Murray MiddletonShould They Stay or Should They Go?
July 22nd 2008 08:07
Yesterday Carlton chief executive Greg Swann emphatically ruled out the possibility of his club trading for Nick Davis. In recent weeks Davis’ management have been sounding out rival clubs for their interest in the fallen star. Davis now appears certain to leave the Swans at the end of the season. At age 28 – soon to be 29 – it remains uncertain as to whether any club considers him worth the trouble.
Davis is not alone. Every club has players who have fallen out of favour. Sometimes the player has fallen out of favour because of poor form. Other times the fall-out involves a dispute between the player and coaching staff. Davis has always been a problematic player. The Swans weren’t complaining when he single-handedly won them a semi final in 2005 against Geelong. Nor were they complaining about Barry Hall’s attitude when he punched Matt MaGuire off the ball. Now that Davis has lost form, his attitude has become the problem.
The following is a list of players who might be made available for the right price during trade week:
Mark Seaby – West Coast Eagles
Seaby has found it impossible to displace Dean Cox as the Eagles’ number one ruckman. Cox recently signed a four year contract. Seaby has been a useful back-up at times for the Eagles. He has the ability to drift forward and kick goals. While he has never shown that he can hold down first ruck, he might get a chance to do so at another club. West Coast are intent on losing matches to secure the first pick in the national draft. They will probably use the pick on Nick Natanui – a young ruckman. Natanui should be able to begin his apprenticisehip under Cox next season. Seaby will command a high second round draft pick, although the Eagles will cleverly push for a first round pick. Look for the Swans to swoop when Everitt retires.
Tim Boyle – Hawthorn
Boyle came close to leaving the Hawks last summer. With Mark Williams returning from injury Boyle has found it difficult to break into the Hawks line-up this season. When he has broken in, he has been ineffective. Franklin, Roughead and Williams will remain at the club for the next five years. With Mitch Thorp emerging as a mid-range forward, there will be no room for Boyle in 2009. As was the case last summer, Carlton is a likely destination. Hawthorn will be wrapped to receive a second round pick for Boyle.
Xavier Clarke – St. Kilda
Both Clarke brothers face the axe at seasons’ end. Raph may be saved, owing to the recent disclosure of his struggles with epilepsy. For top ten picks, the Clarke’s have been disappointments. Their bodies have been unable to stand up to the rigours of AFL football. Last season Xavier demanded a three year contract. The Saints offered him one year. Clarke’s season has been familiar – some good games early before succumbing to a soft tissue injury. Clarke has been unable to shake a persistent hamstring injury. The Saints are fed up with waiting. Considering that Brisbane’s window of opportunity is going to be open in the next three years, they might make a play for Xavier Clarke. The move would enable Clarke to be closer to his family in Darwin. It is difficult to suggest a suitable trade. How do you put a price on six good games a season?
David Mundy – Fremantle
There has been much speculation about Mundy’s future. His management has put off contract talks until the end of the season. This has heightened the talk that Mundy wishes to return home to Victoria. Three clubs have already expressed an interest: Hawthorn, Richmond and Carlton. All three clubs would benefit from Mundy’s services. Hawthorn still has a lot of room to manouvre in the salary cap (they reportedly pay just over 93 percent of the salary cap) and seem like a good fit. Carlton and Richmond could offer Mundy a more prominent role in the team, but with less of a guarantee of success. The problem with Mundy is that he is not quite tall enough to play a key position, but is not quite fast enough to play on a flank. None-the-less, he is a neat player who will command a late first round or early second round pick.
Brent Prismall – Geelong
There is a perception in the football world that Prismall is one of the unluckiest men in football. He regularly gets thirty disposals in the Geelong reserves, but cannot seem to hold down a position in the seniors. Many attribute this to the strength of the Cat’s line-up. While this argument does have some merit, not many people have mentioned that Prismall lacks a yard. This season he has essentially been competing with James Kelly for the one position in the team. Prismall is probably good enough to play AFL. He is a ball magnet who is a good decision maker. But he is never going to be a champion. There is enough depth on the list to cover the loss of Prismall. The Cats might be best to capitalise on the perception that Prismall is a star-in-the-making.
Davis is not alone. Every club has players who have fallen out of favour. Sometimes the player has fallen out of favour because of poor form. Other times the fall-out involves a dispute between the player and coaching staff. Davis has always been a problematic player. The Swans weren’t complaining when he single-handedly won them a semi final in 2005 against Geelong. Nor were they complaining about Barry Hall’s attitude when he punched Matt MaGuire off the ball. Now that Davis has lost form, his attitude has become the problem.
The following is a list of players who might be made available for the right price during trade week:
Mark Seaby – West Coast Eagles
Seaby has found it impossible to displace Dean Cox as the Eagles’ number one ruckman. Cox recently signed a four year contract. Seaby has been a useful back-up at times for the Eagles. He has the ability to drift forward and kick goals. While he has never shown that he can hold down first ruck, he might get a chance to do so at another club. West Coast are intent on losing matches to secure the first pick in the national draft. They will probably use the pick on Nick Natanui – a young ruckman. Natanui should be able to begin his apprenticisehip under Cox next season. Seaby will command a high second round draft pick, although the Eagles will cleverly push for a first round pick. Look for the Swans to swoop when Everitt retires.
Tim Boyle – Hawthorn
Boyle came close to leaving the Hawks last summer. With Mark Williams returning from injury Boyle has found it difficult to break into the Hawks line-up this season. When he has broken in, he has been ineffective. Franklin, Roughead and Williams will remain at the club for the next five years. With Mitch Thorp emerging as a mid-range forward, there will be no room for Boyle in 2009. As was the case last summer, Carlton is a likely destination. Hawthorn will be wrapped to receive a second round pick for Boyle.
Xavier Clarke – St. Kilda
Both Clarke brothers face the axe at seasons’ end. Raph may be saved, owing to the recent disclosure of his struggles with epilepsy. For top ten picks, the Clarke’s have been disappointments. Their bodies have been unable to stand up to the rigours of AFL football. Last season Xavier demanded a three year contract. The Saints offered him one year. Clarke’s season has been familiar – some good games early before succumbing to a soft tissue injury. Clarke has been unable to shake a persistent hamstring injury. The Saints are fed up with waiting. Considering that Brisbane’s window of opportunity is going to be open in the next three years, they might make a play for Xavier Clarke. The move would enable Clarke to be closer to his family in Darwin. It is difficult to suggest a suitable trade. How do you put a price on six good games a season?
David Mundy – Fremantle
There has been much speculation about Mundy’s future. His management has put off contract talks until the end of the season. This has heightened the talk that Mundy wishes to return home to Victoria. Three clubs have already expressed an interest: Hawthorn, Richmond and Carlton. All three clubs would benefit from Mundy’s services. Hawthorn still has a lot of room to manouvre in the salary cap (they reportedly pay just over 93 percent of the salary cap) and seem like a good fit. Carlton and Richmond could offer Mundy a more prominent role in the team, but with less of a guarantee of success. The problem with Mundy is that he is not quite tall enough to play a key position, but is not quite fast enough to play on a flank. None-the-less, he is a neat player who will command a late first round or early second round pick.
Brent Prismall – Geelong
There is a perception in the football world that Prismall is one of the unluckiest men in football. He regularly gets thirty disposals in the Geelong reserves, but cannot seem to hold down a position in the seniors. Many attribute this to the strength of the Cat’s line-up. While this argument does have some merit, not many people have mentioned that Prismall lacks a yard. This season he has essentially been competing with James Kelly for the one position in the team. Prismall is probably good enough to play AFL. He is a ball magnet who is a good decision maker. But he is never going to be a champion. There is enough depth on the list to cover the loss of Prismall. The Cats might be best to capitalise on the perception that Prismall is a star-in-the-making.
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