Appreciate your comments - well put.
You mentioned Dangerfield, Sloane, Crouch x 2, and Talia. I think these players were definitely great picks. But if Dangermouse and The Sloane Ranger walk....and we get f*ck all for them, what then? I am not-at-all saying either of them will (or should) - I am just pointing out the end result.
The issue I am trying to point out is not purely, on it's own - "we should just target SA players", and that's that. No. What I am trying to point out is a combination of the following:
On that note, what did we get out of both the Gunston and TidBiet defections? It was the Gunston defection that really p*ssed me off. Over the duration, we managed to Trade both Darren Jarman and Eddie Betts into the club - two amazing coups that worked out brilliantly. But other than those two, I don't consider any of our other Trades to be anywhere near the same calibre. What people need to understand is that in the AFL, just being good isn't good enough. Otherwise you'll be stuck mid-Ladder forever.
I have read numerous comments about this Thread, but until the Trading Rules change in light of Free Agency, my overall opinions have not changed.
You mentioned Dangerfield, Sloane, Crouch x 2, and Talia. I think these players were definitely great picks. But if Dangermouse and The Sloane Ranger walk....and we get f*ck all for them, what then? I am not-at-all saying either of them will (or should) - I am just pointing out the end result.
The issue I am trying to point out is not purely, on it's own - "we should just target SA players", and that's that. No. What I am trying to point out is a combination of the following:
- Interstate recruits are more likely to walk than local talent. That is not black and white, cut and dried....but it's a fair indicator.
- When Gun Draft Picks do walk after a season or two, we often don't get adequate compensation. This is the main issue that I have.
On that note, what did we get out of both the Gunston and TidBiet defections? It was the Gunston defection that really p*ssed me off. Over the duration, we managed to Trade both Darren Jarman and Eddie Betts into the club - two amazing coups that worked out brilliantly. But other than those two, I don't consider any of our other Trades to be anywhere near the same calibre. What people need to understand is that in the AFL, just being good isn't good enough. Otherwise you'll be stuck mid-Ladder forever.
I have read numerous comments about this Thread, but until the Trading Rules change in light of Free Agency, my overall opinions have not changed.
We selected Gunston with pick 27 in 2009, invested two years into him and got picks 24, 46 and 64 in return. This was probably the worst trade I remember us ever doing at the time it was done. We would have probably been better off or equal under free agency if it was available to us than the trade so I think that argument is invalid.
So on the basis that we should have drafted an SA player at 27 instead of Gunston and receiving picks 24, 46 and 64 two years later, which out of the remaining SA players should have we picked?
- Justin Bollenhagen
- Byron Sumner
- Jesse O'Brien
We don't even know if one of Dangerfield, Crouch x 2, Sloane and Talia is going to leave and we're having this conversation based on Gunston? I get it, the trade made people feel angry, we got unders, we got shafted, Gunston kicks bags against us and smiles at the crowd, but none of that takes away from it being the right decision to draft an interstate player instead of an SA lad, even after the worst bending over we've ever received.
Apart from all the comments people have made so far on this issue, what I would very much like to know is what people think of being able to Trade players to any AFL Club, regardless of the players' choice. I am not banging a drum, only saying we should only target SA Draft Picks, and that's it. Like it or not, just having the Coach and CEO attempt to "sell" The Crows as this great club you want to play for, and a great city to live in - that's a start, but if you think that's the silver bullet solution to The Crows' List Management issues....sorry, not on the same page. When push comes to shove, in certain situations we need the ability to forcibly Trade players to get the best for The Crows.

