Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

[westdog54]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-14/still-no-deal-for-dog-grant

WESTERN Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant could exercise his free agency rights, with the club yet to offer him a new contract.

The 26-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Bulldogs would not be able to prevent him from leaving the club if he chose to do so.

Grant's manager, Anthony McConville, said his client would explore all available options after not being approached by the Bulldogs.

"Jarrad Grant hasn't been offered a contract and at this stage of the season you have to think it's unlikely," McConville told Channel Nine on Monday night.

"With this uncertainty, he's got to be looking at options."

Grant has played 81 games for the Bulldogs since making his debut in round five, 2009.

He booted 11 goals in his 19 appearances for the Bulldogs this season.

The No.5 selection in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft has battled form and endured an injury-interrupted time at Whitten Oval, fracturing his left foot in last year's pre-season campaign.

Grant signed a two-year contract extension with the club at the end of 2013.


Wowee...

[SlimPickens]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

Can't say I'm surprised. As much as people talk him up, Jarrad hasn't offered enough this year. 14.5 touches a game, 2.1 tackles isn't enough for a player who spent majority of his time on the ball.

[Greystache]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

No surprise, in fact I would've been more surprised if we did offer him a new contract. He just isn't talented enough to cover all his flaws, especially against good teams. I like we're potentially going to make the tough calls on players who can't take us forward to success. I expect Minson to be out the door shortly too.

[chef]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

He's eeked out his career as far as he can with is i guess.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

Bevo has showed that he doesn't gift games to anyone. So with that said Grant played 18 games plus 1 final. That's hardly a shithouse player that is in the category of needing to be moved on for the betterment of the list.

[The Doctor]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

I wonder if we are waiting to see if we can bring anyone in before dealing with Grant?

[Mantis]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

Bevo has showed that he doesn't gift games to anyone. So with that said Grant played 18 games plus 1 final. That's hardly a shithouse player that is in the category of needing to be moved on for the betterment of the list.

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

[Ozza]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

I know you are always going to have injuries....but...assuming Libba and Stevens are right to go next season - a few players get pushed down the line (or outside the centre square) to other positions. You would also think that McLean, Webb, Dale, Daniel, Hrovat - at a minimum - will be more prominent in selection next season, depending on who comes out of pre-season really up and firing.

Grant has been best 22 this year...but realistically, is in the bottom 3 or 4 of that 22.

I'd say that there is a reasonable enough chance that he would be best 22 for much of next year. But with the very real possibility that he gets pushed out of the side, for me, any more than 1 year would be the wrong move. If that means Grant wants to weigh up his options, then I am fine with that.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

Agreed, he has some value but i'm not sure he's a player that is going to stand up for us in big games like finals.
He is never going to be a physical beast and has a tendency to miss goals that he really should nail. If we are serious about improving then we need to move him on.

[Greystache]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

Agreed, he has some value but i'm not sure he's a player that is going to stand up for us in big games like finals.
He is never going to be a physical beast and has a tendency to miss goals that he really should nail. If we are serious about improving then we need to move him on.

I'm not convinced he'd find a home elsewhere either. I'll provide some detail if he is delisted, but speaking to an opposition scout from another team, clubs don't rate him and very much apply the Lewis Taylor approach of leave him free because it won't hurt us.

[Mantis]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

The question has to be asked where Grant will be ranked at the start of 2016 or 2017?

If we had more than 2 or 3 of the following up and going at finals time - Libba, Stevens, JJ, McLean & Smith then I doubt that Grant would have been in the team. I understand that you always have injuries, but you can't rely on these to remain in the side.

Look I like what Grant brings to the team, but his out-put & effect on games just isn't enough for a player at his age.. Will it improve, perhaps, but if push came to shove then you invest time into others.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

I don't think that is the case, I think the club see's his potential to improve as limited with some glaring weaknesses in his game, he is still best 22 but that may not be the case by the end of next year with others improving. If we let him go now we will get the best possible result as compensation. It's about trading your stocks when they are at their highest possible value in order to get the best return. Grant is not irreplaceable, so let's use that to improve our list. The better we perform, the harder it will be to bring in top talent without making sacrifices.

[Happy Days]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

Grant is very much a required player, and most of what he does gets marginalised in the eyes of many supporters (referring to no one on here) because he had the NERVE to get drafted in the top 5 and not kick 80 goals every year. His basic skill errors are often ridiculous but he more than makes up for it with everything else he does. He's the best true wingman on the list by a fair way, and we just don't have enough of this type to move him on.

Could this be a case of us going early on all of our re-signings, putting us in somewhat of a difficult position with regard to bringing in outside talent? Personally I would have preferred we extended Grant than someone like Prudden.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

I probably would prefer we keep Grant, but we also need to consider where we are heading and the need to continually renew the list.

Missing from the finals side we have Stevens, McLean and Dale who I see as all being able to fulfil the role that he plays and improvement is more likely in the other 3.

We also have Libba to push someone else out.

It is a difficult issue, but you simply cannot keep everyone.