Motlop walks out on Kangaroos
Exclusive
By Michael Gleeson
September 20, 2005
Young star Daniel Motlop has indicated he would like to move interstate to be closer to his family.
Photo: Getty Images
EXCITING Kangaroos forward Daniel Motlop has quit the club, declaring he wants to be traded interstate to be closer to his family in the Northern Territory.
The out-of-contract 23-year-old has tired of life in Melbourne after a year spent battling shoulder and hamstring injuries and believes he needs a fresh start interstate.
The gifted forward had a meeting with Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley and football manager Tim Harrington yesterday morning to inform them of his decision. It is believed the pair were surprised and disappointed by the news, believing Motlop had been close to signing a lucrative deal to stay at the club.
Motlop's manager Alex McDonald of Flying Start last night admitted his client had quit the Kangaroos and said the young player did not have a club in mind in declaring he wanted to be traded.
"It's family reasons, it is not about the Kangaroos because Daniel has been very happy at the Kangaroos and they have been very good for him, but he misses his family in Darwin and would like the opportunity to be closer to home," McDonald said.
That leaves a move interstate likely with the Adelaide clubs, Sydney and the Brisbane Lions the likely destinations — though the Adelaide clubs would seem the most logical move. Motlop is known to be good friends with Peter Burgoyne and it is believed the Power and Adelaide have expressed interest in Motlop in the past.
The Kangaroos had been expecting Motlop to sign a new contract and had been extremely patient and accommodating of the young player through an injury plagued season. The club allowed him to fly home to Darwin for several weeks during this rehab period from shoulder surgery.
Upon returning earlier than expected from the pre-season shoulder injury, Motlop managed three games in rounds 12-14 before straining a hamstring. Days before he was due to make his comeback to the seniors, he again strained the same hamstring, ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Motlop was the great hope for the Roos for next season. The flashy forward with the booming kick and ability to do the unpredictable had emerged as a danger player.
Motlop was taken by the Roos in the first round (pick No. 8 overall) in the 2000 national draft and joined his brother Shannon at Arden Street. Shannon, who played in the Roos' 1999 premiership side in his first year with the club, was cut by the Roos and only this year selected by Melbourne as a replacement for Troy Broadbridge.
Laidley this year was under no misapprehension of the value of the player who last year kicked 34 goals and emerged as one of the few Kangaroos with the rare ability to change a game.
"I think we have missed him enormously over the first part of the year because of that X-factor, and you just don't know what he is going to do sometimes," Laidley said, before Motlop's surprise early return in round 12.
Exclusive
By Michael Gleeson
September 20, 2005
Young star Daniel Motlop has indicated he would like to move interstate to be closer to his family.
Photo: Getty Images
EXCITING Kangaroos forward Daniel Motlop has quit the club, declaring he wants to be traded interstate to be closer to his family in the Northern Territory.
The out-of-contract 23-year-old has tired of life in Melbourne after a year spent battling shoulder and hamstring injuries and believes he needs a fresh start interstate.
The gifted forward had a meeting with Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley and football manager Tim Harrington yesterday morning to inform them of his decision. It is believed the pair were surprised and disappointed by the news, believing Motlop had been close to signing a lucrative deal to stay at the club.
Motlop's manager Alex McDonald of Flying Start last night admitted his client had quit the Kangaroos and said the young player did not have a club in mind in declaring he wanted to be traded.
"It's family reasons, it is not about the Kangaroos because Daniel has been very happy at the Kangaroos and they have been very good for him, but he misses his family in Darwin and would like the opportunity to be closer to home," McDonald said.
That leaves a move interstate likely with the Adelaide clubs, Sydney and the Brisbane Lions the likely destinations — though the Adelaide clubs would seem the most logical move. Motlop is known to be good friends with Peter Burgoyne and it is believed the Power and Adelaide have expressed interest in Motlop in the past.
The Kangaroos had been expecting Motlop to sign a new contract and had been extremely patient and accommodating of the young player through an injury plagued season. The club allowed him to fly home to Darwin for several weeks during this rehab period from shoulder surgery.
Upon returning earlier than expected from the pre-season shoulder injury, Motlop managed three games in rounds 12-14 before straining a hamstring. Days before he was due to make his comeback to the seniors, he again strained the same hamstring, ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Motlop was the great hope for the Roos for next season. The flashy forward with the booming kick and ability to do the unpredictable had emerged as a danger player.
Motlop was taken by the Roos in the first round (pick No. 8 overall) in the 2000 national draft and joined his brother Shannon at Arden Street. Shannon, who played in the Roos' 1999 premiership side in his first year with the club, was cut by the Roos and only this year selected by Melbourne as a replacement for Troy Broadbridge.
Laidley this year was under no misapprehension of the value of the player who last year kicked 34 goals and emerged as one of the few Kangaroos with the rare ability to change a game.
"I think we have missed him enormously over the first part of the year because of that X-factor, and you just don't know what he is going to do sometimes," Laidley said, before Motlop's surprise early return in round 12.
