redandblack wrote:Good post, AB.
I think Central outspent other clubs early on to build their team and, IMO, were mega-dollars over the cap. However, that meant they were able to just 'top-up'' nicely after that, as you say, so good luck to them.
PS: Off topic, I know, but I presume from your signature, you're now pushing the republican cause

Agree great post AB thats exactly what i was trying to get across but you worded it perfectly. Once again thought red & black i don't think we did spend mega dollars over the salary cap to build the team.
2000 was the year this all started ill go through the interstate players in that side
-Danny Hulm- was recruited ain the mid 90's by no means was a name player
-Chris and James Gowans- once again only played a couple of AFL games between them, they weren't exactly superstar AFL players, other SANFL clubs knocked them back
-Marco Bello- Came over as a young lad who missed out on the AFL draft, most people would not have ever heard of him before that
-Radlee Moller- recruited from country Sydney, im sure there was no bidding war there
-Heath Hopwood- ditto played 70+ reserves throughout his career
-Kynan Ford- was only ever an average VFL player but Jonas knew had could play a role, wouldn't have been earning bucketloads of cash
-Michael Stevens & Brent Guerra- picked up through AFL mini draft
That 2000 side was based around the local talent such as Healy, Dew, Steinberner, Slade, Graham, Hicks, MacGowan, Arnold and co.
People tend to only remember how good these player ended up, not how good or where they came from before the Dogs.
In honestly the only two big name recruits Central have had in the last decade would be Arnott and Callinan. Every other recruit has been a virtual unknown or a junior player coming back.