Despite the slow progress of negotiations between Adelaide and Sydney, Kurt Tippett will eventually become a Swans player.
Last week, the 25-year-old Tippett told the Crows he will not accept a five-year offer to stay in Adelaide, instead asking to be traded interstate.
Speculation mounted throughout the season that Tippett would leave West Lakes and return to his native state of Queensland, either through the Brisbane Lions or the Gold Coast Suns.
A late play by Sydney’s Director of Football, Andrew Ireland, and coach, John Longmire, lured Tippett to the Swans, with the incentive of a lucrative contract, coupled with the opportunity to be part of the much publicised “bloods culture”, getting him over the line.
Tippett’s decision to leave was fuelled by his desire for a change of lifestyle and the constant media scrutiny of South Australia.
Tippett will accept a four-year deal with Sydney, speculated to be worth $1 million a season.
If true, Tippett is set to become one of the AFL’s highest paid players. Not to mention, potentially one of the AFL’s most overpaid players.
One million dollars a year for an inconsistent player who averages less than two goals per game, and who could potentially be one concussion away from the end of his career.
Tippett said that he wanted to escape the constant scrutiny and examination of the media, opting instead to hide in the rugby league capital where Aussie Rules is merely an afterthought.
Unfortunately for the Queenslander, the spotlight of the Aussie Rules media will be searing, watching his every mark, kick and handpass, waiting to pounce on an underperforming millionaire.
GWS recruit Israel Folau has proven that nobody is safe from media scrutiny – not even when they’re tucked away in Paramatta.
Tippett will face a gruelling examination from the public. If he does not produce immediately, the media will strike with a vengeance. He may well wish he was back in Adelaide.
Crow Boy 77
Guest
I think the underlining issue here has been missed by everybody... Why were the Swans approaching a contracted player during the season! Surely, that is against the AFL rules... and then to come to a crunch final... Swans Vs Crows.. Tippett plays poorly (and that's being generous!) and then we discover that the "go gome factor" is nothing more than a money grab!!!! I ask you, AFL, who is watching the watchers!
penguin
Guest
The difference in Sydney is not so much the media but the public indifference. An AFL player can go anywhere here and barely be noticed. I was at a RSL club on a Friday afternoon and saw Marty Mattner with his family talking. I politely said hello and nobody else even noticed him. Saw Mumford at the beach the same day. Nobody notices. Nobody cares. That is the godfish bowl thing - being able to live your life at least semi privately. Doesn't exist in SA or Victoria. It is worth a lot to an athlete who doesn't choose to be in the limelight.
Matt F
Roar Guru
You know what he's getting paid because the Swans have already stated that he'll be earning less at Sydney next season then he would have if he had stayed at Adelaide
dubious
Guest
Lockett is the most successful full forward in the history of the game. I don't think you can give credit to Sydney for "extracting"goals from him. His average at St Kilda was actually higher than at Sydney anyway. Tippett is overrated anyway, definite value in taking a key defender but at the prices quoted these days for key forwards guys like Tippett and Cloke have no idea how good they have it. Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett Snr, Stewie Loewe and even Longmire himself would be worth 1.5-2m in current day going by this circus.
Jimbo
Guest
Lockett, Hall etc etc. Sydney have shown how to manage and extract the best from talented players. Tippet in the goal square is worth 4 goals before the first bounce even if he doesn't get his hands on the ball. Sydney knows how to kick goals without a full forward so suck it up sweethearts:)
Matthew Bretag
Guest
Couldn't have said it better myself Rob!
Matthew Bretag
Guest
You do know what he'll get paid because his management have said that if he gets forced into the pre season draft he'll put a $1m per season price tag on his head to make sure no other team pick him up. Not sure what Goodes, Kennedy and co will think about that, especially considering Tippett was 1 bad final away from being dropped, before his 1 good game against Hawthorn.... and that was with Walker taking the best defender each week. The guys bad news, why else were Brisbane and GC so quick to distance themselves from him after he declared Sydney as his preferred club. Crows are the winners out of this. Just hope Sydney know what they're doing and have consulted the Players properly. Judging by Marty Matners response in a recent interview they haven't...
Matt F
Roar Guru
Obviously the Crows are trying to win a premiership in the next year or two. A signing like that isn't exactly looking to the future
Strummer Jones
Guest
Now THAT would be hilarious "we'll take Jessie White, TDL, Jarred Moore and you can throw in Kenny Williams. No Kenny, No deal". Good one Bayman.
lee
Guest
What's with the rhetoric? You dont even know what the guy will get paid and then claim he'll be in the top five highest paid next season? If he preforms badly he'll get some attention next season due to the premiership but most of it will likely be in S.A where the media there will be waiting/hoping for him to fail.
Bayman
Guest
TJ, I heard that boot cleaner rumour but I don't think it's true - a mate of a mate of a mate, who I've never met but trust absolutely, reckons the Crows are really after Kenny Williams to lead the singing.
TJ from Vanuatu
Guest
Breaking news..........Tippett to be traded for Sydney's boot cleaner and interchange steward. Sounds like a good deal to me!
Strummer Jones
Guest
Hmmm, jury still out here. Lets see. My "guess" is that Sydney told Tippett to shut up until during the finals and simply mention he wanted to leave the club. Maybe they told him to throw a red herring in there and say he wanted to go back to Qld. Lets think about it. Imagine Tippett said before or during the finals that either (a) I am staying with the Crows or (b) I want to go to Sydney. Both would not have been ideal for (a) him and (b) Sydney during the lead up to the GF.
jamesb
Guest
There has been a suggestion elsewhere that perhaps the swans should sign someone like a Lachie Hansen from North Melbourne instead of tippett.
Rob
Guest
You got to wonder whether the bloods culture could make this bloke honest... his handling of this has shown a weakness under pressure
Keagan Ryan
Roar Guru
Tippett will be in the top 5 highest paid players next season. For someone arguably not in the top 50 best players in the comp, this is a massive risk. The spotlight will be on him regardless, should he not produce it will only intensify.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Agree. Folau was already a huge name with a high profile. Tippett has no profile in Sydney and that won't change. And the scrutiny/discussion of Folau in Sydney is often linked to his predicted return to RL which obviously doesn't apply yo Tippett.
Mark
Guest
The only reason Israel Folau had any media attention was that he was a ex-league player and all that demonstrates is how low a profile AFL has in Sydney. So in the Sydney market Tippett will have very minor attention on him which why he wanted to leave Adelaide as he had enough of living in a footy town.