Much has been said about our lack of achievement during the trade period. However there has been a lack of discussion about what really determines your trading capability - cash! IMHO the club is still in financial strife and is struggling to make ends meet. The biggest cost to the club is players wages and perhaps this is what influenced its trading strategy - to keep costs down.

The following shows what l believe the club has saved (and yes more could of been saved if they had of shifted Lance/Fev off). Note these are my estimations and posters like Synbad, BlueVain, Bluemark may have more accurate details:

Wages Cost Savings:

Campo $500,000 (no contract 2006)
Lance $100,000 (wage drop)
McKernan $240,000 (finished paying his wages)
Beaumont $150,000 (finished paying his wages)
Morrell $120,000 (no contract 2006)
Clarke $100,000 (no contract 2006)
Johnson $120,000 (no contract 2006)
Norman $100,000 (no contract 2006)

Total $1,430,000

Additional Wages Cost

Fevola $200,000 (wage increase)
Saddington $220,000 (new contract 2006)
Waite $120,000 (wage increase)
Walker $100,000 (wage increase)
Scotland $ 50,000 (wage increase)
Livo $ 50,000 (wage increase)
DeLuca $ 50,000 (wage increase)

Total $790,000

IN my estimations we may have saved around $640,000. This will be offset obviously by contracting Lappin (if he stays), Teague (who wants an increase) and the possible recruitment of Dylan McClaren to start off with. Cash is tight and the $640,000 will help with our wages bill moving into 2006.

Back in 2003 we had a massive amount of money promised in player contracts, about $12.5M.

By 2004 money contracted to players had dropped down to under $9M.

Through retirement of players and the offering of shorter 'market' based contracts, it seems like things are getting better.

Those numbers are just from memory, would have to check the club annual reports to confirm.

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RW

I think you are on the money

12 more months of this crap

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17th how long to go!!

Wasn't Harford also under contract for 2005 despite retiring last year

Good analysis, but you have forgotten to add in the minimum wage (aboput $50k each) for the four draftees.

SG

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Go Blues

Interesting thread Rod.

The additional cost of this years draftees will probably be offset by further delistings to established players such as Bannister.

You forgot to add that Bowyer has retired.

Posters please feel free to add Bowyer, Harford, additional rookies, etc salaries.

Livo $ 50,000 (wage increase) ?
DeLuca $ 50,000 (wage increase) ?
Geez, can I get a job at Carlton.
You go backwards and get a $50K increase.?

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"Carlton's most loyal, their bruised and battered egos now seemingly a bad dream, drank beers, murdered pies and cheered every time Judd touched the ball."

Not if he's already contracted.

Between Bower & Harford's salaries we should cover our four National draftee's.

We are under the cap and have room to move but no takers.