This AFL-mandated pilfering of uncontracted stars has polarised the footy community, some supporting the idea of the Suns and Giants being given a running start while others believe the AFL is neglecting struggling clubs and traditional markets as it pushes a northern agenda.
Rumours are flying that Scully has already signed, while GWS coach Kevin Sheedy is virtually guaranteeing he’ll land one of Collingwood’s premiership heroes.
Based on the strike rate Gold Coast had last year when chasing signatures, you’d be a brave man to bet against Sheedy.
Full disclosure here: I’m a Collingwood member and the idea of losing any one of Scott Pendlebury (the reigning Norm Smith medalist), Dane Swan (2010’s best player by every measure except in the Brownlow) or Dale Thomas (who has only just become the out-and-out star he was predicted to be) makes my black-and-white heart tremble.
If the money being thrown around is anything like what helped lure Gary Ablett away from Geelong last year, how are these players able to turn it down?
The only thing that brings me comfort is the knowledge that there’s a bigger picture at play here. It took Fremantle nine years to put in a season with more wins than losses. It took Brisbane ten. If the AFL is even half-serious about pushing our code in NSW, and to a lesser extent Queensland, it needs to get a lot better at helping them put an inaugural list together.
As I write this, Super Rugby’s new Melbourne franchise, the Rebels, came off a 43-0 hiding at the hands of the NSW Waratahs in their first genuine outing, only to come out with a last kick win in their second.
The NRL has distanced itself further and further from the controversy surrounding the Storm while its CEO David Gallop only grudgingly seems to acknowledge that Australia has more than two states.
Several A-League clubs are on the edge, yet in the midst of all this the Gold Coast Suns knocked off the Sydney Swans in their first NAB Cup hit-out.
At the risk of getting ahead of ourselves it appears the AFL have put together a unit that will be competitive from day one.
Scary as this may seem, worrying too much about how our teams are going to adjust to losing a star player or two is ignoring the big picture here. If we’re serious about becoming the dominant code in Australian football, then short-term pain is necessary.
The battle for the hearts and minds of the country’s sporting public is up for grabs, and the code that best handles expansion stands to win big-time.
Every year that first bounce happens and tribal warfare begins, us against them, no mercy given and none asked for. The idea of being happy to strengthen another tribe is foreign to us all, but the idea of the tribes uniting to take on a common enemy?
Forgive me if I can see shades of Braveheart here, not that I’m suggesting Andrew Demetriou to paint his face blue.
Although this doesn’t mean you’ll ever catch me cheering on Carlton or Essendon, I reckon I’ll be able to deal with it if Sheedy does manage to stitch up one of my beloved Pies.
These petty tribal spats can be put on hold, at least a little. A bigger battle calls, and if you ask me, we’re up to it. So go Pies... and go the AFL.
Back off Richmond
By Sam Cohen
As a loyal and faithful Richmond supporter, I am sick and tired of everyone putting us down and saying how Richmond is a terrible club, with a massive premiership drought. I would just like to remind people of the truth.
First of all, I would like to point out that Richmond have won 10 premierships. whereas St Kilda and the Bulldogs have only one each, and Geelong has eight.
I could continue with North Melbourne, Sydney, etc. but you get the point.
I would also like to point out that, yes, it has been 30 years since our last premiership. But it has been 44 years since St Kilda's only flag, 46 years since Melbourne's last, and a staggering 56 since the Bulldogs only glory day. So yes, there is a drought, but it's not as terrible as many would have you think.
I admit it has been a while since we were last in the finals, but I ask you, what is worse - not winning a premiership due to not making finals, or losing two Grand Finals in a row as the Saints have done?
The tides of the game rise and fall constantly. It was only a few years ago that West Coast was in consecutive grand finals, winning one of them. Last year, they finished last.
Any decent person can look at Richmond's list and see that the group we have coming through are very impressive, and the same can be said about Melbourne.
This year I will not be focused on who wins the flag, but more on the rising clubs, such as Melbourne, Gold Coast, and of course, Richmond.
I know the time is coming for the Tigers; fast. So check the facts before you start sneering at us for wearing the yellow and black.
The Tiger is stirring, and you know it.
The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs
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