Player Contract Status

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Player Contract Status

Yeah like others 12 months would've been ideal. But it's not always that easy if he had other offers for more elsewhere which has been mentioned. He's a useful backup utility.

[chef]

Re: Player Contract Status

very harsh Chef

Nope. Just chewing up a valuable list spot. Rather hit the draft with it.

[Bornadog]

Re: Player Contract Status

Here we go again. shouldve been 1 year at most. Why do we keep doing this ?
Maybe we just expect him to break out of the clouds and be the next Mac Andrew?
Geez

He is worth keeping for two more years. One year is bullshit - either he is a good player or just delist.

[Countrydog5]

Re: Player Contract Status

Depends whether we want to keep him on the list or not. He had a 4 year offer from the saints so a one year contract would have had him walking away. I don't mind it. I personally have him behind both JOD and Buss though

[Sedat]

Re: Player Contract Status

It's a bit of a meh announcement - 2 years is a tad generous but it's not as though we are flush with bankable key position depth next year. I'm aware that Buku is not fully bankable either but he is notionally AFEL standard, did genuinely improve this year (off a very low base to be fair), and is the right side of 25yo. He's got some flexibility as well, being able to play forward or chop out in the ruck. I guess JOD, Buss, Gardner and 2025 version Jones aren't 100% bankable either. It won't stop me being nervous as buggery next year when Buku is isolated one-out in D50 against his direct opponent.

The community/family/culture/next gen academy angle is nice - those intangibles can't be quantified but are important.

Who had Lobb at the start of the year as our most bankable key defender by the end of 2024? Weird season.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Player Contract Status

Nope. Just chewing up a valuable list spot. Rather hit the draft with it.

I think he's become quite a good player. I don't think you'd find someone else out there so easily with his skill set on what I'm guessing is a pretty low dollars contract.

I'm one who's really chuffed with this, Buku is a true doggy from the west who can play and is getting better every year.

[comrade]

Re: Player Contract Status

Never going to be an elite defender, good depth I guess.

[azabob]

Re: Player Contract Status

Buku is a stop gap as a key defender, third tall forward and even ruck. To hazard a guess he would be on the average wage, if not less.

Reality is Keath should retire, L.Jones has yet to play a full season, Buss is an unknown, Gardner did not get on the park this year, JOD was beaten on Friday night by a first year rookie. As great as Lobb was in 2024 ain?t no guarantee he backs it up again.

As much as I say we need to hit the draft there is no way we are getting a ready made player who can fill a variety of roles.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Player Contract Status

He had a good season in 2024. He was pretty dependable during our end of season run before losing his spot.

I'd have him over JOD. Buku would have been more reliable on Friday.

[soupman]

Re: Player Contract Status

I think on current output he's better than JOD, and while I'm unsure he becomes a proper best 22 player he is definitely capable of being a more than solid backup option a either end of the ground.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Player Contract Status

Here we go again. shouldve been 1 year at most. Why do we keep doing this ?
Maybe we just expect him to break out of the clouds and be the next Mac Andrew?
Geez

Maybe because Buku wouldn't have signed a 1 year deal?

I am ok with this, Keith likely to retire, Buss yet to debut. We need him next year. I rate him higher than Gardner

[Mantis]

Re: Player Contract Status

Whilst I still have my doubts to if Buku can become a consistent member of our best 22 he certainly showed a good level of improvement this year.

Seems like a really solid citizen and is good for the vibes within the change rooms so happy that he gets further opportunities to develop.

[GVGjr]

Re: Player Contract Status

Whilst I still have my doubts to if Buku can become a consistent member of our best 22 he certainly showed a good level of improvement this year.

Seems like a really solid citizen and is good for the vibes within the change rooms so happy that he gets further opportunities to develop.

We appear to be backing that he hasn't plateaued and there is a level of improvement to come. It's certainly doesn't hurt that he has a great attitude and at a pinch can play a few different roles as well.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Player Contract Status

No issues with Buku getting 2.

Level of improvement has been strong, despite coming off a low base. He has his faults but he put together his best year by some margin, it would be crazy to delist / let him walk.

One player that seems to escape criticism is JOD. I thought he had a very ordinary year, and he was bloody awful v Hawthorn in the EF. We complain about Buku getting lost or losing 1-v-1's, but JOD might be worse.

IMO Buku is actually ahead of JOD. Neither have proven themselves to be a good 'defender', but Buku has an intercept game and is versatile - we've seen little of that from JOD.

[Bornadog]

Re: Player Contract Status

No issues with Buku getting 2.

Level of improvement has been strong, despite coming off a low base. He has his faults but he put together his best year by some margin, it would be crazy to delist / let him walk.

One player that seems to escape criticism is JOD. I thought he had a very ordinary year, and he was bloody awful v Hawthorn in the EF. We complain about Buku getting lost or losing 1-v-1's, but JOD might be worse.

IMO Buku is actually ahead of JOD. Neither have proven themselves to be a good 'defender', but Buku has an intercept game and is versatile - we've seen little of that from JOD.

JOD also coming off a low base, having not played much footy at a younger age