Carlton do realise that Sydney rarely ever stand in the way of a player trade request. Syd may ask for a proper fair exchange, but in almost all cases the player gets what he wants. Its a club mantra reflecting the slight disadvantage with list management regarding interstate moves and young guys. All clubs have their own ways to manage a list which may not be written or set in stone, but are done for a purpose. You cant make an 18-22yo feel trapped interstate or think when drafted he can never go home. It is not a major issue, as all clubs realise they cant really abuse it at the trade table if a player is "happy to stay".
Sydney obviously have a big say. Well and truly contracted. So it would not be a cheap exchange. It is almost 100% down to what Papley decides he wants. If he nominates a club, I cannot see Sydney getting in his way but a fair and proper exchange must happen.
OKeefe was happy to join any Melb club. His goal was back to Melb for family reasons, however he knew the huge problems it would create for Syd to get a fair return for him at the worst possible time to move clubs. Re-signed 3?? yrs and won BnF the next yr. Must have been disappointed but there were no beefs or regrets it seems.
Syd didn't refuse to trade him. Hawthorn and Carlton were keenest but like all clubs they both refused to part with any draft pick/player exchange that was anywhere near fair. OKeefe had stated, and stuck to it, that he wouldn't move if it meant Syd were disadvantaged. The GWS had just been announced, clubs were holding onto draft picks like their virginity. Nothing was getting done.
Much squabbling in here at the time that OKeefe was money hungry. Couldn't have been more wrong.
From memory it was the smallest ever trade period with perhaps just 5 ?? 6 ?? trades and no "name" players moving. Gridlock until clubs knew more about draft picks with the new clubs just announced that year.
OKeefe was due a new contract and on even bigger $. Just married months prior, and Ezra Bray had just held a knife to his mothers throat down in Melb. How would any guy feel ? As you can imagine "money" wasn't the issue, nor was which club he went to. Geelong was the obvious one, interested but they were overstocked with big flanker/mids and sal cap issues. Big decisions for the guy.
I rckon money was about #5 on the list. You cannot underpay big names, but the goal was simply any Melbourne club. In the end he HAD to stay. Bizarre times and with hindsight could not have picked a worse time to try a move.
Yes happy to. Kept his word start to finish. No, he didn't just want a bigger contract. He was being fairly paid. Syd put a good contract on the table as a backstop for him, and he ended up signing back onboard.
Yepp. In OKeefe's case he had to stay in the end. But 2008 was extraordinary. Noone could move, especially not name players. He's a lousy example to use.
You're both right and both wrong, but OKeefe wasnt a good example as he was attempting a move at the worst possible time for maybe 50 yrs. If u had a draft pick you did not trade it. Hawthorns best was something like 16 and they wouldnt even let that go. Different times, different circumstances.
But yes, if Papley requests a specific club the chances are he will get there regardless of his contract. As far as i;m aware, he hasnt yet even said he definitely wants to head to Melb. The only similarity with OKeefe is the statement "happy to stay"....that is said to simply maintain a FAIR exchange between two parties. When you are happy enough, you dont want to see the club that nurtured/developed you get shafted. Afterall he was a rookie pick.
It wont be an easy trade to put though due to contract status. Normally that would mean paying slight overs for him, but we'll see what happens. Form players are never cheap, especially when "happy to stay".
I'm currently assuming he's gone. He has every right to chase whatever he likes. You dont get a long time, and he's in the zone right now. If a particular club is chasing him he needs to look after his family/himself.
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