2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Auntie.Gerald]

could be the perfect finale rebuild ...................... for the cats

Advancing....... while continually being in the top 8........1st past the post in 2019 which in most countries is regarded as no1........ and now in a GF in 2020 despite a coach that many swans supporters dont appear to like over a 9 year stretch

Yet we are 16th on the ladder ?

we have supporters thinking that Paps, Rampe, Heeney are enough with their ability to split the opposition?............despite our only 5 wins? it just doesnt add up......does it ?

what strategy will ensure we are providing the greatest probability of success ???

[MattW]

Yes, big news on Cameron. I don't know how Geelong can afford him? If it was us being linked to him, there would be an enquiry. This decision means that the GWS premiership dream is looking somewhat darker now. I must say that I am surprised that he did not stay.

I'm not surprised: GWS is the proverbial sinking ship.

[erica]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/free-agency-a-disaster-of-the-afl-s-making-20201019-p566lc.html

[Nico]

Yes, big news on Cameron. I don't know how Geelong can afford him? If it was us being linked to him, there would be an enquiry. This decision means that the GWS premiership dream is looking somewhat darker now. I must say that I am surprised that he did not stay.

Sounds like Geelong have been into him for some time. Explains his poor form/lack of interest in the 2nd half the year.

[Legs Akimbo]

No COLA plus free agency is indeed a disaster for us and for GWS. AFL reaps what it sows. The fact Richmond got Lynch after winning the premiership just playing out again. Will keep happening.

[neilfws]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...19-p566lc.html

Good to see an article that states more or less explicitly that the trade ban and COLA cut were essentially the result of the AFL throwing a tantrum.

[MattW]

No COLA plus free agency is indeed a disaster for us and for GWS. AFL reaps what it sows. The fact Richmond got Lynch after winning the premiership just playing out again. Will keep happening.

Bring on the Pridham review.

[Markwebbos]

Also we know what Giants are going to do. Force Geelong to pay 2 first round draft picks. And try and push to Second draft pick by combining draft picks for North Melbourne and try and take Logan McDonald or Riley Thilthorpe to replace Jeremy. They may go for Jesse Hogan too !

Supposedly Essendon will try and do the same to get up to pick 2.

Freo’s list manager refused to say that Hogan will be there next year. If we could get him cheaply enough ...

I reckon GW$ are in a spot of bother

[Meg]

2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

Good to see an article that states more or less explicitly that the trade ban and COLA cut were essentially the result of the AFL throwing a tantrum.

Excellent article by Gleeson in The Age.

But the tantrum over Buddy was not the first ‘Swans must be cheating’ uproar. We copped it at end of 2012 with the recruitment of Tippett.

Leigh Matthews was one of those leading the charge by alleging the system was not supposed to allow the premiership winner to recruit a top player. Rather the premiership team should be needing to divest itself of top players according to him.

The only possible logic to that allegation was that a premiership team must have a full salary cap and be full of top players earning top dollars. Which the Swans clearly were not in 2012. Rather we were on that wonderful day in September 2012 a top team.

The Buddy storm the following year compounded the Tippett uproar and led to the trade ban.

Yet Lynch to Richmond? Crickets! Now Cameron to Geelong???

[Steve]

I don’t think the top clubs win or the bottom clubs lose via FA as much as is suggested.

The top clubs might get the star player, but even if they get them ‘for free’, they commit to a massive, long-term contract. Otherwise you may have to trade for the player anyway as Geelong (and probably Brisbane) will have to this year.

And bottom clubs are generally keen for the player to go if they’re going to get a second pick at the top end of the draft via compensation.

Arguably the biggest issue all clubs are impacted by is via over-committing to re-sign players on bigger and longer contracts just because of the threat of them testing FA.

[barry]

Losing Cameron, although a huge blow to GWS, should at least provide the cap relief they need to stabilise.
I heard that they had to keep piling on the backend of his contract to stay under the cap because of the premature removal of their startup cap concessions.
Then he coped a 30% cut this year, the year his contract was biggest.

They'll get plenty of top picks this year in compo.

[mcs]

Excellent article by Gleeson in The Age.

But the tantrum over Buddy was not the first ‘Swans must be cheating’ uproar. We copped it at end of 2012 with the recruitment of Tippett.

Leigh Matthews was one of those leading the charge by alleging the system was not supposed to allow the premiership winner to recruit a top player. Rather the premiership team should be needing to divest itself of top players according to him.

The only possible logic to that allegation was that a premiership team must have a full salary cap and be full of top players earning top dollars. Which the Swans clearly were not in 2012. Rather we were on that wonderful day in September 2012 a top team.

The Buddy storm the following year compounded the Tippett uproar and led to the trade ban.

Yet Lynch to Richmond? Crickets! Now Cameron to Geelong???

That false equivalence that a premiership team must be at full salary cap and bursting at the seams frustrates me no end, and it took some gloss off what was truly a magnificent 'team' effort in 2012.

[dimelb]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...19-p566lc.html

Thanks erica, nice to see a respected footy watcher tell it like it is.

And I'm delighted to see the AFL get bitten on the bum!

[Aprilbr]

I've never been a great fan of free agency. Star free agents always favour Clubs at the top. My question here is what other incentives outside of the formal salary cap is Cameron getting to entice him to Geelong?

[Meg]

2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

I've never been a great fan of free agency. Star free agents always favour Clubs at the top. My question here is what other incentives outside of the formal salary cap is Cameron getting to entice him to Geelong?

I’m sure there will be numerous businesses in Geelong very happy to pay Cameron money so they can use his image in promotional material.

Geelong is a footy-mad city, AFL players provide attractive marketing material.

This is another financial disadvantage northern clubs face in league territory. Not many of our players are household names with immediately recognisable faces. Jake Lloyd won the Skilton Medal - but I’m not sure his face would be readily recognised on a used car sales roadside sign on Anzac Parade.

Re free agency - its negative impact on clubs’ ability to retain top players was exacerbated by the elimination of the Veterans Allowance. The allowance meant an attractive salary package could be offered to a player with a long career with much of it paid outside the cap. This at least gave lower-ranked clubs some chance of offering a financial incentive to retain players.

I actually agree with the abolition of the Veterans Allowance - it did distort fairness (for example when Geelong back in its glory years had nine players and close to $1 million paid outside the cap). But I suspect that its abolition at the same time as the introduction of free agency has been a bit of a double whammy for some clubs.