Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel and other out of contract AFL aces should be lured to GWS by thoughts of premierships as well as money, according to Giants coach Kevin Sheedy.
As the league’s 16 established clubs brace for another round of poaching across 2011, Sheedy argued the pitch of many Melbourne clubs to keep their best players – that a flag was more likely there than in Sydney – was untrue.
“Most of the time players won’t play in a premiership, so you’ll have clubs in Melbourne saying ‘you’ve got a great chance to win a premiership in Melbourne’,” said Sheedy.
“Well that’s not true, most of the premierships are probably nearly half/half out of Melbourne now, so if you leave you may get a better chance, so let’s get that on the table right now.
“I think players and their managers are going to say ‘here’s the best contract you’ll ever get offered’.”
Bartel, Adelaide forward Taylor Walker and Melbourne starlet Tom Scully are among the names being thrown about in connection with GWS and Sheedy said his fledgling club would be derelict in their duty if they did not aim high.
“I would be after any player as good as Jim Bartel, don’t worry about that,” he said.
“We’ve got to look at all the best players who are coming off contract and why wouldn’t you?
“You’re appointed coach to go and get the best players available and our recruiting staff will define who they are and they’ll put the best deals we can to them.
“Whether it’s Bartel or another 25, there’ll be 50 players off contract easily that will be in a player range between 19 and 25.
“If our staff are looking at these players then good luck, that’s our job, that’s what we’ve been appointed to do.
“That’ll happen, I’ve lost players all my life.”
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