The AFL has given the Gold Coast Suns a number of draft concessions, but the struggling club doesn’t need all this.
Gold Coast are going to be the big boys in this upcoming trade period, and with Brandon Ellis reportedly a lock to head up north to take up a lengthy deal. There is also talk that Adelaide’s exodus will claim a Crouch brother, and while Matt looks to be staying, Brad is considering his future and could end up at the Suns in 2020.
In saying that, Brad Crouch should be made captain as a sweetener and the incentive of wanting to help give the Suns one last chance to climb up the ladder before the AFL steps in and potentially puts an end to this experiment and finally moves the team down south to Tasmania.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
This will put the dagger in the hearts of David Swallow and Touk Miller who are the leaders at the Suns, but those two need to focus on their football more than leading the team in a higher capacity.
Keep Miller and Swallow in the leadership group to help nurture the kids coming in. Brad Crouch needs to be the man with the armband.
With his experience at Adelaide, Crouch is a future leader of a football club. It looked like it could’ve been at the Crows before they started to deteriorate as a football club and we are now seeing plenty of players looking to get out of West Lakes.
I’d also give Brandon Ellis the vice-captaincy as well. Over the weekend Ellis became a two-time premiership player and is leaving the Tigers in the best way possible. The midfielder will be a handy leader and mentor. Ellis epitomises hard work, out of favour before the finals in 2018 before having his best pre-season last summer, and he earned his spot back in the best 22, which ultimately saw him become a dual premiership player at Tigerland.
Gold Coast will look to be securing out-of-favour ruck/forward Hugh Greenwood from Adelaide as well, and he isn’t much of a leader so I wouldn’t bother putting him in the leadership group.
It’s a tough trade and draft period for the Suns, but it’s time for the Suns’ higher-ups like Tony Cochrane to make the right decisions, and for Stuart Dew and the coaching staff to make the tough decisions.
You aren’t going to last in the AFL if you don’t pull the trigger and make harsh decisions, and putting Crouch and Ellis as your leaders will pay dividends for the team in the long term.
Grow the game where it's wanted
Guest
One of the arguments McLachlan (and Demetriou before him ) use to dismiss a Tasmanian team is they can't afford it. $250 million dollars spent so far on the Gold Coast farce, and they look pretty foolish. And don't get me started on Greater Western!
Rex
Guest
However, if it were say E Curnow or SPS then you would say pick one or two all day. Pick 15 & 20 for B Crouch wont cut it and you know it!
HR
Roar Rookie
It's nice to see they exist, for one thing.
HR
Roar Rookie
Yep - it's "Your Sports Opinion" after all, isn't it? There are some actual journos on the site that should be held to a degree of scrutiny if they're getting facts and figures wrong, but this just a bit of a faux pas.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Doesn't mean he is worth what a trade is likely to be.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
15 & 20 seems like a fair offer to a Suns fan no doubt. Not so fair if you are an Adelaide fan. The question will be how badly do the Suns want a hardened quality midfielder. Not badly enough it seems, so Adelaide will surely opt to keep him to his contract (and negotiate a longer deal if possible, or take the compensation pick that would be on offer).
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Crouch is of course a contracted player so ... you know the drill!
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Fair call.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Massive overs... But that's what they face unfortunately.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Spot on col but still overs imo for crouch but Essendon did give up 2 first rounders for Shiel and obviously pies did for beams and I thought both clubs where crazy at time.
Mat
Roar Rookie
This is where GCS needs to use its draft capital. It would be a mistake for GCS to give up 1 or 2 selection as they're (Rowell and Anderson) more valuable to GCS as a pair. 15 & 20 would seem like a fair offer, or perhaps GCS's 1st next year but that would be taking quite a risk for GCS.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Agree but is good to see some GCS supporters here going into bat.
Mat
Guest
From my perspective the Suns have finally found two decent leaders in Witts and Swallow who actually want to be on the coast. To bring in new players (no matter how good they are) and automatically making them captain/ vice-captain would seem detrimental and disrespectful to the rest of the squad. True leaders will show their leadership capability and naturally emerge in leadership roles, no matter their tenure. GCS have had some really bad leaders (see G.Ablett) in leadership roles and see how that worked out...
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
That's more than fair, HR. Most people here, myself included, seem to know more than the coaches, club staff and certified footy journos put together. Nothing wrong with having an opinion. Miller is a member of the leadership group, I think. Not such a huge mistake in the context of the article. To be held to 'journalistic minimums' is ludicrous yet the nitpickers rejoice to show off their 'knowledge' of the game.
HR
Roar Rookie
Sounds about right given the favours they're getting at the moment. TC must have some dirt on someone.
HR
Roar Rookie
To be fair, the vast majority of Roar contributors are less 'journalist', more 'bloke in the pub'. I don't think that there are any particular barriers to writing an article based on only a passing acquaintance with the facts. I'm currently writing an article calling for the return of Adelaide's best forward pairing of Tony Modra and Wayne Carey to lead the club out of its present predicament, for example.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has had injury after injury. A 5 year deal ia a crazy ask. Crouch should just back himself to play 5 quality years. Adelaide should cash in on him.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Pedro, if the Suns offered up any of your suggested deal for Crouch then the AFL should investigate their List Management. Rankine has extended his contract until 2022 so the Suns would not offer him up. If Lukosius refuses to extend his contract then the Suns should possibly consider a straight swap for Crouch. If they can get Lukosius to extend then for me their best offer to the Crows should be picks 15 & 20.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I am not sure what the rumours about Crouch are but I suspect that his camp is pushing them out there in an effort to secure a better deal from Adelaide. Crouch will be a Restricted Free Agent at the end of next year when his current contract expires. He is said to be seeking a 5 year extension on some decent coin. Gold Coast are probably the only club that would put that type of offer onto the table for an injury prone but quality midfielder (and IMHO the better of the Crouch boys). If the Suns want him this year then they will need to part with some serious collateral - probably 2 of Lukosius and/or Rankine and/or Pick 2.
Timbo's rules
Guest
What has Brad Crouch done that makes him look like leadership material. The rumour is he had a spat with his line coach and wants to leave. That is anything but leadership material. If Gold Coast want to pay him way overs at 1 million a year, and lock that in for 5 years given his injury worries, then maybe you are right and they should pack the team off to Tassie now.