GWS coach Leon Cameron has sympathised with cross-town rivals Sydney over the trade ban thrust on them by the AFL.
To retain their cost-of-living allowance for another two years before it’s phased out, the Swans were effectively barred from bringing in anyone other than delisted free agents.
Sydney, renowned for getting the most out of fringe players seeking a fresh start, will have the same restraints placed on them in next year’s trade period.
Critics have seen the AFL’s decision to cut Sydney’s privileges as simply punishing the grand finalists for recruiting Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett.
Before the arrival of the superstar forwards, the Swans had signed the likes of Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw, Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn in relatively low-key coups.
Cameron indicated he felt the Swans were hard done by, confirming the Giants were striving to reach the benchmark set by counterpart John Longmire in terms of bringing players to GWS.
“That’s a good question. It’s disappointing from Sydney’s point of view because you want to be able to be pro-active,” said Cameron.
“They’ve clearly shown the way over the last few years how to bring players into their footy club.
“We admire that; how the Swans have gone about that.
“And we admire what we’re starting to do – bringing talent and also mature-age players to our footy club.
“We’re becoming a club people want to come to so, if we can head down that track like Sydney, we’ll be rapt.”
Outgoing Swans football manager Dean Moore spoke of the club’s disappointment.
“Other clubs, including those at the top end of the ladder, have been able to use this period to recruit and strengthen their squads,” Moore said.
“This was not an opportunity afforded to us.
“It is … disappointing when players who wish to join our club are denied the opportunity, despite the club being willing to work on fair and equitable trades.”
Nonu
Guest
Sydney doesnt have exclusive Academy access = you can bid to beat Sydneys offer as some have done.. Its hard to relate the NSW/Qld academy stars as they dont play against the main States at under 18s so you are geting excited over McGuire lies.....
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Tim, everything you say makes perfect sense sad it is because of that I am troubled. If we have somehow rorted the system then I want to know about it and we should take whatever we deserve as punishment. If, on the other hand, we've done nothing wrong, then why is this being done to us any why isn't the Club fighting it tooth and claw? I think there is so much to this story yet to see the light of day
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Very valid point. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think the AFL needs a very good point (well one you, Olivia and I anyway) would deem fare. Should the Swans not like the punishment, then legally (whether fare or not), I'm not entirely sure what they can do about it? I think it's also fare to say their are a few clubs that are starting to think the AFL has become to imperial for their liking and restlessness is starting to appear due to lack of consulting. I'm no Eddie fan, but I will say this. He does what is in the best interest of his club and when the AFL starts enforcing things such as a luxury tax to curb football department spending on the richer clubs...well I can start to see why Eddie is getting a little pi***sed off, especially coupled with COLA and the academies. I was going to do an article on this in relation to how much this generation should contribute to the growth of the game in NSW and QLD. After all that's what COLA is for and dressing it up as something different I don't think has helped. I have been side tracked with a more sports science related article, so I might do it early next year before the season starts, but I think it's teams like Collingwood that can polarize a competition like this, especially when you have someone like Eddie in charge...
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
You misunderstand me a tad Rick, I was not purporting they go to court over anything to do with COLA, I was saying over the justification of this punishment You cannot as a ruling body, restrict a business's ( which football teams are )ability to trade without reason
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Here's the thing Tim. To my understanding the Swans can't really do much about it because all player contracts are with the AFL and not the clubs themselves. The Swans can go do what ever they want, but the AFL just wont allow a contract to be signed. This was highlighted two years ago by one of Australia's leading sports physicians (whose name escapes me at this stage) at a anti-doping conference in Germany. Now if the Swans go to court they are challenging a rule they have agreed to and are working in a system where the AFL has all the power. The only way to get around this would be for all the clubs got together and decided they want a new governing body. Last time an incident ended up like this was the Super League fiasco and we all know how that ended up...
Penster
Guest
On the face of it, it's an outrageous decision at short notice, but agree with what Tim said - there's more to this. If the Swans wanted to challenge, they could and should. COLA removal has been discussed by AFL and Swans at least since mid season hasn't it? But if the commission is simply righting a wrong that they created and presided over, then yes, that's inept.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Olivia, While I agree, on face value these restrictions are outrageously unfair. I cannot believe that the AFL acted simply on a whim, without reason. I say this for if they did this without any reason, wouldn't you expect the Swans to have them in court forthwith? I think in time, the real reason for the penalties will come out, and, if they do not, then the Swans should target the AFL over this outrage
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Regardless at your attempt at sarcasm Rabbit, I wouldn't be sitting too comfortably over the way the AFL targeted and sank Sydney's trade aspirations this year. Given that they have still not shown any legal or ethical cause for doing as they did, the situation remains that a precedent has been set and the AFL could chose to use the same strong arm tactics on anyone at any time, with no justification required. That should have supporters of all the Clubs scared at who might be next.
Rabbit
Guest
Poor, poor Sydney. now the only have the exclusivity of their academy who they can pick the best before anyone else. How will they cope.