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I have watched the teams and players since they bowed out of the Finals races over the last two months, and then especially this last week during the draft. It is quite incredible the way some clubs are treating players, and the way some players are responding. One would suspect that many of the 'teams' out their might try and replicate the Swans superb team work and ethos. One might also suspect some of them have fallen at the first hurdle:
Carlton - ALL of its senior players, and with it their most experienced and probably most valuable look like they have either wanted to leave, or have been shopped around. Campo, Lappin, Fev and Big Red have all gone through ridiculous contract negotiations farces, and now the former two look like having to go into the PSD. Without those two, and the latter two properly motivated, they become shoo-ins for BTB spooners.
Hawthorn - "We have a new YOUTH policy that will *guarantee* us a flag by about 2020. If you are over 21, feel free to go elsewhere... but dont expect us to help you. If you are under contract, then just accept you will NOT win a flag in this lifetime. Bad luck." Weird.
Port - The cull has started. But it looks so much like a knee-jerk. They just cut this years equal 6th in the clubs B&F. And traded last years Norm Smith. And lost their captain to injury. All this from a team that arrogantly boasted it was just a bit 'bored' this year and just wanted to get into the finals action. Having just snuck into the 8, they then proceeded to demolish no 5. Hardly a team that needs to be ripped apart. Oh well.
Kangas - Hawthorn dumping ground. Enough said. Hardly the way to engender the old 'Shinboner spirit'. I really wish Powelly all the best, but fear he may not see much of it at the Kangas.
There's a lot to be said about playing in a happy club (ie the Sydney Swans) IMO. I know a lot of people consider sport professional and therefore somehow devoid of the distractions that come with being part of a political environment. But the truth is, being professional just means it becomes more like a normal workplace. It becomes less about 'having fun' and more about 'making a living'. In this sort of environment it becomes even more critical to ensure a good team ethos is created and nurtured.
Just imagine if some of the sort of stuff that went on over the past few weeks occurred at your workplace. Bosses publicly trying to flog off (quite desparately at times) some of the lesser employees. Said employees publicly calling the company a crap place to work, and being a failure (hence bucketing on their fellow ex-employees). Employees asking to leave being forced to stay... or worse, leaving and then being forced to come back!
Very few of the people that I work with would stick around or put in 100%, thats for sure.
Carlton - ALL of its senior players, and with it their most experienced and probably most valuable look like they have either wanted to leave, or have been shopped around. Campo, Lappin, Fev and Big Red have all gone through ridiculous contract negotiations farces, and now the former two look like having to go into the PSD. Without those two, and the latter two properly motivated, they become shoo-ins for BTB spooners.
Hawthorn - "We have a new YOUTH policy that will *guarantee* us a flag by about 2020. If you are over 21, feel free to go elsewhere... but dont expect us to help you. If you are under contract, then just accept you will NOT win a flag in this lifetime. Bad luck." Weird.
Port - The cull has started. But it looks so much like a knee-jerk. They just cut this years equal 6th in the clubs B&F. And traded last years Norm Smith. And lost their captain to injury. All this from a team that arrogantly boasted it was just a bit 'bored' this year and just wanted to get into the finals action. Having just snuck into the 8, they then proceeded to demolish no 5. Hardly a team that needs to be ripped apart. Oh well.
Kangas - Hawthorn dumping ground. Enough said. Hardly the way to engender the old 'Shinboner spirit'. I really wish Powelly all the best, but fear he may not see much of it at the Kangas.
There's a lot to be said about playing in a happy club (ie the Sydney Swans) IMO. I know a lot of people consider sport professional and therefore somehow devoid of the distractions that come with being part of a political environment. But the truth is, being professional just means it becomes more like a normal workplace. It becomes less about 'having fun' and more about 'making a living'. In this sort of environment it becomes even more critical to ensure a good team ethos is created and nurtured.
Just imagine if some of the sort of stuff that went on over the past few weeks occurred at your workplace. Bosses publicly trying to flog off (quite desparately at times) some of the lesser employees. Said employees publicly calling the company a crap place to work, and being a failure (hence bucketing on their fellow ex-employees). Employees asking to leave being forced to stay... or worse, leaving and then being forced to come back!
Very few of the people that I work with would stick around or put in 100%, thats for sure.
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