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( By the way, this article is wrong. We will definitely win a flag. See Port - Basket case of the AFL under Primus. Empty stands, tiny membership. Now doing quite well. I do think free agency needs a tweak. The purpose of FA wasn't to allow veterans to win a flag for their own personal gratification. ) What are your thoughts on the article below?
Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
October 03, 2014 9:00P
WE were told 2015 was the year the battling teams would strike back at the Empire.
Armed with untold equalisation funds and new salary cap rules allowing them to bank cash then raid rivals, the promise was any team could win on any given Sunday.
Instead the last few days have seen a series of worrying developments that turns a gulf between the good and bad into a gaping chasm.
Think Port Adelaide are coming with a rush?
What about when Patrick Ryder turns them from 2014 sleeper into 2015 rolled-gold premiership contender?
Believe Hawthorn is going quietly into the night after their three hours of Grand Final perfection?
Not with 26-year-old James Frawley shoring up the backline without costing the club a draft pick or breaking the bank.
Consider for a second what happens if Mitch Clark explodes next year, as those close to him believe he is totally capable of doing.
James Frawley is set to strengthen Hawthorn’s backline. Picture: George Salpigtidis.
James Frawley is set to strengthen Hawthorn’s backline. Picture: George Salpigtidis.
All of a sudden Geelong has arguably the best forward line pairing in the competition, equal to Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett.
Remember that Clark was the most dominant forward in the competition early in 2012 with his 29 goals in 11 games in a side which won just two of those contests.
Anyone think Geelong would still be in decline?
And then consider Sydney, which might lose Nick Malceski but will gain a top-five pick in Isaac Heeney for the price of selection 18?
Mitch Clark will return to footy with Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Mitch Clark will return to footy with Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
The Bear has well and truly been poked — the Swans will rage over their pathetic Grand Final performance all summer and come out breathing fire.
More and more, the good players go to the best clubs.
Even the power clubs admit it behind closed doors while they gleefully accept another star who plays for unders or something like it to become a premiership player.
It might point to an enticing premiership race, but what about Any Given Sunday?
Troy Chaplin thought he was leaving a basketcase only to see Port Adelaide thrive. Pictur
Troy Chaplin thought he was leaving a basketcase only to see Port Adelaide thrive. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
At least Melbourne gets huge overs as compensation for James Frawley, but does anyone think they are close to breaking their premiership drought?
Spare a thought for the perennial battlers like Melbourne (last premiership 50 years ago), the Western Bulldogs (only premiership 60 years ago) and St Kilda (only premiership 48 years ago).
They are all trying to push bold and inventive trade solutions to garner perhaps one extra top-20 selection in November’s national draft.
But while the Dogs could have to give up pick 5 and a Higgins compo pick to get a pick high enough for a quality key tall, Hawthorn plucks one in Frawley without giving up a single pick.
There are exceptions — Hawthorn lost Lance Franklin, Troy Chaplin was lured by big cash to battling Richmond in 2012, Eddie Betts went to a side outside the eight (although he went home).
Yet the clubs outside the eight luring quality players do so by paying huge money (Dale Thomas to Carlton, Chris Dawes to Melbourne) or by preaching increased opportunity (Shannon Byrnes).
Once if you were down and out you could commit to a savage rebuild through bottoming out, knowing in a cyclical competition you would pass your rivals on your way up.
Now there is no reason for the likes of Hawthorn and Geelong to ever bottom out, and little hope of some clubs winning a flag again.
Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
October 03, 2014 9:00P
WE were told 2015 was the year the battling teams would strike back at the Empire.
Armed with untold equalisation funds and new salary cap rules allowing them to bank cash then raid rivals, the promise was any team could win on any given Sunday.
Instead the last few days have seen a series of worrying developments that turns a gulf between the good and bad into a gaping chasm.
Think Port Adelaide are coming with a rush?
What about when Patrick Ryder turns them from 2014 sleeper into 2015 rolled-gold premiership contender?
Believe Hawthorn is going quietly into the night after their three hours of Grand Final perfection?
Not with 26-year-old James Frawley shoring up the backline without costing the club a draft pick or breaking the bank.
Consider for a second what happens if Mitch Clark explodes next year, as those close to him believe he is totally capable of doing.
James Frawley is set to strengthen Hawthorn’s backline. Picture: George Salpigtidis.
James Frawley is set to strengthen Hawthorn’s backline. Picture: George Salpigtidis.
All of a sudden Geelong has arguably the best forward line pairing in the competition, equal to Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett.
Remember that Clark was the most dominant forward in the competition early in 2012 with his 29 goals in 11 games in a side which won just two of those contests.
Anyone think Geelong would still be in decline?
And then consider Sydney, which might lose Nick Malceski but will gain a top-five pick in Isaac Heeney for the price of selection 18?
Mitch Clark will return to footy with Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Mitch Clark will return to footy with Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
The Bear has well and truly been poked — the Swans will rage over their pathetic Grand Final performance all summer and come out breathing fire.
More and more, the good players go to the best clubs.
Even the power clubs admit it behind closed doors while they gleefully accept another star who plays for unders or something like it to become a premiership player.
It might point to an enticing premiership race, but what about Any Given Sunday?
Troy Chaplin thought he was leaving a basketcase only to see Port Adelaide thrive. Pictur
Troy Chaplin thought he was leaving a basketcase only to see Port Adelaide thrive. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
At least Melbourne gets huge overs as compensation for James Frawley, but does anyone think they are close to breaking their premiership drought?
Spare a thought for the perennial battlers like Melbourne (last premiership 50 years ago), the Western Bulldogs (only premiership 60 years ago) and St Kilda (only premiership 48 years ago).
They are all trying to push bold and inventive trade solutions to garner perhaps one extra top-20 selection in November’s national draft.
But while the Dogs could have to give up pick 5 and a Higgins compo pick to get a pick high enough for a quality key tall, Hawthorn plucks one in Frawley without giving up a single pick.
There are exceptions — Hawthorn lost Lance Franklin, Troy Chaplin was lured by big cash to battling Richmond in 2012, Eddie Betts went to a side outside the eight (although he went home).
Yet the clubs outside the eight luring quality players do so by paying huge money (Dale Thomas to Carlton, Chris Dawes to Melbourne) or by preaching increased opportunity (Shannon Byrnes).
Once if you were down and out you could commit to a savage rebuild through bottoming out, knowing in a cyclical competition you would pass your rivals on your way up.
Now there is no reason for the likes of Hawthorn and Geelong to ever bottom out, and little hope of some clubs winning a flag again.
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