We can only speculate what are the offers but I suspect most of our top talent would be gone if they decided to go for the highest bid. The only chance to keep top players together is to build the environment where players want to stay together and believe they have a shot at ultimate success. Then they are willing to stay for less.
With so much talent accumulated, I expected some players will drop out down the track when they are entering their prime. Just not now and not Rankine.
All the talk about loving club, coach, rather moving family to GC than going back to Adelaide is starting to look silly. The club invested heavily in Rankine and he is close to elite now and starting to deliver. It will be a big loss if he leaves no doubt but the team got plenty more talent and can cover and it also opens up opportunities.
Personally, if the difference is only 200K, I would find the money if I am the club. Surely, GC is not Melbourne but there should be some 3rd party deals even on GC, AFL can chip in. It's actually not that difficult. Obviously, it's the list strategy, cap over the years, re-signing Rowell, Anderson and so on but 200K is relatively minor amount. I bet if you would ask 5-6 senior players they would take small cut to get extra money. We could ask some players to move on/retire, not re-sign. We don't know.
But I have a little sympathy for money only decision argument. It's not like Rankine is paid peanuts and let's be honest, he did not deliver in the first 3 years and was probably overpaid. It also seems to me that his manager plays games with the club and I suspect Rankine could make his decision some time ago. It could be more to it than just money.
Interesting next 3 weeks. I definitely want him to stay and would find extra money but I will move on quickly if he decides to leave.
Last edited:
