Battle for Peter Bell

[GoEagles]

In the newspaper the Dockers have come forward with a higher price then the Eagles for Peter Bell, however I'd really like to aee the eagles go hard to try and get him.

With Kemp and Peter Matera retiring after next year (more then likely) the eagles need another strong midfielder to work with Cousins and Braun

Players mopst likely to leave the eagles are:

Fraser Gerhig - WILL LEAVE
Nick Stone - RETIRE
Josh Wooden - TRADE TO A VIC CLUB
David Antonowicz - MOVE BACK TO VIC
Paul Symmons - RETIRE
Andrew Donnelly - TRADE TO POISIBLY FREO
Chad Rintoul - TRADE OPTION
Laurie Bellotti - TRADE OPTION

What clubs would be interested in these players?

 

[WCE2000]

The only way we could get Peter Bell, is if we traded Fraser Gehrig with a 1st round draft pick.

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For all your footballing needs visit www.bigfooty.com/users/afl/eastsydney

 

[Rooboy 96]

I think it would take more then that.

If you recall "future captains" thread earlier in the year, most North fans had Bell as our future Captain.

Could you have Gehrig, McKernan, Carey, Lange, Colbert, Martyn, McCartney, Burton and Capuano in the same team, too top heavey for me.

 

[mtffafl]

I think you'll find Bell won't go anywhere.

None of the players you mentioned are worth a pinch of salt, so I doubt you'll get much for them.

Except possibly Gehrig, who is very overrated.

Matt

 

[jod23]

I heard Bells agent has said that one of the two WA clubs have put forward a very enticing deal but he didnt say which one. Id love to have him here at WC but if we dont get him we may get Chick anyway and hes pretty darn good.

Why would he honestly want to go back to Freo though they dumped years ago why would you go back???

 

[GoEagles]

I can think of a number of reasons

* In 1995 when he was dumped, the dockers were just starting out, now they have a new coach, new management, new players and a strong potential that they will be final 8 material in the next few years

* He might want to return to Fremantle (he was a South Fremantle player) and be with his parents

* North Melbourne have so many superstars on their list, like Essendon, they wont be able to afford to keep all of them happy - and the Dockers have the money to lash out and offer Belly something attractive

 

[Rooboy 96]

Have they got anything to trade?

 

[Eagle_Fan]

Plus it's the perfect time for him to make the move career wise. I believe he finishes his law degree this semester, and can do his articles back here. Why wouldn't you come back?

 

[Shinboners]

Eagle Fan

But the whole problem for Bell is that for him to get back to one of the Perth clubs, a trade needs to be done and I reckon that what North want as opposed to what the Eagles/Freo are prepared to give away might be miles apart. Bell is a great player, but he is not the type of player that will win a game by himself (like Carey, Hird, Kouta, Mcleod etc.).

In regards to Bell "naming his price" and Freo having piles of money, I can't see how that can be true since clubs are forced to spend at least 95% of their salary caps, so where will the extra money to pay Bell come from? Will other Freo players take a pay cut?

Peter Bell pretty much admitted as much the other week. When commenting on the rumours about him returning to Perth, he said that "something extraordinary would need to happen for him to go back to Perth".

 

[Eagle_Fan]

Do you really believe that ALL player payments are official? That's a bit naive, (although possibly true at North

). We (WC & Freo) have money, and a number of ways to spread it among the players without it needing to go through the salary cap. All investigated by the ATO and AFL, and found to be 'legal'. And I doubt we're the only ones.

On the Bell thing, there is always a way for players like him to get what they want.
And if he's out of contract, he doesn't have to be traded, right? Personally I don't think he'll come back, but it's by no means impossible.
Good player, but we currently have enough egos at our club.

 

[FreoRules]

Shinboners
In answer to your question about the Dockers having money, you only have to allocate 95% of your cap and by that you can have incentives the same way that Essendon keep under the cap. Therefore, the highest paid Docker is Modra on around 250,000 and then the majority are on incentive based contracts. Therefore, teams can keep their salary cap above 95% but still leave some money for new players similar to Sydney.
The hard part will be coming up with a suitable trade rather than the money side of it.
Especially if the Dockers are looking to get another Roo in David King but this seems highly unlikely.
My mail also has it that there is no chance that Chick will go to the Eagles as he has had enough of being under Ken Judge but may look at joining up with another surfing fanatic in Modra.
Likewise, it is highly likely there will be a straight swap with Harding going to the Eagles for Metropolis.

 

[Gonzo]

True, Belly is coming out of contract however St Kilda, Port and Collingwood all have picks before Freo and West Coast so they may have a big go at him. The only way that the WA clubs are going to get a slice is to do a trade (that goes for Chick as well) or for Belly to put a huge price on his head (eg $600,000) and hope that scares off the other clubs till the WA clubs get a pick.

I think this is how it works anyway

Anyone???

While I reckon Belly is sensational I would be gunning for Brent Harvey - Bomber Thompson (after coaching him at North) tried to get him to Geelong with the Colbert deal.

 

[Shinboners]

EagleFan and Freo Rules,

So how many Eagles and Freo players have McDonalds franchises then?

Naively yours
Shinboners

 

[jod23]

To be honest none of us really know what going to happen, its all just speculation.
Im just gonna wait and see.

 

[Grendel]

How old is Paul Symmons? Seems to young for you to put him into the retirement basket. On your trade options named he would be worth at least a look at IMHO.