I know what you’re thinking – wasn’t it just yesterday that I updated you on all the latest trade rumours? Yes, but following on from yesterday’s discussion of Jaeger O’Meara and the Gold Coast Suns, a new development that emerged last night feels like it just can’t wait another week.
This is one around which there have been subtle and not-so-subtle hints for a little while now, but the rumour and talk had faded away it seemed for at least another year. However, there was a fresh flare up last night regarding the possibility that Gold Coast might lose yet another highly-rated young star in this upcoming trade period – former No.1 draft pick David Swallow.
Firstly, a quick recap – the Suns confirmed via a statement on their website on Thursday that Jaeger O’Meara is asking for a trade out of the club, and it’s pretty clear also that Dion Prestia is looking to leave, with his sights set on Richmond.
That’s a pretty rough off-season for the Suns already but it now appears that their handling of the O’Meara situation may have seen them shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to Swallow.
In their statement regarding O’Meara the Suns were… let’s say terse, and that’s putting it very, very mildly. They made a salty laundry list of all they’ve done for O’Meara over the years before putting him up for auction to the highest bidder.
However it didn’t stop there, apparently. According to the Herald Sun, Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane reportedly repeated his indictment of O’Meara as ‘disloyal’ to the Gold Coast playing group, a message that did not sit well with Swallow, who defended O’Meara’s conduct at a leadership meeting.
Swallow is currently contracted with the Suns until the end of the 2017 and had previously advised the club that despite speculation, he intended to see out his contract.
However, this reported falling out with a key figure at the club is believed to be leading him into the position of considering a trade away from the club this season, if the opportunity comes up.
North Melbourne, where Swallow’s older brother Andrew is captain, looks the likely destination. It’s well known that David visited North Melbourne doctor Steve Saunders for advice regarding his persistent knee injuries earlier in the season.
Of course, Swallow is a Western Australian by birth, and a trade home to the West Coast Eagles or the Fremantle Dockers might be equally appealing.
It’s worth noting here that Swallow, O’Meara and Prestia have all had the better part of the last two years ruined by regular injuries. One could certainly understand why there’d be a bit of solidarity between the three, especially regarding what should and shouldn’t be considered disloyal when it comes to the club that has not been able to keep them on the park.
North Melbourne certainly have the salary cap to make a play for Swallow this season after earlier this week announcing they would not renew the contracts of four established veteran players including Brent Harvey.
However the real question on my mind is not so much about the potential of the trade, but what this means for the Gold Coast Suns as a football club. At the moment, any hope of competitiveness in the near future looks to be circling the drain.
Just to make a clear contrast, the GWS Giants are about to play finals for the first ever time, and will in fact record a top four finish if they can win their match at Etihad Stadium tonight. The Suns on the other hand are a cellar dweller whose fortunes only look to be getting worse.
Cochrane says the aggressive stance on Jaeger O’Meara has been necessary to prevent a future where Gold Coast becomes “a permanent training camp” for the southern clubs.
That’s a fair point to make but perhaps the Suns need to put more consideration into just why these players are asking to leave. There’s pretty clearly something rotten at the club right now, and if they do nothing more than bury their heads in the sand and sigh over the impetuousness of those darned entitled millennials, it won’t be long before what is presently a time of alarm becomes a complete catastrophe.
O’Meara, Prestia and Swallow are all players who signed contract extensions with the club. They’re not the ‘first chance and I’m out’, Tom Boyd-leaving-GWS types who never had any intention of sticking around. They all made the decision to commit to the club, and now for whatever reason, it appears they’re deciding to sever those commitments. That’s an indictment on Gold Coast, and no one else.
These next few months will define the future of the Gold Coast Suns. Can they get Swallow back on side? Can they turn around the flaws that are creating these problems to begin with? And how do they do that? What needs to change?
roy wayne
Guest
freo or north melboune yes david but wce no
roy wayne
Guest
your right
roy wayne
Guest
well david not going wce or freo he stay at suns
Qlder
Guest
An extraordinary number of people, media and not, seem to be able to read the minds of others. Incredible. Rumours, rumours, rumours. Go pick on someone else.
David Morden
Roar Rookie
Hi Josh, Two things for the northern clubs to address. Making sure that their academies keep growing and I think since they are based in non-AFL states, there should be a reduction in points at the draft for the QLD boys so they can be drafted by the Lions and Suns so that these kids can stay in QLD to help grow the game in the next 3-5 years. The AFL should look at a way that would allow their reserves play in the VFL or SANFL, the NEAFL is not strong enough as a competition and does not give their listed players exposure to the rigours of high quality AFL footy. When these players come in to main team, they really struggle because of the yawing gap between AFL and NEAFL.
Balthazar
Guest
Ed Langdon and Connor are in the team this week though, aren't they? I'm with Don - I think selections now have a lot to do with qualifying for WAFL finals (which will be important for the younger players) plus a touch of sentimentality around Pav's final game. I don't have an issue with Hughes being dropped - he has been dead ordinary since coming back from injury - or Collins, who was beaten easily in recent games by some of the best forwards in the game. The are both the future but have things to work on; I don't see they'll gain much by getting smashed and losing confidence. As for the game plan, wait and see. Some horrible decisions were made in the pre-season - including not enough pure running to gain general fitness and delegating the teaching of the new game plan to rookie assistants. I doubt both of these things can be remedied easily in-season. They both look highly unprofessional decisions by the club. The first seems an over-reaction to the team running out of legs in the second half of last year. The latter, pure speculation on my part, was an attempt to change the way Ross related to his assistant coaches. I am guessing there is a lot left untold about Brett Kirk's sudden departure.
TomC
Roar Guru
Yay. 5.7 million Victorians to go...
Josh
Expert
No, you've gradually eroded my opinion on that one. Well done ;)
Josh
Expert
Not rude at all. I get it wrong pretty regularly and don't mind being called out when it happens! :)
Don Freo
Guest
Those boys, especially Blakely, were dropped to qualify for the WAFL finals. I think there is something like 16 Freo players that can play WAFL finals. Tony Micale tips them to beat Subi for the premiership. Don't assume that Ross knows less than we do. He has a clue or two.
Mmmm
Guest
Thanks, it was rude of me to question you and I'm most likely an idiot.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
You could phrase that better - unless it was intentional !
13th man
Guest
Ok but surely if there's no real improvement next year (am thinking around 7-8 wins minimun) then he can't survive, he's hanging on to the fact that he got a five yr deal for now but even that can't save him if there is no improvement next year. My issue is his inability to adapt to the new rules and style..... yes he says he is in for the long haul but I don't think Ross is that type of coach. He has started to play some youth this year but he's been forced too through injury as well.... the fact that Blakely was dropped is beyond me and that Ed Langdon and Ethan Hughes aren't playing!! He just dropped Collins for Dawson!!! Seriously?? I can't help but find it strange some of the stuff coming out at the press conferences either...... "I am the coach Pav always wanted" and "the players see me as a bit of a father figure...." come off it Ross, seems to me like he is trying to reassure himself by complimenting himself in the media but he comes accross like an arrogant fool... I don't think he will see out 2017 personally
Balthazar
Guest
I think i meant "inception" not conception. Mind you as Freo was royally screwed about a year before playing a game, maybe "conception" is apt
Balthazar
Guest
For me, not going to form a view on his ability to adapt or rebuild for at least 12 months. There are a lot of wrongs from this year's preseason to be righted. I think he has done OK with developing youth albeit I think he shiuld have played Tabs and the 3 amigos more often last year, and Suban, Mayne, Mzungu, Pearce x 2 and Sutciffe less
13th man
Guest
Yes unfortunately both us and Saints have suffered the curse of Lyon..... having success but not winning a flag and then ruining our list!!! Am I the only Freo fan on here that thinks Lyon should go? Can't adapt, can't develop youth and can't rebuild
13th man
Guest
Well the only reason Freo was entered into the comp in the first place was to weaken the Eagles. The AFL was so worried about how West Coast was basically a state side that was dominating there precious Victorian sides and after having won two flags the AFL agreed to allow Freo into the comp but gave them none of the draft concessions that these new sides have got. Same goes for Port a year later but they were able to have more success than Freo earlier on...... perhaps smarter recruiting at the start but they too got none of the draft help that these current sides have
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Yeah I'm talking purely in the flag sense, Don.
TomC
Roar Guru
I've never heard anybody say that it boils down solely to location, but the overwhelming evidence that location is a big factor just becomes more and more overwhelming.
TomC
Roar Guru
Oh? I thought you were opposed to expanded academy concessions?