North Melbourne will not offer a new contract to four of its most established veteran players for the 2017 season, announcing that 2016 would be the last year on the list for Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo.
Combined, they represent more than 1300 games of AFL experience.
All had indicated an interest in playing on in 2017, but the club announced on Wednesday that it had made “the difficult decision” not to offer them new contracts.
For Harvey to depart is by far the most surprising of the four, as his form this season has been of a high quality – just last week he had 32 disposals and kicked three goals against the Sydney Swans, underlining the value he still holds.
In what will surely be one of the most memorable moments of the decade, Harvey broke the games record earlier this year, surpassing Michael Tuck’s record of 426 games. Harvey has currently played 430 AFL games, with at least two more left, depending on results.
It is less surprising to see the likes of Petrie, Firrito, and Dal Santo moved on. While they have all be in solid enough form in 2016, their form hasn’t been so high as to justify a contract extension given their advanced age.
North Melbourne has been one of the oldest teams in the league for several years now and it has long been forecast from those outside the club that the time to move on older players and seek to regenerate, refresh and rebuild was at hand.
Plus there is the clear need to plan for the future of the club by giving younger players the senior opportunities they crave. In his press conference, Brad Scott said: “If we continued to play our senior players, we’d lose them in a year and we’d lose our younger guys because of a lack of opportunity.”
On a rational, emotionless level, it is possible to make some sense of the decision. On the irrational, romantic level, I can tell you that as a North Melbourne fan it is absolutely tearing my heart out. These words were written with tears in my eyes.
Nick Dal Santo has been with us for only a few years, but every game has been a pleasure to watch. More than anything I will remember the way he has lifted for big games in finals, and the genuine pleasure and joy he has taken in being a North Melbourne player.
Michael Firrito is one of those heart-and-soul players who can define a club. I don’t think fans of any of the other seventeen clubs like him – or even know who he is – but his hard work and determination to carve out a successful niche in the team for such a long period of time has been remarkable. And if there’s a better sight on earth than watching him give an opposition forward a hard time, I don’t know what it is.
Drew Petrie is as North Melbourne as North Melbourne gets. Humble. Unassuming. Underrated. And yet also elite, and legendary. His five last-quarter goals to sink Richmond in 2012. His seven-goal bag in Glenn Archer’s 300th. His two snaps to seal the game against Essendon in 2014. These are moments I’ll tell my grandkids about. But more than that I’ll tell them about a player who did the jumper proud every week, rain or shine.
And Boomer. Boomer isn’t just a North Melbourne player. Boomer is North Melbourne. He’s been my favourite player for as long as I can remember and I can’t imagine there ever being another who could overtake him in that regard. Words can’t say how much I have loved this man throughout these past two decades. I could write about him for weeks. But my article written on the eve of his milestone game, talking about my favourite memory of him, says it all.
There will be a lot of time in the months and years to come for us to ask if this was the right call, and if it was the right call, was it handled in the right way.
There will be time for us to wonder if they might play on elsewhere. There will be time to be sad. There will be time to be angry. There will be time to be disappointed.
And there will be time to get excited about the future, and about the young players who will now get their chances to show us what they can do – yes, there will be plenty of time for that.
For now, though, in these last few weeks of what have been four magnificent careers, I am going to love every minute of what we have left.
Because the time for us to do that is about to run out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But funnily enough I backed the club in that situation on the basis, they'd know about his attitude and what he is doing behind the scenes more than any of us. Kind of like exactly what I've said here...
Thomas Porro
Guest
I totally am disgusted with Norths disicion on Boomer there goes my membership after following North for 68 years
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I never once said "Robbie Farah should be sacked". I repeated the exact reasons the club gave for his omission.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
As above - it's a last hurrah play by the club to maximise the rest of 2016.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Simple - motivate one last win - this week - and momentum into finals. Last hurrah stuff. Announcing after another set of mediocre performances would have been naff.
Kramer the Clown
Guest
"People who have no knowledge or consideration of any of this are making these comments." Says the guy who had a hundred no idea opinions about Robbie Farah like you had inside knowledge. Telling everybody Robbie Farah should be sacked based on opinion not fact! The guy who has an opinion on every single comment section like its fact, but its only opinion! Gee that is one high horse you have there mate, you having a laugh?
Krash
Guest
I kind of agree. They do like to talk in riddles and I get the feeling they get might impressed with themselves when words come out. Good luck to them I guess but they should know they don't have a mortgage on passion when it comes to AFL, it feels a bit contrived at times.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I feel your pain Josh. The decision to axe Boomer is a poor one. His consistently good performances and continued good health should justify another season automatically. Age should not be a factor if a player meets those key metrics. He’s in yourbest 6 players for god sake and shows no sign of deteriorating. When Doug Hawkins was axed from the Doggies for similar reasons, despite still being in our best dozen players, and then played a final season at Fitzroy, I was shattered for him. I ceased to buy a membership for about 3 or 4 years, until he made peace with the club. It makes sense to delist the other three, but it’s stupid to delist one of your very best players who continues to be reliably healthy.
mattyb
Guest
TWAS,fair enough I guess. I still think concentrating on finals might be a better option. If they are at some point to lose a final the retiring players could still be chaired off and the fans could put two and two together. It just seems to give the impression North have given up on the season but I know that's obviously not true. If the players decided themselves to retire announcing it now would make sense but it seems the club has made the call and probably should have waited until the end of the season to do a full review. I really think Harvey could have gone on for another season. He has probably become a victim of Norths strategy to recruit so many old players which is unfortunate.
Bill
Guest
Good to see you are making comments on something you know nothing about. Petrie Dal and Spud were all past and there are better players to fill void. Boomer on the other hand.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Actually when you look at it closely it's not that strange. This is their last home game and as they wont get one in the finals, their last ever home game. Much better than cutting them loose in the off-season quietly really.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Exactly. There have been telltale signs of decline. Perhaps he has another good year, but perhaps he doesn't.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Before the last home game, and their last ever "home" game. Yeah terrible timing...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How do you know how Boomer is backing up and handling training each week? For all you know all the telltale signs of decline are there. He's had drops in form this year (as well as huge spikes to bounce back mind you).
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Exactly. How old are their veterans? How has their performance faired this year? How are they recovering and handling training, etc. People who have no knowledge or consideration of any of this are making these comments. PS Hawthorn were equally as ruthless with Sewel. He was only 30 at the time.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What happens if he plays on and it's a year too far? All the geniuses with the benefit of hindsight (you are certainly in this category) would be bagging the club for signing him for another year.
bryan
Guest
I was going to suggest Essendon grab Boomer as a "playing Assistant Coach",if such a position exists.
mattyb
Guest
Pretty strange timing with the finals just about to happen?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
that's true re the mighty no.11
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
The club has shown so much loyaty to these 4 that I think they should show the same loyatly to the club and announce their immediate retirements. They are not wanted, so why play?