Loyalty

[Jasper84]

Interesting things have happened in the last couple of days. On one hand North Melbourne has unceremoniously given four of their club stalwards the flick and the outcry over the handling of matter has been huge. "How can you just turf them out? Surely they can choose to go on their own terms? Where is the loyalty to these champions who have been so loyal to you over the years?"

On the other hand, Cochrane from GC has lambasted JOM for his disloyalty in deciding to leave a club that has put so much time into him, to chase dollars and fame in Melbourne.

As we wind up the season and the trades, retirements and delistings begin, I ask, does loyalty still exist? Do players and clubs have an obligation to repay the faith they have shown in each other? Are we as fans entitled to see sentimental decisions made over cold long term ones? Is there any room for loyalty?

 

[Apex36]

Interesting things have happened in the last couple of days. On one hand North Melbourne has unceremoniously given four of their club stalwards the flick and the outcry over the handling of matter has been huge. "How can you just turf them out? Surely they can choose to go on their own terms? Where is the loyalty to these champions who have been so loyal to you over the years?"

On the other hand, Cochrane from GC has lambasted JOM for his disloyalty in deciding to leave a club that has put so much time into him, to chase dollars and fame in Melbourne.

As we wind up the season and the trades, retirements and delistings begin, I ask, does loyalty still exist? Do players and clubs have an obligation to repay the faith they have shown in each other? Are we as fans entitled to see sentimental decisions made over cold long term ones? Is there any room for loyalty?

Dane Swan says yes.

 

[PepperFace]

There is still loyalty. Players are very loyal to the $$$$. And even more so are player managers.

Football is a business and I dont expect any loyalty. Sure we dont like to see good players leave the club.....no one wanted Dayne Beams to leave. But how many erections were there from behind computer screens at the prospect of us picking up Adam Treloar last year.

So all in all. Football is driven by money and not loyalty. Cant get too upset when players leave. Its going to happen more and more into the future

 

[Bad Horse]

Interesting things have happened in the last couple of days. On one hand North Melbourne has unceremoniously given four of their club stalwards the flick and the outcry over the handling of matter has been huge. "How can you just turf them out? Surely they can choose to go on their own terms? Where is the loyalty to these champions who have been so loyal to you over the years?"

On the other hand, Cochrane from GC has lambasted JOM for his disloyalty in deciding to leave a club that has put so much time into him, to chase dollars and fame in Melbourne.

As we wind up the season and the trades, retirements and delistings begin, I ask, does loyalty still exist? Do players and clubs have an obligation to repay the faith they have shown in each other? Are we as fans entitled to see sentimental decisions made over cold long term ones? Is there any room for loyalty?

I think that football has changed in the time I have been watching it, but I can't objectively tell if thats just my impression or real. I've changed a heck of a lot since I was 6 years old (some would say not enough) so its really hard now to unpack that change but my impression is yeah its happened.

In hindsight I think we will see the Demetriou years as being the time our game, or at least it's peak competition, fundamentally changed into something different, no more an awkward outgrowth of a suburban competition and a truly professional national league like the NFL.

And like the NFL, that comes with downsides. Purely emotional things are lost, like loyalty, replaced with fiscal imperatives, spreadsheets, and marketing reports. As a supporter I feel more like a consumer (or a revenue source) than a supporter now, and I wonder how the players feel.

So yes, I think a lot of those concepts are dying to be replaced by the dynamics of the market. It works both ways though and The players have had a hand in this too. Mechanisms like free agency which they pushed for will only accelerate the change.

 

[Maggie5]

Sadly it is all business but there is still pockets of loyalty.
For us Pendlebury, Sidebottom signed contracts without too much fuss.
Swan never went elsewhere and the club has been loyal to him.

 

[TW Sherrin]

loyalty is weighted towards the clubs. they forget the blokes they move on.

 

[ant22]

Im 41 and I reckon ever since I was a kid people have been asking the same question. What that tells me is it's always been the same.

Clubs do what they think is best to improve their list. Players do what they think will make them happier. Some players want to be 1 club players, some want more money, some want success.

In my opinion most people will try and do what is best for themselves so I don't think much has changed or will change going forward.

 

[Bobbyt54]

Leigh Matthews sums it up perfectly. You don't play for the jumper. You play for the people wearing it with you at the time. The support staff and supporters. Kids get drafted from all over the country now and don't go to the sides the followed growing up. It not like the old days where you grew up in the area and followed the side you would end up playing for more often then not.

All you can ask for now is when a player is at you club they give their all. If they leave so be it. Just like Dangerfield did last year.

 

[Vicky Park]

I think the club did exceptionally well with the Dane Swan send off. A great example of how loyalty still counts and exists. Pretty much handled it perfectly, with the right mix of reverence and irreverence, even accounting for the presence of that sour old puss (MM). Dane's family were front and centre, the media coverage was about right, and respectful. Caroline Wilson rightly had nothing to say. Edie performed very well (he was fantastic as the Robbo replacement on AFL 360 for one of the episodes this week).

A lot has been made of the comparison with North's treatment of their aged stars, but for once, we nailed this one.

 

[JB1975]

Im 41 and I reckon ever since I was a kid people have been asking the same question. What that tells me is it's always been the same.

Clubs do what they think is best to improve their list. Players do what they think will make them happier. Some players want to be 1 club players, some want more money, some want success.

In my opinion most people will try and do what is best for themselves so I don't think much has changed or will change going forward.

There's quite a bit to be said for this. Footballers in the 1920s and 1930s had no hesitation about leaving League clubs in order to play Association when the money was better, just as players now will usually (not always) shift to greener pastures when given the chance.

But it should also be acknowledged that players don't always respond to the dollar, for whatever reason, and it is imperative that clubs do what they can to foster a positive culture. I think that North Melbourne have handled the Boomer situation badly, given how much they were basking in the refracted glory of his games record only a few weeks before, and I think that any circumstance where the acknowledged greats of a club are made to feel like disposable commodities can only harm the culture of that club.

 

[76woodenspooners]

There have been a lot of comparisons between Swan and Harvey's exit ...

... Which have been over simplistic.

It's much easier to orchestrate a farewell extravaganza for a player who hasn't played all year and is retiring due to a career ending injury ...

... Versus a player who has played all year and is physically capable of continuing.

Nevertheless, North could have handled things a whole lot better

 

[CFC2010]

Draft Brown and Daicos and my faith in Club loyalty & sentiment will be restored

Then they will get rid of Cloke and I will be back to square one

Its a business nothing more nothing less.

 

[PicaBoo]

There have been a lot of comparisons between Swan and Harvey's exit ...

... Which have been over simplistic.

It's much easier to orchestrate a farewell extravaganza for a player who hasn't played all year and is retiring due to a career ending injury ...

... Versus a player who has played all year and is physically capable of continuing.

Nevertheless, North could have handled things a whole lot better

Forget about logistics. Caff and Tooves retired too and that was a lot more class shown by the club than what was given to the Norffour.

 

[Maggie5]

Forget about logistics. Caff and Tooves retired too and that was a lot more class shown by the club than what was given to the Norffour.

I think that maybe somehow the retirement of the 4 was leaked and the club responded hastily and came out badly as I can't imagine that they would do it a couple of weeks out of playing finals.
Think if they had their time over again, would have handled it differently.

 

[Schraderbrau]

No loyalty or sentimentality left but I don't have a problem with that.

One exception though is that if we don't draft Daicos and have him in the pocket in round 1 I will hand in my membership.

 

[Jasper84]

No loyalty or sentimentality left but I don't have a problem with that.

One exception though is that if we don't draft Daicos and have him in the pocket in round 1 I will hand in my membership.

Catch that one Vicky Park ?

 

[Schraderbrau]

There's quite a bit to be said for this. Footballers in the 1920s and 1930s had no hesitation about leaving League clubs in order to play Association when the money was better, just as players now will usually (not always) shift to greener pastures when given the chance.

But it should also be acknowledged that players don't always respond to the dollar, for whatever reason, and it is imperative that clubs do what they can to foster a positive culture. I think that North Melbourne have handled the Boomer situation badly, given how much they were basking in the refracted glory of his games record only a few weeks before, and I think that any circumstance where the acknowledged greats of a club are made to feel like disposable commodities can only harm the culture of that club.

It's a difficult situation they are in though being forced to make an announcement whilst also preparing for a finals campaign. We have nothing in front of us and can devote full attention to celebrating the retirements of Swan etc. My biggest criticism of North is their decision to end the career of arguably their best player.

 

[Schraderbrau]

I think that maybe somehow the retirement of the 4 was leaked and the club responded hastily and came out badly as I can't imagine that they would do it a couple of weeks out of playing finals.
Think if they had their time over again, would have handled it differently.

I read that Harvey forced the decision onto them rather than waiting until the end of the season.

 

[noideaatall]

It is a business, both for players and club. That is not the case for spectators where loyalty to the club (and sometimes to certain key players or staff), passion and emotion all mix. Players who obviously chase the dollar will not get the same love as those that stick to one club. Similarly clubs that show little loyalty to their players or are unable to keep a core group for spectators to learn to love over time will lose supporters.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

What is loyalty?

To a supporter it's their club being loyal to winning flags.

To a player it's loyalty to support them in their decisions.

To player managers loyalty is to their client (and the 5% cut they get)

To the aFL loyalty is supporting GWS first and foremost

 

[Maggie5]

I read that Harvey forced the decision onto them rather than waiting until the end of the season.

If forced, more fool them for not taking a bit more time in the wording by Scott.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Dane Swan says yes.

Travis Cloke says get stuffed Buckley.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Tim Watson on SEN this morning said nothing much has changed.
In his first week at Essendon, he was told about a player who had left and about 2 new players who had arrived.

"Players being delisted or changing clubs has been this way since my earliest days" - Tim Watson

 

[slugger01]

What is loyalty?

To a supporter it's their club being loyal to winning flags.

To a player it's loyalty to support them in their decisions.

To player managers loyalty is to their client (and the 5% cut they get)

To the aFL loyalty is supporting GWS first and foremost

All true. But, the supporter has a different idea of loyalty. If a player is great, they don't want him to leave, and pull the loyalty card, asking where's the loyalty after we drafted you, developed you, and now you leave.. (Hi Mr Beams).
Then, on the other hand, supporters get all excited when a gun player wants to come to their club, after the original club drafted them, developed them and now they want to leave. Loyalty is no big deal... (Hi Mr Treloar).

But, if a player is not rated, loyalty doesn't come in to it. Otherwise, we owe Blair another 4 year contract. He has been loyal to the club for many years, and busted his arse for us. We should now be loyal to him, for his efforts, and keep him in our squad. Same with Gault. Same with Cloke.

What exactly is loyalty, if the goal post move depending on which side of the fence you sit???

 

[MISFITS]

I think the club did exceptionally well with the Dane Swan send off. A great example of how loyalty still counts and exists. Pretty much handled it perfectly, with the right mix of reverence and irreverence, even accounting for the presence of that sour old puss (MM). Dane's family were front and centre, the media coverage was about right, and respectful. Caroline Wilson rightly had nothing to say. Edie performed very well (he was fantastic as the Robbo replacement on AFL 360 for one of the episodes this week).

A lot has been made of the comparison with North's treatment of their aged stars, but for once, we nailed this one.

Dane Swan was shopped to GWS was he not a few years back.?
More of a cheeky Eddie meeting that left GWS people sure that he was getting shopped for draft picks. A quip quip from Eddie subsequently denying it happened.