It's really disappointing but some people here are getting carried away. Do people realise that when a player signs a contract COMMITTING to something for 5 years then the other club is within their rights to force them to honour that? I mean yes its playing hardball by Carlton but they are more than within their rights to do so. I for one don't want to give them 2 first round picks for Gibbs. I've got no doubt they took this approach with us due to giving up Betts, Sauce etc for not much in recent times so had a point to prove with their supporters that they don't just roll over for Adelaide.
As for Lyons? I feel sorry for him but ultimately maybe the club doesn't want to need to lock him in for 2+ years when they can hold back the funds for other things next year? There's any number of possibilities there. I certainly agree Thommo needed to be delisted rather than given one more go around regardless of his contract.
I don't think the picture is as bleak as all that, there's plenty of improvement to come from the Crouches with another pre season and hopefully next year we try some other players through the mid to add pace like Knight.
All in all it's still a disappointing trade period but it's not the end of the world the way some are posting.