Loyal Carltonian wrote:
If Pagan doesn't survive which is unlikely at this stage then the new incoming coach will have a big say if he wants Fev around. This will all eventuate before the next trade week in October. Going by our recent history with trades I think keeping Fev would be in the best interests of the club provided he knuckles down and plays to the team rules and with the commitment expected.
Playing Russian roulette with our most marketable player and only matchwinner is suicide. I ask this? Would Freo trade Pavlich, Would Essendon* trade Lloyd, would Hawthorn trade Franklin, would St.Kilda trade Riewoldt, would Geelong trade Mooney, would Brisbane trade Brown.
St.Kilda traded Tony Lockett and Barry Hall to Sydney with the latter playing in a premiership. Did St.Kilda win a flag by doing this? NO.
Unless the offer is too good to refuse which I can guarantee it won't be then he stays put.
That's the problem LC..."
provided he knuckles down and plays to the team rules and with the commitment expected".
How do we know this will happen? He's had the best part of 9 years to knuckle down, with all the chances and warnings and public discussions, and hasn't been able to do it.
What if he still can't do it?
I don't think any Carlton supporter would want Fev anywhere other than in a navy blue guernsey with 25 on the back IF we KNEW he was going to knuckle down. But the sad truth of it is we just don't know if he will, or can. This is why some people are advocating a trade for good value, it mitigates the risk.
BTW, compaing him with Pavlich, Lloyd, Franklin misses the point...if we were offered a straight trade...Fev for Pavlich, or Fev for Franklin, or Fev for Jonathan Brown, you'd take it in a hearbeat. Why? Not because they are necessarily better players. But because they are reliable, team orientated, and show leadership. That's why they will never be traded, and that's why Fev might be.