Prudden at 21 has a new 1yr deal in what might be a make or break season.. Not sure Grant would sign a 1yr deal if it was offered.
They are also competing for different roles and with 3 experienced small/medium defenders coming to the end of their careers Prudden might be a bit of insurance if those 3 fall off quicker than expected.
Not trying to suggest Prudden & Grant are the same type of player - but Prudden's been there a little while now, with plenty of time injured....even this year once he finally strung a few games together he still had to miss (and he was ok against Collingwood I thought) I just wonder how that looks in comparison to a fairly solid if sometimes flawed / sometimes quite flashy 19 games from Grant's perspective.
Having said that - I wouldn't mind us only offering Grant an extra year.
Float Along - Fill Your Lungs
I would like Grant to offered a one year Contract with conditions on him getting another year. For example if he plays 16 matches or more.
Grant may have been offered a 1 year extension and wasn't happy and told his manager to see what's out there. For all we know this may have been put out there in round 10 or 12 and he said let's wait to the end of the season and the club may have gone cold after that.
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors.
Don't piss off old people
The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...
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.
2 points:
- all of those highlighted have shown potential, but none of those really play Grant's position or style. None of those have his speed. If I had to be honest Hrovat/Honeychurch/Hunter are 3 of the same. If any are going to make way for Libba and Stevo it is those three rather than Grant. Given Hunter's end to 2015, you would think him a lock, so it makes life hard for Honeychurch and Hrovat.
- bottom 3-4? He was generally always picked on the ground in the starting 18 and only made sub 1 or 2 times. Assuming Murphy is first picked, Grant would comfortably sit somewhere in the 10 to 15 range.
If the club haven't offered a contract that is fine. I trust Bevo and J-Mac. What I would say though is that Grant wrongly cops a lot of flack from a lot of supporters, mostly based on things he has done (failed to do) previously. Hid gut running this year was awesome. He is quick, both across the turf and with his hands. He has good reach. Personally I think he has Honeychurch and Hrovat covered and in 2015 he started to show some promise. Was he worth pick 5? No, it was a cock up. Is he better than 20 players on our list - yes.
Honeychurch out - Stevens In
Libba will need to earn his place back - year after a reco is generally not a great year, so I wouldn't banking on him displacing anyone in a hurry, but I also have no doubt spots will open up for him
Dale & McLean - both great young talent who will pop in and out of the team. Yes they may displace Grant, but equally they could also suffer 2nd year blues.