Trade Whispers / Rumours and Confirmations

[Doctor]

So Eddie has agreed to that despite his opposition to GWS?

[spiffy-dude]

With a little bit of persuasion from the AFL of course. I expect the pies to get a nice draw this year for doing this.

They are so nice the pies, especially McGuire. Everything that fellow does is for the better of the code.

[GordonS]

looks like the next few years until the concessions are reduced would be a good time to play for gws. everyone's getting paid way more than they're worth

[spiffy-dude]

What a waste of money, this will come back and bite the AFL big time.

BUt its so typical of a new franchise club. I like how they started GWS on the right intetions and how they would not allow them to become like the bears by giving them draft concessions and allowing them to build a good young strong team.

3 years on, 3 wins out of how many thumpings and well yeah revert back to spending a lot of cash by throwing it at has beens or mediocre middle of the road depth players, just like the bears did.

Oh well.

[Meg]

Heath Shaw's tweet below suggests he is planning to be GWS's new Christo!

Heath Shaw @heathshaw39
Absolutely wrapped to be at @GWSGiants excited for the challenge, thanks to everyone for there support it's been totally overwhelming

[spiffy-dude]

I am betting he will be spending more time living next to his bro and taking the 1 and a bit hour drive to GWS.

[ugg]

Derek Hine, Collingwood's recruiting manager, says they have an interest in Armstrong. Again, I don't see us getting anything useful out of that and surprised he wasn't included in the White deal if that was the case.

[spiffy-dude]

Do other clubs think by giving us @@@@ returns for our plyaers is sort of a payback for us signing tips and lance?

Man victorian clubs are pathetic, sorry but they are.

[bondy]

Derek Hine, Collingwood's recruiting manager, says they have an interest in Armstrong. Again, I don't see us getting anything useful out of that and surprised he wasn't included in the White deal if that was the case.

Didn't Tony knock back Collingwood? Is there a chance that Tony wouldn't want to play for the Collingwood against his childhood team even if that meant he is to be delisted?

[liz]

If people are concerned about COLA and the integrity of the salary cap, they should also be questioning whether clubs should be allowed to trade salary cap space for picks ( or players). This is certainly not an isolated instance but just one more way in which tha salary cap is compromised as an equalization tool.

[On-Baller]

Derek Hine, Collingwood's recruiting manager, says they have an interest in Armstrong. Again, I don't see us getting anything useful out of that and surprised he wasn't included in the White deal if that was the case.

The question has to be asked why are they interested in TA at all, all evidence points to the fact that he will be little to no use too most top end teams, maybe GWS he could get some consistent game time but they seemingly have shown no interest in Tony. Ripping bloke but his body just isnt upto AFL level, be very glad to be proved wrong though.

[Ludwig]

I am betting he will be spending more time living next to his bro and taking the 1 and a bit hour drive to GWS.

You wouldn't want Heater spending too much time driving a car. His contract should include a full time chauffeur.

[spiffy-dude]

You wouldn't want Heater spending too much time driving a car. His contract should include a full time chauffeur.

Well with the dosh GWS are paying him he could afford to be driven around.

I still cant believe the amount of money GWS are throwing on these guys and yet not a wimper from melbourne about it. Fair enough its GWS but still 350k a year for Lamb and 700k a year for shaw..wow.

[Ludwig]

If people are concerned about COLA and the integrity of the salary cap, they should also be questioning whether clubs should be allowed to trade salary cap space for picks ( or players). This is certainly not an isolated instance but just one more way in which tha salary cap is compromised as an equalization tool.

It's a good point that you make, but it may not be so much of a concern because there's only so much you can do of it before compromising your own list. In the Shaw-Adams case, there really wasn't any other way to get the deal done, without the Giants giving in. It's a bit reminiscent of the rich buying their way out of military service.

What I'm concerned about is what will happen if they take away the Swans COLA, but relabel the Giants' COLA so they can keep theirs. I don't know what the total salary cap is for GWS, but it would enormous the way they're handing out big contracts for average players.

[Blood Tunnel]

He probably is worth that, but not yet.

The combination of free agency plus the expansion clubs mean there's going to be a lot more players are going to be moving for cash. We may as well get used to it.

This in turn will accelerate the increase of the salary cap over the next 10 years meaning it will probably hit $20 - $25 Million in 10 years time. The Swans management would be aware of this.
The AFL won't be able to hold it back either because it will be seen as a restraint by the PA.