Don't hate GWS Giants, hate the rule

The football world went into hysteria this week when Adelaide’s Phil Davis confirmed he will be leaving the Crows at the end of the year to join the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

The alleged deal, said to be worth $3 million over five years, will make Davis the highest paid 20-year-old in AFL history.

For a man that has only played 18 games of football, it was an offer too good to refuse.

After losing Nathan Bock just one year prior to the AFL’s 17th newest franchise, the Gold Coast Suns, the Adelaide backline has now lost two key position players in the space of 12 months.

Indeed, Davis’ defection has caused a great amount of consternation in the football community, with all and sundry prepared to give their opinion given the time and a microphone.

Adelaide’s football manager, Phil Harper, described Davis’ decision as “bloody disappointing”, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire went as far as saying GWS were “cheating” and that the AFL must step in and penalise their newest franchise.

These were strong words from a man heading the club that recruited Chris Tarrant, who prior to finding his way to Collingwood from Fremantle, said he would retire from AFL if he was not at the Magpies in 2011.

Furthermore, when Luke Ball left St. Kilda at the end of 2009 citing greater opportunity McGuire had no problems with Luke Ball putting a $500,000 price tag on his head and refusing to meet with other clubs who had touted their interest in drafting the one time All-Australian.

Whilst it can be argued that these were more player-driven than club-driven, McGuire had no problems with these dealings going on under his reign.

Another thing that cannot be forgotten is that prior to the inception of Gold Coast and GWS into the AFL, all 16 clubs signed off on the concessions afforded to the two expansion clubs. That includes McGuire.

The truth is no AFL club will be happy with losing uncontracted players, that’s a given, but the current situation is perpetuated by the mistakes of years gone by. Most notably the Brisbane Bears.

Brisbane, who earned the nickname ‘the bad news bears’ through their insipidness, took eight years to make the finals whilst collecting two wooden spoons in the process.

When trying to invade the rugby league stronghold of Western Sydney, the Giants cannot afford to be dwelling at the bottom of the ladder akin to Brisbane for too long before the Sydneysiders lose interest.

They say that in the process of making an omelette you have to break a few eggs – so if the poaching of Davis, and the others to come, yields GWS a premiership and captures the hearts and minds of the Western Sydney faithful: mission accomplished.