Players owe clubs little when it comes to loyalty
Roar Pro
By Justin Rodski, 2 May 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Brendan Fevola, Brisbane Lions, Daniel Bradshaw, Michael Voss, Sydney Swans
Daniel Bradshaw celebrates his sixth goal during the AFL Round 06 match between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions at the SCG, Sydney. Slattery Images.
While the phrase ‘club culture’ has never been so important in AFL circles, Sydney Swans recruit Daniel Bradshaw provided a fresh reminder this week it actually means very little.
As the lure of new franchises, big money and the prospect of free agency get closer, uncontracted players should keep in mind just how quickly the boot could be on the other foot.
If a player of Bradshaw’s ilk is so dispensable, surely now those players who voluntarily choose to move clubs should be free from condemnation?
Needless to say, if you don’t look after yourself, no one else will.
Bradshaw’s move to Sydney speaks volumes for this so-called loyalty, or more like disloyalty in football.
The new Sydney spearhead starred when he faced old side for the first time last night, and his comments in the build up were both honest and pertinent to the conversation on loyalty.
He said about his former club: “I have not actually spoken to anyone this week, players coaches, anyone. So I will be hoping to catch up with a few of the players after the match.”
As for catching up with Voss, he added: “I don’t think so.”
Later on a radio interview he went on to pronounce his relationship with Voss was finished.
Voss put Bradshaw up for trade pursuing Brendan Fevola and as a result of that portrayal, Bradshaw felt his affiliation with the coach and his former premiership teammate was untenable.
While Lion Michael Rischitelli or Hawk Campbell Brown had no problems moving on and overcoming being thrown into the trade mix, for Bradshaw this was enough to abscond from Brisbane and ruin a friendship.
One side of me says, get over it Daniel, football is a business and sentiment should be left at the door from the day your drafted, while the other side says how could Michael Voss be so impertinent towards a player who has given such amazing service to the football club?
It also provides a possible insight into Michael Voss.
Will his obstinacy as a coach threaten the Lions culture? Voss in many ways sold out a well-respected club great to bring in a temperamental and petulant individual.
As a player, Voss was as uncompromising, fearless and determined to succeed as any we’ve seen in the past decade.
But now as a coach, should we be questioning if his strengths on the field in fact have become his biggest weakness off it?
Maybe I’m wrong, and only time will tell if Fevola or Bradshaw was the better trade, or maybe this really is just a part of football, but listening to Bradshaw and observing the soap opera that follows Brendan Fevola around, you have to wonder if indeed character is more important than ability alone.
As it stands right now it’s hard to split them and the impact they’ve made on their respective teams.
But as we approach a new dawn in the AFL with free agency and new franchises poaching talent, fans, clubs and most importantly uncontracted players should think again when it comes to club loyalty, because, let’s be honest, it simply doesn’t exist.
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- Explore:
- AFL, Brendan Fevola, Brisbane Lions, Daniel Bradshaw, Michael Voss, Sydney Swans
James said | May 2nd 2010 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
I think Bradshaw is justified to be angry at Voss and I was happy he showed the Lions what they’re missing. We all have the right to be pissed at our employers
Sam said | May 2nd 2010 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Yes I agree Justin it’s all business these days the Lions especially I think have a culture of ‘club disloyalty’…
Corey said | May 2nd 2010 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
I think clubs and players need show loyalty. If I was a professional (i.e. Doctor, Professor, Teacher, etc.) I would show loyalty, as would (hopefully) my employer. I would be expected to reject a lot of offers, as would my employer hopefully increase my pay due to my loyalty. I’m a Broncos fan, but follow the Lions and am upset that Bradshaw has gone, I would rather see Bradshaw (a family favourite) over Fevola. The Lions have lost a great, and consequently, as I will not watch Fevola play, a supporter.
Show some balls and be loyal, its easy to take the money and run or take the headline and dump the stalwart. Its ridiculous, League and League players are similar. Folau is most likely going to Union and he already earns a pretty penny, the Broncos got rid of Petero for him and look at that trade, I think they are regretting that move now!
Redb said | May 2nd 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Massive statement from Bradshaw, the rumours of chronic back problems which probably led to his trade have been dismissed.
One handed marks and 60 metre torpedo goals value for money for the Swans.
Trades are part of life.
Newcastle Swan said | May 2nd 2010 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Whilst both agreeing and disagreeing with certain statements this article certainly raises a topic that I’m sure will be more and more prominent in the headlines after the introduction of the Free Agency as well as GC and GWS.
I applaud Bradshaw for his work both at the Lions and the Swans. His decision to move wasn’t about money but the lack of loyalty shown to him, the Lions leading goalscorer.
On the other end of the spectrum are those who show complete disregard for the clubs that nurtured them through their junior career and jump ship such as Brock McLean. His move to Carlton was in the hope of greater finals action but as we can see from players such as Pavlich and Deledio loyalty to the gurnsey is often a most treasured prize.
Lu said | May 3rd 2010 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Bradshaw would be annoyed that not only his longtime premiership team mate was attempting to move him on, but for who he was being swapped for..
It would have irked bradshaw somewhat, here he is, this loyal, hardworking, team player being put up for trade for a loud mouth, problem child in every sense of the word and not even the decency to get consulted.
I actually think he would have done equally well with Carlton as he has with the Swans..
Redb said | May 3rd 2010 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Lu,
I’m glad he went to the Swans. In any case why should Carlton be rewarded with Bradshaw for their failure to keep Fevola in check over almost a decade?
There is no leadership at that club, they let the foolish schoolboy do what he wanted. In the end they couldn’t get rid of Fev quick enough and don’t deserve to benefit from the situation.
Al said | May 3rd 2010 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
“they couldn’t get rid of Fev quick enough”. They persisted with him and his antics for years, he was almost delisted at the end of 2003 and only a change of coach (Brittain to Pagan) saved him. I also question the statement that “there is no leadership at that club”, you can offer as much leadership and support to a bloke but at the end of the day if he acts out against that then there is nothing more anyone, club officials and team mates can do. Essendon have also had a few bad eggs (Lovett, Hurley), where’s the leadership down at bomberland not being able to control their players?
Redb said | May 3rd 2010 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Lovett eventually traded as a bad egg despite best efforts and mentoring, Hurley suspended by the club. It didn’t go on for a decade. Trading Lovett hurt the team, his run through the middle of the ground often turned games in our favour.
By the way, that’s 6 in a row against the Blues
Wayno said | May 3rd 2010 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Just look at how Hawthorn handled the Burgoyne trade last year, while the mouth was banging on about never trading a premiership player the football dept were offering up all and sundry bar a few.
Republican said | May 3rd 2010 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
As I have been stating ad nauseaum on roar and other forums, the old virtues that once espoused sport i.e loyalty, tribalism and community are but manufactured illusions to keep the more impressionable punter engaged. The commercial reality of elite sport today, means that money drives the culture and to expect anything more would be naive and self righetous.
You are either part of the culture or you remove yourself from it as much as possible as indeed I have, by not buying into memberships of the generic franchise on offer or pay tele. I struggle to even bring myself to attend live AFL fixtures these days, due to the artificial nature of footy organisations however, I still maintain passion for the game itself which I can support at a more amateur tier anyway.
Cheers
Michael C said | May 3rd 2010 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
I’ve often heard people like Dermot Brereton and David Schwarz stress the privilige of playing for a club and that the club owes no player anything.
Loyalty is demanded just as it is by in respect – any employer. As Ron Barassi stated back when he shocked the footy world by going to Carlton and he stressed that his loyalty was able to be bought in a professional transaction.
The only obligation of employer to employee is contractual. Alas, not many employers get to ‘trade’ their employees outside of the sporting world. But – that goes with the territory.
Bradshaw simply has to get over himself by 2011 for the first of 3 premiership re-unions……
LK said | May 3rd 2010 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
Maybe it is how the situation went down rather what happened. Bradshaw does seem to be more miffed at Voss than the Lions. The Lions owed him nothing but after 14 years you would hope they would be honest with no stuffing around. That’s all anyone would hope for in a player/club or employee/employer relationship. Anyway, Bradshaw seemed to enjoy himself on Saturday night, good luck to him.