GSW - Recruiting Targets

[EasternWest]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

Not sure.

As we have seen with most other reasonably successful teams over the past few years (esp. Geelong) your developing 'fringe' players are the ones who usually go looking for more opportunity/ $$'s. For that reason players like Hill, Addison & Reid (who probably has no real currency due to lack of footy, but could on back of good year) would be the most obvious ones.

As 'mjp' stated all the rumours in the past have been pretty spot on in regards to player poaching so for that reason you would think that Ward is going to be hard to hang onto... but I hope we can.

I guess if we keep all those you may have to start to cutting from the older players to ensure you keep your young talent together which isn't a great prospect, but it may have to happen.... Who knows??

It's certainly going to be an interesting year and will only get worse with free agency.

Yeah I agree with that. It's hard to believe we wont lose some. For reasons already stated I think we need to lock Ward down, or at least make that a real priority. But we need to be prepared to accept once again that an offer to good to refuse may be put before some of our young guns. Cheers.

As an aside, can someone fix the title of this thread. I know it's an innocent typo, but for some reason that GSW really bugs me. Not that I normally complain about words beginning with G on this forum being misspelled.

[mjp]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

Nobody said anything about sending anyone back to a lower tier. Bit punitive. As if Geelong were ever going to send Ablett back to the VFL for instance, even if they were 100% sure.
In that situation, at least you have some chance to consider list adjustment. Krakeur just walked out and nobody had any idea.

Just like any employer, You know you are going to have to fill a hole so knowing allows you to look ahead a little.

just the new ' staffing' landscape and clubs need minimal dispruption. One way of going about it.

Don't disagree GD, but isn't that really what our club tried to do with Harbrow last year...he wouldn't give a commitment either way, and come year end left anyway.

I understand what Port are trying to do - my point is what are they going to DO if the player refuses to commit either way? Nothing. So feel free to give it a go, but there is no chance an AFL player is going to tell his current club that he is moving on at years end...it isn't the NRL and that just wont wash with team-mates or particularly supporters.

[Greystache]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

But it's going to get tight.

We have re-signed Cooney, Griffen and Lake in the last 18 months and would be on healthy wages. Our 27-29 year olds would also be on good wickets so to say that our offer to Cal could be up near $400k might be stretching it. Pretty sure Higgins is out of contact come the end of 2011 and if he improves (which it looks like he will) he won't come cheap either. Then you have Wood as well who looks ready to really improve.

It's going to be a tough year to re-sign everyone and to satisfy all the players requirements, James Fantasia is certainly going to earn his money if he can do so, but one would think we are going to lose a couple along the way.

It is. It's probably going to be a balancing act of managing the expectations of the 28-29 year old group. AFL footy is a pretty cut throat business, and while players seem to think it's a formality that each contract they sign will be an increase or at the very least be equal to their current deal, the reality is it's most likely their best footy is behind them and their future contracts should reflect that. Trimming back the salaries of players such as Gia, Gilbee, Murphy, Hargrave, Cross (putting aside veterans list situations) etc if where we'll find the money to keep the likes of Ward and Wood. Realistically we're in a strong bargaining position with some of these players because a) they're unlikely to generate much more currency outside of the Bulldogs, and b) in many cases we have young players coming through who can potentially take over their roles with little negative impact on the team long term if it means keeping an up and coming star.

Use Gia as an example (because it will make the Gia bashers happy), my educated guess would put him in the $350-450k bracket. If he were to walk, we'd be able to keep Ward, and players like Vez, Higgins, Addison, etc could pick up the workload to a degree. And if they all choose to stay at slightly reduced contracts it helps retain potential long term stars. I hope as a club we're prepared to be strong in negotiations, because my feeling is as a club we historically bow to the pressure of our senior players.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

Don't disagree GD, but isn't that really what our club tried to do with Harbrow last year...he wouldn't give a commitment either way, and come year end left anyway.

I understand what Port are trying to do - my point is what are they going to DO if the player refuses to commit either way? Nothing. So feel free to give it a go, but there is no chance an AFL player is going to tell his current club that he is moving on at years end...it isn't the NRL and that just wont wash with team-mates or particularly supporters.

Yes I see your point MJP. I can't imagine barracking for a player who has publicly said they are moving on. Feels a bit mercenary. Its going to be an issue for us at some point I guess.


As for what to do, that would depend on the player. How important they are to the team plan. A coach has to work with the cattle he has, regardless of next season, even if supporters are not happy with it.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

I would have thought after last year expressing a desire to move on, Josh Hill would be a likely target for GWS.

[Maddog37]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

We can only hope!


Ward, Wood or Hill..........what the Americans call a no-brainer.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

I know this is just too obvious, logical, simple and fair,
so the AFL wouldn't really know what planet it came from, and would just start shooting at it.

BUT............
I would like to see this rule.

Teams who lose an uncontracted player to Gold Coast, are off limits to GWS.

ie, we lose Harbrow, Cats lose Ablett, Hawks lose Brown etc etc.

So the GWS vultures have to start circling other clubs because we've taken our 'hit for the team' as far as expanding the code goes.

Would seriously be awful to lose Ward one year after losing Harbrow while the fat cats like the pies and the blues sail through unbruised.

AWFULLLLL!!!!!!!

[azabob]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

I know this is just too obvious, logical, simple and fair,
so the AFL wouldn't really know what planet it came from, and would just start shooting at it.

BUT............
I would like to see this rule.

Teams who lose an uncontracted player to Gold Coast, are off limits to GWS.

ie, we lose Harbrow, Cats lose Ablett, Hawks lose Brown etc etc.

So the GWS vultures have to start circling other clubs because we've taken our 'hit for the team' as far as expanding the code goes.

Would seriously be awful to lose Ward one year after losing Harbrow while the fat cats like the pies and the blues sail through unbruised.

AWFULLLLL!!!!!!!

Can't say I agree.

They are totally different teams coming in at different times.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

1 year apart.

[soupman]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

I know this is just too obvious, logical, simple and fair,
so the AFL wouldn't really know what planet it came from, and would just start shooting at it.

BUT............
I would like to see this rule.

Teams who lose an uncontracted player to Gold Coast, are off limits to GWS.

ie, we lose Harbrow, Cats lose Ablett, Hawks lose Brown etc etc.

So the GWS vultures have to start circling other clubs because we've taken our 'hit for the team' as far as expanding the code goes.

Would seriously be awful to lose Ward one year after losing Harbrow while the fat cats like the pies and the blues sail through unbruised.

AWFULLLLL!!!!!!!

Disagree.

I know TCD has made this point previously, but GC had the option of taking a player from each of the 16 clubs. They chose not to. However if they had've wouldn't that be a bit unfair of GWS to only be able to pick players from a handful of sides?

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

Yeah well it sucks anyway

[boydogs]

Re: GSW - Recruiting Targets

Disagree.

I know TCD has made this point previously, but GC had the option of taking a player from each of the 16 clubs. They chose not to. However if they had've wouldn't that be a bit unfair of GWS to only be able to pick players from a handful of sides?

Yeah too unfair on GWS to have a restricted list of clubs to pick on

Yeah well it sucks anyway

It shouldn't if the compensation is fair. Particularly for a side like us coming to the end of an era with the class of 99. It may accelerate our rebuild somewhat.

inb4 Darryl Kerrigan argument.