This week it was Campbell Brown.
Football’s worst kept secret was made official on Wednesday when the popular clubman turned his back on the Hawks to take a lucrative offer from the Suns.
How can you blame him? Put simply, there’s no loyalty in football anymore from club or player, and nor should there be. It’s just business.
Despite finding that out the hard way, Brown still categorically denied any bad blood with Hawthorn after he was offered up for trade last season.
“Those are the type of things that happen in AFL footy these days and we worked that out at the end of last year and that had no bearing at all on my decision”
But having already secured four uncontracted players, Gold Coast CEO Travis Auld admitted the poaching spree is far from over, and suggested the Suns may be targeting as many as eight uncontracted players in total.
The big fish is, of course, Gary Ablett, and if recent history means anything, he’s gone, hook, line and sinker. There’s no doubt the AFL’s new club will be champing at the bit to unveil its prized catch.
Patience has been a virtue, but it must be wearing thin for Ablett. Regardless, he might not have to wait much longer.
If the Cats win tonight, the speculation will continue, but if they lose, then surely Ablett will announce his decision almost immediately. Even Andrew Demetriou hinted a bombshell is just around the corner
“There’ll be some announcements coming up in the coming weeks … and we’ll all wait with anticipation”
Reports this week Ablett wants to captain a club in the future were taken slightly out of context, but they certainly shouldn’t be disregarded either. Accepting his All Australian award on Monday night Ablett was asked if he would like to lead a side one day.
”I do actually, do really [want to be a captain],” he said. ”I think when you first get to a club you are not quite sure. You get in there and all you are thinking about is playing your first senior game, and I get out on the field and try and lead out that way. I just really didn’t expect this [vice-captaincy of the All-Australian team].”
Not exactly a convincing response, but then again, put yourself in his shoes: every single word he says is dissected by the media, every move analysed, and every action scrutinised.
Of course, the school of thought is if he does head to the Gold Coast he will automatically assume the inaugural captaincy.
If it is his burning desire to be a captain, the Gold Coast will have already dangled the carrot, but at Geelong, it’s a completely different story.
Geelong has invested too much time and faith in its culture to be offering the lure of leadership in an attempt to hold onto a player, even if it is Gary Ablett. I don’t see Cameron Ling stepping aside in the foreseeable future, either.
“He is a terrific leader whether or not he wants to have the captaincy title next to his name is up to him” Ling said. Campbell Brown’s gut feeling was Ablett is heading north.
I agree.
Moonface
Roar Guru
Ablett doesn't want to go or he would have accepted the offer already. He will be forced to go because its valuable to the AFL's Gold Coast aspirations and boosting their numbers and revenue. I wonder what rights Ablett has to stay and what power the AFL has to make him go.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Mega, If the club was loyal to the player, they'd extend their contract.
Mega
Guest
Will be sad to see Ablett go. I hope loyalty still has a place in modern sport but I fear free agency will strip away loyalty in the AFL. Hope Ablett stays for the good of the game.
Phillip Molly Malone
Guest
Why do all the Jurnos love to bring up that Brown was (possibly) put up for trade. Now dig deeper to see that Brown was in discussion with the Suns BEFORE trade week last year (possibly as early as June/July)! The word I have is that Brown was in talks with the Suns (well, him or his management) and the Hawks found out about it. He was therefor not on their list of players not for trade that was communicated to the Power and hence they contacted him after that! This information was given to me before the trade period! The only other reason to not announce his re-signing with the Cats at an early point is that if he is going to sign with the Cats and the Suns don't know this, then they aren't going to make approaches to other Cat players. If they leave it late enough, it may protect the Cats from losing other players to the Gold Coast. JMTC
Gibbo
Guest
geelong have been down the "give him the captancy so he wont leave" road before... but Leigh Colbert still left!! Ling is the perfect option until Selwood matures fully and takes the mantle.
Mister Football
Guest
There appears to be a genuine interest on the part of these senior players to be part of something new, to be leaders in a new club (and the money helps as well, obviously). We should note that that's a very different dynamic to when the Bears were first set up, A couple of WAGs were overheard talking about the Gold Coast, one being Ablett's girlfriend - that's all the proof we need.
TomC
Guest
Good article, Justin. Sometimes even the bleeding obvious needs to be said. I find it a bit strange that Ablett would leave behind the love and respect he has in Geelong, but I'm quite impressed that he's prepared to take on the massive challenge of helping guide the Suns through their first few seasons. It will be very, very tough, and it'll be hard to keep up the morale of the young draftees as they get battered every week by bigger, more experienced teams. The captain of that team needs to be a superman. I'm sure the money helps, but being a career Geelong player would have been worth a stack of sponsorship dollars, so I don't think it would be the deciding factor.
Football fan
Guest
100% certain that's he's gone, sadly... Wouldn't surprise me if he's been signed since late last year.
Redb
Roar Guru
Was interesting how almost brutally Neil Balme Geelong's Football Dept Manager shut down Ablet't's captaincy aspirations. They know. I'm going to tonight - I will savour every moment. Go Cats!