Opinion New players, new numbers!

[GotTheGoodes]

I really don't care what number they get as long as they perform

Damn right bedford. I know the sponsers might care and as such the club might want to ease their transition from poo & wee to red & white but really at the end of the day he comes in, kicks bags and we're all bloody happy aren't we?

As for poor old Locky if it means it's the best thing for the club (i.e. it benefits the sponsers etc thus benefiting the club) then so be it. In fact, he could look at it like a new start himself too, he doesn't seem to have had the best luck in 23 anyway. Here's hoping we all win, sponsors, players, fans and club.

Bring on 2014 so we can get this off season dribble finished and start talking real footy again!!

 

[liz]

Like Bedford, I don't particularly care what numbers players wear. But nor do I think it was unreasonable for Franklin to ask for 23 and to get it, if it mattered to him. Reality is that he's achieved enough in his career to be offered a $10m, nine year deal. His crowd pulling power is as much the reason why the Swans were prepared to offer him that as his pure match winning ability.

Lockyer, on the other hand, has achieved precisely nothing to date in his AFL career. For the first half of 2013 he looked so far off being a senior AFL player it wasn't funny. He had a very good second half of the year and improved significantly, but still not to the point where he was threatening for a senior debut. There's a decent chance he won't be on our list after the 2014 season. I am not hoping that. But it's the reality of young players that most don't make it and he's shown nothing yet to suggest he's a strong chance to buck the trend.

If that all sounds harsh, so be it. It's the way of things in the world of the AFL. I certainly don't think that even if Lockyer was pressured to give up the 23 guernsey it is sign of the club selling its soul. As mentioned, McRae gave up his guernsey for Lockett. Arnott also gave his up for Schwass. Both Arnott and McRae had achieved more in their careers then than Lockyer has now.

 

[SM]

I still don't understand how being uncomfortable at a player being forced to give up his number is that ridiculous an idea. The club has always prided itself on its players-first attitude, and now it seems to have diverged from that.

First in signing Franklin which forced a number of senior players out, and second in putting pressure on Lockyer to change his number.

Some will laugh at me because it's me making the point - why that really matters I have no idea - and will rubbish it without giving it any thought. Each to their own.

 

[swansfan51]

I still don't understand how being uncomfortable at a player being forced to give up his number is that ridiculous an idea. The club has always prided itself on its players-first attitude, and now it seems to have diverged from that.

First in signing Franklin which forced a number of senior players out, and second in putting pressure on Lockyer to change his number.

Some will laugh at me because it's me making the point - why that really matters I have no idea - and will rubbish it without giving it any thought. Each to their own.

No, it is still players-first. You just have to be the right player.

 

[SM]

No, it is still players-first. You just have to be the right player.

Ok, I don't like that. The players were always encouraged to speak out openly and honestly under Roos, and were made to feel like equals. This takes away from that. But everyone knows my position on it and it's no use going on with this discussion as it clearly offends some.

 

[Kummerspeck]

. But everyone knows my position on it and it's no use going on with this discussion as it clearly offends some.

Pointing at out the flaw in the in you dowsing for players emotions and thoughts based off soundbites isn't taking offence.

 

[SM]

Pointing at out the flaw in the in you dowsing for players emotions and thoughts based off soundbites isn't taking offence.

Not sure what that sentence even means.

 

[liz]

Ok, I don't like that. The players were always encouraged to speak out openly and honestly under Roos, and were made to feel like equals.

Player empowerment, encouragement of active feedback, conformity to agreed player behaviours, spreading the leadership across the group - all features of the structures put in place under Roos and, as far as we know, continued under Longmire. None of that is equivalent to all players being equal. Not even in an Orwellian sense.

 

[MarkP]

Player empowerment, encouragement of active feedback, conformity to agreed player behaviours, spreading the leadership across the group - all features of the structures put in place under Roos and, as far as we know, continued under Longmire. None of that is equivalent to all players being equal. Not even in an Orwellian sense.

I would be horrified and disgusted if all players were treated equally.

It makes no sense at all. In a football club or anywhere else.

The notion of it is a complete joke and flies in the face of reality.

 

[robbieando]

As mentioned, McRae gave up his guernsey for Lockett. Arnott also gave his up for Schwass. Both Arnott and McRae had achieved more in their careers then than Lockyer has now.

This.....

What bedford said was enough for me in general on the number front - its just a number, but as liz pointed out the club has enough form that this is a moot point. McRae moved from 4 to 2 for Lockett and Arnott moved from 2 to 42 for Schwass and they HAD PLAYED senior football when the number switch was made. Why ignore that, was our soul sold then or is it a case of wasn't around, can't remember for some?

As for the idea that we had to move on senior players to get Buddy, well newsflash for some, we moved on senior players for Lockett, we did as well for Schwass, we did as well for Hall and hell we have now done so for Buddy. Buddy isn't creating anything new by a) joining us, b) taking a number off a current player and c) forcing players out of the club. I can understand why people aren't happy with the move, but please if your going to attack him for something please look at our history before you attack him for something that has been done before.

 

[RW]

Thank you Robbie, now can we all please move on as we are going around in circles, and instead celebrate Australia reclaiming the Ashes. 3-0!!!

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Thank you Robbie, now can we all please move on as we are going around in circles, and instead celebrate Australia reclaiming the Ashes. 3-0!!!

Is it wrong that i'm more excited for round 1 than our Ashes victory.

 

[baja]

I can understand why people aren't happy with the move, but please if your going to attack him for something please look at our history before you attack him for something that has been done before.

Why? What if posters felt the same then too? Nothing wrong with posters differing views and at least he has expressed them with valid arguments.

 

[SM]

Thank you Robbie, now can we all please move on as we are going around in circles, and instead celebrate Australia reclaiming the Ashes. 3-0!!!

Well it's the wrong thread for that! We're talking players' numbers in a players' numbers thread, fancy that!

 

[Numbered Days]

Player empowerment, encouragement of active feedback, conformity to agreed player behaviours, spreading the leadership across the group - all features of the structures put in place under Roos and, as far as we know, continued under Longmire. None of that is equivalent to all players being equal. Not even in an Orwellian sense.

Nice posts liz. Players most certainly are not "equal" under our culture. It is constantly drilled into our young players that they must earn everything they get ... they must work to get the trust of the senior players. They get nothing by simply being drafted. This is what Roos created - nothing is just handed to anyone and players are most certainly not equal - until they show they deserve it. Once they show it and earn the other players trust then they have a long and successful career ahead of them.

Equality? That is Melbourne's culture, GWS' culture ... 18 year olds play first team football without deserving it and 20 year olds get paid far too much for winning wooden spoons.

Lockyer hasn't earned anything yet ... but if he wants it he can work for it and then he can keep his number

 

[Count Dooku]

How bored are you people. Sure it would have been nice for Buddy to make a fresh start in Micky O's number 19 and for the young fella to keep 23. However marketing wins out. Business rational outcome. Get over it. Nothing issue. All this culture degredation garbage is wank of the highest order and smacks of offseason boredom.

 

[vonn]

Guys, it's a ****ing number.

 

[baja]

Guys, it's a ******* number.

A lot of people especially sportsmen can get very attached to numbers little miss 69.

 

[Sanecow]

A lot of people especially sportsmen can get very attached to numbers little miss 69.

I am fond of number two.