We got to thinking after putting together our previous post. Those now–ex-AFL players would have had a tough day following the draft yesterday, but perhaps none tougher than Robert Eddy.
Eddy has come within two of the proverbial bees’ dicks of virtual football immortality. Instead, he’s probably destined to be a footnote.
Readers will recall that Eddy was considered unlucky not to have made the Saints’ 2009 Grand Final team. He followed that up by playing in both the 2010 Grand Finals.
But for an unlucky bounce of the ball at the end of the drawn 2010 Grand Final, Eddy would be the proud owner of a Premiership player’s medal. With a little luck in selection the year before, he could have been a Matthew Scarlett toe-poke away from another Premiership medal.
And now, aged only 22, it appears his AFL career is over.
If anyone tries to tell you that AFL is not a tough game, remind them how a young bloke who’s done everything right to get himself into the team for the biggest game of the year has been ground up and spat out.
What may stick in Eddy’s craw will be the Saints’ final two draft selections after he has been cast adrift: ex-Cat Ryan Gamble and ex-Tiger Dean Polo. It’s fanciful, in our view, to consider that Polo could be picked in a team for a Grand Final and Gamble had certainly not secured a regular spot in the Cats’ lineup. We wonder whether the Polo recruitment will rival that previous ex-Tiger Saint, Aaron Fiora’s ‘success’.
These are curious decisions and, along with the recent exodus of coaching staff, must place some sort of question mark over coach Ross Lyon’s future.
And in a late announcement, West Coast have delisted Ashley Hansen. Interesting timing, coming the day after the draft. We’re not that confident that Hansen would have been selected by anyone, but the bloke is surely entitled to have a chance to throw his hat into the ring. We understand there’s little place for sentiment in the modern game, but we think West Coast have treated Hansen particularly poorly in this.
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5 comments:
Have to disagree about Polo, think he could be handy inclusion for the saints...
Regarding Hansen he was asked to retire & from what I've read & understand they had to delist afterwards so his pay would be included in 2011. Similar as Stenglein last year...
Jermayn, Polo was, to borrow a phrase from Kick-2-Kick, a "list clogger" at Richmond. Hard to see what he can contribute to a top four side that he hasn't been able to show in a bottom four side.
Not sure what you've read on Hansen and the pay situation. I haven't seen anything. Does he get his contract paid out after being delisted? Hansen's reported reaction doesn't really square with having been asked to retire.
St Kilda have a dire need of pacey midfielders, have a look at someone like Peake who can play 18+ games for a grand final side yet not get a look in for a 14th side in Fremantle the year before. Mind blowing I agree....
I guess the question is why do not clubs be less business like and save the possible depression rate for players and try harder to get them a new home. Polo could have been saved the pressure and disapointment if just traded to St Kilda for pick 105. Same for Hansen to possibly Melbourne or Spangher, Gamble etc...
From what I understand, yes Hansen would still get paid out by WCE.
Peake was something less than a star in that St Kilda side and had shown far more for the Dockers than Polo did for the Tigers. If Polo is a pacey midfielder, then I'm completely dumbfounded.
As far as clubs' attitude to trades, it IS a business and a highly-competitive one. Clubs must make an assessment of how much a player they trade out could damage them.
Sentiment, for clubs, is fine as long as it doesn't disadvantage the club. It's not ideal, but that's where we are with a national competition that needs lots of money to function. FWIW, I agree the public comments from clubs on delisted players don't reek of care and concern. The situation behind the clubs' doors may be quite different.
There was no way Melbourne would look at Hansen. They're completely youth-oriented.
I guess it is a wait and see approach with Polo then... I would not be surprised to see him play 15+ games in 2011.
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