Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

[MrMahatma]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Maybe he said "Look, this money is too good to refuse. I'll make sure you get everything possible in return for me leaving, then after I've done my 4 years I'll nominate the Dogs as the only place I'll play and force their hand."

[chef]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Maybe he said "Look, this money is too good to refuse. I'll make sure you get everything possible in return for me leaving, then after I've done my 4 years I'll nominate the Dogs as the only place I'll play and force their hand."

I'm sure that in 4 years time if he wants to return to Melbourne he will be offered bigger contracts at one of the bigger Melbourne clubs and something about a Leopard and his spots springs to mind.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Club has just announced that Ward has told them he is heading to GWS...story on Bulldogs facebook page

[LostDoggy]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

So Callan loses the ability to earn money when he stops playing professional sport? These guys are setup well post footy these days... Look at Scott Lucas, wasn't even considered to be Bombers captain but now runs Pheonix management (flying start). I agree with you to a point, but potentially he could have a long career post footy also.

And if anything, being a one-club player sets you up better, because your brand is better -- look at Tom Harley, Chris Grant, Luke Darcy et al.. they are all pretty well set up for life after footy.

Short term mercenaries don't really have the same currency post-footy because you're tainted (and I don't mean players who change clubs at the end of their careers to prolong it by a year or two).

I mean, you think "Lou Richards" and you think "Collingwood". You think Nathan Brown and you think "he's only in it for the money", which is code for "he's a shallow bastard".

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Club has just announced that Ward has told them he is heading to GWS...story on Bulldogs facebook page

what a douche...waits till the monday after season ends and leaves. He can get stuffed. What a lost opportunity to develop Mitch Wallis for an entire season. We better get some decent compo but i wont hold my breath

[LostDoggy]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Tom Harley also played at Port

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

We all knew it was coming, but to read the official statement still makes me fill ill.

A massive stake in the heart. I just can't see the likes of Essendon, Collingwood or Carlton losing the best young talent to other clubs.

I just hope this isn't the begining of a new era (with free agency) that sees us unable to keep our best talent like in previous generations (Quinlan, Round, Dempsey, Edmond, Templeton etc.). The best players of our most recent generation all stayed loyal (West, Grant, Johnson, Smith, Darcy, Wynd, Libba etc.).

I just feel history is about to repeat itself. Sad, very sad day for our club.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Ok, now that it is confirmed I am not happy. Very disappointed with Callans decision.

And I'm also pissed off that we have now lost 2 players in 2 years to these new clubs.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

I am disgusted in the clubs decision to play him on Saturday. Disgusted.

[GVGjr]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

I guess the best theory now is to employ a Peter Rhode type coach for a year, so that we finish towards the bottom, so that we can use the Ward compensation picks next year between Picks 1 - 10.....

[Mofra]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

I'm sure that in 4 years time if he wants to return to Melbourne he will be offered bigger contracts at one of the bigger Melbourne clubs and something about a Leopard and his spots springs to mind.

Yeah, because it was an easy decision for him to leave in the first place

[chef]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Yeah, because it was an easy decision for him to leave in the first place

Like he's the first player to be offered overs to go to a start up club, oh wait so did Higgins, Cooney and Griffen

Ward did choose the easy decision IMO.

[Pedro Sanchez]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

Ward leaving is gutting... Really thought he would have stayed.

However, I don’t think any of us can really appreciate the circumstances of the decision – sure we can speculate and have an opinion but earning approx 800K a season is absolutely mega bucks for young guy – even an old guy. Who knows the context, for example his family might have done it tough their whole lives and he sees this as chance to turn that around. I’m certain is wasn’t an easy decision for him...

As a professional sport its often a fine line between an offer like this and a situation like Shane Birss found himself. To play devil’s advocate, clubs always play the loyalty and one team player card, however its pretty ruthless and abrupt on the other foot if its decided a player isn’t wanted.

Anyway the call has been made now – so I look forward to who we’ll draft and a new coach.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

I just hope this isn't the begining of a new era (with free agency) that sees us unable to keep our best talent like in previous generations (Quinlan, Round, Dempsey, Edmond, Templeton etc.). The best players of our most recent generation all stayed loyal (West, Grant, Johnson, Smith, Darcy, Wynd, Libba etc.).

I just feel history is about to repeat itself. Sad, very sad day for our club.

There's a salary cap.

We pay 100% of it each year.

Our facilities are excellent.

It's not the 1970s anymore.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Callan Ward jumps Bulldogs ship to join GWS

There is a significant gap in the amount of money poured into football departments between the top and bottom clubs, although the salary cap remains the same, the amount of money that is able to be spent on the development of each player isn't and it's those things players consider when choosing clubs of their choice.

Port Adelaide who have a senior assistant coach that is based interstate and use a current player in Dean Brogran as their part-time ruck coach is an example of the gap between the poorest and richest clubs.