News Flash - Trent Croad very close to sigining with Fremantle

[Loz]

Freo sweats on Croad coup
By Kim Hagdorn

Saturday, October 06, 2001

FREMANTLE is on the verge of a major recruiting coup with the signing of brilliant Hawthorn utility Trent Croad.

Croad, 21, is tipped to join Fremantle before the end of trading on Tuesday.

He would be swapped to the Dockers, along with exciting teenager Luke McPharlin, to complete Fremantle's strongest trading period since joining the AFL seven years ago.

If Croad signs with Fremantle, the club will retain its No. 4 draft pick and the important first choice in December's pre-season draft.

And West Coast officials have conceded talented utility Chad Morrison could leave the club.

Morrison, 23, is recovering from a knee reconstruction and has been linked with a move to St Kilda.

He would be traded for an early-round draft selection as the Eagles rebuild their ageing squad to undergo a major development program under a new coach.

Eagles football operations manager Steve Woodhouse confirmed Morrison could return to Victoria.

The 120-game midfielder still has two years of a lucrative $300,000-a-season contract to run at the Eagles.

He could leave the club only if a viable swap could be negotiated.

''Chad has indicated that at some stage he could go home and if there was a very good trade deal on offer, we'd look at it,'' Woodhouse said.

Croad is taking the weekend to decide his future but has declared intentions to leave Hawthorn.

The rangy utility, who has played 81 senior games, attended Hawthorn's best-and-fairest count at the Crown Casino last night.

He expressed interest on Friday to join power club Essendon but Hawks management will not deal with the Bombers on swapping Croad.

It appears certain Croad will be traded to Fremantle, along with the 18-year-old McPharlin, for the Dockers' first draft pick.

Fremantle yesterday also confirmed a deal to win all-Australian goal-shark Jeff Farmer and his athletic Melbourne teammate, ruckman Troy Simmonds.

Farmer will move to Fremantle in a complicated four-way deal to allow Dockers rover Heath Black to join St Kilda.

Simmonds joins Fremantle in a three-way deal to allow disgruntled big man Daniel Bandy to join the Western Bulldogs.

Dockers chief executive Cameron Schwab will meet Croad and his management in Melbourne today.

Schwab made a rushed trip to Perth for last night's club champion presentation after further discussions with Croad yesterday.

The Dockers chief returned to Melbourne at midnight.

Schwab said despite the loss of Black and Bandy, the Dockers' playing list had been bolstered during last week's frenzied trading.

''We think who we have attracted to the club will help us be a good AFL team for some years to come,'' Schwab added.

WOW
PLUS FOR FREO - CROAD AND FARMER
MINUS - BLACK AND BANDY

Fremantle are a good thing for next year's final 8.

 

[kuepper]

Originally posted by Loz
WOW
PLUS FOR FREO - CROAD AND FARMER
MINUS - BLACK AND BANDY

Fremantle are a good thing for next year's final 8.

Whoa whoa, we are nowhere near final 8 standard, how could we, we only won 2 games

We will be competitive, lets say that and not get ahead of ourselves!

And the 'loss' of Bandy is one I am sure we can recover from, as this year there are store manequins that could have provided more heart and physical committment than Daniel Bandy - Doggies fans, you'll need a whole heap of patience!

 

[The Hitman]

Gee...one more report saying Freo will get Croad. Now I'm a believer...

The Hitman

 

[FreoDocker]

hmmm ... with the loss of black, I'm a bit worried about the midfield.
Bell Haselby and cook are great, but they're not that quick
Woods will be looking good on one wing and maybe Mcphee or walker on the other wing.
However without fletch or black, I think we will be looking towards some good midfield types in the draft, such as Ball, Judd, Hodge (if any of them are around at 4) and maybe armstrong, if he lasts till later in the draft.
Also I think it would be useful to consider drafting Schofield in the preseason draft as a midfielder who can come forward and kick goals.
What do you think?

 

[Loz]

Actually this was reported at www.afl.com.au so it's probably got more credence than other reports.

 

[The Hitman]

Originally posted by Loz
Actually this was reported at www.afl.com.au so it's probably got more credence than other reports.

The reports on the AFL site are just the newspaper reports...so they are the same reports, so they have the same credence...which is none.

The Hitman

 

[Chris_23]

afl.com.au just use reports from the Herald Sun and other trashy papers. The whole scenario is a joke, i'll believe it when i see it.

 

[Visro]

No not really. Its actually a report from the Sunday Times by Kim Hagdorn whose mottos are:

"Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story"

AND

"If my story sounds too good to be true, it usually is"

Vis

 

[Bucks]

Croad.. WHY?? why do u bother going to a club which has no future! cmon, lets be honest.. FREMANTLE IS SHAT! they will never, EVER make the finals nor play in the GF. Even Collingwood has 100 times better chance of making it that freo, so why will go to freo?? why not go to a club which might have success...

(GO TO COLLINGWOOD!!!)

 

[Loz]

Speaking as a neutral supporter if i was Trent Croad i believe Fremantle would be the best environment for him to go to. A fresh start, plenty of surf and chics, and an oppotunity to become a leader in a small market team.

 

[DEES RULE!]

Originally posted by Bucks
Croad.. WHY?? why do u bother going to a club which has no future! cmon, lets be honest.. FREMANTLE IS SHAT! they will never, EVER make the finals nor play in the GF. Even Collingwood has 100 times better chance of making it that freo, so why will go to freo?? why not go to a club which might have success...

(GO TO COLLINGWOOD!!!)

Well with all the guns they are recruiting they might just have a bright future!

 

[sabre_ac]

Originally posted by Bucks
Croad.. WHY?? why do u bother going to a club which has no future! cmon, lets be honest.. FREMANTLE IS SHAT! they will never, EVER make the finals nor play in the GF. Even Collingwood has 100 times better chance of making it that freo, so why will go to freo?? why not go to a club which might have success...

(GO TO COLLINGWOOD!!!)

Coming from a supporter of the only club to have a worse history since fremantle joining the competitiion.
Like loz said
Wether you like it or not they are going places.
We will have either 4th of 1st pick in this years Draft
We have the quality of Bell
We have the young stars in Longmuir,Haselby,Pavlich,Brown,McPhee and woods.

And now we have (or will have) croad,Mcpharlin and Farmer
Farmer is an undoubted star
McPharlin and Croad are stars of the future
Able to play on either ends of the ground.

My opinion top 8 is looking very good next year.
With the return of Waterhouse and Micheal next year.
Forward line is looking very imposing

 

[i_luv_westcoast]

Even if Freo don't get Croad, they will get Polak, who in my opinion will be an even better player than Croad. Fremantle will push for a top 8 spot next year but I think will just miss out. Wouldn't be surprised if they had a season like Collingwood did this year.

I really can't see West Coast doing anything special next year. They may win another game or two, but are no chance for the top 8. I just hope they are more competitive and don't have so many big losses like they did this year. Misiti if he comes will help strenghten the midfield which should be good. However no doubt injuries will once again come into play. West Coast I feel has to be tough and cut the likes of McIntosh and Cummings. Matera may have another year left, and hopefully Jako can improve next season.

 

[FreoDocker]

The good thing is
with simmonds and Clem playing again it'll allow longmuir to go forward more often, sorta like Ottens does for richmond.
I think easty might get delisted though...
I also think the dockers will keep prescott and try and fit him into the midfield.

 

[FreoDocker]

A forward line of

Farmer Longmuir Koops

Waterhouse Pav Mcphee

could be good if they can put it together / stay injury free.

 

[McCartney5]

what about your backline though??

you would wanna hope the other team just doesn't get it down there at all or it could be trouble

 

[Bucks]

Originally posted by sabre_ac

Coming from a supporter of the only club to have a worse history since fremantle joining the competitiion.
Like loz said
Wether you like it or not they are going places.
We will have either 4th of 1st pick in this years Draft
We have the quality of Bell
We have the young stars in Longmuir,Haselby,Pavlich,Brown,McPhee and woods.

And now we have (or will have) croad,Mcpharlin and Farmer
Farmer is an undoubted star
McPharlin and Croad are stars of the future
Able to play on either ends of the ground.

My opinion top 8 is looking very good next year.
With the return of Waterhouse and Micheal next year.
Forward line is looking very imposing

yes you people are going places... but saying Collingwood has the worse history since freo, now cmon... thats just stupid! 14 premierships in VFL/AFL... that cant be that bad!!! some clubs havern't won 5 let alone 14, so please.. rephrase that.

Collingwood has the youngest list in the AFL, most of the players are reject players from other clubs. i.e.(molloy, clement, a rocca) and we have had less luxury picks than Freo, in the national draft. How could you say your gonna make the top 8 when you dont even have a FRIGGING COACH!!!

Mate, final 8, that will be atleast 3 years away!

 

[Portia]

Schofield to Dockers?

FreoDocker said:
Also I think it would be useful to consider drafting Schofield in the preseason draft as a midfielder who can come forward and kick goals.
What do you think?


I think it would be a good idea if you noticed that he's under contract still. Trades can probably be done, but after the way Freo played stupid over Clive Waterhouse a couple of years back, I don't reckon Port are about to do them any favours.

Not everything is free, something which Freo fans might have to learn in a few years when they finally stop being giving priority draft picks for sucking

As for the long term future of Freo....congratulations, the squad has probably reached about the quality of Port in 1998, their second year....a few years to go yet for Freo, I reckon.

 

[The Hitman]

Originally posted by sabre_ac

And now we have (or will have) croad,Mcpharlin and Farmer
Farmer is an undoubted star
McPharlin and Croad are stars of the future
Able to play on either ends of the ground.

You don't have and probably will not have McPharlin and Croad.

Farmer is not a star. He has the potential, but he kicked 70 goals one year, and was a dud this year. He is too hot or cold to be a star. Plus he is a forward pocket, and forward pockets can't carry teams...

The Hitman

 

[hawkfan5]

Originally posted by The Hitman
You don't have and probably will not have McPharlin and Croad.

The Hitman

Exactly, don't be so confident that you are gonna get them, Croady WILL NOT leave Hawthorn, he loves the club too much.

 

[iceman]

Originally posted by hawkfan5
Exactly, don't be so confident that you are gonna get them, Croady WILL NOT leave Hawthorn, he loves the club too much.

I wouldnt believe anything from the Sunday Times, especially written by Kim Hagdorn
Like i said before, its all gonna come down to Croad, and hopefully by staying at Hawthorn, he'll be giving something back to the supporters, if not the club

 

[hawkfan5]

Originally posted by iceman

Its all gonna come down to Croad, and hopefully by staying at Hawthorn, he'll be giving something back to the supporters, if not the club

He can prove Schwab. Brown etc what he is capable of by playing on at the Hawthorn Football Club, he is going to be a champion, and the only place he will live up to that status is at the Hawthorn Football Club, he will realise that and will stay.

 

[GoEagles]

Originally posted by Visro
No not really. Its actually a report from the Sunday Times by Kim Hagdorn whose mottos are:

"Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story"

AND

"If my story sounds too good to be true, it usually is"

Vis

LOL! I bet Kim gets all his huge tip-offs from his best buddy, Bradley Hardie, who makes up all the stories to make him look good. Although they always fall flat on his face, didn't he write earlier on this season that Wallace was definately going to Fremantle? Woops!

 

[sabre_ac]

Originally posted by Bucks


yes you people are going places... but saying Collingwood has the worse history since freo, now cmon... thats just stupid! 14 premierships in VFL/AFL... that cant be that bad!!! some clubs havern't won 5 let alone 14, so please.. rephrase that.

Collingwood has the youngest list in the AFL, most of the players are reject players from other clubs. i.e.(molloy, clement, a rocca) and we have had less luxury picks than Freo, in the national draft. How could you say your gonna make the top 8 when you dont even have a FRIGGING COACH!!!

Mate, final 8, that will be atleast 3 years away!

.

Ill bother replying to the rest of your post when you find your mistake in this one.
Learn to read what I say before going into "Pie mode" and telling us about the glories of the PAST

 

[Visro]

Originally posted by GoEagles


LOL! I bet Kim gets all his huge tip-offs from his best buddy, Bradley Hardie, who makes up all the stories to make him look good. Although they always fall flat on his face, didn't he write earlier on this season that Wallace was definately going to Fremantle? Woops!

or that Kerr was going to Port Adelaide if KJ was sacked...gee that was correct wasn't it!