- Dec 22, 2006
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I think a lot of the frustration with these players is it seemed a lot like we were just grabbing anyone who was available that was prepared to say yes, not actually looking at our list and working out what we needed..Recruits Revisited
A lot of players look better when in form (obviously) or when we're doing well. A whole heap of St Kilda's list looked like crap last year, but have that new Ross gloss this year. With this in mind, some of the blokes we've traded in are getting unfairly maligned. Even more unfairly, I think SOS and Austin are being viewed a bit irrationally.
Let's look at the trade at the time vs where they are now.
1) McGovern - SOS/Teague special. IMO at the time a lot of us questioned the wisdom of this trade, both from a draft capital perspective and salary. McGovern had always been injury prone at the Crows and while he had been a highlight machine, he had never produced consistently and was far from an 'elite' 3rd tall. That we paid the equivalent draft capital of pick ~13 for him + a long term contract of $750k+ per year was clearly overs. The mitigating factor here was that we needed mature bodies to help out our very young list and young forwardline. We also were desperate to be seen as a 'destination club' again.
Now - he's never gotten his body right, but touch wood so far he seems to be having his best year with us as a 3rd tall defender.
2) Martin - SOS. Martin's recruit was widely celebrated as a coup. We paid ZERO draft picks for him and yes, perhaps paid an inflated contract price but he had undeniable talent and potential at the time...and it was widely hoped that he would achieve consistency at a large and professional club.
Now - disappointing. We had high hopes that he would be the missing piece to our forward line. Instead, while he's shown moments of brilliance, he's never had a consistent run of games, let alone a consistent run of GOOD games. I still think that at age 28, he could still turn it around. But I'd have this at less than 50% likelihood now. Still, I see this as costing far less than McGovern. Hes disappointed us, but the actual recruitment was fine.
3) Williams - Austin. Seen as an inflated salary, but again at ZERO draft picks that was somewhat mitigated. The fact that he has never gotten his body right with us is again disappointing. I have him as less of a fail than McGovern, but worse than Martin.
Now - at the end of the day he's a luxury to have in the backline, and not good enough as a full time mid. If fit, he's best 22.
4) Hewett - Austin. Seen as an incredibly good pickup at ~$450k/year. Was seen as the recruit of the year for Season 2022. Had a fantastic year for us.
Now - let's not sugarcoat it, he's been bad in 2023. He hurt his hand and hasn't been the same. Not sure if this is mental or if he needs rest, but him playin is actively hurting the team. At his best, he's probably in our best 15 players. At present, I'd have him behind 5 others in the midfield...yet he seems safe as houses. Still, at the end of the day he's not on a high salary and his 2022 alone is better than anything than what recruits 1-3 have ever produced. He's still a big tick.
5) Cerra - We paid a lot for him, but he was worth a lot on the open market. Probably even more. With high potential and strengths which are genuinely scarce in our team - he again, was a coup.
Now - Cez is probably leading our best and fairest in 2023. He's silky and smart. He's only getting better. Can't fault him at all this year (off field interview about finals notwithstanding lol). Big tick.
McGovern was recruited as a 3rd tall when we already had Charlie, Harry, Levi and a young TDK developing.
Williams was brought in to play a role he had never done for more than cameos in the middle to support Cripps, now he ends up a half back flank in a position we already have Docherty, Saad, Newman, Newnes, Plowman & now Boyd and Cowan.
Martin, made sense at the time, although he had never shown consistent good footy at GC and he has been exactly the same player at Carlton due to injury and form, its more frustrating because what we hoped Martin would become is exactly the type of player we so desperately need.
Hewett, I am less concerned about, he was brought in to replace Ed Curnow as our tagger and has proven much better than that so gets played as an inside mid which upsets the balance a bit with too many slow similar midfielders..
Cerra, okay last year but been exceptional this year.