Free Agency Brad Crouch [joins St Kilda as a RFA for pick 23]

[Elmer_Hauser]

Could you blame us though? We need just as much help as Adelaide, probably more.

You guys have a lot more young talent on your list than the Crows at this stage, I would have thought. But yes, in all seriousness you are entitled to be really pissed off if they get band 1 compo.

Maybe if the AFL gave the Crows their band 1 pick after your pick, that would be the fairest outcome (if the AFL decides that Crouch will net the AFC band 1 compo)

That would be the most common sense approach if I was the AFL (but of course, they rarely do decisions like that)

 

[Iceman!]

Yeah, very fair points. No idea what the right answer is. I wonder if giving bottom clubs more list spots (funded by the AFL) would give them more shots at getting lucky - they tried that with GC this year but a bad time for it.

I think the answer is to just have a set criteria for compensation and don't use it as a means for equalisation. That is what the Draft and Salary cap is for.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Compensation is explicitly about equalisation, that's what the "secret formula" is designed for. Of course the team who finished on the bottom with 3 wins gets more secret sauce than the team that just won its second flag in three years.

That were playing off in a Grand Final just three years ago.
And they weren't bottoming out last year. Brisbane were on a worse run than Adelaide and didn't get the added boost for a former Captain, All Australian and 2x BnF winner in Rockliff leaving.

And the compensation here isn't being done to help with some feel good story like Gary Ablett getting back to Geelong either.

Anyone that thinks the AFL is going to see the Crows as a club needing extra help are kidding themselves. Maybe if they had gone the winless season. But they ended up level with North, who are in much more dire straits. Plus the compo will be pushing back Hawthorn's first pick, and you think that they'll be quiet about that?

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Fair enough.

Billings simply has to be played on the ball IMO. He is your most talented player and you don't pick guys at number 2 to sit them on a half forward flank. Work the scenario in reverse. Effective small forwards are easier positions to find (see Dan Butler) and you could keep both those guys on the ball the whole game.

Not saying he is a bad player, but how much extra does he give you above a Dunstan? Personally I think the Saints would be better off throw cash at guys in the next tier like Kelly/Whitfield and land a Star of the comp, rather than a above average mid who is injury prone.

Agree on Billings... a lot of StK supporters have a fantasy about him being a small forward. He's not. His best footy has come when he's played up the ground and uses his skills to get the pill inside F50 or have a shot himself. He had a fantastic 1st half to this season then his form fell off a cliff... maybe it was hub life, maybe it was after Gresh was injured... either way he's an 80/20 mid IMO.

Dunstan is no good. Think Anthony Miles. Can find the footy but burns it consistently. He's also poor defensively once the ball gets out of the contest. Crouch is an outstanding player who, according to Adel supporters, is over the groin issues that plagued his early years. We're in the position now to have a crack at contending whilst not sacrificing the future so adding much needed ball winning ability to the midfield is a no brainer.

Re Kelly, etc...We have a number of guys coming off big contracts in the next 12 months (Roberton $750k alone) so we'll have some coin to have a crack at any 2021 FA's.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

You do realise that if a trade occurs they are not a Free Agent. I get how you get confused as every journalist covering football also get confused.

You do realise I was taking the piss

 

[Thewlis Dish]

You guys have a lot more young talent on your list than the Crows at this stage, I would have thought. But yes, in all seriousness you are entitled to be really pissed off if they get band 1 compo.

Maybe if the AFL gave the Crows their band 1 pick after your pick, that would be the fairest outcome (if the AFL decides that Crouch will net the AFC band 1 compo)

That would be the most common sense approach if I was the AFL (but of course, they rarely do decisions like that)

I just don't think it should be tied to finishing position - there's no draft lottery so you already get the "equalisation" aspect by getting a higher draft pick the lower you finish. I think compensation picks, if they have to be awarded, should really just be at the end of each round. If there are multiple picks then they go in finishing order (ie - Adelaide would get a pick before GWS).

Anyway probably not the thread for a deeper discussion.

 

[Connorn99]

Fair enough.

Billings simply has to be played on the ball IMO. He is your most talented player and you don't pick guys at number 2 to sit them on a half forward flank. Work the scenario in reverse. Effective small forwards are easier positions to find (see Dan Butler) and you could keep both those guys on the ball the whole game.

Not saying he is a bad player, but how much extra does he give you above a Dunstan? Personally I think the Saints would be better off throw cash at guys in the next tier like Kelly/Whitfield and land a Star of the comp, rather than a above average mid who is injury prone.

Billings observation is spot on

 

[WillHayward]

Perfect fit for Saints.

If Crows get pick 2 then huge win win.

Big Loss for Swans and Hawks though.

 

[ADL9798]

You are not wrong but it's pretty flawed logic on the AFL part though, are North in any better of a position than the Crows? No but they gets pushed back because of it.

If North lose a player as good as Brad Crouch

5

Brad Crouch

Age

31

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.1

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.5

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

2.6

5star

, similarly they’ll be compensated for it.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Rocky was reported as 2.8m over four (700k) and got band 2. When Brisbane questioned it the afl said it was just shy of band 1.

That was 3 years ago, players salaries (especially those in the 26+ bracket as they’ve been driven up by free agency) have gone up.

You would have to think it would need to be over 3m over 4 to get there. Would the saints do that? I don’t know, they seem somewhat eager to build a team through trade / free agency.

But it does sound like they didn’t have competition for him after other teams dropped away.

Yeah, being a year younger will help.

Personally think the AFL has shown they only use it as a guide anyway and like to apply secret herbs and spices wherever/however they can. Think given it will be close they'll keep it at band 2 since its a lot closer to his value then pick 2 but we'll see

 

[Iceman!]

If North lose a player as good as Brad Crouch

5

Brad Crouch

Age

31

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.1

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.5

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

2.6

5star

, similarly they’ll be compensated for it.

Ah yes a player that literally no club would give up pick 2 for that most fans have been hoping will go and met them luck 2 all year.

 

[B4Bear]

If North lose a player as good as Brad Crouch

5

Brad Crouch

Age

31

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.1

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.5

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

2.6

5star

, similarly they’ll be compensated for it.

Really? If you believe that I have a bridge for sale.

 

[Crow till I die]

Sounds like its 4 years with 5th not guaranteed.

Would think that needs to be guaranteed 700k+ at 4 years to be close to band 1.

Saints probably the best team Adelaide could have hoped for

I think there is confusion as to the length as Mitch Cleary on AFL.com reported 5 years?

 

[When I Crow Up]

Yeah, being a year younger will help.

Personally think the AFL has shown they only use it as a guide anyway and like to apply secret herbs and spices wherever/however they can. Think given it will be close they'll keep it at band 2 since its a lot closer to his value then pick 2 but we'll see

It is used as a guide. There's a formula which spits out a result, and then a committee look at that result and modify it as they see as being justified compensation. So even if he gets a $1M a year the committee could still decide it'll be band 2, or it could go the other way. We have no idea. Hopefully it is band 1 and Crouch has a smooth move over to saints and both parties leave happy but we'll see.

 

[LoBu]

A lot of posters have to admit Adelaide supporters were right in that Crouch would get a big offer, but it's all negotiations isn't it (talk him down, talk him up). It's a good deal for Crouch and I think we can all go back to talking about Crouch as a genuinely good player.

Some posters have commented on his accumulation and lack of damage, but this may be a bit confused with Matt, Brad is the more player damaging by foot, is faster from the stoppage than Matt and will hopefully play well for St Kilda.

I don't think Adelaide will match, 5 years is too much.

Is it enough for band 1? That is now the question, at $700k my thoughts is yes.

On Pixel 3 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bergholt]

I think the answer is to just have a set criteria for compensation and don't use it as a means for equalisation. That is what the Draft and Salary cap is for.

Yeah, I guess my point is that the draft and salary cap don't really do enough. But I guess others might disagree.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I think there is confusion as to the length as Mitch Cleary on AFL.com reported 5 years?

I tend to believe the idea that there is a non-guaranteed 5th year since
a) it make most sense from the Saints perspective given his injury history
b) It's easier to just report 5 years then it is to say its a 4th with a 5th year clause

 

[Suma Magic]

Length of contract is just a tiebreaker for the formula. So unlikely to matter.

 

[Crow till I die]

I tend to believe the idea that there is a non-guaranteed 5th year since
a) it make most sense from the Saints perspective given his injury history
b) It's easier to just report 5 years then it is to say its a 4th with a 5th year not clause

maybe he would have exceeded his twitter post character limit and abbreviated it

 

[Burtman]

St kilda are the only team stupid enough to stump up enough money for band one. I mean they’re paying hannerbury $800k a year and he was way more cooked than crouch, plus they traded for him First 6 picks should be protected. Even if Adelaide got pick 7 they’d be absolutely over the moon, cause he’s probably worth a pick around 15 in a trade

 

[philthy05]

A lot of posters have to admit Adelaide supporters were right in that Crouch would get a big offer

Where has it been said what amount crouch is getting or that it is a “big offer”?

Make a Saint of me: Crows' banned ball-magnet wants out

www.google.com.au

Cleary here says it’s a 5yr offer, but states he doesn’t know the amount...

He also stated that other clubs backed away before he signed with the saints.

 

[TylerDurden]

St kilda are the only team stupid enough to stump up enough money for band one. I mean they’re paying hannerbury $800k a year and he was way more cooked than crouch, plus they traded for him First 6 picks should be protected. Even if Adelaide got pick 7 they’d be absolutely over the moon, cause he’s probably worth a pick around 15 in a trade

Forgot about Hanners. Another on stupid money there.
Good luck to them if they pay overs. Their cap will be in a world of hurt soon.
Plus they've got guys like King, Marshall, Gresham, Ross, Billings all demanding a big slice of the pie.

 

[DT_35]

St kilda are the only team stupid enough to stump up enough money for band one. I mean they’re paying hannerbury $800k a year and he was way more cooked than crouch, plus they traded for him First 6 picks should be protected. Even if Adelaide got pick 7 they’d be absolutely over the moon, cause he’s probably worth a pick around 15 in a trade

Lol you just worry about your own embarrassing mob

 

[ADL9798]

Really? If you believe that I have a bridge for sale.

What does this mean? You don’t think you would be compensated if you lost one of your best players to free agency?

 

[B4Bear]

What does this mean? You don’t think you would be compensated if you lost one of your best players to free agency?

It would be as low as possible. The who FA thing is designed to aid the bigger clubs, always has, always will.