Sadly they don't need to. The AFL tacitly agreed with them when they imposed the trade ban on the club (despite what other nonsense the AFL used to frame the decision), and so they've been forever in a day running ahead with the 'rort' claim on that basis, knowing only the brave few will ever question it.
2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel
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If anyone hasn't read "The Boys Club" you should! It's extremely critical of the AFL management, comparing them in one chapter to the mafia. And Fitzpatrick probably comes off the worst of anyone.
They'd agreed at the time of the Buddy deal that COLA was reasonable and justified, then turned around and removed it and slapped us with a trade ban for operating within the rules.
The gist of the book is that if you don't do what they say, they'll make you pay. And that they are a law unto themselves - judge, jury and executioner.
Richard Colless is one of the main voices of reason speaking out against Demetriou, Mclachlan and Fitzpatrick.Comment
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The talk of Stephens going to the Pies is not good news for us. They are second in the draft order so he could go to the PSD and we get nothing for him unless North takes him. Of course, North could do the same if they can convince him to play for them. The upshot is we are unlikely to get much for Stephens if we cannot convince him to stay.Comment
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Me personally, I want to keep Stephens. I think he looks to be a really good person from a good family and may need a few years to really show the talent at the top level that he displayed in under age competitions.
I also think that with JD definitely going and Hewett likely to be going - if we really want to keep Stephens we can. We can give him the money and first team 22 assurances that would encourage him to stay. Therefore, if he does end up leaving, I think it will have been a value decision by our coaches, list managers, and talent scouts (Beatson/Dalyrmple).Comment
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Good. I still think there is significant upside to Wicks. He showed in a few games earlier in the year his offensive skills and ball-winning ability are quite good, and he also makes good choices with the ball. He was largely played in a defensive role this year, and kudos to him for doing it so well. But his game can expand, he's still young and he wouldn't have cost much.'Delicious' is a fun word to sayComment
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I'll defer to the likes of barracuda but I think Felix Rogers might be worth a rookie shot. He's a small forward/mid type. Not as good defensively as Wicks et al. but he could work on that.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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McCartin, Amartey, Rowbottom, McInerney, McLean, WarnerComment
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Let Free'o build Caleb and we make an offer later if he fits a need in our team, he may come. Just like JD.
I'm a big fan of Hewett but if he needs more money than we can offer, check out what's out there. Fair enough.
If we think Stephens has the talent we saw when recruited (I believe he does as I am a big fan of watching the 2's), We need to wait until his body bulks a little as he can get tossed around at the moment. Throwing him in the middle up to this point might have wrecked him. We've shown hi what it takes, now he builds on that.
Not every body has the bulk of Gulden has at this stage in his life, he is rare. So e take time and the speculation of him leaving is just click bait. Teams are allowed to enquire and reporters report.
We are a team that nurtures young men until they can compete against bigger men and not get crushed. Stephens runs like a fox and has silk about him, I agree we don't want to let him go and doubt it will happen.
People are conjecturing like crazy because the team aren't saying anything and that's probanly because of the JD surprise. I couldn't sleep when that news came out. I wish him all the best as we don't know what happens behind the scenes and maybe it's all about mental health, his, his partners, someone else significant? We may never know.
Our recruitment are second to none and we need to be patient. I understand your stress but I was in the business of training people to be calm under stress. It's a marvelous skill to practice whilst pressing the refresh button a million times a day. ;-)Comment
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Maybe we should just trade all of our first rounders down for second rounders as we seem to be better at that.Comment
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Sheesh, chill a little I think.
Let Free'o build Caleb and we make an offer later if he fits a need in our team, he may come. Just like JD.
I'm a big fan of Hewett but if he needs more money than we can offer, check out what's out there. Fair enough.
If we think Stephens has the talent we saw when recruited (I believe he does as I am a big fan of watching the 2's), We need to wait until his body bulks a little as he can get tossed around at the moment. Throwing him in the middle up to this point might have wrecked him. We've shown hi what it takes, now he builds on that.
Not every body has the bulk of Gulden has at this stage in his life, he is rare. So e take time and the speculation of him leaving is just click bait. Teams are allowed to enquire and reporters report.
We are a team that nurtures young men until they can compete against bigger men and not get crushed. Stephens runs like a fox and has silk about him, I agree we don't want to let him go and doubt it will happen.
People are conjecturing like crazy because the team aren't saying anything and that's probanly because of the JD surprise. I couldn't sleep when that news came out. I wish him all the best as we don't know what happens behind the scenes and maybe it's all about mental health, his, his partners, someone else significant? We may never know.
Our recruitment are second to none and we need to be patient. I understand your stress but I was in the business of training people to be calm under stress. It's a marvelous skill to practice whilst pressing the refresh button a million times a day. ;-)
I was extremely confident about Dawson and look where that got me?Comment
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