Thoughts on JA Leaving Saga

[TradeDraft]

I still not 100 sure how I feel of JA Leaving. I can see why he left as he would want more Chances to play AFL and not play 2nd Fiddle behind Dawes and Cloke. With JA leaving it effected our Rookie Drafting where we went tall with Gordon,Reilly and Perhman.

I still can't understand why Freo did not just Trade Tarrant for Anthony because I thought that would be a Fair Trade and why no other Team had a Go at JA after he had a Off Season but the season before he kicked 50 Goals.

Not Sure how I feel. I feel like he could of stayed and tried to get in the Side Again with Hard Work and He just Walked Out and Wanted to go to another Side to get games. Though that is the way we got Cameron Wood.

Your Thoughts?

 

[JollyBallsUp]

I think it is very clear, he wants to play regular AFL football. It is obvious that he didn't want to better himself so that he can break back into the side. He took the easy option to leave and that is clearly his choice.
Allot of things happen at football clubs and some people are more confrontational then others. JA was a confrontational type who obviously got his nose out of joint with that happen within football clubs. He would not have been happy that Collingwood was keen to get Tarrant back and felt that Tarrant would effectively dropped him down another notch in the pecking order.

 

[HFF]

Speaking of "dropped", another reason could be the history between Taz and Jack.

I do recall before Taz left, that he "dropped" Jack during an intra club match where Anthony was playing in defence on Tarrant for "mouthing off" arrogantly- so that explains JA's confrontational nature. (This is how the rumour went IIRC).

However, now that the saga is well and truly behind us, Jack made the correct decision for his football future. He needs to be playing regular senior footy and he should get that at Freo. Had he stayed another year and wasted away in the twos, his career would have been in limbo. Good luck to him.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think it is very clear, he wants to play regular AFL football. It is obvious that he didn't want to better himself so that he can break back into the side. He took the easy option to leave and that is clearly his choice.
.

In the interests of being objective, this "easy option" to which you refer appears similar to the one that Luke Ball took to get to Collingwood.

Let's be fair to young Jack for a minute. He saw that his opportunities at Collingwood were going to be limited, and he decided that better opportunities existed elsewhere. It has nothing to do with being lazy, a traitor, selfish or any of that, but as was mentioned, he wants to be an AFL player not a VFL player, and one more year in the VFL with the Magpies and the career that he would have dreamed about for so many years as a kid would have been over. I wouldn't want my dream career to be extinguished just because I didn't act.

 

[mattys123]

JA left because he knew he wasn't guaranteed senior football at Collingwood, plain snd simple, where at Freo, a side with a forward line that would struggle to beat our VFL forward line (with Jack in it last year), he is almost guaranteed a spot each week.

Smart decision on Jack's part, selfish? Yes, but hey, that's the bloke, he never seemed like a team player anyway, so good bye, and maybe good riddance.

We simply won't miss him though, he wasn't a key forward, he was a tall forward pocket/half forward who had no physical presence and he simply couldn't get a kick on the best backman in the game.

I'm really not interested to see how he goes at Freo, I couldn't give a shit, it's not bitterness, it's simply because he chose to leave the club I would have given my right leg to play for, so I no longer care about Jack Anthony at all.

As far as how it effects us as a club, I actually see it is a positive move, in that it will allow those that want to be at the club, and those that want to be part of the "side by side" environment, better chances at becoming senior footballers.

I bet Luke Rounds and the other young forwards who will take Jack's place in the VFL (and maybe AFL for a few games) next season were doing backflips the day Jack decided to leave.

Jack was depth at Collingwood, that's all he was ever going to be, so he's not a great loss.

In the short term, we have "won" out of the virtual swap for Anthony anyway, we picked up a player (Tarrant) who has reached heights that Jack will never see (has been All Australian, and would have been again last year but for injury), so we have actually gone forward if anything with the so called loss of Jack.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Jack Anthony is a very talented player that is of limited effectiveness for two reasons:

1) He lacks great agility or size, making it somewhat easy for defenders to stay with him/monster him as a forward, and for forwards to get away from him/monster him as a defender.

2) He isn't a very disciplined or intellectual type that could overcome physical limitations like that through hard work and dedication.

I always got enjoyment out of watching him as a player, and I wish him the best at Freo, but I mainly do that in the confidence that he's not really going to cause us any pain playing for the opposition.

 

[daics_35]

Jack is a shit bloke and a selfish bloke, thats a fact. We dont want players who put themselves before the club at Collingwood. We won the flag becuase of the 22 players playing their role in the team and not trying to make themselves look better then their team mates. Jack isnt like that, he doesnt give a crap about the team, all he cares is for him to performing good. Also he wasnt anything special even 2 years a go when he kicked 50 goals, he did that becuase of our great midfield and he also showed that he cant beat any of the best deffenders in the league and was destroyed by Lake Scarlett and even Dawson. I have moved on from his departure and will be treating him like any non Collingwood player.

 

[Quicky]

I think it is very clear, he wants to play regular AFL football. It is obvious that he didn't want to better himself so that he can break back into the side. He took the easy option to leave and that is clearly his choice.
Allot of things happen at football clubs and some people are more confrontational then others. JA was a confrontational type who obviously got his nose out of joint with that happen within football clubs. He would not have been happy that Collingwood was keen to get Tarrant back and felt that Tarrant would effectively dropped him down another notch in the pecking order.

I havn't seen anything since Anthony left that has suggested this at all. His interview on SEN after being drafted was actually the complete opposite. He was very thankful for the time he had spent at the club but felt that the best thing for his future was to move clubs. I think all things considered that is a perfectly reasonable position.

On Anthony leaving the point alot of people seem to miss is that because the Tarrant trade happened so late in trade week it gave Anthony next to no time to assess his future and make a reasoned decision on his future, and this is before we consider negotiating a trade on top of this. The Tarrant trade had a clear impact on his position at the club and would have required consideration. It was only after some thought on what was going to be a serious life decision that Anthony decided to leave. It was clearly not done in a way to shaft us but just the way it worked out given the timeline to make the decision.

I was very disappointed to see Anthony leave the club, he was a very talented player, but it's hard to feel bitter about it given it was ultimately in both parties best interests.

 

[mdc]

In the interests of being objective, this "easy option" to which you refer appears similar to the one that Luke Ball took to get to Collingwood.

Let's be fair to young Jack for a minute. He saw that his opportunities at Collingwood were going to be limited, and he decided that better opportunities existed elsewhere. It has nothing to do with being lazy, a traitor, selfish or any of that, but as was mentioned, he wants to be an AFL player not a VFL player, and one more year in the VFL with the Magpies and the career that he would have dreamed about for so many years as a kid would have been over. I wouldn't want my dream career to be extinguished just because I didn't act.

Yep, the similary to the Luke Ball situation should be obvious to anyone with a modicum of sense. And unfortunately, their treatment by fans of their old clubs hasn't been dissimilar either.

@Vinnie: I wish I shared your confidence. He's certainly agile enough to beat Brown (see his games against Rutten) and he's big enough to beat Toovey/Goldsack. Reid would get the job done, but we might need him elsewhere.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Smart decision on Jack's part, selfish? Yes, but hey, that's the bloke, he never seemed like a team player anyway, so good bye, and maybe good riddance.


I bet Luke Rounds and the other young forwards who will take Jack's place in the VFL (and maybe AFL for a few games) next season were doing backflips the day Jack decided to leave.

Mattys, do you think that Luke Ball was selfish and never seemed like a team player from his time at St Kilda? Or how do you suggest that Luke's and Jack's situation is different (except that one walked out of and one walked into our club)? Do you persecute Ball for his decision to leave the Saints in pursuit of greater opportunity with the same character assertions as Jack?

Also, I don't think that JA leaving is going to open any doors for Rounds as a small forward / midfielder. Moreso a Keefe or Reed type - players who can play 3rd marking target or key position either end.

 

[TradeDraft]

I havn't seen anything since Anthony left that has suggested this at all. His interview on SEN after being drafted was actually the complete opposite. He was very thankful for the time he had spent at the club but felt that the best thing for his future was to move clubs. I think all things considered that is a perfectly reasonable position.

On Anthony leaving the point alot of people seem to miss is that because the Tarrant trade happened so late in trade week it gave Anthony next to no time to assess his future and make a reasoned decision on his future, and this is before we consider negotiating a trade on top of this. The Tarrant trade had a clear impact on his position at the club and would have required consideration. It was only after some thought on what was going to be a serious life decision that Anthony decided to leave. It was clearly not done in a way to shaft us but just the way it worked out given the timeline to make the decision.

I was very disappointed to see Anthony leave the club, he was a very talented player, but it's hard to feel bitter about it given it was ultimately in both parties best interests.

Anthony Had Time to look for a Trade and I dare say we tried to get him to Freo for Tarrant.

Though I am sure the Club said there was no interest in JA during Trade Week Which I find hard to believe

 

[Quicky]

Anthony Had Time to look for a Trade and I dare say we tried to get him to Freo for Tarrant.

Though I am sure the Club said there was no interest in JA during Trade Week Which I find hard to believe

I disagree TD. What I am saying is that Tarrants move to Collingwood changed the goalposts for Anthony and had a direct affect on Anthonys position and future at the club. It was something that required consideration, the time for which he didn't get given how late the Tarrant trade went through. It didn't allow the appropriate time for Anthony to make a decision and then for the club to orchestrate a trade.

 

[JollyBallsUp]

In the interests of being objective, this "easy option" to which you refer appears similar to the one that Luke Ball took to get to Collingwood.

I disagree; Luke Ball had a much publicised fall out with Ross Lyon which influenced his decision to leave. Jack on the other hand left because opportunities were drying up for him unless he improved his overall game.

I am not bitter about him leaving, personally I don't care. I was disappointed initially but have got over it. As for his interview on SEN, I also heard it and I don't think there was anything else he could have said. Most players with anything in between their ears would have said something similar.

 

[Quicky]

I disagree; Luke Ball had a much publicised fall out with Ross Lyon which influenced his decision to leave. Jack on the other hand left because opportunities were drying up for him unless he improved his overall game.

I am not bitter about him leaving, personally I don't care. I was disappointed initially but have got over it. As for his interview on SEN, I also heard it and I don't think there was anything else he could have said. Most players with anything in between their ears would have said something similar.

He came across as sincere to me. What makes you believe it is obvious his nose was out of joint?

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

@Vinnie: I wish I shared your confidence. He's certainly agile enough to beat Brown (see his games against Rutten) and he's big enough to beat Toovey/Goldsack. Reid would get the job done, but we might need him elsewhere.

Harry or Maxy would embarrass him to within an inch of his life - Get either one of them on JA and look for them to rack up 3 Brownlow votes.

 

[mdc]

Harry or Maxy would embarrass him to within an inch of his life - Get either one of them on JA and look for them to rack up 3 Brownlow votes.

I agree that both of those are OK match-ups, but what's the last time either played FB? Harry as desperation on Fev a couple years back, and Maxy ditto on Buddy, but that's about it. Mick won't play them so deep if he can help it.

I'm assuming, of course, that Freo will play him in his natural position. If they pull him out as far and as wide as we did in late '10 and '11, then sure, he won't do much.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I disagree; Luke Ball had a much publicised fall out with Ross Lyon which influenced his decision to leave. Jack on the other hand left because opportunities were drying up for him unless he improved his overall game.

I am not bitter about him leaving, personally I don't care. I was disappointed initially but have got over it. As for his interview on SEN, I also heard it and I don't think there was anything else he could have said. Most players with anything in between their ears would have said something similar.

And what do you suggest the fallout with Lyon was about, JBU? Clearly it was about opportunity, ie Ball thought he deserved more games / game time than he was getting. As you said with Jack, Ball left because "opportunities were drying up for him unless he improved his overall game".

Do you seriously think that these two cases are significantly different? What about O'Bree then? Is he a poor team player because he recognised that he couldn't break into Brisbane's midfield and wanted opportunities elsewhere? Or just because he came to Collingwood, the stupidity lay with the other party (in this case Brisbane).

We shouldn't judge Anthony harshly just because he took steps necessary to attempt to resurrect his dream career that was fast stagnating. Especially while applauding others who did the same in coming to the club. Anyone who does is both a hypocrite and embarrassingly one-eyed.

 

[Pie eyed]

As with the Fraser trade, JA's leaving and subsequent pick-up by Freo was good timing for us, fortuitous for both players and, apart from several comments in various threads on BF less than acrimonious for both players and the club.

All round it all went well, with Collingwood coming out of the general to-ing and fro-ing post a Flag season better than when it went in regard to personnel.

Happy camper here and keen to pay my Leg ends membership for another year of hope and wonder.

Go Pies.

 

[Ed D]

Right now I personally don't mind that he's left the club. He wasn't an important player for us, he wasn't doing enough to get a regular game and he seemed a bit restricted as a player. Add to that he's obviously a little bit of a strange character off the field.

Not to get anything for him is a little annoying but considering we wouldn't have gotten much anyway it's not so much of a loss. I think it's better for him to be at another club and it's going to be interesting as to how the rest of his career pans out.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I agree that both of those are OK match-ups, but what's the last time either played FB? Harry as desperation on Fev a couple years back, and Maxy ditto on Buddy, but that's about it. Mick won't play them so deep if he can help it.

I also disagree that Goldsack would struggle on him, but that's beside the point.

Maxwell would play on him but spend most of the match zoning off, and Jack would be too dumb to actually get in position to hurt him.

 

[Swooop]

Yep, the similary to the Luke Ball situation should be obvious to anyone with a modicum of sense. And unfortunately, their treatment by fans of their old clubs hasn't been dissimilar either.

mdc, it's a rare thing i disagree with what you say, but on this point, i think the Pie supporters have, in general, have been much more generous in giving their best wishes to Jack than the vitriol the Saints gave Luke Ball.

Having said that though, Ball was a bigger ticket loss than JA, being a former captain etc etc, plus, the fact he went to a hated rival, whereas JA didn't.

I like Quicky and Jelly Bean's take on things, fwiw.

 

[1eye]

He's at Freo because he needs more mental therapy from simon lloyd.

Excellent kick but very poor below the knees.

 

[mdc]

I also disagree that Goldsack would struggle on him, but that's beside the point.

Maxwell would play on him but spend most of the match zoning off, and Jack would be too dumb to actually get in position to hurt him.

Guess we shall see. It's strange though, how someone so dumb managed to kick 50 goals in a season despite getting the opposition's best defender each week.

mdc, it's a rare thing i disagree with what you say, but on this point, i think the Pie supporters have, in general, have been much more generous in giving their best wishes to Jack than the vitriol the Saints gave Luke Ball.

Yeah, I probably should have distinguished as you have there. The vitriol towards both Ball and our club was certainly much stronger from Saints supporters - I just meant that way too many people have altered their assessment of him pretty damn quickly once he decided to leave.

 

[Ed D]

Guess we shall see. It's strange though, how someone so dumb managed to kick 50 goals in a season despite getting the opposition's best defender each week.

Don't forget he was also the clear #1 target in the forward line as well. He was flying until he hurt his hip or whatever and then he struggled for the latter part of the year, whether that was because of his injury or oppositions defenders worked him out, I don't know. A lot of his goals were also on the 50m arch so that helped his scoring too.

 

[magpiewarrior]

Jack left because the most important thing for a player at his developmental stage is game time (AFL not VFL) and at Freo (baring injury) he will get it. I will make a prediction right now, Jack will finish in the top 5 in the Coleman Medal for 2011. He is a very good fit at Freo and I'm sure we'll welcome him back when he's proven himself. Good luck Jack (against anyone but us).