List Mgmt. 2015 Trade, Draft, Rookie Draft and FA Megathread

[kernelT]

No, not just that incident. See the list I just gave JB. See my overall argument throughout, about the collective damage to our brand. But hey, you two know best. I bask in your higher wisdom.

If you have a look around you'll see that nearly all clubs have a list of indiscretions too... Collingwood being one, membership seems pretty solid.
Nettlefold would blame everyone else for our membership & sponsorship woes, despite being the highest paid CEO, he never got the job done even when we were firing on the field.

 

[stavro#4]

This is my two cents and I have no idea what our club will do regarding Harley right now...BUT IMO you go for him. There comes a time were you have to stand up as a club. We have talked the talk about culture and doing the right thing. Well imagine taking Harley on and getting it right... I have no interest in burning pick 5 for him but I'm sure a suitable deal could be worked.

Newnes Weller Dunstan and our future leaders have a chance to make a name for themselves and turn bennell around. We still hold joey and roo. I say why not. You don't win flags without some element of risk. Think of Steve Johnson Stewy dew, didak and Shaw.

If the club is legit then back itself in. This is Harley's last chance now so from his perspective he has everything to lose

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

Its official gc put him up for trade.

 

[God Save Max King]

This is my two cents and I have no idea what our club will do regarding Harley right now...BUT IMO you go for him. There comes a time were you have to stand up as a club. We have talked the talk about culture and doing the right thing. Well imagine taking Harley on and getting it right... I have no interest in burning pick 5 for him but I'm sure a suitable deal could be worked.

Newnes Weller Dunstan and our future leaders have a chance to make a name for themselves and turn bennell around. We still hold joey and roo. I say why not. You don't win flags without some element of risk. Think of Steve Johnson Stewy dew, didak and Shaw.

If the club is legit then back itself in. This is Harley's last chance now so from his perspective he has everything to lose

Agree Stavro. Imagine Harley playing in midfield alongside Parish, Billings, Dunstan, Sinclair, Steven, Armitage, Acres and Longer, then floating fwd to be part of a goal kicking group of Billings, Lonie, Sinclair, McCartin and Bruuuuuuuce. What he would add on the field with his class and talent would be worth so, so much to our club, especially with the low price, playing better, winning more games, playing finals and playing Friday night footy would be worth more to sponsors than having a guy who used to have off-field issues on our list.

 

[StKing11]

Just so we're clear here. How many of you crying out the cause for grace and compassion to Bennell would give two flying fruitbats about him if he was a rookie listed 0-gamer who'd done nothing in the Suns' seconds? How much of your overwhelming concern that poor Harley gets a fair go, how much of that has to do with his ability to kick a piece of pigskin? If he couldn't, would you be as quick to uphold his right to go out on the town and have ANOTHER incident?

Seems all can be forgiven if you're good enough at kicking around your body, right?

"If he was a rookie listed 0-gamer who'd done nothing in the Suns' seconds" he wouldn't be plastered on the front pages for a minor incident like this..

 

[austinnn]

You'd only really take a chance on a repeat offender if you backed your organisation to have the infrastructure capable of turning someone around.

It's got to be more than a bunch of blokes folding their arms frowning and saying "no dickheads" and its got to be more than fishing trips or whatever. The former will just isolate the player further until you have Lovett situation where the other players don't want to play with him. The latter is a good start but not everyone brain is tuned to the same freq.

There has to be a reason for the player to reform, beyond what hasn't worked so far.

This is where our lack of Aboriginal players and our poor recent history with developing aboriginal recruits as players and as people is probably a drawback. It shouldn't matter, and maybe it won't but it usually does.

I'd like to see HB given a chance, and love to see us succeed in doing so, but the stakes are high and they have to be super confident in their ability to do it and their contingency plan if it backfires.

Over to you Richo and Finno.

 

[bird_man]

I trust the club to make the right decision about his character, but I wouldn't be worried too much about this latest incident. Fairly minor by the sounds of it.

I'd he happy for the club to talk to him and if they believe his head is alright I'd be happy to go after him.

 

[Periphery]

I think we should trade Steven and Armo for Benell.That's 2 bad kicks out of the team and 1 good kick in. Overall that's a net gain!

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Forgive me for being a little incredulous about our ability, after years of stuff ups in terms of player behaviour. And heck, maybe you're right, and we are. Are you willing to risk 10,000 members, or a million dollar sponsor? Because I'm telling you right now, if Bennell is on our list and stuffs up, that's what it'll cost us. If you don't believe me, just ask Nettlefold after the Lovett thing went down.

And it would be totally unfair. It was unfair back then, too. The guy never even put on the Saints jumper. But that didn't matter. It doesn't matter that it's unfair either. It just matters that we'd be up the creek - even more than we are - if things went pear shaped, which there is a high potential that they will.

Just to clarify the loss of sponsors as far as I understand it Perse... we had Holden all but signed into the biggest sponsorship in the club's history (which wouldn't be hard mind you!) & then..... Kim Duthie. Then of course the filth swooped & now have had millions of Holden's $$$ added to their coffers.

Sponsors understand that players stuff up but they want to see a club taking action to prevent their brand being associated with unsavoury actions. St Kilda's action with Lovett was roundly applauded by everyone outside of the AFLPA (who blindly back any one of their members no matter what the circumstance) & a few media types that were always happy to sink the boots into the club.

Duthie was on a whole other level. And as it turned out, was based on a house of lies. Gilbo is still thrown up as the villain in all this but if anything he was the victim (outside of keeping the pics on his phone of the end of season trip to US/Mexico). He meets a girl who looks 20 & says she's 19. They get together & start going out until he finds out that she's actually 16 & has been lying. Gives her the flick (rightfully so) & then she's calls pregnancy. Cue the sh1t storm to end all sh1tstorms.

The never ending headlines of the ST KILDA SCHOOL GIRL & then Nixon's involvement was what cost us sponsors & members. The club tried to manage the situation but when dealing with a psychotic who only wanted revenge was never going to end well.

I'd be surprised if Lovett cost us anything to be honest....other than about $250K & a flag.

My point is that recruiting Bennell is not the massive risk that some think & if you look at it in another way his redemption into a brilliant premiership player would be a fantastic story for the club.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Lucky Bennell wasn't caught drink driving, he'd have the whole AFL world on him and be sacked, thrown in jail never to be seen again like Luke Hodge. Oh wait...........

 

[TassieSaint]

If GCS are determined to offload him their bargaining position is severely weakened. If we can turn 23 + non-essential player into Bennell I will dead set jizz in my pants.

 

[holllywood]

Lucky Bennell wasn't caught drink driving, he'd have the whole AFL world on him and be sacked, thrown in jail never to be seen again like Luke Hodge, oh wait...........

Yeah but Hodgey is a 'good bloke' so it's all good.

 

[Flandersss]

Now that it's official, I hope we are all over Harley Bennell.

He is exactly what we crave, speed, goal kicking & class.

6 goals & 30 touches against the Cats last year, is just a glimpse of what Harley could produce.

Am I seriously the only one that would consider trading pick 5 for this bloke?

Yes I know he comes with added baggage but age is on his side.

 

[TheLastEmperor]

I don't trust our club to manage him. Get X Clarke to the club and I'll be a lot more confident.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Now that it's official, I hope we are all over Harley Bennell.

He is exactly what we crave, speed, goal kicking & class.

6 goals & 30 touches against the Cats last year, is just a glimpse of what Harley could produce.

Am I seriously the only one that would consider trading pick 5 for this bloke?

Yes I know he comes with added baggage but age is on his side.

You won't need to give up pick 5, a third rounder would get the deal done.

 

[Linton St]

Bullshit. Gardiner, for a start, Mav Weller is another. Also up to Bennell to sort himself out, with some periphery help. Look at the help Cousins got and he is still a mess.

Gardy was common knowledge, but learnt to stay off the radar! Dusty, Swan likewise, unfortunately Yarran's now dealing with it.

 

[Flandersss]

You won't need to give up pick 5, a third rounder would get the deal done.

Surely not?

This bloke oozes class.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Surely not?

This bloke oozes class.

Damaged goods, get rid of him ASAP if you are Gold Coast.
Cocaine, assault, alcohol abuse.
Great role model for the AFLs love child club.

 

[Highlander35]

The backlash against Hodge is that he's a bees dick away from being a thug on the pitch, yet he's treated like a paragon of hard, fair footy, and the way the game should be played. He probably doesn't deserve the backlash he's been getting, but there's some feeling that he's a little bit of a protected species by the greater community.

Having said that, I'd love him on the team, just like we loved Baker.

 

[Linton St]

This is my two cents and I have no idea what our club will do regarding Harley right now...BUT IMO you go for him. There comes a time were you have to stand up as a club. We have talked the talk about culture and doing the right thing. Well imagine taking Harley on and getting it right... I have no interest in burning pick 5 for him but I'm sure a suitable deal could be worked.

Newnes Weller Dunstan and our future leaders have a chance to make a name for themselves and turn bennell around. We still hold joey and roo. I say why not. You don't win flags without some element of risk. Think of Steve Johnson Stewy dew, didak and Shaw.

If the club is legit then back itself in. This is Harley's last chance now so from his perspective he has everything to lose

In a nutshell, & a well written post. Nicky Winmar had a minder for a few years in his early days, & managed to shag some of his teammates partners but remained a Saint for another 8-10 years!
Whether it's Buddy or even our own Nicky Winmar it's a very very difficult decision to let a proven A grader with plenty of years ahead walk to another club.
The Tigers handled Dusty extremely well, & he was quick to adjust to the demands & expectations of an AFL club.
The 2015 Saints model is obviously working, & I expect the club show genuine interest & due diligence!
Harley out of the "GC party lifestyle" & with the right attitude would improve any side by 10-15% next year.

The Billings & Bennell show coming to a ground near you.....................................

 

[TheLonieRanger]

Definitely want Bennel! If we could get him for our second and steak knives I'll be very happy!!

In other news, sad to hear Lenny's working for the giants now as an assistant coach, but happy about his decision to move into coaching. He is no doubt honing his skills in case operation "Richardson" takes an unexpected turn for the worse. He would be a coach you'd run through walls for...

 

[gringo2011]

Aka nothing to lose

When he ditches coke for Dare they could market the stuff to recovering addicts. We always had our guys go elsewhere and "culture" changed them....it wasn't the kick in the arse from being unloaded. Mav Weller was in fist fights with team mates and could be reigned in. He would be the most professional guy at the Saints now. He isn't just contrite, he almost has a religious fervour for proving himself. It was from the first preseason after he arrived, I know our incredible culture just worked its way in and he became a choir boy. Anyway it's risk reward, Lovett was too...unfortunately the risk wasn't worth it. Bennell is 1000 the player Andrew Lovett was and of we could get him in believing he wants to work hard he would be hard to pass up.

 

[kernelT]

I'm not reading the long winded arguing posts, is anyone else?

More interesting than your post about getting Bennell for a 3rd rounder

 

[BigMonty]

Surely not?

This bloke oozes class.

But pick 5 will be on balance a very good player, Bennell may become a great player despite his setbacks, are we wiling to gamble pick 5 on that, I wouldn't!Pick 25 and change yes. That's why I reckon Melbourne will probably chase him and dangle pick 6 in front of GCS with a further swap of players or picks to balance it up

 

[crasha301]

But pick 5 will be on balance a very good player, Bennell may become a great player despite his setbacks, are we wiling to gamble pick 5 on that, I wouldn't!Pick 25 and change yes. That's why I reckon Melbourne will probably chase him and dangle pick 6 in front of GCS with a further swap of players or picks to balance it up

Have to remember bennel has to agree on where he is traded to.

melb- been rebuilding for how long?
Ess- his manager shouldn't even take their calls.