Punter22 wrote:
You guys who are claiming Fev for Pavlich or Judd as a fair trade need a dose of reality.
On the one hand, we have a maddeningly inconsistent forward, whose only constant habit is long bouts of selfish behaviour, punctuated by brief periods of contrition and focused play. Managed to get it together for nine months last year, and them promptly had a complete meltdown at season's end and has fired one shot this year. His best is blindingly good his worst could be seen against Freo. Threw his toys out of the cot when his peers didn't want a bar of him being a leader of them, even in name only - thus proving them 100% correct.
On the other hand we have possibly two of the best three players in the league who both have consistently played at a high level for years. Proven leaders of their clubs, and have led their clubs AS CAPTAINS to a prelim final and a Grand Final.
The only way we get either of them would be if Judd demanded to go home, which isn't likely. We'd be the laughingstock of the league if we went to the Eagles and requested Judd for Fev.
Having said that, I don't doubt we'll opt for a mature age player as part of any trade for fev, in conjunction with a pick. God knows the kids are totally bereft of any semblance of on field leadership, due in no small part to Fev and Whitnall being totally useless in this regard (for different reasons).
I used to back Fev to the hilt, and I copped his attitude when we had older players there and not much to look forward to. He was our only highlight for years, and I don't want to think of how bad the last few years would have been without that one shining light.
However we have a future now, we've got some great talent already in place, and kids of the highest integrity, effort and commitment. Seeing Gibbs bust his gut on the boundary line for 20 mintues on the weekend to get back on, and then go up and take that hanger was a huge lift in dark times. If Fev doesn't want to commit to to this team 100%, and set aside his own defnition of personal success to achieve a greater good for the club, then thanks for the memories Fev and move on.
The absolute worst outcome for this club would be the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrots, Kade, Tex etc (even though he and Kade have just signed) thinking - I'm not copping this - and leaving. Unlike Fev, these kids have spent the last few years maturing as players and people and I desperately want them to suceed wearing the navy blue. No young player should expect to cop the repeated smashings this kids have suffered through under a less than positive coach with no leadership from within the group (except Stevens in the last year or so). They're about to come out the other side and enjoy some good times and I'm bloody excited for them.
Apologies for this rant, but I just don't think Fev belongs on the pedestal some place him on. He COULD, but to me he repeatedly shows why he doesn't.
Fair points.
I just don't want this club to give up a rare talent like Fev. for a couple of draft picks. Just not worth it when there is an element of a lottery to it anyway.
Who is to say pick 9 is going to be better than pick 12. We may trade to get pick 9, while it may be the case that pick 12 will be an exceptional player such as the Shaun Burgoyne's of the world.
ie - who is to say we won't bypass a shaun burgoyne of the world as we have done in previous years for a murray vance (pick 6) or a simon wiggins (pick 15)?
* in 2000 we used our pick 4 for Livingston - Burgoyne went at pick 12...aarrrhhhhhggghh!
I would think Fev is worth a ready made match-winner - obviously Judd and Pavlich are superior players to him, but they are the only match winners out of contract that I can think of.