2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[troyjones2525]

Anyone who thinks Ladhams doesn’t make our squad better is kidding themselves. Sure, question the cost but I don’t think you can question whether he makes our squad better.

The way I look at it is that Ladhams will likely be paid similar to what George Hewett would’ve been. Would you rather Hewett taking opportunities off our young midfielders in Campbell, Stephens, RB or Ladhams taking opportunities off McLean & Amartey while also being a much better ruck alternative if Hickey went down?

Go and have a look at the stats he put up when Lycett was suspended in Rounds 9 - 13 and Ladhams was #1 ruck. The game against Sean Darcy seems particularly impressive.

Good call!

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[Danzar]

If there was a difference, it'd be Sicily went through a phase of one-week suspensions for niggles. But one of them, from memory, was a knee to the head of Joel Selwood - which is excusable and understandable.

Add to that his stomp on Shaun Atley's ankle while he was laying on the ground, happened a few rounds after the Selwood incident.

Then there's the absolute tanties he would regularly chuck at his own teammates. Unsociable Hawk angry with teammate

Not a fan at all.

[gloveski]

Expensive it may be (though when you're earning upwards of $500k pa that is less of a factor). But will be interesting to see how "intense" he finds it as an AFL footballer living in Adelaide. Sydney must be one of the most relaxed places to exist if you're in that industry.

Everything is relative. I've always found Sydney laid back, relaxed, friendly and safe. But then I'd spent the previous five or six years living and working in London before I arrived in Sydney.

That’s correct Liz I live in Tassie and find Sydney and Melbourne to full on . Nice to visit but no way I could live there . It’s all about what people are use to .
Hell feel the heat in Adelaide especially if he doesn’t live up to the price tag


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[Ludwig]

I think one lesson for us out of this and other recent player losses is that if we have a player coming out of contract who we think may want to go home to Mummy then we give it our best shot to re-sign him a year out. If he refuses, then we look to trade him out a year ahead when we have a better bargaining position. We have some big names coming out of contract next year by the way!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I thought we had to take some responsibility for losing Dawson by not signing him earlier. We should be able to identify players who are at risk of leaving, and contract them at least to year 8 and RFA status. Even if we got Dawson to extend to free agency, we wouldn't be getting a much different outcome from our AFL compo pick.

In effect, we lost Dawson for the next 2 years. In return, we will get some salary cap relief and a draft pick where we can expect to get a reasonably good player. It's something all clubs have to face and I suspect that our experience with losing players is not worse than that of other clubs.

We are well aware of the difficulties of retaining players just by being in a non-AFL city and an expensive cost of living market. I think we've done a good job between the academies and our reputation as a club to compensate for the negatives.

The talk on here about Dawson staying at the Swans or the PSD being a deterrent is unrealistic. Even if we only end up with a late 2022 1st rounder, it's not the end of the world. We just move on and take advantage of the positives, which is salary cap relief to put us in a better recruiting position in the future, and a good prospect coming to the club next year (or using that pick in recruiting).

There is an exaggerated focus on individual players at this time of year, because that's what trading and drafting are about. It's easy to lose perspective on the bigger picture. Dawson had become a very important player for us and we will miss him, but others will just have to step up and fill the gap. There's no reason this shouldn't happen with the talent we have on our list. The signing of an injured Naismith to 3 year contract is far more damaging than being forced into an unfavourable trade for Dawson.

[liz]

That’s correct Liz I live in Tassie and find Sydney and Melbourne to full on . Nice to visit but no way I could live there . It’s all about what people are use to .
Hell feel the heat in Adelaide especially if he doesn’t live up to the price tag


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Living in and visiting are two quite different things though. When you visit a city it's natural to go to the places where there are lots of people. When you live there - certainly in Sydney - there are plenty of beautiful, quite places around which you can organise your life, especially if you're not bound to a desk Monday to Friday and have some financial means, both of which apply to an AFL player living in Sydney.

I don't begrudge Dawson his desire to return to South Australia (though I am disappointed, as a big fan of his), but I don't agree with the idea that, for him, Sydney would be an intense place to live unless he chose to live an intense life-style.

[sprite]

In fact, we may get nothing at all. The difference of course is that Clark still has a year to go on his contract.

I think one lesson for us out of this and other recent player losses is that if we have a player coming out of contract who we think may want to go home to Mummy then we give it our best shot to re-sign him a year out. If he refuses, then we look to trade him out a year ahead when we have a better bargaining position. We have some big names coming out of contract next year by the way!

You have to remember that the player is still in contract and has to agree to the trade. The player has a right to see how the year pans out, he might well have a blinder and reach AA status and earns the right to negotiate a better contract, in your scenario he is locked into a contract that may not reflect his improvement.

Imagine the Chad who is out of contract 2023, happens to mention he is struggling a bit and thinks he needs to have some time at home, but doesn't want to commit to signing a new contract. Should we then trade him, as he can't/won't commit.

[Ludwig]

Our player trading ruled definitely need tweeking but at least we do not possess the problems faced by other sports. If you follow soccer, you would be aware of yesterday's big announcement that the investment vehicle owned by the Saudis is taking over Newcastle United. In a competition where there is effectively no salary cap or draft, another club with unlimited funds will be able to buy itself certain success over time. Imagine how mid-tier English Premier League clubs feel about that?

What we need is a socialist system where all players are on the same pay scale, based on a combination of age, experience, and location well-being index.

[sprite]

What we need is a socialist system where all players are on the same pay scale, based on a combination of age, experience, and location well-being index.

Like your thinking, Ludster, add into also all players are contracted to the AFL, clubs then negotiate with the AFL get players.

[Ludwig]

For some reason my mind didn't register the future second round pick. I agree that's a long way from "getting him for pretty much nothing" as I suggested earlier.

I don't think it's getting reamed based on the intrinsic value of CCJ. It's probably a fair valuation. But does seem overs in the sense that North did have the PSD sleeve up their card. I wonder why they didn't use it...

Your earlier assessment wasn't that far off.

Tarrant was a FA, so is not really part of the calculation. North got CCJ for a net swap of 3rd and 2nd round picks. I net this trade out to be CCJ going for around a late 2nd rounder. I think that's close enough to nothing where it's not worth going to the PSD.

[Roadrunner]

What we need is a socialist system where all players are on the same pay scale, based on a combination of age, experience, and location well-being index.

Sorry Ludwig- what are you smoking my friend? Your posts are usually either funny or intelligent and often both.

The above is neither, unless you are being sarcastic!

[Ludwig]

Sorry Ludwig- what are you smoking my friend? Your posts are usually either funny or intelligent and often both. The above is neither, unless you are being sarcastic!

I'm totally serious. I know such talk upsets the capitalists and I don't want to make this a political discussion, but once big money infiltrates a system, it goes to hell. Big money has turned sport into a bidding war and meat market.

[Roadrunner]

Like your thinking, Ludster, add into also all players are contracted to the AFL, clubs then negotiate with the AFL get players.

Sure thing sprite- however, may I remind you the last time I looked we are not living in China! You want the AFL more involved? I suggest you elect Chairman Dan as your Dictator for life and then he will bring about all the socialist rules you and friend Ludwig are suggesting.

In the free world, people, including sports people are generally paid according to their ability (politicians excepted)
as we are unfortunately not all born with equal qualities or apply ourselves with the same endeavours.

Sorry mate- it’s all in the genes!

[Aprilbr]

I mentioned in an earlier post that I thought we had to take some responsibility for losing Dawson by not signing him earlier. We should be able to identify players who are at risk of leaving, and contract them at least to year 8 and RFA status. Even if we got Dawson to extend to free agency, we wouldn't be getting a much different outcome from our AFL compo pick.

In effect, we lost Dawson for the next 2 years. In return, we will get some salary cap relief and a draft pick where we can expect to get a reasonably good player. It's something all clubs have to face and I suspect that our experience with losing players is not worse than that of other clubs.

We are well aware of the difficulties of retaining players just by being in a non-AFL city and an expensive cost of living market. I think we've done a good job between the academies and our reputation as a club to compensate for the negatives.

The talk on here about Dawson staying at the Swans or the PSD being a deterrent is unrealistic. Even if we only end up with a late 2022 1st rounder, it's not the end of the world. We just move on and take advantage of the positives, which is salary cap relief to put us in a better recruiting position in the future, and a good prospect coming to the club next year (or using that pick in recruiting).

There is an exaggerated focus on individual players at this time of year, because that's what trading and drafting are about. It's easy to lose perspective on the bigger picture. Dawson had become a very important player for us and we will miss him, but others will just have to step up and fill the gap. There's no reason this shouldn't happen with the talent we have on our list. The signing of an injured Naismith to 3 year contract is far more damaging than being forced into an unfavourable trade for Dawson.

I agree with all of this, Ludwig. Let's hope that we receive at least the late first rounder for 2022. That's far from certain as we sit here. Yes, the Club will move on regardless and our retention record is probably the best of the 4 Northern clubs in the 20 years. Having said that, the big Victorian clubs seem to have a great way of keeping their best up and comers.

There was a time in the 1980s and early 1990s when we lost an incredible array of talent to Victoria - Rhys-Jones, Evans, Rocca, Grant, Williams, Toohey and Mitchell come readily to mind. Thank goodness those horrid days are over. We have a stable club with good admin and coaching. That's a big part of why retention has been good since the bad old days.

[Roadrunner]

I'm totally serious. I know such talk upsets the capitalists and I don't want to make this a political discussion, but once big money infiltrates a system, it goes to hell. Big money has turned sport into a bidding war and meat market.

I respect your political views Ludwig ( though I don’t agree with them) however they should be kept out of sports.

I admit that professional sport has flaws. If you don’t like it, follow amateurs where participants don’t get paid. There is plenty of local football being played all around the country. But if you want to watch and follow AFL, then I suggest you accept that not all players are of equal value: just compare Buddy to our 22 nd player in our team and tell me how that player should be remunerated, eg a James Bell- no disrespect James!

[Mark26]

Living in and visiting are two quite different things though. When you visit a city it's natural to go to the places where there are lots of people. When you live there - certainly in Sydney - there are plenty of beautiful, quite places around which you can organise your life, especially if you're not bound to a desk Monday to Friday and have some financial means, both of which apply to an AFL player living in Sydney.

I don't begrudge Dawson his desire to return to South Australia (though I am disappointed, as a big fan of his), but I don't agree with the idea that, for him, Sydney would be an intense place to live unless he chose to live an intense life-style.

Have to disagree with this Liz. What someone finds "intense" is relative, as your previous post intimated.

I was born and raised in Sydney and lived there for close to three decades. We decided to move to a rural area and even though we're still attached to the city through family and our red and white family, I'd never go back.

We've been out in the sticks for close to two decades now and calling rural living home is completely a relative definition. Some hate it here for a multitude of reasons and move back to the big smoke shortly on arrival. Others love it.

I empathise with JD if he is going because he needs to live in a different part of the country. Am I disappointed? Hell yeah, with the manner this has come about, with the fact we're losing a gun and without getting back what he's worth.

I think that happens to every club though, with the northern clubs getting more of their fair share of departing players per annum.