Deestroy
Norm Smith Medallist
Salary cap hits hard
5:05:00 PM Mon 28 October, 2002
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Melbourne’s decision to trade a Brownlow Medalist in Shane Woewodin along with Essendon’s decision to release three premiership players in Blake Caracella, Justin Blumfield and Chris Heffernan shows just how much salary cap pressure AFL clubs are under.
That was the verdict of one of the AFL’s most experienced club football managers in Melbourne’s Danny Corcoran, who was forced to explain to Demons’ fans why the club had traded Woewodin to Collingwood just two years after he took out the game’s highest individual honor.
Woewodin moved to Collingwood in exchange for the Magpies first round selection in the November 24 national draft – pick 16 overall – with the Demons then securing Essendon’s 2000 premiership player Heffernan as the Bombers also sought to reduce their players’ wages bill.
The Demons were forced to give up their own first round draft selection for Heffernan – pick 12 – but gained pick 17 off Brisbane after the Lions had briefly given that selection to the Bombers after Caracella had moved to the reigning premiers as part of the deal which sent homesick Western Australian Des Headland to Fremantle.
Corcoran said the decision to offer Woewodin to Collingwood had not been easy but necessary if the Demons were to remain within the salary cap – which next year will be $5.94 million.
“The most important thing in the whole of the deal and what has become most important thing in football now is salary cap relief,” Corcoran said.
“These decisions are not taken lightly and there is no easy way to do it in this business that we are a part of.”
Corcoran said Woewodin had paid a price for performing below his best since his 2000 Brownlow Medal win saying the Demons could no longer justify paying him the salary he was receiving based on his recent performances – with the club deciding Heffernan represented better value at his current contract level.
“All I will say on that is any player in the AFL who is on a substantial salary has to perform,” Corcoran said.
“If that doesn’t happen I would think you are very vulnerable to be traded in this current climate.”
Corcoran said the Demons wished Woewodin, who has missed just two games for the club since debuting in 1997, all the best at his new home.
“He has been a very good player for the Melbourne footy club,” Corcoran said.
“But at least we know he is going to a terrific club which is looking to strengthen its midfield.”
Woewodin’s move to this year’s runners-up means he is re-united with his first AFL coach Neil Balme, who is now the Magpies’ football operations manager.
“He’s a good player and we are very keen to have him, he should be terrific for us,” Balme said of Woewodin.
The 2000 Brownlow Medalist’s manager – Liam Pickering – said Woewodin had got over his initial shock and disappointment of Melbourne wanting to trade him and after speaking to Magpies’ coach Mick Malthouse was now looking forward to joining Collingwood.
“I think he is rapt he has been given the opportunity to play there,” Pickering said.
“He has spoken to Mick quite a number of times over the last couple of days and he really is looking forward to getting to his new home.”
Corcoran said the Demons were thrilled to have found a replacement for Woewodin in classy Bomber Heffernan, who would now form the core of the club’s midfield along with re-signed duo Adem Yze and Travis Johnstone.
“He (Heffernan) just gives us that pace in the midfield that we felt will take us that extra place in the finals,” Corcoran said.
“We signed Travis Johnstone yesterday and to have Johnstone, Heffernan and Yze we think it’s a pretty good midfield for the Demons.”
Corcoran also pointed out the Demons now had two prized first round picks in the November national draft – picks 16 and 17 which initially belonged to Collingwood and Brisbane – as a result of trading Woewodin as opposed to initially just one first round draft pick at number 12.
5:05:00 PM Mon 28 October, 2002
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Melbourne’s decision to trade a Brownlow Medalist in Shane Woewodin along with Essendon’s decision to release three premiership players in Blake Caracella, Justin Blumfield and Chris Heffernan shows just how much salary cap pressure AFL clubs are under.
That was the verdict of one of the AFL’s most experienced club football managers in Melbourne’s Danny Corcoran, who was forced to explain to Demons’ fans why the club had traded Woewodin to Collingwood just two years after he took out the game’s highest individual honor.
Woewodin moved to Collingwood in exchange for the Magpies first round selection in the November 24 national draft – pick 16 overall – with the Demons then securing Essendon’s 2000 premiership player Heffernan as the Bombers also sought to reduce their players’ wages bill.
The Demons were forced to give up their own first round draft selection for Heffernan – pick 12 – but gained pick 17 off Brisbane after the Lions had briefly given that selection to the Bombers after Caracella had moved to the reigning premiers as part of the deal which sent homesick Western Australian Des Headland to Fremantle.
Corcoran said the decision to offer Woewodin to Collingwood had not been easy but necessary if the Demons were to remain within the salary cap – which next year will be $5.94 million.
“The most important thing in the whole of the deal and what has become most important thing in football now is salary cap relief,” Corcoran said.
“These decisions are not taken lightly and there is no easy way to do it in this business that we are a part of.”
Corcoran said Woewodin had paid a price for performing below his best since his 2000 Brownlow Medal win saying the Demons could no longer justify paying him the salary he was receiving based on his recent performances – with the club deciding Heffernan represented better value at his current contract level.
“All I will say on that is any player in the AFL who is on a substantial salary has to perform,” Corcoran said.
“If that doesn’t happen I would think you are very vulnerable to be traded in this current climate.”
Corcoran said the Demons wished Woewodin, who has missed just two games for the club since debuting in 1997, all the best at his new home.
“He has been a very good player for the Melbourne footy club,” Corcoran said.
“But at least we know he is going to a terrific club which is looking to strengthen its midfield.”
Woewodin’s move to this year’s runners-up means he is re-united with his first AFL coach Neil Balme, who is now the Magpies’ football operations manager.
“He’s a good player and we are very keen to have him, he should be terrific for us,” Balme said of Woewodin.
The 2000 Brownlow Medalist’s manager – Liam Pickering – said Woewodin had got over his initial shock and disappointment of Melbourne wanting to trade him and after speaking to Magpies’ coach Mick Malthouse was now looking forward to joining Collingwood.
“I think he is rapt he has been given the opportunity to play there,” Pickering said.
“He has spoken to Mick quite a number of times over the last couple of days and he really is looking forward to getting to his new home.”
Corcoran said the Demons were thrilled to have found a replacement for Woewodin in classy Bomber Heffernan, who would now form the core of the club’s midfield along with re-signed duo Adem Yze and Travis Johnstone.
“He (Heffernan) just gives us that pace in the midfield that we felt will take us that extra place in the finals,” Corcoran said.
“We signed Travis Johnstone yesterday and to have Johnstone, Heffernan and Yze we think it’s a pretty good midfield for the Demons.”
Corcoran also pointed out the Demons now had two prized first round picks in the November national draft – picks 16 and 17 which initially belonged to Collingwood and Brisbane – as a result of trading Woewodin as opposed to initially just one first round draft pick at number 12.
first time in the past day or so since the trade...
