Kurt Tippett has a big decision to make regarding his future over the next few months. But his hometown team, the Gold Coast Suns, should be doing everything they can to make it simple.
Talks between Adelaide and the power forward have reached stalemate status, and the two sides from his native Queensland – the Lions and the Suns – are sniffing around.
Thanks to the ongoing Cloke and Boak dramas, Tippett’s reluctance to pen a new deal at West Lakes has largely gone unnoticed. Until now.
Over the last week or so, the paper talk has gone up a notch.
Is his management only using Queensland interest as leverage for a better deal, or does he really want to come home?
Are the Crows concerned about losing him and genuinely interested in Travis Cloke as a back-up option, or are they just trying to play contract chicken?
Yesterday on Triple M Adelaide, Mark Ricciuto claimed that Tippett is ‘as good as gone’. Clearly, this saga is just getting started.
Whatever the case, Gold Coast need to get serious when it comes to the 25-year-old Southport product – because he is the guy who could bring it all together for them.
On Saturday night, the Suns enjoyed their first win at Metricon Stadium – but the nature of their 30-point victory over Greater Western Sydney exposed the one massive deficiency that time alone is no guarantee to fix.
Despite the promise of Sam Day and Tom Lynch, there is a gaping, key forward-sized hole that needs to be filled if the expansion side are to make the leap forward that is expected of them in 2013.
Plonk Tippett in the goalsquare and the young Suns become instantly more competitive.
Gold Coast’s first half against the Giants was borderline acceptable. Against an established club, they would have been brushed aside with ease.
In two quarters they had 33 inside 50s to the GWS’ 14 – and from that you would expect a much bigger lead than just 13 points. That’s the kind of waste that gets punished by good teams.
The rebound stats (27-8 in the visitors’ favour) reflected poor efficiency and a subsequent struggle to keep the ball locked in their half.
Indeed, Gold Coast’s inability to put teams away when they have the opportunity has, on a number of occasions – against Essendon, Fremantle, North Melbourne and Brisbane, all at Metricon – been the difference between a win and a loss.
For the club’s first two years, beltings have been chalked up as learning experiences. But from 2013 onwards, more will be expected.
The absence of a true key forward and a lack of composure from the players bringing the ball forward has resulted in a consistently inconsistent, haphazard approach in attack.
The latter is acceptable with young players – once the team’s runners start accepting their place in the AFL, they’ll embrace the natural poise that comes with experience.
But if the recent (and long-awaited) rise of Geelong powerhouse Tom Hawkins has taught us anything, it’s that the former could take at least five years to resolve itself.
While we wait for Day and Lynch, Tippett provides not only a realistic shortcut, but a player who will be in his prime when the era of Coast dominance arrives.
With him as a centrepiece, all of a sudden the Suns’ attacking structures become clearer.
Brandon Matera and Aaron Hall, who were both terrific against the Giants with three goals each, would know with near-certainty where the ball was headed, instead of scrambling across half the field for it.
Too often against GWS, the crumbers were elsewhere when the ball came to ground, allowing the visitors to escape danger with ease.
Tippett would also demand the opposition’s best defender, taking pressure off the growing shoulders of Day or Lynch, who have been asked too much of this year and have had trouble with injury as a result.
That’s just the on-field stuff. What an statement it would be if the cute and cuddly Gold Coast Suns were able to land one of the big fish.
And unlike last year – when they were toying with the idea of going after Tippett – there is no other void that needs to be filled, or no young gun like Jaeger O’Meara they were desperate to grab.
Pre-selected at the end of last year, O’Meara will find it difficult to squeeze his way into the club’s brilliant starting midfield – which is exactly the kind of headache Guy McKenna needs.
Put broken leg victim Nathan Bock next to recruit Matthew Warnock in defence, and the picture gets even rosier.
The gems are starting to emerge from a talented ruck division. There is plenty of rebound from the back.
But a true spearhead is missing. And Tippett is the final piece of the puzzle.
CouchCoach6
Roar Rookie
Gold Coast definately need a key forward in 2013. Thats the year the young players will start to step up, and their young forwards need an experienced head to learn from for their future development. If they cannot get Tippet, they should explore all avenues for a similar player. If all else fails, maybe get Fevola for 12 months (i know, but this isn't about Fev, its about the suns). A key forward would also increase interest and attendance. The other key component for the development of their youngsters is a hard nut. They need to see how attacking the ball and fighting for possession is key to being successful, a player similar to Kelly or Creswell was for Sydney in its early years. The Suns have a decent skill level emerging, but show a distinct lack of desperation. McKenna also needs to start getting a settled side, its obvious by their over use of the ball that players are desperate not to be the "one" with the ball at turnover time. They appear to be playing for their week to week future instead of the team.
AussieBokkie
Roar Rookie
Amen Vince! Would be great to nab Tippett. His concussions are a genuine concern though....that fact must be affecting his market price.
Bayman
Guest
Vince, You're probably right about Tippett improving his goalkicking but I suspect it will be a Queensland team getting the benefit. As for Dangerfield, he's the last player the Crows would want to lose right now. Fortunately he's signed on for the next couple of years - and hopefully longer! Speaking of Tredrea, you know you're getting old when you can remember watching his dad play for Port Adelaide in the SANFL - and the son has been retired for a few years after a long career! Same with Matthew Pavlich. I remember Steve Pavlich playing for West Torrens. He was built like a brick outhouse but he was only a little brick outhouse. Both Tredrea and Pavlich must have married tall women!
Brett-o
Guest
Not Freo, and not Adelaide. Carlton would be my bet, and gee won't the Pies supporters just love him if he does. Only other option would be Melbourne in which case it will be 100% about money.
checkside
Guest
Brett-o - Yeh I saw that, but where is Cloke going?
Brett-o
Guest
Did anyone see Cloke's effort in singing the club song ater the win against the Swans? After a great win the rest of the team were right into it, and he did not look interested. Cloke is leaving Collingwood.
brendan
Guest
Vince why do you and so many other scribes ordain Gold Coast as capable of winning a premiership.They have shown nothing this year to indicate they have improved on there debut year and it is impossible to judge how good promising young footballers will be under the heat of finals pressure.Ablett cannot play any better than he has and the Suns have won only two games one of which was against the leagues newest team.My point regarding Sydney is that they are the closest team to the Gold Coast that are succesful.IMO the suns have recruited very poorly .Ablett aside (who turns 29 in May next year) none of there experienced players have lived up to expectations and of the young players Bennell and Swallow are the only players regularly producing good football.I would suggest they are no closer to a flag tham Melbourne.
Vince Rugari
Expert
Thanks Bayman. Dangerfield to Geelong? I wouldn't say no... Re: kicking, Warren Tredrea used to cop a lot about his shocking kicking for goal, but towards the end of his career he got it right. No reason Tippett can't do the same.
Vince Rugari
Expert
Brennan has gone up forward and done little, he belongs in the middle, or on the wing or something. Plays like a little guy sometimes. But maddeningly inconsistent. The Suns have plenty of good young defenders, and with Bock back next year - and Warnock turning out to be an excellent recruit - there is no need for another. Fraser will retire at the end of the year, and didn't do much as a forward. For me, all signs point to Tippett.
Vince Rugari
Expert
I'd argue they'll be in strong contention in around three years, which would make it a total of five AFL seasons. That sounds about right. That's well within a 25-year-old's playing lifetime.
Vince Rugari
Expert
Sydney would do nothing for a native Queenslander. Gold Coast is a new club and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Tippett - he can go to the very city he grew up in, a city where AFL is just getting started, and to a team that is capable of winning a premiership before his career is up. There's a lot of romance in that. But money talks.
Vince Rugari
Expert
I agree. It's a delicate balancing act, because they're going to need money to keep the majority of these first and second-tier kids together when their current contracts run out. But Tippett is exactly what they need, and a Gold Coaster to boot. His signing would bring a heap of media and marketing benefits. And really, what else do they need? Forget kids, they have 90% of a premiership side on their list. Any more and they won't get a look in. I'd go for him every day of the week. But that's without looking at the numbers.
Stefanov
Roar Pro
Ultimately the Suns have the cash, AFL would prefer him to move there also. Would be a big crowd puller for the Suns and will complement their small/medium forwards very nicely. Would I throw the entire kitchen sink at him? Absolutely.
Bayman
Guest
Vince, It's always nice to read a Port fan suggesting a Crow should leave!!!!!!!!! Be that as it may, I'm not too sure what Tippett will do but my instinct tells me he's more likely to go than stay. I know some players like to say they want to leave the contract discussions until the season is done but usually these guys are heading out the door. Of course, perhaps he thinks a premiership might up the going rate for whichever club finally gets him. While I understand fully the notion that a career doesn't last very long I'm genuinely over those players who put money before their current team - particularly if that team is seen to be in a premiership window. If Tippett leaves it is quite possible that not only do the Suns fail to win a flag but so do Adelaide which may have won with Tippett there. Of course, we'll never know but it's very frustrating for the fans of any club in this situation. Personally, I think Adelaide has been very generous already to the Suns and GWS, not to mention Hawthorn, so I'm not so keen for Tippett to bale out as well - especially given the current situation (possible/probable top two finish). Mind you, if we still had Gunston I'd be less concerned about Tippett. But that's footy today. One minute he's your player, the next minute he's opposition. Of course, while Tippett would be loss he'd be an even bigger loss if he could kick like Tom Hawkins or Jonathan Brown - and if he could keep his head out of the way. PS. Good luck with Boak by the way. No, really!
Alfred Chan
Expert
Tippett going to the Gold Coast will not solve their problem. Tippett plays his best footy for the Crows when Taylor Walker isn't out suspended. When Walker couldn't crack into the senior side two years ago, Tippett really struggled with the extra attention defenders give him. Sam Day and Tom Lynch are no Taylor Walker. The Suns would be better off using any cap money on a young key defender. They should have planted Jarred Brennan up forward from the start. Heck, playing Josh Fraiser as a key forward would even work just to get a big body in there and not allow big defenders to just take uncontested marks. Tippett will be committing career suicide by moving to the Gold Coast because his form will slump, he'll be further away from a premiership than he's ever been and he'll probably be out injured a lot from carrying the forward line load.
William Goat
Guest
Ablett showed how to do it- move after winning a flag or two & being an established legend. There'll be plenty of money from contracts & other deals if you're the owner of a premiership, but even as a young guy there'll most likely be no flag at the Suns for quite some time. No doubt in time they'll emulate Sydney or maybe even Brisbane but not in Tippets playing lifetime.
brendan
Guest
He will stay i think there is a lot of manouvering going on with clubs to force other clubs to pay over the odds with free agency coming in.The go home factor really kicks in when the club isn't doing too well or in Judd's case at the supposed end of an era.Dangerfield regularly talks about how as a kid he stood on cans to see the Cats at Kardinia Park but he didn't let his heart rule his head.Adelaide's performance this year is remarkable given they have lost Davis, Maric and Gunston during the off season so i think they might have learnt some valuable lessons about how to keep players.
checkside
Guest
Agreed Brendon. Do you think he will stay or is this latest news a ploy to get him to sign on before the finals?
brendan
Guest
My point checkside is no point leaving a possible flag chance for a side nowhere near it .Sydney is the closest team to the Gold Coast .He should stay in Adelaide Judd has had played in one winning final at Carlton and Ablett may never get to play in one at Gold Coast.
checkside
Guest
I would say the only reason Tippett is considering leaving Adelaide is the home factor and be closer to family in Queensland. Going to Sydney cuts out some flight time but doesnt solve the problem. If he goes to Sydney I think he is still suffering from severe concussion!