain what Fantasia does and thus he has escaped my radar

[Ghost Dog]

Excellent thread topic GVGjr.

Fantasia is largely derided by Adelaide supporters for being a poor recruiter, and I personally struggle to come up with anything of value he has brought to the table at the Dogs other than to lighten Rocket's non-core footy load (which to be fair was out of control in 2007, so someone was needed to fill this role).

Upgrading Mulligan and giving a fringe player like DJ a 3 year deal rank among the more ridiculous decisions that Fantasia has signed off on - 3 years!! I don't think DJ has even played 3 games in the last 3 years.

He certainly didn't handle the Lake contract negotiations particularly well either to be honest. Clayton's expert contract negotiation skills have been missed as sorely as his eye for talent, perhaps even more so.

When it was Rocket and Clayton together, I had supreme confidence during trade week that we won't get reamed (we never did) and that we will keep everyone we want to - I don't feel anywhere near as confident with Fantasia and Dalrymple behind the wheel alongside Rocket.

Agreed
Where are we at with DJ? if he doesn't play soon, reflects poorly on this choice of player.
As it says in the OP, up to fans to learn about how the club works, not just lump it on the coach, identify who the weak links are in our club and hold them to account.

[azabob]

Agreed
Where are we at with DJ? if he doesn't play soon, reflects poorly on this choice of player.
As it says in the OP, up to fans to learn about how the club works, not just lump it on the coach, identify who the weak links are in our club and hold them to account.

Isn't it funny how things turn around? After the 2007 season it was highlighted Eade was doing "too much" from a media perspective and from an overall football operations perspective.
When we got back on track in 2008, 2009 and 2010 Im sure majority commented how well Fantasia has performed and helped Eade out.

As earlier said we as a club have made a few interesting trade choices and contract offers.
If I recall correctly Scott Clayton helped with contracts and did all trading by himself (with assistance from Eade).
Clayton and Wells (geelong) are the two clear standouts when it comes to all things recruiting and trading.

My point being it was always going to be very hard to replace Clayton, but it doesn't excuse errors that are occurring.

Did Fantasia lead the football department review at the end of 2010?

[ledge]

I would Imagine that the coach would surely get together with the recruiters and contract makers in some form to discuss worth of a player.