Lappin/Allan

[HBF]

What the hell is going on with Matty Allan and his manager. If clubs who were in need of a ruckman before the trade period (Essendon, Hawthorn, St.Kilda) wanted Allan, they would have made an offer. Why can't he realised that he's played a total of about 10 games in 2.5 years, and his market price has dropped significantly.

Just sign a one year deal, estimated at $300K, and re-assess it at the end of next year.

Didn't realise that Lappin was out of contract, but shouldn't be an issue in keeping him. Did have a bad year this year, but he loves the club and would be very surprised if he doesn't sign.

Any opinions..??

 

[evertonfc]

Originally posted by HugeBluesFan
What the hell is going on with Matty Allan and his manager. If clubs who were in need of a ruckman before the trade period (Essendon, Hawthorn, St.Kilda) wanted Allan, they would have made an offer. Why can't he realised that he's played a total of about 10 games in 2.5 years, and his market price has dropped significantly.

Just sign a one year deal, estimated at $300K, and re-assess it at the end of next year.

Didn't realise that Lappin was out of contract, but shouldn't be an issue in keeping him. Did have a bad year this year, but he loves the club and would be very surprised if he doesn't sign.

Any opinions..??

Carlton should hold both these guys, I can't see Lappin leaving but while Allan still has an agent who believes he is something of a football adonis, then his future is up in the air.

From a Saints perspective, I'd be cautious about taking Allan for obvious reasons, ($$$, injuries, etc) but we may end up being very very light on for quality ruckman...and Allan, at his best, is certainly one of those. The Blues should, and appear to be, playing hard ball with him; I think by recruiting French and McKernan they basically are saying to him "We're prepared in the talls department, and we'd like you to be there, but only at the price you deserve, not what your el corrupto-agent values you at". 'Deserves' about 200k per year I think...anything over 300k is crazy...Allan guy is about as reliable as John Elliott's presidency!

I think if Lappin nominated for the draft (i'd say 99.999% chance of this NOT happening) then I'd be surprised to see him back at St.Kilda. After getting rid of Everitt, Hall, Brown...well...I thought we got rid of the drinkies stigma...mind you I did spy Robbie Harvey @ the Cox Plate with a few Cokes and I wasn't happy...they should have been DIET cokes..he needs to lose weight!

Lappin on his day is an exciting player (possible matchwinner??), I reckon he needs to be moved up the ground a bit more. I'd like to see him bulk up and tackle a full on role in the midfield - although with Kouta, Campo and Ratten all back he mightn't be needed there. With Bradley gone, and this trio aging somewhat, Lappin could be required up there more so than in 2002. Lappin is damaging when he gets the ball, and I reckon he's a lot tougher than people give him credit for.

He seems to be shut down more easily now however, opposition teams just stick someone on him who won't let him out of sight. It's an understandable theory given his exploits of 2000-1. I guess, at nearly 27, he's going to be entering his prime footy years, so maybe the best is to come. I hope so.

Ryan Houlihan needs to ease Lappin's workload IMO. Mind you, I went along to Carlton vs Bulldogs, and Houlihan, playing as a 'sweeper' in defence was extremly impressive.

Time will tell what Pagan has up his sleeve!

 

[HBF]

You make a very good point. Would also like to see Lappin move up the ground, but would maybe question his defensive side. Wouldn't play him there for the whole game, but to rotate him through when Campo or Murphy rests in the forward line would be a good option.

I was so impressed with Houlihans game against the Bulldogs. Played a fantastic game accross half-back, and set up a lot of good moves. Fantastic effort late in the game when he set up Doering for the winning goal!! I believe that Davies' development will continue next year, which may force Lappin further up the ground. If he can develop a defensive side and get a good fitness base behind him, then he could go into the midfield for longer periods of time!!

 

[BluesPrez]

Lappin you might have noticed played up the ground this year. Why? Because no-one in the midfield was getting the ball to him. Leave him up forward/half-forward. He can't do much damage on the wing and neither can Lance.

Allan - I believe he's headed to Windy Hill. Bombers have just freed up 800K worth of midfield and now have no ruckman. Even with Cupido, McPhee and draft picks, the extra 400K on this year's cap will give them enough to offer Allan a 400K contract, which he may well take.

 

[HBF]

BluesPrez, would hate it if Matty Allan ended up at Essendon. We all know that Kevin Sheedy likes to play tricks on the media, but he has come out and publicaly said he wouldn't take Allan, mainly due to his injury problems. Would have thought the Bombers would have offered him an offer during trade week if they were keen.

 

[BluesPrez]

HBF, why bother when they can take him in the pre-season draft and we get nothing. Bombers would love to screw us. Now that Salmon has retired, they will be more keen on Allan than ever.

 

[HBF]

BluesPrez, thats a fair point, especially now that Salmon has retired. If Essendon were keen on him from the start, they would be taking a risk that he still hasn't signed come the pre-season draft.

If he waits until the preseason draft, other clubs may have a look at him - mainly St.Kilda. I believe you take to much of a risk in the draft, if Allan wants to go to Essendon, there should have been a deal done in the Trading period - say Blumfield for Allan

 

[Horace]

In my view Matthew Allan is playing with fire if he opts for the pre-season draft. With the financial and salary cap problems that most clubs have, he might not even get picked up, given the injury problems that he has had.

His best bet is to resign with the Blues on a 1 year deal, take what he is offered, re-establish himself then hopefully be in a position to negotiate a better long term deal at the end of next year.

He should look at Sav Rocca at North. While the circumstances are a little different, after being delisted by Collingwood at the end of 2000, because they thought he was finished, after being drafted by North on a 1 year deal, he re-established himself in 2001, then was able to negotiate a better 2 year deal for 2002/3