On top of this trade the Cats have also traded Tim Callan to the Bulldogs and Henry Playfair to the Swans. The Callan trade was done for a draft pick that we probably won't even use in the Pre Season Draft. Neil Balme as he so often does offered something to some of the more anxious supporters in way of a logical explanation. Geelong had no intention of retaining Callan, Playfair and Gardiner and apparently Kane Tenace was also offered up as trade bait as well. Sentimentality could have kept the Big Cat Steven King at the club but the Saints forced our hand by offering Mark Blake a fairly handy offer. To keep Blake we had to move King on because we couldn't match St Kilda's offer. Geelong also got some additional ruck insurance by offering Trent West a two year contract.
Apparently the players were told that they would no longer be required players at GFC but if they nominated their club of choice Geelong would do what it could to ensure these deals happened hence the low draft picks offered on one talented player, one premiership ruckman and two experienced players who will benefit from a change of scenery. Geelong of course, could have played hard ball and maybe gotten more for some of these players but if the deals fell through, these players would be delisted and forced into the Pre Season Draft where any club could pick them up. Pickles wrote of his disgust at how Kennedy was treated by his club but it appears that Geelong has done the right thing by players who are soon to be ex-players. This move will engender some real respect and club feeling rather than just dumping guys when their usefulness to the GFC has expired.
Now if you are thinking 'Nope, not buying that. Too bloody lovey dovey - the Cats have dudded themselves and their future' think of this. None of the players who have been let go would have played a significant role at the club in the next couple of years. The one exception could be Steven King who, while he was the right selection for the Grand Final is probably not the right selection for the number two ruck spot as we try to defend our title next year. We've sent King away with an AA, a flag and as a former captain. Playfair hasn't been the same player since he broke his jaw in 2005 and Charlie Gardiner is nothing more than a VFL star. He continually loses his feet and can't seem to dominate at the top level. Expect Gardiner to play plenty of games at Casey next season. Now Tim Callan I rate but Bomber doesn't. This means he would have been wasting his time staying at Catland because we have a lot of players of his type who are better. Expect him to have the most impact at his new club next year of the ex Cat quartet.
By swapping the players out and getting draft picks we won't actually use you can expect the Cats to promote a couple of players from the rookie list. Jason Davenport and Tom Lonergan (best on ground in the VFL Grand Final win will be promoted and Father/Son selection (yes another one) will be used to secure Adam Donohue.
Geelong have learnt the lessons that were presented to the AFL world by Essendon's rapid dismemberment as a football power. Without naming names perhaps they retained players who offered them little and maybe gotten rid of the wrong players at the same time. Whatever your take on this they went from the pinnacle to bit part finals players to bottom four in about five years. The efforts of the GFC during the trading period on the surface appear bizzare but they have in fact ensured that what happened to Essendon will not happen to Geelong and at the same time they have treated the departing players with a lot of dignity.
regards,
REB
