<blockquote>Quote from Sainter on September 12, 2011, 16:42 Callan Ward Rhys Palmer Tom Scully They've all signed, Mitch Clarke says he wants to go to Fremantle preferably, but mostly just would like to be back in WA. Reckon Xavier Ellis, not getting played much, Suckling is ahead of him now, hardly gets played any more. Lake will stay at the Bulldogs I reckon. Has it been confirmed that Chad/Broges have gone, or just speculation and rumours? Is Goddard uncontracted? He may go, now that the Saints lost in first week of finals, hopefully he stays with us. Andrew Lovett will probably get picked up by GWS. Just thought to post all the players that have gone and put this up again.</blockquote> Still no confirmation regarding Chad & Brogan, although Broges flew to Sydney on Friday to visit the GWS facilities & have a chat with Sheeds & Choco - I reckon he'll go considering he's rumoured to have turned down Primus's offer to become an assistant. As for Chad, could GWS be a bit wary of taking him on in light of reports that the Cornes brothers are the ones responsible for the damaging leaks during the season???
Melbourne recieve 2 first round picks for the loss of Tom Scully. Western Bulldogs and Adelaide both get first round picks for losing Callan Ward and Phil Davis. Fremantle get an end of first round pick for losing Rhys Palmer. Dogs disappointed they only recieved 1 pick.
I think the dogs got a pretty fair deal. If Callan Ward was getting the same compo as Gary Ablett then something is wrong, I don't care about the age difference. Ward will never be as good as Ablett. The picks all seem pretty fair to me and the AFL's argument about difference in contract size and amount was spot on. Freo may have been a bit fortunate if anything considering Palmer spent most of the year on the fringe of the team.
and scully is = to ablett? considering scullys knees i think melbourne would be laughing. they get 2 first round picks for a guy who has played 20 games for them. sure he has potential, but he will never be an a grader.
@ blankmc Totally agree - I find it an absolute joke that GWS will offer such a lucrative, long term contract to someone who is yet to completely prove themselves and who has had a season marred by a dodgy knee injury. Melbourne made the right decision in ensuring they kept Trengove well out of GWS's reach - IMPO, Trengove will prove to be a much better player than Scully, and the Dees realised this too!!!
AFL say another reason for the two first round picks is the cash he was offered and the long contract.
Scully may or may not end up being as good as Ablett, most likely not. But at least he has the potential to be, Ward doesn't. The only reason Dees got two first round picks was the ridiculous contract, so Dees can thank Sheeds for their compo.
Wow, McDonald is now GWS Bound. What are people's thoughts on this pick up? I'm not sold on picking up a 35 y/o player no matter how badly they need experienced players. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/123369/default.aspx
Yeah, James McDonal has signed to be an assistant coach and player. GWS are set reportedly set to announce Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan, while it's likely that Power will sign as well, imagine if they nail them all, young players/future guns, experienced players for a few years and top draft picks. Tom Scully Callan Ward Rhys Palmer Phil Davis James McDonald Chad Cornes Dean Brogan Luke Power
I was under the impression that McDonald was mentoring GWS's Melbourne based youngsters this season and was always going to be involved in an assistant/mentoring capacity next season anyway. As for Brogan, IMPO it is a waste of a young blokes spot on the list considering he will miss more games through injury than he will play - after all, even he admitted when announcing his "retirement" that his body just isn't holding up to the rigours of AFL footy anymore!!! And as far as Chad goes, good luck GWS, assistant coach Choco was on record last year as saying that Chad isn't quick enough to play in defence or the midfield anymore, and his accuracy kicking for goal would be just as bad as NRoo's, so he isn't a quality forward anymore. What's more GWS, don't do anything to piss Chad off like not selecting him next season, or else you'll find him leaking info from the club like he has been this year!!!
Mitch Hahn was rookie listed at the Western Bulldogs this year whilst on an apprenticeship to being an assistance coach too, but that didn't mean he was any danger of playing in the 1sts. Is there any difference with the GWS/McDonald situation? I haven't looked fully into it yet.
I'm not at all convinced that Scully is going to be around twice the player that Ward will be, although he will paid handsomely more. On the evidence to date, I'd say Ward has about twice as many runs on the board as Scully.
2 x 0 = 0 .... Ward has shown enough to say he's a fighter. Scully has shown he in the right environment will be a very very good player, maybe not a champion so not sure of the logic of building a team around him. Melbourne however should take the picks and run. Two first rounders - one after their pick, and one at the end of the round - are perfect for them to regenerate their team. Not sure if you want to use them this year. You probably do even if the draft is compromised because the Demons would be expecting to play finals in 2012 if they are utilising their list in any decent fashion. Mind you they could just tank next year into say 13th or below, take the extra picks then in an uncompromised draft, and become the "Carlton of the 2010s"
It makes more sense for the Dees to hold off from using those picks until next years draft considering the talent pool will be much greater by all reports. By saving those picks till the 2012 draft, the Dees could really set up their long term future far better than they can in this draft considering they will also have the father-son selection of Viney's son!!!
As, almost always, agree Bear. Get that back better real quick so you can take over the Rohde vacancy.
Back has been ok past few days Terry - just have to worry about this dreaded flu, and the bloody gallstones that have been giving me much grief lately. But to get back on topic, Port is playing hardball with GWS over Brogan & Chad. Report in today's Advertiser claims is threatening to keep both players on their list to force GWS to trade for them. Looks like it could get messy in the next week or two with both players now claiming they announced their retirements because they were told they would not be offered new contracts - yet they have both gone on public record stating in the media that they agree with, and support the direction the club is going with the youth policy. As far as I am concerned, GWS can have them both because they'll get stuff all out of either of them - all they will be doing is taking up spots on the list that would be better being occupied by young fellas!!!
Or could it be that the whole Dad's Army thing is a strategy by GWS to cover a thin draft so they retain some picks for the next, reputedly better, draft?