With media speculation over the future of two members of the Bombers’ leadership group, I’ve been thinking a bit more deeply than usual over player contracts, changing clubs, and so on.
From the supporters’ perspective, we’d love every player on the club’s list to love the club as much as we do. Only the callow supporter changes clubs. For the rest of us, we are there through thick and thin.
For the players, however, things are more complex.
- We’re talking about their job — and a job that can set them up for the rest of their lives, if they’re a bit canny.
- There’s clearly some considerable caché among ex-players for one-club players. We hear ambitions to be a one-club player too often, especially from players who have clearly forsaken potentially greater success at other clubs, for it to be a furphy.
- Coaches and clubs do their best to indoctrinate players with the notion of loyalty to their mates.
- Many players are connected to supporters and feel a sense of obligation to them.
- Players put their bodies in harm’s way while wearing a club’s guernsey.
- To have reached AFL level, players are pretty driven individuals with a keen sense of ambition for success.
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2 comments:
Good argument. We (supporters) need to understand Football is a career for many. In our current era with players being drafted across the country it is unrealistic to expect players to remain 1 club players.
Supporters will always love those players who show commitment to our club. However we must accept reality and realise football is now a business.
I neglected to mention some other issues players must confront.
* Injury may cut their career short at any time, in a game or in training.
* In the modern era, clubs can delist or trade players, almost on a whim.
And, of course, there are always workmates falling out over small matters. It would be surprising if teammates didn’t have similar issues from time to time.
Good to hear from you, Van.
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