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Callan Ward definitely worth two draft picks

Roar Rookie
7th September, 2011
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Roar Rookie
7th September, 2011
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1374 Reads

On Monday one of the worst kept secrets in the AFL was confirmed. Western Bulldogs young gun Callan Ward told his club he will be leaving and joining the AFL’s newest team Greater Western Sydney for a reported five-year contract worth $800,000 a season.

For months there has been much speculation on Ward’s future at the Bulldogs, and although they did all they could to keep him at the club, in the end their offer of $450,000 was dwarfed by the Giants.

Now the attention for the Bulldogs turns to what compensation they will get in the form of draft picks  for losing Ward. Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick has already said the club expects no less then two first-round picks, the same that Geelong got when Gary Ablett Jnr left for the Gold Coast Suns last year.

The club argues that given Ward’s age at just 21, and the fact that they had spent four years developing him after taking him at pick 19 in the 2007 draft, that they deserve the two first-round picks.

Under the AFL’s compensation formula weight is given to the player’s age and the amount of money offered them by the new clubs.

People like former Geelong forward Billy Brownless have argued that the Bulldogs don’t deserve what Geelong got for Ablett, saying, “Callan Ward was taken at pick 19 in the 2007 draft, he’s 21 years of age, he hasn’t won a best and fairest, hasnt won an All-Australian and I reckon Gary Ablett was the benchmark.” But the AFL have already said that personal achievements like best and fairest and All-Australians would carry less weight than last year.

Given the Bulldogs clearly see Ward as not just a 200-plus gamer but also a future leader, and the fact the AFL have stated age and pay are what counts for deciding compensation, the Bulldogs have every right to ask for two first rounders.

Anyone who saw Ward’s performance in the 2010 prelim final against St Kilda last year would know about his ability. When St Kilda was running over the top of the Bulldogs Ward stood up and played a lone hand.

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He was also one of the few shining lights for the Bulldogs in a tough year. Where other players were inconsistent, Ward just seemed to find the ball and gave his all even when his side was down and out.

There is no doubt that the Bulldogs saw him as a vital part of their future, with their football manager James Fantasia going as far as saying losing Ward would hurt the Dogs more than it hurt Geelong losing Ablett.

I can remember Ward’s debut against Richmond in 2008, seeing a 17 year old who just seemed to know how to find the ball and seemed to move so well. It was at half time that Channel 7 interviewed injured Bulldog Robert Murphy. When asked about Ward, Murphy said he would be a 200-game player for the club.

In a desperate attempt to keep Ward at Whitten Oval, they offered him a five-year contract worth $450,000 a year for five years. The offer, they said at the time, was over market value for Ward.

The Western Bulldogs have lost more then just a 21 year old with talent. The have lost a vital part of their furture as well as a kid with clear leadership skills, some within the Dogs predicting he would be the next captain. You can bet that he will be a contender to lead GWS in their debut season, as well as being on a massive pay cheque.

Every way you look at it the Western Bullogs deserve the two first round picks for Ward.

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