Is There a General Understanding?

southcoast

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Sep 25, 2006
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Probably falls into the 'silly question' category but................

Been reading about PSDs and Rookie Drafts for a while now and it seems as if players previously listed with a club (Houlihan, Ruffles, Bucovac (sp?) to name WA examples) are usually always re-rookied by the same Club rather than being poached by another. At least, at this stage, there doesn't seem to be any indication another club is going to 'poach'

While my examples are all from this year I suspect similar instances have occurred in the past.

Is my observation right?

If so, is there some unwritten gentleman's agreement that poaching is 'naughty'?
 

echelon

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Aug 15, 2009
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Yep, you're correct.

Every club re-rookies players and the unwritten law is that clubs don't poach other club's players - they are naturally incentivised not to as it can come back to bite them!
 

DockerA

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Mar 29, 2009
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Generally but this isnt always the case - Freo delisted Clayton Collard and Richmond picked him up with their first pick in the rookie draft a few years back
 
Aug 16, 2006
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Probably falls into the 'silly question' category but................

Been reading about PSDs and Rookie Drafts for a while now and it seems as if players previously listed with a club (Houlihan, Ruffles, Bucovaz (sp?) to name WA examples) are usually always re-rookied by the same Club rather than being poached by another. At least, at this stage, there doesn't seem to be any indication another club is going to 'poach'

While my examples are all from this year I suspect similar instances

Is my observation right?

If so, is there some unwritten gentleman's agreement that poaching is 'naughty'?
I don't know about Houlihan, but in the case of Ruffles & Bucovaz (did Melbourne do it with a ruck as well?), Polak @ Richmond, they're out for a 6-month/year injury.
That might be the disclaimer on a gentleman's agreement, that clubs will seek an understanding for guys with L.T.Is.
 

southcoast

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Thanks to all who responded.

Trawling through my 'fading memory' I suspect the 'agreement' may come into play if a club indicates they will re-rookie someone.

If they don't, as per Bedford and Campbell case then it becomes open season. I also suspect the agreement is out of respect for the time and effort clubs have already put into the development of an individual.
 
Aug 16, 2006
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Mind you this article seems to suggest there is no gentleman's agreement.
I'm not certain we want to keep Neagle.
Reading between the lines; but if you didn't rate a guy, delisted him, but knew someone would take his contract off your books; would you talk him up or down?

I think we'll only take him back with our very last rookie pick, put it that way.
 

Ants

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Sep 27, 2005
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Mind you this article seems to suggest there is no gentleman's agreement.
I suggest that article is rubbish. I've seen the original comments by Sheedy - and he was pretty lukewarm on Neagle. Didn't rule him out, but not much else. Given that article doesn't refer to any new information from Essendon, Sheedy or GWS, I think its just your usual off-season fare.
 

Selective Retention

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When clubs delist someone and then rookie them it is often due to said delisted player being contracted. That way it frees a spot up on the main list but a large percentage of the contract is absorbed via the rookie list instead of straight out paying the player out. If someone steps in and picks them up unexpectedly it would be a bonus for the club.

Then there are guys like Polak and Lonergan that other clubs aren't going to touch with a barge pole because of their injuries being such a huge risk.
 

s1bbald

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Jul 6, 2008
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slapsgiving-salute1.jpg

General Understanding.
 

estibador

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I don't know about Houlihan, but in the case of Ruffles & Bucovaz (did Melbourne do it with a ruck as well?), Polak @ Richmond, they're out for a 6-month/year injury.

Ruffles yeah, but Buca is fighting fit at the moment and has looked very sharp in preseason training so far.

He has had a lot of injuries in the last 2 years though so maybe that was one factor that put clubs off thinking of poaching him.
 

Ess_don

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Sep 11, 2009
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Hahahaha, s1bbald! :D So unexpected..but brilliant!

Sorry nothing to add to the discussion, just had to give him credit for making me chuckle, erm... glad we picked up Neagle I guess?
 
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