View Full Version : Lucas and Fletcher sign 1 year Contracts
Windas_Magic
3 Jul 2008, 19:07
Confirmed on the EFC website although they haven't put up the article yet. Travis Auld also talks about it on BomberTv.:thumbsu:
S.C[BANKS]
3 Jul 2008, 19:09
YEAHH!!!!!
great stuff Scotty and Dustin. :thumbsu:
Edit - Same goes to Watson.
New contracts for Lucas and Fletcher
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1
Essendon veterans Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher have signed new one-year contracts, chief operating officer, Travis Auld, announced today.
“This is really good news for us - between Scott and Dustin they have over 500 games of AFL experience,” Auld said. “Both are best and fairest winners, both are premiership players and they are very important to this club.”
Auld said that all parties were happy with the agreements despite media reports that Lucas was keen for a longer deal.
“It’s becoming common practice nowadays with AFL clubs that as players come to the latter part of their career they go on one-year deals and they might end up having two or three seasons of one-year deals and Scott understands that,” Auld said.
“He had a good talk to the coach and we committed to Scott that midway through next year we will start talking to him (about his next contract). We’re certainly not going to hang him out until late next year before we start discussions and he’s happy and we are happy and there is no reason why he can’t play for at least a couple more years.”
Auld said it was important for people to understand the context behind a one-year deal.
“It’s a minimum not a maximum and once this was explained everyone was happy,” he said.
“The rationale behind the one-year deal is that it gives some flexibility to both the player and the club because, at that stage of a career, the player wants to be happy with where they are at with their footy and the club wants to be happy with where they are at.
“We have a very young list so we have to make sure we have that blend of experience along with youth and players like Scott and Dustin are both very important.
“We base ourselves on tradition and history and both those guys are a massive part of that.
“Dustin and his father Ken broke the father/son playing record a few weeks ago and that’s important to us, it might not mean a lot to Dustin right now but it certainly means a lot to us as a club.”
Thirty-three year-old Fletcher recently speculated that he might hang-up his boots at the end of the 2009 season.
“Dustin likes to think things through himself but we can have a pretty open dialogue with him and we will speak to him mid-way through next year and we will have a chat and see how he is feeling,” Auld said.
“He’s been a stalwart of the club and we are not ruling out that he might play on even longer.”
Today's announcements come on the back of yesterday's news that Jobe Watson had signed a new two-year deal.
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/images/07/r7-gsp-13-l.jpg
Scott Lucas takes a strong diving mark
Bachar Houli
3 Jul 2008, 19:14
IMO Scotty will start playing better, I really think the contract issue was bothering him.
DonMania#5
3 Jul 2008, 19:23
IMO Scotty will start playing better, I really think the contract issue was bothering him.
I really doubt it, could be true though.
Great news btw :thumbsu:
retroparty
3 Jul 2008, 20:49
Great news about both. Especially Lucas. He is a vital player.
Nice to know that Fletch is going to battle it out for at least 1 more year.
Darealrath
3 Jul 2008, 21:20
Awesome news.
You couldn't find two more selfless star when it comes to contract negotiations. Champions on and off the field. :thumbsu:
Sam the RAMA fan
3 Jul 2008, 21:33
I am so f___ing happy right now :D
Grey Smith Bar
3 Jul 2008, 21:40
Our two best players of the last few years :D
CarlosHernandez
3 Jul 2008, 23:56
IMO Scotty will start playing better, I really think the contract issue was bothering him.
Really don't think his contract was going through his mind the last few games while chasing the footy with a defender hot on his heels. The only thing on his mind would be getting the pill.
Another Hutchy scoop fizzles into a nothing story :D
Phat Toni
4 Jul 2008, 09:26
Another Hutchy scoop fizzles into a nothing story :D
Nothing can make me more happy!
It's not the news that he digs up that ticks me off, I just cant f____en stand how he deliveres the message, he makes it sound so matter of fact..... When it's more than likley NOT to happen....
But he is right we dont have any good young kids player for the Dons:rolleyes:
Does a one year deal leave Scotty open for a motza-size offer from GC17 next year?
kelvin_sheedy
4 Jul 2008, 12:49
1 year deal was best. Good to see common sense prevail. :thumbsu:
Storyboy
6 Jul 2008, 03:58
Does a one year deal leave Scotty open for a motza-size offer from GC17 next year?
It had better bloody not! Surely he would have to agree to it in any event and I just could not see that happening under any circumstance.
Awesome news about the re-signings though! Agree all round, our two best, most consistent players in recent years.
These two players are really important to our club but I think Lucas should get more than one year and would play better with the pressure off his shoulders.