McCarthy goes home

[Forward Press]

Alright, re-opened.

Enough of the tit-for-tat rubbish. Take that to the Bay.

Bringing up old posts from 2014 is pointless. People's opinions change over time. Deal with it. If you want to bring personal agendas against certain posters into this thread, in an effort to derail the discussion, don't complain when you cop an infraction and a thread ban.

There will be negative opinions about Freo's or GWS' conduct, that does not necessarily mean it's trolling. Once again, deal with it, by either putting the poster on 'Ignore', reporting the poster (there is a giant report button at the bottom of all posts, use it). It is certainly not an excuse for retaliatory trolling. If you decide to take things into your own hands, don't complain when you cop an infraction and a thread ban.

No further warnings.

 

[Clems Knee]

The 2 first rounders is irrelevant, there is a video from the CEO as to why he wasn't traded.

I never posted the 9kgs, you did. The article stats the weight was lost around trade week and he is back to health after putting weight back on since returning to training. Its your mob's supporters that are trying to claim he has lost the weight because of being in Sydney, that appears to be bullshit.

You quoted the 2 first rounders, as well as the info about putting weight back on. The 9kg was from a channel 7 news report, so was suspect anyway.
I haven't seen Freo supporters trying to claim he lost weight because he was in Sydney. While in Sydney perhaps. But losing the weight over the trade period rather than since was new to me.

 

[not_working]

You obviously didn't pay attention to trade week last year then.

Freo were very keen to get a trade for McCarthy and the money on offer certainly got his attention.

Freo are desperate to land a KP forward, they've been chasing one for three years with zero success.

What rock have you been living under?

You are attacking my statement that there is no evidence for Freo making any approaches to McCarthy by making statements that have absolutely nothing to do with my post? Logic isn't your strong point, right? But you fit in well in this thread full of Freo trolls ...

 

[Alfonz]

It's a joke to suggest that Freo didn't have the players to get a trade done. Crozier, Suban, Pearce, Sheridan, Mzungu and, yes, even Barlow are all non-essential personnel that could have been packaged to get the deal done. Other clubs do it all the time.

What a load of shit. And no joke, none of those players would have got the trade done. We could delist those players and not many tears would be shed apart from Barlow (who is still only on the edge of our 22). They most certainly would not have got GWS entertained.

 

[Giant Strides]

Clems Knee.

Well, we're just going to disagree. I've no doubt that I'm seeing the issue through GWS perspective; but also no doubt to me that you're looking through purple coloured glasses at what's happened.

Are you sure GWS didn't know? McCarthy had told them half way through the year, and on the radio, Young said he gave them plenty of warning as he reckoned they could do a deal which involved keeping Treloar, who didn't want to leave. I don't know how Barratt found out, and nor do you.

Where's any reference to Cam asking for a release any time before September?

What we saw was this article in June, presaging interest in Cam. Yes it states clubs other than Freo were interested, but if the kid is interested in getting home then that's the only interest that counts.

'Cam McCarthy’s excellent run of form has caught the eye of rival clubs, with the Greater Western Sydney goalkicker now in demand. Fremantle is believed to be the most interested in the pony-tailed forward, who has shot to prominence in his second season with a stunning 28.9 from 11 games. McCarthy is contracted at the Giants until the end of 2017, but that has not deterred the Dockers, who along with Michael Apeness, think he can fill the void when Matthew Pavlich retires.' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...y/news-story/e0110bdf0798a978123f665dd4a4db8f

Then on September 10 the Footy Show reveals Cam wants out (sorry don't have a clip of that), and the Giants deny a release has been requested. That's the first indication that I'm aware of. The next day's article summarises this:

'As revealed on Channel Nine, Fremantle is leading the race to secure the forward, who was instrumental in the Giants' 7-3 start to 2015. After missing out on Jack Riewoldt, Harry Taylor and Travis Cloke in recent seasons, Fremantle has its sights set on the youngster who could pair with Matthew Pavlich in a rejuvenated forward line. When asked by Channel Nine, McCarthy's manager Colin Young confirmed the 193cm forward had requested a move back to his home state. However, the Giants quickly denied McCarthy had requested a trade via Twitter.' http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-10/giant-wants-out-cam-mccarthy-requests-trade-to-wa-club

How can any club be 'leading the race', when he's only just announced he wants out? Unless there's been contact already between club and player manager. This is why GWS fans believe the move to Freo was stitched up at this point. But let's leave that alone.

The next day saw these events unfold - again, why would the Giants purposely look like tools knowing about a release request and denying it? I know Freo posters like to denigrate the GWS management team, but, honestly?

'GWS forward Cam McCarthy wants to be traded. The news was confirmed on Friday afternoon despite Giants denials on Thursday night. Fremantle is believed to be the frontrunner to secure the WA native. The Giants were quick to shoot down a report on the Footy Show that McCarthy wanted out. The Giants took it a step further on Friday morning with football boss Graeme Allan telling Gold FM: “No, he doesn’t want out at all and the Giants will definitely not trade him.” The Giants released a short statement at 2.54pm Friday: “The manager of Cameron McCarthy, Colin Young, has today formally enquired about a trade. The GIANTS have categorically rejected this request.”

This is what coach Leon Cameron said soon after:

"We feel he's pretty happy at the footy club," Cameron said over the weekend, with the Giants coach adding that he had no indication from McCarthy that he wanted to leave the Giants when the pair spoke during player exit interviews. However Young has refuted those claims, saying that the exit interview did not run long enough for McCarthy to clearly detail his reasons for wanting to leave. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stand-off-between-greater-western-sydney-and-cam-mccarthy-reaches-boiling-point-20150920-gjqyo0.html#ixzz3ynUfWfoK

OK, now please explain to me how a grown lad - even if only 20 - can't blurt out to his coach in an exit interview of any length: 'Hey coach, I'm telling my manager that I want a release from GWS back to WA!'? I'm betting the coach is going to listen to anything he has to say after that! So, nothing is matching up that a release was requested much earlier in the year.

I don't know how Barratt found out, and nor do you.

You are right. But let's be grown up about this. Honestly, why would GWS tell Barrett if they indeed knew? And the preceding information points to them not knowing. And it's not in their interest to have it revealed that way. And they subsequently denied it - so it defies commonsense that it was them. Similarly, I doubt Freo is going to tell - the club operates quite professionally and quietly.

And Sunshine? Well this is a post from him straight after the Footyshow:

Bit of a bizarre post, and there's obviously something to be told within this whole story, but certainly not indicative of a guy having told his club for months that he wants out! And he would have been better prepared if he had blabbed & was aware the story was going to break that night, one would think.

And immediately after GWS denied there was a request for release, Barrett had a quote from Colin Young saying it was true.

... on the radio, Young said he gave them plenty of warning as he reckoned they could do a deal which involved keeping Treloar, who didn't want to leave.

Can't find the article to put it in time context, but essentially, that is just deflection. Treloar did not leave because GWS couldn't afford him, it was because he wouldn't accept the 'team integrity $' offered. Sunshine's salary wasn't going to be the difference between losing and keeping him. This little aspect identifies the difference between us - you say it was the manager acting magnanimously; to me it's manager deflection. Like a magician's misdirection.

During the trade period, I was frustrated because Young was one of the last player managers to speak on trade radio. So I can't agree with that point. Yes, he upped the ante as the week progressed, because of the intransigence of GWS. If Young knew of the desperation of McCarthy to get home, and his comments at the time suggest he was, he was doing what he could to put pressure on GWS to do a deal.

Trade radio's not the only source of media. As with the Barrett Footyshow revelation, he worked through lots of media to get stories and tweets critical of GWS aired. There was even the - 'Leon Cameron & Dave Matthews need to come to WA to do their due diligence' story. So, if you're trying to convince them, wouldn't you get on a plane, or get Cam and his family on the plane, and take them to see Leon. Not scream at them from a newspaper article? Really poor management IMO. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-19/talk-to-cams-folks-young

GWS actually engaged in a public attack on McCarthy, firstly denying that he was homesick, then downplaying it.

Well, there's an emotional attack too! OK, let's be clear. Homesickness takes on a whole range of levels. The moment a young player feels homesick does not provide carte blanche to just up and leave. GWS has dealt with lots of interstate kids and managed homesickness previously; no doubt they were acting similarly here. I've read a US study that identified about 7% of homesickness cases getting to a debilitating level. Clearly, Cam was not at this stage in September-October 2015.

Here's a story direct from him: 'The South Fremantle product told The West Australian he had enjoyed his two years at GWS but couldn’t shake the urge to return home and be closer to his tight-knit family, whose initials he has tattooed on his right forearm. “I love all the boys at GWS and they’ve been great and stuff like that, but living in western Sydney I don’t think is for me. I don’t really get to come home much, all the Melbourne boys get to fly back every time there’s a weekend off, but I haven’t really had the opportunity because Perth is so far away. I’ve got two younger sisters and you don’t really see them grow up as much in a way." Young too said: “It’s not so much playing football with GWS, it’s more so living in Western Australia and being close to his family and friends." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...b927b4b97?sv=2f5452c4ef250951e5f6704b0b9b9c0f

And a story from GWS. In my view this is the coach, being a regular concerned guy - not attacking Cam - and putting the level of homesickness in perspective. Not sending a kid home immediately he mentions homesickness is not mismanagement, however much Freo posters think it is.

"All of our dealings throughout the year were really good, Cam and I had some great chats, and I knew he was homesick but not to the extent of wanting to go home. "I understand that young kids go through that, a lot of the young kids on our list that have re-signed are fourth-year players, and their first and second years are the toughest because they've moved away from home. Read more at http://www.zerohanger.com/cameron-says-mccarthy-will-stay-2430/#Ils0RZsug4OZ2CqZ.99

OK, I'll accept that Gubby Allen's comments at one point were clumsy and put untrue words in Cam's mouth. But they were in response to Young's approach in the media & simply could be taken as 'Cam's never told us he's unhappy enough to want to leave', which appears to actually be the case.

A lot of the invective from this board came about because of a spurious 700k figure that was likely released by GWS.

OK, so who's making up stuff now? The Footyshow info - 'don't know where that came from', but the $700k figure which was in the media must have come from GWS according to you. Again, this is where you're entirely excusing the McCarthy-Young side and demonising GWS because it suits your narrative.

Young did say that two first round picks would be offered, and that he hoped it would be enough. I assume that he had inside knowledge on the matter.

Hmmm, inside knowledge of Freo plans. Enough said.

I just think that Young has acted on his clients' instructions in these cases. Some have been difficult; the turn around by Clark when Schwabb and Neald arrived with a ridiculous offer meant that Young lost face, but he would have been duty bound to present the offer. Young has a fairly large stable of clients, particularly in Western Australia. If he was not serving the best interests of his clients, there would be a lot of defections. I haven't heard of any.

I didn't say he hasn't acted on McCarthy's instructions. I said that he hadn't served his best interests. He butchered the trade period bargaining by fighting it in the media rather than calmly in private; and made his client's position difficult to face his teammates. If Cam lost 9kg during the trade period, some of that is certainly down to Young's approach of smearing the issue all over the media. And if any of that has led to Cam walking out on GWS this year, then it's definitely not in his best interest.

[Edit. Just wanted to add, in hindsight. I understand the role of the manager, & it's to make the client's wishes happen. I get it. Sometimes that doesn't make him popular with clubs and even AFL house - for example Liam Pickering & Buddy Franklin. But contrast it to Danger's manager. Different situation with RFA I realise, but it all played out behind closed doors, no media leaks, all smiles & waves, then bam! completed.]

Probably best to leave it there. We don't agree on how it's played out thus far, and no doubt more to come.

 

[Clems Knee]

Clems Knee.

Well, we're just going to disagree. I've no doubt that I'm seeing the issue through GWS perspective; but also no doubt to me that you're looking through purple coloured glasses at what's happened.



Where's any reference to Cam asking for a release any time before September?

What we saw was this article in June, presaging interest in Cam. Yes it states clubs other than Freo were interested, but if the kid is interested in getting home then that's the only interest that counts.

'Cam McCarthy’s excellent run of form has caught the eye of rival clubs, with the Greater Western Sydney goalkicker now in demand. Fremantle is believed to be the most interested in the pony-tailed forward, who has shot to prominence in his second season with a stunning 28.9 from 11 games. McCarthy is contracted at the Giants until the end of 2017, but that has not deterred the Dockers, who along with Michael Apeness, think he can fill the void when Matthew Pavlich retires.' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...y/news-story/e0110bdf0798a978123f665dd4a4db8f

Then on September 10 the Footy Show reveals Cam wants out (sorry don't have a clip of that), and the Giants deny a release has been requested. That's the first indication that I'm aware of. The next day's article summarises this:

'As revealed on Channel Nine, Fremantle is leading the race to secure the forward, who was instrumental in the Giants' 7-3 start to 2015. After missing out on Jack Riewoldt, Harry Taylor and Travis Cloke in recent seasons, Fremantle has its sights set on the youngster who could pair with Matthew Pavlich in a rejuvenated forward line. When asked by Channel Nine, McCarthy's manager Colin Young confirmed the 193cm forward had requested a move back to his home state. However, the Giants quickly denied McCarthy had requested a trade via Twitter.' http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-10/giant-wants-out-cam-mccarthy-requests-trade-to-wa-club

How can any club be 'leading the race', when he's only just announced he wants out? Unless there's been contact already between club and player manager. This is why GWS fans believe the move to Freo was stitched up at this point. But let's leave that alone.

The next day saw these events unfold - again, why would the Giants purposely look like tools knowing about a release request and denying it? I know Freo posters like to denigrate the GWS management team, but, honestly?

'GWS forward Cam McCarthy wants to be traded. The news was confirmed on Friday afternoon despite Giants denials on Thursday night. Fremantle is believed to be the frontrunner to secure the WA native. The Giants were quick to shoot down a report on the Footy Show that McCarthy wanted out. The Giants took it a step further on Friday morning with football boss Graeme Allan telling Gold FM: “No, he doesn’t want out at all and the Giants will definitely not trade him.” The Giants released a short statement at 2.54pm Friday: “The manager of Cameron McCarthy, Colin Young, has today formally enquired about a trade. The GIANTS have categorically rejected this request.”

This is what coach Leon Cameron said soon after:

"We feel he's pretty happy at the footy club," Cameron said over the weekend, with the Giants coach adding that he had no indication from McCarthy that he wanted to leave the Giants when the pair spoke during player exit interviews. However Young has refuted those claims, saying that the exit interview did not run long enough for McCarthy to clearly detail his reasons for wanting to leave. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stand-off-between-greater-western-sydney-and-cam-mccarthy-reaches-boiling-point-20150920-gjqyo0.html#ixzz3ynUfWfoK

OK, now please explain to me how a grown lad - even if only 20 - can't blurt out to his coach in an exit interview of any length: 'Hey coach, I'm telling my manager that I want a release from GWS back to WA!'? I'm betting the coach is going to listen to anything he has to say after that! So, nothing is matching up that a release was requested much earlier in the year.



You are right. But let's be grown up about this. Honestly, why would GWS tell Barrett if they indeed knew? And the preceding information points to them not knowing. And it's not in their interest to have it revealed that way. And they subsequently denied it - so it defies commonsense that it was them. Similarly, I doubt Freo is going to tell - the club operates quite professionally and quietly.

And Sunshine? Well this is a post from him straight after the Footyshow:

Bit of a bizarre post, and there's obviously something to be told within this whole story, but certainly not indicative of a guy having told his club for months that he wants out! And he would have been better prepared if he had blabbed & was aware the story was going to break that night, one would think.

And immediately after GWS denied there was a request for release, Barrett had a quote from Colin Young saying it was true.



Can't find the article to put it in time context, but essentially, that is just deflection. Treloar did not leave because GWS couldn't afford him, it was because he wouldn't accept the 'team integrity $' offered. Sunshine's salary wasn't going to be the difference between losing and keeping him. This little aspect identifies the difference between us - you say it was the manager acting magnanimously; to me it's manager deflection. Like a magician's misdirection.



Trade radio's not the only source of media. As with the Barrett Footyshow revelation, he worked through lots of media to get stories and tweets critical of GWS aired. There was even the - 'Leon Cameron & Dave Matthews need to come to WA to do their due diligence' story. So, if you're trying to convince them, wouldn't you get on a plane, or get Cam and his family on the plane, and take them to see Leon. Not scream at them from a newspaper article? Really poor management IMO. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-19/talk-to-cams-folks-young



Well, there's an emotional attack too! OK, let's be clear. Homesickness takes on a whole range of levels. The moment a young player feels homesick does not provide carte blanche to just up and leave. GWS has dealt with lots of interstate kids and managed homesickness previously; no doubt they were acting similarly here. I've read a US study that identified about 7% of homesickness cases getting to a debilitating level. Clearly, Cam was not at this stage in September-October 2015.

Here's a story direct from him: 'The South Fremantle product told The West Australian he had enjoyed his two years at GWS but couldn’t shake the urge to return home and be closer to his tight-knit family, whose initials he has tattooed on his right forearm. “I love all the boys at GWS and they’ve been great and stuff like that, but living in western Sydney I don’t think is for me. I don’t really get to come home much, all the Melbourne boys get to fly back every time there’s a weekend off, but I haven’t really had the opportunity because Perth is so far away. I’ve got two younger sisters and you don’t really see them grow up as much in a way." Young too said: “It’s not so much playing football with GWS, it’s more so living in Western Australia and being close to his family and friends." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...b927b4b97?sv=2f5452c4ef250951e5f6704b0b9b9c0f

And a story from GWS. In my view this is the coach, being a regular concerned guy - not attacking Cam - and putting the level of homesickness in perspective. Not sending a kid home immediately he mentions homesickness is not mismanagement, however much Freo posters think it is.

"All of our dealings throughout the year were really good, Cam and I had some great chats, and I knew he was homesick but not to the extent of wanting to go home. "I understand that young kids go through that, a lot of the young kids on our list that have re-signed are fourth-year players, and their first and second years are the toughest because they've moved away from home. Read more at http://www.zerohanger.com/cameron-says-mccarthy-will-stay-2430/#Ils0RZsug4OZ2CqZ.99

OK, I'll accept that Gubby Allen's comments at one point were clumsy and put untrue words in Cam's mouth. But they were in response to Young's approach in the media & simply could be taken as 'Cam's never told us he's unhappy enough to want to leave', which appears to actually be the case.



OK, so who's making up stuff now? The Footyshow info - 'don't know where that came from', but the $700k figure which was in the media must have come from GWS according to you. Again, this is where you're entirely excusing the McCarthy-Young side and demonising GWS because it suits your narrative.



Hmmm, inside knowledge of Freo plans. Enough said.



I didn't say he hasn't acted on McCarthy's instructions. I said that he hadn't served his best interests. He butchered the trade period bargaining by fighting it in the media rather than calmly in private; and made his client's position difficult to face his teammates. If Cam lost 9kg during the trade period, some of that is certainly down to Young's approach of smearing the issue all over the media. And if any of that has led to Cam walking out on GWS this year, then it's definitely not in his best interest.

Probably best to leave it there. We don't agree on how it's played out thus far, and no doubt more to come.

You've made some very good points. It will take a while to go through them. Thank you for the effort you've made.

 

[hairy biker]

As an aside, Young is the biggest weasel this side of the Pacific. Complete turd.

Colin Young website;
http://www.csports.com.au/services/player-representation/

Quote on his company's website;

“A host of Young’s eastern state based stars will contemplate moves back to WA if offers are attractive” – Sunday Times

I believe McCarthy's issues are genuine, but I don't think Young helps his clients with the posting of the quote.
Of course that assumes his clients' welfare are foremost in his mind.

 

[The Joker]

Colin Young website;
http://www.csports.com.au/services/player-representation/

Quote on his company's website;



I believe McCarthy's issues are genuine, but I don't think Young helps his clients with the posting of the quote.
Of course that assumes his clients' welfare are foremost in his mind.

Its been happening for years and it will continue to happen all around the country, Young isnt telling us something we dont already know!

 

[Freomaniac]

Hmmm i wonder. The Bennel trade was what 48 hrs in?
But on that, A few of your freo supporter mates are saying no trade was offered.
So which is it?

original plan was to trade 2 1st round picks for McCarthy then trade cheaply like a 2nd round pick for Bennell due to his off field problems. GWS said no and we traded our 1st and 2nd round picks for Bennell and pick 22.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I didn't say he hasn't acted on McCarthy's instructions. I said that he hadn't served his best interests. He butchered the trade period bargaining by fighting it in the media rather than calmly in private; and made his client's position difficult to face his teammates. If Cam lost 9kg during the trade period, some of that is certainly down to Young's approach of smearing the issue all over the media. And if any of that has led to Cam walking out on GWS this year, then it's definitely not in his best interest.

I thought he lost the 9kg this year, not during the trade period.

 

[Freomaniac]

I don't understand the relevance of this. The two situations are totally different.

I do. Crows got McCleod for peanuts due to freo being poorly run. Yet it wont be fair if we get McCarthy for nothing. The Tippet trade worked out brilliantly in the end.

 

[Giant Strides]

I thought he lost the 9kg this year, not during the trade period.

An article today http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t/news-story/69c6fb58c2bc6933b192659e78852fc6 stated: 'The 193cm forward has been struggling with anxiety-related issues, but is understood to be physically strong after putting weight back on that he lost during a stressful trade period last October.'

 

[ManOfClay]

I don't see what the big deal is about McCarthy anyway. He's a third tall, definitely won't be replacing Pavlich

 

[Freo]

Thanks Mods for deleting that post

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I don't think being a qualified psychologist is a requisite for AFL player managers.

Well, what does a player manager do for a player of McCarthy's age then?

If his manager is not going to suggest caution when a three year contract is being offered to play on the other side of the country from a young player's friends and family, it would seem to me that the manager is bloody useless and that the player might as well just get a family member to do the job, or do it himself.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Well, what does a player manager do for a player of McCarthy's age then?

If his manager is not going to suggest caution when a three year contract is being offered to play on the other side of the country from a young player's friends and family, it would seem to me that the manager is bloody useless and that the player might as well just get a family member to do the job, or do it himself.

A player manager's job is to get his client contracts, doubt he cares much beyond that point.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Making a stand is not good business. It may look like great PR for your fans but it's poor business. Now GWS have a player who is out the door, may never come back or god knows when he will come back, his heart is not in it to give his absolute best for that club, they have a gaping hole in their key forward posts for a player who they would have as a walk up start in their best 22 and they have compromised the compensation that was pretty much overs at the time 2x first round draft choices.

You need to take the emotion out of it and do what's best for business as a football club. Keeping a player who didn't and now clearly doesn't want to be there, despite the public spin the GWS hierarchy have been pushing for months is quite simply, poor business.

I still think someone is eventually going to do it though. And GWS is just such a team that might be able to afford to do it and could quite conceivably reap significant benefits in the long-run by digging the heels in and not letting a player do pick and choose when he feels like honouring a contract. As far as I'm aware Jeremy Cameron and Jonathan Patton will be ready to go for Round 1, with James Stewart and Adam Tomlinson as other options. That's not too shabby. There's a lot of teams that would be happy to have a similar 'gaping hole in their key forward posts'. It's probably worth remembering that McCarthy managed just seven goals in nine games in the second half of the season.

I don't think the reported offer was overs for McCarthy in what has been considered one of the worst drafts in recent memory. It was a shitty deal and if GWS ends up sticking to its guns and getting nothing or next to nothing in exchange for him, I'll applaud them for it and it might make a few more think twice about holding a club to ransom in the future.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

A player manager's job is to get his client contracts, doubt he cares much beyond that point.

My point stands. A player manager's job should be to look out for her/his client's best interests, which isn't always as easy as getting a contract put in front of them and signing it as quickly as possible. A sure-fire first round pick's dad could do that job for him...heck, his 14 year old brother could probably do it for him. I've often thought that AFL player managers are pretty useless, compared to their equivalents in other countries (take the US sports, for example, where they're generally Ivy school law graduates). Stories like this just reinforce it for me.

If Colin Young has been McCarthy's manager for his entire career, I guess he's pretty lucky that McCarthy apparently doesn't realise that if Young had advised caution before signing a long-term extension, he wouldn't be in this position in the first place and he could be playing AFL footy for whichever WA club wanted him this year.

 

[Messenger]

original plan was to trade 2 1st round picks for McCarthy then trade cheaply like a 2nd round pick for Bennell due to his off field problems. GWS said no and we traded our 1st and 2nd round picks for Bennell and pick 22.

Well if it took two picks to get Bennell, how was the original plan possible?

I'd suggest Fremantle could get one or the other and made their choice. That's fine.

 

[HowieD]

Well if it took two picks to get Bennell, how was the original plan possible?

I'd suggest Fremantle could get one or the other and made their choice. That's fine.

It took two picks to get Bennell and a pick.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

People realise you can walk and chew at the same time, right? The fact his management may be looking at getting his contract annulled doesn't mean they aren't also seeking help to resolve Cam's alleged issues

Ever met his management group - dollar sign in one eye, dollar in the other.

 

[Freomaniac]

It's a joke to suggest that Freo didn't have the players to get a trade done. Crozier, Suban, Pearce, Sheridan, Mzungu and, yes, even Barlow are all non-essential personnel that could have been packaged to get the deal done. Other clubs do it all the time.
Instead, Freo cut their noses off to spite their faces and are staring down the barrel of a 2017 with spuds like Tabener as your KPF and Zac Clarke as your ruckman (lol).

Clarke was the 2nd best ruckman in the 2008 draft. He is inconsistent and lazy but not a spud. Tabs, I agree.

 

[mightymouse75]

Delisted free agent. Cheers gws ya classless Muppets.

 

[the dog's kennel]

Am I the only one who finds it odd the way almost everyone is assuming he will never return to GWS?

Who cares if he goes for a few weeks in February? I don't even think GWS would care if he went for 3 months. They have a long-term interest in McCarthy. I'm sure they'd be very happy to spot him 6 months getting his life together if it meant they won his loyalty.

Long, long way to go before you could regard this as "blowing up in GWS' face".

I would have let him go last year if I was GWS. But I don't blame them at all for taking a chance on the other option. Let's see how this works out IN TWELVE MONTHS TIME.

 

[nineteen eighty]

Happened in the off season and has put the weight back on since resuming training. I wonder where he was and what he got up to in the break? The comments from Dave Matthews about not being able to handle the rigours of being an AFL player start to make a lot more sense.

I go back to my earlier points...I do not believe for one moment that this has anything to do with homesickness. Whatever is being said in the media is pure unadulterated spin. Something else is at play. And yes you may be onto it. Being an AFL footballer requires a lot of discipline. Could it be that some ill-discipline has brought him unstuck and he requires a few months out of the club?

Hmmmm