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We aren't discarding him. He's come to the end of a very, very long contract.
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I don't agree with this. It also sticks in my craw when people say Buddy had to deliver premierships, or - not to put the onus on Buddy personally - that for the deal to be counted a success we had to win premierships. I think we signed him because the best player in the competition wanted to come to our club and would clearly make our team better. Given that we were contending and had recently won a flag, it certainly had the potential to result in more flags, but I never felt, and still don't feel, that that was a prerequisite for the deal to be counted a success. For mine the deal has been a great success, even though it came at a cost, especially that we lost some players and weren't able to recruit others. As you say, "he certainly has delivered plenty of highlights and from what I can understand has turned out to be an exceptionally professional athlete and a teammate that adds value and is respected by his fellow players" - among other things.
I wound up liking Buddy way more than I thought I would. It wasn't his brilliance that won me over (although it definitely helped) - it was his leadership and his selflessness. He stands up when it counts: when the game is slipping away he takes responsibility and looks to make an impact. He brings others in to the game. He mentors the forward line. He delights in his teammates' success. Plus, despite his struggles with mental health, he is a joyful player. Despite his shyness, he responds to the crowd. He loves the game and I feel it when he is playing whether he is laying tackles, scoring a goal or celebrating someone else's.
I think it is way too premature to decide on whether he has a future beyond next year - that is a decision that will probably be left until the end of next season and will depend on his form and fitness and desire. However, if he does still have more to offer and won't be depriving Logan McDonald of a spot (which he won't be), then I'm all for it. If he can't keep playing, I hope we can keep him involved with the Swans and nurturing footy in NSW in some other way.All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)
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Bloodspirit you selectively take one sentence out of of a whole response then say you don’t agree and that it sticks in your craw ?
I suspect the idea and purpose behind signing Lance was to deliver premierships and I defy anyone to say that wasn’t what we were hoping for when it occurred however as I openly stated so far that has not happened BUT the other benefits have been well worth the investment.Last edited by Faunac8; 4 June 2021, 03:50 PM.Comment
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Buddy in 2023 is certainly a topic worthy of discussion, but so much can happen between now and the final team for that season. We do need to bolster our tall forwards, but there is a lot to play out over the course of the next year and a half. We should have a better idea of the value of both McLean and Amartey by the end of next season. We will have 2 more trade periods and 2 drafts to add to our KPP stocks. And who knows what will be with both Buddy and Reid on the injury front.
There is a story on the Swans' website about our academy which mentioned a CHB prospect named Liam Puncher (no relation to Paddy McCartin). That's yet another avenue to add to our KPP stocks.
If we have this discussion a year form now, I'm pretty sure the circumstances will be substantially different.Comment
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Faunac8, I don't think I quoted you out of context. I highlighted the part I took issue with because I broadly agreed with the rest of what you said.
It goes without saying that premiership success is the intention behind pretty much every single list management decision we make. They are all intended to win us flags, whether sooner or later. But I don't think there was a notion or expectation on the Club's part that getting Buddy would necessarily achieve that result. And that's what I thought you were implying. I think the club is probably satisfied with the Buddy recruitment even though we didn't win a flag, and I think they would have gone ahead and done it even if they had known how it would play out.
Incidentally, I didn't say your post stuck in my craw - hence the "it also sticks in my craw when" because some people express a similar sentiment to you but much more stridently in a way that does stick in my craw.All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)Comment
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We got buddy to win premiership. Nothing more, nothing less.Comment
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Surely all player recruitment at every club is done with the hope and belief that that player may be able to contribute to a club premiership, whether it is a million dollar recruit or the last pick in the rookie draft. Why would you select them if you didn’t believe they had the potential to make the team and club better.
Bit of a moot point to discuss really.
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What are people talking about when they say we got someone to win a premiership ?
No @@@@ we did !
every player you draft or trade you do for the purpose of them winning you a premiership ! Malachy carruthers pick 3 in last years rookie draft , do you think we drafted him just for work experience so he could see what its like being on a afl list for a year before we give him the boot ?
Buddy has done more to get us close to a flag than 99% of other players who have ever been on our list so give it a restComment
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Spot on TB. We recruit players based on their ability to improve the team, with the ultimate goal of winning premierships. This is the aim of every AFL club, obviously.
Buddy was recruited because he wanted a change and we were smart enough to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
It has been a win/win for all concerned, especially us supporters. More people turn up to watch us play when Buddy is in the team, as anything can happen!Comment
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"Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi finalComment
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The Buddy recruitment/contract is still in play, so it's too early for me for a Buddy retrospective.
But what I will say is that, I am extremely heartened that it now appears the issue can at least now be discussed without excessive rancor.
The hurtful and incessant accusations of disloyalty that were tossed about so prolifically in the early years of his contract, made RWO into a place that repelled - rather than attracted new members.Comment
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I agree. There is absolutely no doubt the Swans recruited Buddy to help win premierships (other than the obvious off field benefits).....what really 'sticks in my craw' is the AFL's and more specifically, GWS lover Mike Fitzpatrick's response to our recruiting of Buddy. He and the league were livid and soon emboldened by Victorian 'outrage', I believe we had our papers stamped 'never to win the flag while Buddy plays for us' and I will believe that until the day I die. 2016 is testament to that belief.
Buddy has been great for the Swans and in many ways, Sydney and the Swans have been great for Buddy, especially his mental health, his relationship and his lifestyle and general happiness. It is this last point that, for him personally, will make up for him not winning a premiership with the Swans (if he indeed doesn't).
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Stop it!
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