Franks for the memories. Things don't always go well with COLA

[Goldhawk]

I can't see Buddy going to GWS it's a hole of a place and nobody would know him up there and they won't be playing finals while he is up there.

Buddy likes Melbourne scene ,it's nightclubs and his high profile mates that he has here and his clothing business interest here as we all know, also his parents are settled here in Melbourne.

Why would he want to leave a power house club in Hawthorn play finals and a club that is in a strong financially position and not worry about the future for security.

Buddy would make at least 1.2 mill and have a contract offer of at least 4 years at Hawthorn.

 

[Minnesota Wisdom]

JD has stated the Hawks would deserve 3 first round picks as compensation if Buddy goes.
That would make it almost palatable.

Sign us up, would take that in a heartbeat. We can function without the big man, open up salary cap space and we fast track our succession planning with 4 first round draft picks.

Unfortunately I can't see it happening. I was under the impression that St Kilda received the highest level of compensation for Goddard which was only a late first rounder.

 

[Matt121]

If Buddy was going to move, he would go to another Victorian team OR a western australian team

 

[LuvMyHawks]

Maybe Wellingham is calling him loudly from WA..Buddy misses him,so he said.
JD, we would love that to happen, but You are DREAMING!!! .

 

[Hodge is God]

If Buddy was going to move, he would go to another Victorian team OR a western australian team

What Victorian team has enough money for him to leave one of the most well run and successful team on and off the field? And his best mates.

If he leaves, he'll go interstate. For me, I would rather GWS (as much as I hate them) because that means Buddy won't be kicking 8 goals against the Hawks in the 2014 QF for either Fremantle of the WCE.

Anyway, I believe he'll stay. But I guess I'm prepared for the worse if he goes.

 

[grizzlym]

I dunno, if he goes to a joint like GWS for the money, I can blame him.

I mean, he'd be more than amply compensated at Hawthorn at over 1 million a year. Which is far, far more money than the vast majority ever earn.

Then factor in the third party deals etc

He'll be more than set up for life and in a very comfortable manner too.

We're not talking about the difference between working for the minimum wage or 100K: we're talking about the difference between vast sums of money; a matter of degrees. Taking the higher offer isn't going to radically change his life.

How much money does one need? Especially in this rarified air he's currently breathing.

Moreover, simply plumping for the money, you reduce your footy to merely a financial transaction and forgo so much.

By staying he'd be playing for a real footy club, with a rich history, a golden future, a passionate supporter base rather than an empty franchise with all the culture of a piece of plywood.

So yes, I can blame him for just taking the money. There is so much more here, so much more to the decision than just the money. And with the money it's not like we're talking about a life-changing sum that will drag him out of the gutter and set him up for life. He's already set up for life, and the offer currently on the table is massive by any stretch.

Simply: he'd be leaving our family for some more shekels. I would blame him for that.

 

[LuvMyHawks]

Hodge is God, I have been prepared to see Buddy transferring elsewhere for some time, as a female, and I am probably the only woman that thinks that way, I stated months ago, my instinct and intuition tells me he will gooooooooooo..... Bye Buddy.. I hope I am wrong!

 

[Steven Tyler]

I dunno, if he goes to a joint like GWS for the money, I can blame him.

I mean, he'd be more than amply compensated at Hawthorn at over 1 million a year. Which is far, far more money than the vast majority ever earn.

Then factor in the third party deals etc

He'll be more than set up for life and in a very comfortable manner too.

We're not talking about the difference between working for the minimum wage or 100K: we're talking about the difference between vast sums of money; a matter of degrees. Taking the higher offer isn't going to radically change his life.

How much money does one need? Especially in this rarified air he's currently breathing.

Moreover, simply plumping for the money, you reduce your footy to merely a financial transaction and forgo so much.

By staying he'd be playing for a real footy club, with a rich history, a golden future, a passionate supporter base rather than an empty franchise with all the culture of a piece of plywood.

So yes, I can blame him for just taking the money. There is so much more here, so much more to the decision than just the money. And with the money it's not like we're talking about a life-changing sum that will drag him out of the gutter and set him up for life. He's already set up for life, and the offer currently on the table is massive by any stretch.

Simply: he'd be leaving our family for some more shekels. I would blame him for that.

That's if he goes to GWS

There's always Perth!

 

[LuvMyHawks]

Grizz, is it true the Hawks are prepared to increase from 4 to 5 years? You know what know all Barrett is like,he gets his news 3rd hand..And where did he get this news from? The Sheikh of Sydney didn't deny it! So it must be true

 

[bEnJi]

As painful as it is to say, after watching every single one of Buddys 170 games for this club, the last few weeks has made it absolutely clear to me that he is gone. Buddy is playing with no confidence something he has NEVER done before. The swagger is gone, he is not the Buddy we love. Why?, because he is hurting and struggling with the decision he has made. He isn't struggling to make a decision he has made it.

As much as it will hurt to loose him how can u blame him. He has done everything you can achieve at this club. Premiership player, grand finals, Coleman medals, best and fairest, all australians, memorable goal after goal.
He even has another chance to finish with another premiership.

He will be offered money that is quite simply crazy. 2 million a year, 1.5 over 6 years are some of the rumoured numbers.

I also think the constant rumours and the invasions of his personal life are taking a toll on him. He is made out to be some movie star and its something I think he struggles with when all he simply wants to do is go out and enjoy a good time with his mates just like anyone else. Melbourne is a football bubble, anything he does is reported in newspapers, radio,social media and tv. Being in Sydney may offer some relief from this.

I will hurt like never before if he leaves but I can't blame him, so enjoy him while you can and remember all the good times he has given us supporters.

 

[spudmaster]

Hodge is God, I have been prepared to see Buddy transferring elsewhere for some time, as a female, and I am probably the only woman that thinks that way, I stated months ago, my instinct and intuition tells me he will gooooooooooo..... Bye Buddy.. I hope I am wrong!

What nonsense! A woman is never wrong. Blokes are taught that at a very young age. And boy is it reinforced during a relationship!!!

 

[grizzlym]

Grizz, is it true the Hawks are prepared to increase from 4 to 5 years? You know what know all Barrett is like,he gets his news 3rd hand..And where did he get this news from? The Sheikh of Sydney didn't deny it! So it must be true

I don't reckon the purported numbers for the Hawthorn deal are correct. So it makes me wonder if the purported GWS 'offer to come' is also correct.

From a journalistic point of view, and I use that term very liberally with Barrett 'Best in the Business', he can't lose with this story. Whatever he says won't/can't be refuted. I mean the club isn't supposed to be approaching players, any details of any offer will be kept secret. If people deny that this offer has been made, there is enough paranoia and distrust, especially with the vast sums he's purporting, to keep the belief in the offer alive. So he could report anything - and the more unbelievable, more tantalising the story the better - it will be the dominant story because no one will refute it.

 

[Dragz]

Just jumped onto the ATO Income tax calculator. Assuming i haven't screwed it up:

If Club X offers him 1.5 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $851453

If Hawthorn offers him 1.2 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $686453

So he'd be getting an extra $165,000 per year basically.

Not including Tax scams etc etc etc. Also, not including any sort of frontloading where he might get paid millions for the first year, then a few hundred k for the other years.

What's it mean? It means either way he earns a crap-load more than me!

 

[Off The Couch]

I don't think you can compare the likes of fletcher and Harvey with the buddy situation - no free agency didn't give them cause to reflect and no franchises with unlimited open cheque books. Jobe Watson was never going anywhere, has red and black coursing through his body.

The best comparisons have been the likes of Daisey (talks on hold) and Cotchin, who strangely enough has only signed for two years. It's a sign of things to come I think.

I am now non plussed - if he goes, sad but life goes on and if he stays, you beaut and life goes on

 

[LuvMyHawks]

What nonsense! A woman is never wrong. Blokes are taught that at a very young age. And boy is it reinforced during a relationship!!!

 

[Glasgow Hawk]

When your as good as Ablett you get whatever you want
That's the benefit of being the best
Buds in a similar position
Everyone wants him, so you give him the world to get him
Hawks can only offer so much, so it's up to Bud to decide what's most important to him for the next 4-6 years

Ain't that the truth!!

 

[LuvMyHawks]

Benji, most of what you have written is true, the only sentence about the media, tv, etc in Sydney,or wherever he goes I disagree with.. The media will follow him everywhere,nighclubs,shops,a restaurant,a cafe,the girl he is with,nothing will change in that respect..It could be Timbuktu,they will still follow him..even though it's a ghost town!

 

[BaliHawk]

Simply: he'd be leaving our family for some more shekels. I would blame him for that.

grizz, have avoided this discussion like the plague as finding factual info rather then journo's sprucing their exclusive knowledge and inside info on what has already happened, is about to happen, or may not happen .... It's become a circus that was always going to be the case.....and it's round 9.

Free Agency is in its second year, it's been driven by the AFLPA, once managed by the CEO of the AFL himself. It's design was to allow players to move more freely between Clubs given the restrictions the draft or trade insisted. It was meant 'mainly' to allow players who were middle tier, who we're valued by one Club more than the other and allow them more opportunity. That was the primary reason for its introduction.

Of course it would reach out to the top players also yet that was less likely given the salary cap all Clubs have as a restriction. All Clubs, let's ratify that. There are Clubs that have a higher salary caps (read Sydney who would not have been able to sign Kurt Tippett but for this allowance) The AFL not only pay for this gap they give it its own name ' cost of living concession allowance'. So let's call this Compromise 1 for the sake of it.

Then the AFL under its expansion plans to grow the game extended significant concessions to GCS and GWS, concessions at the draft table that r*ped the best talent to these 2 Clubs prior to the draft through preselection of uncontracted players and then at the draft through priority draft picks, this has been going on for 3 years (stand corrected on that term) Call this Compromise 2. I don't deny that new franchises need a leg up, I am not sure the extent of that leg up needed to be so extreme.

Now add Compromise 3 in the AFL's so called Ambassador roles, this is where our man Buddy is lured, and for the sake of this let's link GWS into the equation. Under the salary cap and any additional variations GWS may have there is no way they can offer the figure being mentioned of $2m per year. A major chunk of this lets say $900 p.a. will be from Compromise 3, Ambasador. Note also that GWS CEO David Matthews is an AFL planted executive, he has a red phone to the AFL CEO on all matters to do with GWS. Compromise 3 is the main factor that makes the Free Agency factor in the Buddy debate a farce. The drive to land him at GWS is being negotiated by the AFL CEO, his stooge that is the GWS CEO and has nothing to do with the SOS, Sheedy etc.

For an organization that preaches equality and fairness, they are completely Compromised. The above are just 3, maybe others can add more...actually Compromise 4 is obvious - look at the AFL's plans to remove our Clubs major sponsor in Tasmania, remove us from playing games in Tasmania in favor of another Club who they have decided deserves this.

Rant over

TM

 

[bEnJi]

Benji, most of what you have written is true, the only sentence about the media, tv, etc in Sydney,or wherever he goes I disagree with.. The media will follow him everywhere,nighclubs,shops,a restaurant,a cafe,the girl he is with,nothing will change in that respect..It could be Timbuktu,they will still follow him..even though it's a ghost town!

Yeh I think the exact same thing but I doubt very much if Buudy was in Sydney and has an argument with a women at a nightclub it would be the front page lead story of the biggest paper in Sydney. He will still be in a bubble but not like the one in Melbourne

 

[LuvMyHawks]

CP, I was listening to Watson Snr on SEN this week,the day after Jobe was re-signed. (We don't get many stations here, but I listen to any station with w-fi Tune In,)but Watson stated that GWS offered the same amount to Jobe that Buddy was offered by GWS..I almost fell off my chair.Is he really worth that?

 

[Davo23]

Just jumped onto the ATO Income tax calculator. Assuming i haven't screwed it up:

If Club X offers him 1.5 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $851453

If Hawthorn offers him 1.2 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $686453

So he'd be getting an extra $165,000 per year basically.

Not including Tax scams etc etc etc. Also, not including any sort of frontloading where he might get paid millions for the first year, then a few hundred k for the other years.

What's it mean? It means either way he earns a crap-load more than me!

How much extra tax is there if we pay him cash in brown paper bags?

Or we can pay the tax in brown paper bags?

 

[LuvMyHawks]

TM, surely Watson would not have been offered the same as Buddy? The only reason I ask, he must have been offered an "Ambassadorial" income as well..In my mind the AFL are CORRUPT,too much is being done underhanded, and there is NOTHING that clubs can/will do about that Dictator.The AFL disgust me!

 

[BobHawk]

When your as good as Ablett you get whatever you want

That's what the umpires say.....

 

[grizzlym]

grizz, have avoided this discussion like the plague as finding factual info rather then journo's sprucing their exclusive knowledge and inside info on what has already happened, is about to happen, or may not happen .... It's become a circus that was always going to be the case.....and it's round 9.

Free Agency is in its second year, it's been driven by the AFLPA, once managed by the CEO of the AFL himself. It's design was to allow players to move more freely between Clubs given the restrictions the draft or trade insisted. It was meant 'mainly' to allow players who were middle tier, who we're valued by one Club more than the other and allow them more opportunity. That was the primary reason for its introduction.

Of course it would reach out to the top players also yet that was less likely given the salary cap all Clubs have as a restriction. All Clubs, let's ratify that. There are Clubs that have a higher salary caps (read Sydney who would not have been able to sign Kurt Tippett but for this allowance) The AFL not only pay for this gap they give it its own name ' cost of living concession allowance'. So let's call this Compromise 1 for the sake of it.

Then the AFL under its expansion plans to grow the game extended significant concessions to GCS and GWS, concessions at the draft table that r*ped the best talent to these 2 Clubs prior to the draft through preselection of uncontracted players and then at the draft through priority draft picks, this has been going on for 3 years (stand corrected on that term) Call this Compromise 2. I don't deny that new franchises need a leg up, I am not sure the extent of that leg up needed to be so extreme.

Now add Compromise 3 in the AFL's so called Ambassador roles, this is where our man Buddy is lured, and for the sake of this let's link GWS into the equation. Under the salary cap and any additional variations GWS may have there is no way they can offer the figure being mentioned of $2m per year. A major chunk of this lets say $900 p.a. will be from Compromise 3, Ambasador. Note also that GWS CEO David Matthews is an AFL planted executive, he has a red phone to the AFL CEO on all matters to do with GWS. Compromise 3 is the main factor that makes the Free Agency factor in the Buddy debate a farce. The drive to land him at GWS is being negotiated by the AFL CEO, his stooge that is the GWS CEO and has nothing to do with the SOS, Sheedy etc.

For an organization that preaches equality and fairness, they are completely Compromised. The above are just 3, maybe others can add more...actually Compromise 4 is obvious - look at the AFL's plans to remove our Clubs major sponsor in Tasmania, remove us from playing games in Tasmania in favor of another Club who they have decided deserves this.

Rant over

TM

Hey mate,

Yes, you have provided the detail behind my contention of 'obscene money'. I simply cannot believe that any club can or would stump up that much dosh. And if they can it stinks of inequality - as the Chief said this morning, no other club could match it. Moreover, layer on top the potentail for third party and 'ambassadorial' payments and it gets even more obscene.

I agree with all of what you've posted. My contention is simple: the AFL could potentially be making it all about money, pulling strings like some demented puppet master. And that's predicated on the belief that everyone has a price. But, it doesn't have to be. Buddy would be insanely well-compensated if he stayed with Hawthorn. Sure he'd get more if he went to GWS but so what - they're just extra dollars in an already bulging bank account? He'd forgo so much more if he stayed.

 

[BobHawk]

Just jumped onto the ATO Income tax calculator. Assuming i haven't screwed it up:

If Club X offers him 1.5 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $851453

If Hawthorn offers him 1.2 Million a year, after tax, that works out at take home $686453

So he'd be getting an extra $165,000 per year basically.

Not including Tax scams etc etc etc. Also, not including any sort of frontloading where he might get paid millions for the first year, then a few hundred k for the other years.

What's it mean? It means either way he earns a crap-load more than me!

It might look like he is going to sin city but working as a stripper