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I'm in the process of watching the Franklin press conference up on the Swans' website. He comes across as very genuine and articulate. His handling of the questions about what it feels like to leave Hawthorn, his acknowledgement of his love for that club, and the part they've played in his career were exceptional, I thought. There aren't too many players, let alone high profile ones, who've left one club for another and managed to express genuine care for his old club while still making it clear he's moved on and is now committed to his new club.
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I picked that up too and had to rewind the interview to hear what I thought he said....."beautiful club"!
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the best comment Ireland made was "that we have seen 4 premiership players go" (Bolton, Mattner, Morton and Mumford) so we aren't under any salary cap pressure with Buddy coming on board and having to exit other players. I felt it was a backhand to those idiots saying how can we afford to get Buddy. Ok Pies, try delisting/retiring/trading 4 premiership players to recruit a marquee player and tell me its due to COLA!Comment
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Yes, I believe there should be a COLA index based on an impartial source ... Bureau of Stats or one of the big consulting firms for example. However, the problem I'd expect is that it would show larger gaps between expensive cities vs. cheaper ones. No doubt in my mind that it is much more than 9.8% between Adelaide and Sydney. So I very much doubt this idea would get thru the AFL politics, however sensible.
The main argument I keep hearing from Eddie, Jeff Kennett and others against it is we have somehow stockpiled our total COLA and spent it on Tippett and Franklin. And that they "just want a level playing field".
Kennett was on TV demanding transparency ... that the AFL force Swans to prove to the rest of the clubs that their COLA is applied evenly across all players. Any club official with reasonable business acumen would know this can't be conclusively proved ... Imagine the Swans stand up in front of the rest of the AFL clubs and list every player on their roster with their base salary plus 9.8%. The other clubs counter by saying player X is worth more than his listed base plus COLA so we must be stockpiling. Problem is if you ask a range of people what any given player is worth, the range of answers will certainly vary by more than 9.8%. In any event, it is completely inappropriate for one club to be forced to disclose confidential info of this nature to its competitors.
The COLA will go, everyone knows that. But it won't magically return the AFL to a level playing field:
- Rich Melb clubs will stay rich and influential. Their execs will continue to use their media roles to push the viewpoint of their own club despite the obvious conflict of interest. They will continue to spend their larger revenue base to their benefit outside of salary cap and other AFL limits
- Poor Melb clubs will continue to struggle and need propping up financially by the AFL
- Interstate clubs will continue to have to travel every second week to face a hostile away crowd plus the physical demands of constant travel ... whereas Melb clubs all play at the G or Docklands.
- Collingwood will continue to get the most Fri night TV games, allowing them to command greater sponsorship dollars
Sydney will continue to be a fragmented market for sports viewing. AFL will not dominate no matter how much money the AFL throws at it
- etc, etc.
Clubs like Collingwood really should win the flag much more often with all their advantages. Yet they don't, which is testament to how far good management can get you. Even Eddie, Kennett, Malthouse and the rest of the Melb AFL mafia grudgingly admit this about the Swans.
Great work Swans mgt, you have done an outstanding job year in, year out. I'm off to pour myself a Buddy and COLA to toast the Swans success on and off field. Eddie and others, try 4 or 5 of these and you'll lose all concept of the level playing field.Last edited by Matimbo; 10 October 2013, 07:18 AM.CIA Agent to Policeman: "Have you ever had anti-terrorist training?"
Policeman: "Yes, I was married once."Comment
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True, but different body shapes and all that. Maybe the swans will have a different program for him. Regardless i'm sure skin folds aren't an issue, more definition aesthetically.
I felt he handled himself preety well in the presser. The best question he handled was the one asking him about kids with hawthorn Jumpers with 23 on the back.
Not sure on his comment on being bald like his new boss John, or his joke on Lockyer moving to 58. I'm sure he is a bit of a character and i'll let it slide under a stressful situation.
All in all, good stuff and can't wait!
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Sack the fat SOB-Comment
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Thank you to Matimbo for comment #619 (I hate the copying what is already there). This is a excellent well structured explanation. This whole issue opened my eyes to non factually hysteria that comes out of Melbourne (ok I'm naive). The Buddy signing has giving these sprouters of self interest propaganda something to work with. The COLA issue is complex. In reality it is more expensive to live near Swans training facilities than GWS's?Comment
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He's never lacked for speed or turnability.
Regarding COLA and Buddy......why is it that when Geelong players don't take pay rises commensurate with their market value they are lauded for their wondrous team spirit....that enables them to get a premiership on the back of a big money once in a lifetime offer to Brad Ottens.
Yet when KJ etc stay loyal we are "creating a war-chest"....unlike Essendon who had no war-chest but somehow pay BJG $900k or Carlton with $1m for Judd plus another $850 for a bloke with dodgy ankles....but no war-chest, just loyal players not getting paid what they are worth....same at Hawthorn
HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!"I'll acknowledge there are more talented teams in the competition but I won't acknowledge that there is a better team in the competition" Paul Roos March 2005Comment
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Lol
Driver of the Dan Hannebery bandwagon....all aboard. 4th April 09Comment
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