Nah, still don't quite agree:
- Firstly that's why NRL is not AFL. Which code has far greater attendances and club memberships; there's little comparison. They must have come to accept this because it has a fairly average supporter in many respects whereas AFL draws from the full social spectrum. Yes, players who are moving on have appeared to have put in a good year's work but I believe it must be divisive. You cannot know how a player or team would have performed differently if there was full commitment. If it's about nothing else but the $$$$ and contracts, then that's the day I'll completely stop following AFL
- So your view contradicts everything I and all Tigers fans have read about the buy-in in 2017 led by Dimma, Cotchin and the whole team. The deeply personal admissions they made, the camaraderie, trust and commitment it created. It's called team unity. This was why we are the first team ever to win a flag from finishing 13th in the previous year. Not because we are so much more talented across the field; no, because everyone put in their best according to their role. Don't think it was all down to being highly paid!
- Imagine if DM agreed to take the extra $2m from Norf. I certainly don't think he would have necessarily not played as well, but it's possible. He might have been pressured by them to go in less hard; no one wants their huge, new transfer franchise player doing a needless ACL or whatever for their 'old' employer. Further unknown impact on club and team morale, coaching team and definitely on supporters. There is no doubt his re-signing brought the tsunami of Tiger Army support to it's perfectly timed peak. You will not be able to convince me otherwise bc totally random hypothetical territory
- As for my Crow claims, borne out by their treatment of Lever: very demeaning initial offer; told to miss B & F (but not Cameron! Inconsistency? Maybe a chance of him staying? Evidence of poor practice and policy?). Lever put in; however, the comments of Shaun Grigg at 1/2time proved disunity in this team. We turned fissures into cracks
- As for NFL or EPL, l watch a little. However, the day that it's just a translation of whose company has the greatest funds translated onto a sports field, thus enabling the best player 'purchases', is the day I will be fully off the couch. Already these codes are often just a battle between a super-rich 4/5 clubs. In Spain it comes down to 2. Boring as ... AFL has proven such a wonderful contrast over last decade, aside from Dawks domination.
But each to their own.
