Toast GFC finally handling departures well

[iameviljez]

The article on the AFL site today about how Geelong can make the tough decisions and reap the rewards (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-23/tough-decisions-keep-paying-off-for-top-cats) got me thinking about the way that we used to handle the departure of our long-serving players - either the acrimonious sacking (Bews, Bairstow) or letting them go on too long (Hocking, Stoneham). It's been good to see that when we've perhaps gotten that decision wrong now, it's only been by about 6 months or so, and players don't seem to be as put out by it as in years gone by. Even Chapman - who was always going to have to be carried off either in a bag, or kicking and screaming - seems to have separated well from the club, and would always be welcome back.

 

[Moggy]

"Strong clubs make the hard decisions" - that's so true - of any type of organization.

The decisions look better and better as time goes by. Had we gone the other way then I think we would be hostages to fortune - and trying to stave off the inevitable.

That being said, if Chappy lines up against us, then all sorts of emotions are going to come out.
If he manages to hurt us, then I might hit the bottle for a week or two.

 

[vinum coupe]

Dont poke the bear.

 

[JUBJUB]

Please don't mention C-man whose now at the Bummers by name.You'll wake up catman 71 and noooooooooobody wants that.

 

[Skeppersap]

We have been treating our retiring players well since 2007, when we traded King to St Kilda for a rubbish pick. It has continued since then.

I guess it is easy to be magnanimous when you are the best club in the land. Having said that, it is a sign of how well the club is run that we make these decisions, while other clubs hold on and dont evolve.

Great to be a Geelong supporter!

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

The club and the players may be happy with how they parted ways (and let's face it what else are they going to say?), but the fans definitely aren't in some cases. Barrett's article is a puff piece, pure and simple. Don't be fooled by the hype.

 

[iameviljez]

The club and the players may be happy with how they parted ways (and let's face it what else are they going to say?), but the fans definitely aren't in some cases. Barrett's article is a puff piece, pure and simple. Don't be fooled by the hype.

I disagree. I maybe would have preferred Chapman to stay, but can accept the reasons why he didn't. However, I do feel that the rest of the players were moved on at points whereas they were no longer able to keep the club in premiership contention. I do include players who were still "doing a job" in the first 22 in that - guys like Milburn and Corey. Ling and Ottens, I believe, went on their own terms.

 

[Sttew]

This club has the best culture in the AFL by a country mile now.

 

[Vdubs]

We have been treating our retiring players well since 2007, when we traded King to St Kilda for a rubbish pick. It has continued since then.

I guess it is easy to be magnanimous when you are the best club in the land. Having said that, it is a sign of how well the club is run that we make these decisions, while other clubs hold on and dont evolve.

Great to be a Geelong supporter!

Many said this BEFORE the season started, despite the angst and vitriole by some regarding decisions about Chappy.
At 5-0, it does indeed appear to be going well for us, these difficult decisions by our MC.
Whist I am one who lauded their decision-making, I am also one who would have been happy with 3-2, (even 2-3?).
We are an amazing club with an incredible team.
Why can I never select us to win with any confidence?
Timely article by DB.

 

[AM]

The club and the players may be happy with how they parted ways (and let's face it what else are they going to say?), but the fans definitely aren't in some cases. Barrett's article is a puff piece, pure and simple. Don't be fooled by the hype.

Quite enjoyed the piece.

Sometimes having smoke blown up your ass can be a quite enjoyable experience - figuratively speaking.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Many said this BEFORE the season started, despite the angst and vitriole by some regarding decisions about Chappy.
At 5-0, it does indeed appear to be going well for us, these difficult decisions by our MC.
Whist I am one who lauded their decision-making, I am also one who would have been happy with 3-2, (even 2-3?).
We are an amazing club with an incredible team.
Why can I never select us to win with any confidence?
Timely article by DB.

I wonder how it all would've been viewed if we'd been 3-2 and not 5-0......

 

[Teriyakicat]

The article on the AFL site today about how Geelong can make the tough decisions and reap the rewards (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-23/tough-decisions-keep-paying-off-for-top-cats) got me thinking about the way that we used to handle the departure of our long-serving players - either the acrimonious sacking (Bews, Bairstow) or letting them go on too long (Hocking, Stoneham). It's been good to see that when we've perhaps gotten that decision wrong now, it's only been by about 6 months or so, and players don't seem to be as put out by it as in years gone by. Even Chapman - who was always going to have to be carried off either in a bag, or kicking and screaming - seems to have separated well from the club, and would always be welcome back.

thanks for the article, iameviljez- it might be just a puff piece, as BNF said above, but it's a good puff piece!

I'm disappointed to see that the Forgotten Man (Trent West) was, again, forgotten in a write up of players who parted ways with the Cats at the end of the 2013 season. West played 13 senior games for the Cats last year, Chapman played 8. I just hope West doesn't ever read this stuff.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Pretty sure the club pushed hard for Ottens to play on in 2012 with a managed workload, Otto considered it and declined because he wouldn't be able to commit 100% to the preseason.

 

[dazbroncos]

Not so sure that Dasher would agree. Overall I'd say yes it has been done quite well or better but I reckon of all that have moved on he was the one with the most left...
Go Catters

 

[Sttew]

Compare the "great" Brisbane team of the early 2000's with this Geelong team. 3 premierships each, but as DB says, it will be 10 seasons at the end of 2014 since Brisbane played finals, and yet the Cats' roll on

 

[goyoucatters]

Compare the "great" Brisbane team of the early 2000's with this Geelong team. 3 premierships each, but as DB says, it will be 10 seasons at the end of 2014 since Brisbane played finals, and yet the Cats' roll on

Not quite. The Lions made the finals in 2009 (and thankfully knocked off the Tankers in an EF) but that's their only appearance since 2004.

 

[iameviljez]

thanks for the article, iameviljez- it might be just a puff piece, as BNF said above, but it's a good puff piece!

I'm disappointed to see that the Forgotten Man (Trent West) was, again, forgotten in a write up of players who parted ways with the Cats at the end of the 2013 season. West played 13 senior games for the Cats last year, Chapman played 8. I just hope West doesn't ever read this stuff.

Yes, but then again Chapman did play over 200 games for the club, was among our best in all three flags and was the difference in his last game. Chappy was let go because of age, Westy for first-team football.

To that end, I place West in the same box as Laidler, Gardiner, Carrazzo etc - players who left because at their age, they needed to play.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Yes, but then again Chapman did play over 200 games for the club, was among our best in all three flags and was the difference in his last game. Chappy was let go because of age, Westy for first-team football.

To that end, I place West in the same box as Laidler, Gardiner, Carrazzo etc - players who left because at their age, they needed to play.

Yeah, fair enough- but my point really was that West has been left out of a couple of articles that I've read about Cats players departing at the end of 2013- and I think he deserves much better than that.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Not so sure that Dasher would agree. Overall I'd say yes it has been done quite well or better but I reckon of all that have moved on he was the one with the most left...
Go Catters

I thought Corey had a great season in his final year- and possibly could've squeezed another one out. I don't remember injuries being a concern with him (played 22 games) but Milburn did have a few injury issues in his last year, IIRC- played just over half of the games. Perhaps that tipped the decision against him or maybe it was just a case of both of them being having younger replacements ready at that time.
It's always pretty heartbreaking to lose the club stalwarts but it has to happen sometime.

 

[goodoldcats]

If by good management you mean get rid of pods and chappy for duds like walker and burbury then we have done an excellent job

 

[hbk_aus]

Not so sure that Dasher would agree. Overall I'd say yes it has been done quite well or better but I reckon of all that have moved on he was the one with the most left...
Go Catters

Really? I think he was pretty much cooked. Several injury niggles that year and young guys doing well meant it was the right time IMO.

 

[Go Hoops]

If by good management you mean get rid of pods and chappy for duds like walker and burbury then we have done an excellent job

Too early to call either duds at this time. We are on top of the ladder you know.

 

[iameviljez]

I thought Corey had a great season in his final year- and possibly could've squeezed another one out. I don't remember injuries being a concern with him (played 22 games) but Milburn did have a few injury issues in his last year, IIRC- played just over half of the games. Perhaps that tipped the decision against him or maybe it was just a case of both of them being having younger replacements ready at that time.
It's always pretty heartbreaking to lose the club stalwarts but it has to happen sometime.

Personally, I thought Corey perhaps went on a year too long. In the second half of the year, in particular, he started to struggle to really influence games. Corey was the sort of player whereas, not being a particularly penetrating kick or quick off the mark, he really needed to be winning plenty of clearances and that wasn't quite happening. It was a harsh call, but definitely time for Hyphen and Caddy to have a crack in the centre.

Milburn was unlucky, but again I think the right decision was made. There wasn't really a spot for him in our best 22 on GF day in 2011, and that is the unfortunate reality of it.

 

[iameviljez]

If by good management you mean get rid of pods and chappy for duds like walker and burbury then we have done an excellent job

Walker having played the grand total of 0 games this year and Burbs having played the grand total of three games in his entire life. A bit early for the dud call.

Don't forget that Podsiadly really fell off the pace in the second half of last year, and that Vardy - not Walker - was the next-in-line replacement.

 

[JUBJUB]

If by good management you mean get rid of pods and chappy for duds like walker and burbury then we have done an excellent job

Does the sun ever shine in your world grumblebum ?