Opinion Is Buddy's nine year contract finally coming back to haunt the Swans?

Is Buddy's nine year contract finally haunting the Swans?


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MF

Good Poster, s**t Bloke
Sep 10, 2006
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The only thing that haunts the Swans is the umpiring in the 2016 GF.

This thread wouldn't keep getting bumped otherwise.

Exactly. I don't blame the club at all for doing this deal, regardless of the squeeze we're under now. The deal put us in perfect position to win a couple of extra flags following an already successful era. And as I said when we signed him... No one in their right mind would have expected him to play out the entire contract. It was simply structured that way to make sure we got our man.

Even without the flags I'm still glad we did the deal. It's been a pleasure watching him play for us.
 

queensberryrules

Club Legend
Aug 16, 2019
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I wonder if swans did a clear outcome statement reference Gale at RFC, and if so, whether it included memberships, profits and flags? Otherwise, it is easy to blur expected outcomes and call anything a pass.

I think it is not a pass, at least not yet, as flags are the main game. Everything else is just window dressing.
 

GC2015

Norm Smith Medallist
May 27, 2013
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How many games for bud this year? And will he retire at years end 1 year early or see out the contract

I feel like limping to the end of the contract is not his style and he could finish up this year assuming he gets on the park for a few games and a farewell one
I think most would expect Buddy to see out his contract considering the amount of flak both he and the club copped when it was first signed. I understand the argument that an older injury prone player should just retire if it's obvious that his career is over but this is a pretty unique situation where the club would be highly motivated to complete the contract to prevent future criticisms. The Swans are in a rebuilding phase right now anyway so they probably aren't that opposed to spending the next two years outside the top 8 and stockpiling some high end draft picks. It will also give a guy like Nick Blakey ample time to develop while they rebuild.

To answer your first question, I think Buddy plays at least 10 games this year.
 
Jan 19, 2008
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How many games for bud this year? And will he retire at years end 1 year early or see out the contract

I feel like limping to the end of the contract is not his style and he could finish up this year assuming he gets on the park for a few games and a farewell one

Why would he retire early? They signed him knowing that he probably wasn't going to play in the last few years of the contract.

Is the Budwah in full training Swans fans?

Contract does not really hurt them since they are rebuilding, if anything it will have them nicely placed to acquire some players just as their list is starting to come good.
 

sydney_gws

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Oct 31, 2016
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I don't know. According to all the experts, premierships or finals appearances isn't what matters when it comes to the Buddy and the Swans deal, but how many people he can bring into the SCG..
I think that the afl can not allow 9 year contracts, no more than 7. Tippetts contract was a bigger issue than buddy's. I think buddy has more determination than to play than Tippett had. I think he was happy to have a medical certificate enabling him to retire but get paid his contract money.
 
Apr 23, 2016
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The next question.Who should the AFL Swans target next?

Grab both these guys

TkOcKTvu.jpg
 

GC2015

Norm Smith Medallist
May 27, 2013
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I don't know. According to all the experts, premierships or finals appearances isn't what matters when it comes to the Buddy and the Swans deal, but how many people he can bring into the SCG..
SCG crowds pre-Buddy decision
2011: 26,615
2012: 24,981
2013: 28,297

SCG crowds post-Buddy decision
2014: 32,595
2015: 31,521
2016: 33,425

Swans membership base pre-Buddy decision
2011: 27,106
2012: 29,873
2013: 36,358

Swans membership base post-Buddy decision
2014: 40,126
2015: 48,836
2016: 56,523


If that's your sole criteria for judging Buddy's Swans career then he's passed with flying colours.
 

blitzer

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 27, 2006
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I'm just glad the AFL actually forced Swans to keep Buddy's salary under the cap. Otherwise they woulda retired him years ago.
Nice to see them doing the clearly right thing rather than just favour the expanding markets (cough Gold Coast draft picks and concessions for a situation that was literally no worse than any other bottom club)
 

Daka

Premium Platinum
Nov 28, 2017
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SCG crowds pre-Buddy decision
2011: 26,615
2012: 24,981
2013: 28,297

SCG crowds post-Buddy decision
2014: 32,595
2015: 31,521
2016: 33,425

Swans membership base pre-Buddy decision
2011: 27,106
2012: 29,873
2013: 36,358

Swans membership base post-Buddy decision
2014: 40,126
2015: 48,836
2016: 56,523


If that's your sole criteria for judging Buddy's Swans career then he's passed with flying colours.
If you look at the Data most clubs membership numbers have gone up.
 
Do the people saying that they had to win a flag to pass think that every player signing for,say, st kilda since 1966 had been a failure?
It would spend if St Kilda signed a single player up on a 9yr deal and as a consequence had to then jettison a number of other players to keep him remunerated.

That context does matter here.
 
Jan 26, 2006
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I think that the afl can not allow 9 year contracts, no more than 7. Tippetts contract was a bigger issue than buddy's. I think buddy has more determination than to play than Tippett had. I think he was happy to have a medical certificate enabling him to retire but get paid his contract money.

Why?

If a club wants to sign a player for 9 years they are aware of the risks.
 
The next question.Who should the AFL Swans target next?
Have been hearing for sometime now that they will throw the kitchen sink at Cripps.
 
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