Sydney Blue wrote:
RR - It would be nice if the system gave them time but signing players to two year deals when they are drafted puts a hell of a lot of pressure on them to perform early. Carlton only gave Hartlett a one year deal after his initial two year signing on. Meeson seems in trouble at Adelaide- Brennan let go and there are others. It would suggest that the clubs are less patient than the supporters .
clubs should be forced to sign them on as apprentices and allow them four years before they have to start negotiating a new contract. Sure there could be out clauses for the club be they must be special circumstances.
Two years is not long enough and places to much unrealisitc expectations on kids
SB there is no real pressure on the kids to perform in the 1st two years...provided they do the right things on the training track and in their own time. The Coaching staff don't expect the kids to be world beaters, it's the supporters who do.
The 1st 2 years is where the kids have to show they are worthy of being given a 2nd contracted based on how they mature, how they react to injury, how they train and present themselves to the club and their team-mates. How they do the extras, take instruction and don't drop the lip if they don't get a game or maybe play in the VFL Reserves.
The 1st 2 years is about seeing how much they really want it. Remember that the start of year 2 is the 1st time they will do a full pre-season. How much they are prepared to give everything to establishing themselves as AFL players in that pre-season says alot about a players resolve.
It is in their 3rd and 4th years that performance really becomes the factor. I would suggest that kids that are cut after their initial 2 years
have had some skeletons in the closet the club could not shake loose. Harlett only got the 1 year extension because he needed to show the Coaching staff he really, really, really wants it. He wasn't the only one.
Regards Cazzesman
Surely the Club is being selective.
Carlos openly admits that his Uncle is the reigning 1948 Irish National hide and seek champion.