GreatEx wrote:
keogh wrote:
Some views
Zac Williams on 1.4 million was useless in the first half. He can kick a footy but doesn’t get it . Soft as warm butter. Only Carlton would pay 5.5 million for a half back flanker over 6 years thinking you could turn him into a midfielder
I did some internet sleuthing to see if that 1.4m figure was verified anywhere. No luck. What's your source on this? And what was he paid in other years to result in such backloading? Presumably we had him playing for a bargain price at least one other year, but you never advertise a positive so we missed it.
With the way the game's going today, filling the team with quick flanker types with good skills is the right move, so I've no worries with a ZW type playing midfield. Can't defend him on the hypochondria, though. Every week he seems to think he's popped his Achilles.
I declare keogh is spinning it. He doesn't know what Williams is being paid this year, his Final year. No one knows outside the inner circle. You know there's non disclosures signed, for good reason. Keogh has conveniently ignored what we all know, and what we do know doesn't make his claim of $1.4M plausible.
It was no secret Williams was offered $900K pa to secure him, and he accepted. I don't why that part is even being questioned.
We knew he was a Carlton supporter from birth; his father's team. Due to his sister's illness and Melbourne was close to Albury we were a chance.
We also knew he had mates at Carlton, List manager SOS, and former GWS players Kennedy, Marchbank, Plowman, Setterfield; that was another advantage,
Why $900K?
Some may want to devalue his ability to suit their agenda, referring to him as a Rookie, but he was a reliable, attacking and skilful Half Back and promoted from rookie in his first year, after his debut at 18yo. He was hot. Due to injuries Williams starred in the middle in a Final for GWS to get them over the line. He followed that up with stints forward where he kicked goals. he could play, back, middle and forward. Good players can do that.
We needed to find midfield support for Cripps. Murphy was 32yo, Curnow 30yo and Lang crap. Dow, SPS, Fisher, Stocker, Walsh, Philp, were babies, 20yo Kennedy and Setterfield were still young and not setting the world on fire. Lang was as good as SOS could attract despite having a war chest he had to spend at least 95% of the salary cap. He had heaps of money to keep front loading stars Cripps, Murphy, and like he did with martin who was front loaded $1M which the GCS couldn't match.
We won 5 games, 2nd last on ladder and were struggling to attract any stars circa 2020 (familiar?)
Given it was Covid year and players away from home in footy bubbles in QLD and WA, players were not inclined to move.
PLUS, Carlton had to spend 95% of their salary cap and needed to front load stars. We didn't have many stars: Cripps Murphy (32yo) Docherty, Kade (35yo), Curnow (30yo), Gov (25), Martin (25), Newman (27). Weiters, Curnow and McKay. All you have to do is look at our list profile in 2020, and look at the salary cap we were compelled to spend $9,851500 (95%). We had 30 players under 23yo and Walshy was still being paid his first contract.
Williams was a Restricted Free Agent, meaning GWS could match an offer, and GWS wanted him to stay.
Austin had SOS's 105% war chest to spend, and was expected to add stars and experience to the young list and Cripps.
The only FA mids in 2020 were Williams, Couch (committed to STK), Atkins (GCS) and Isaacs, wing, was chasing more Flags (went to Geelong) who could play midfield to support Cripps. We didn't have much choice if we wanted to add star players to the kids.
Two other teams were after him, with similar offers before we raised our final offer by $50K.
Plus it was public knowledge carlton were going to get their man by Front Loading like they did with martin. No one knows how much, but we needed another star to front load given our list profile.
If you don't believe Carlton front loaded any players, let alone Williams, then do you think they front loaded the 30 kids under 30yo to make up the 95%? Do your sums and be realistic. The club front loaded stars who were going to stay, to reduce our exposure, and have some spare later when the kids put their hand out for more pay.
Instead of decreasing our exposure with high annual salary as player gets older, keogh believes, instead SOS, and Austin in 2020, chose to back end the aging player's contract. Doesn't make sense on many fronts ( ie List Profile), and there's no way anyone would know, but I'd back what was said publicly, and believe the club's/SOS's/Austin's strategy to front load stars, pay maximum 95% SC and bank the remaining 5% to build the war chest of 105% salary cap to spend on stars in the future (cream on top). Pity the so called highly paid "stars" SOS attracted in his time were only Martin and Gov. Austin spent the balance (over 95%) war chest on Williams (900) Saad (6200 and a car for his wife) and Cerra (600). Wooppeee. Where's the rest gone if its been back ended? To the kids? Yeah right.
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