If the world were a good and just place, Jack Martin would be wearing navy blue. But it’s not and he isn’t.
It was supposed to be simple. Martin wanted to come to Carlton because why wouldn’t he? It’s the best club in the entire world.
He’d stand tall beside Patrick Cripps and be kicking it to Charlie Curnow with a reconstructed knee and Harry McKay and Mitch McGovern and Eddie Betts.
Every time a player nominates a non-Carlton club, I can’t help but wonder what misfortunes led them to their terrible decision.
The Blues wanted Martin because we’ve been trash for a long time and he’s better than almost everyone there. Not to say Martin’s just a forward but if I have to watch defenders run amok against us with ease for another year, I’ll turn off. I swear, this year, I’ll do it.
And Gold Coast would get rid of him because why would they want to keep somebody who is ostensibly unhappy? It goes against those abstract concepts of chemistry and cohesion that probably mean little but are valued so highly. Besides, at the end of the day, we do our best to make other people happy.
Oh, but no. The AFL operates under different guidelines, or maybe it’s a mirror to our reality. It’s a conspiratorial place where mediocrity is rewarded with club concessions, club concessions are used for player retention, and player retention means week after week of understated performances for a substandard team.
So why would the Suns, with all the money and picks in the world, waltz into the draft and pass any advantage to Carlton? To satisfy the desires of a wantaway player? They shouldn’t. I wouldn’t. Not for a million bucks. Any salary-based resentment harboured by Martin’s teammates can be resolved with the money in the banana stand.
I don’t know why Gold Coast have drawn the line at Jack Martin but, after endless posturing, they have to take him. They’re too far in.
Martin will, if acting rationally, bring them down from the inside, Carlton miss out on another quality footballer, and I have to watch us struggle again.
Let’s look at the alternative.
Gold Coast pass on Martin, Melbourne inexplicably does too. We pick him up for nothing.
Jack Martin kicks 80 goals. We win the premiership. Patrick Cripps secures the Brownlow and all is right in this neatly constructed world.
Aron
Roar Pro
Only the last part of this article eventuated (to be confirmed)
BrightOne
Roar Rookie
well Gold Coast cant take him (no spots left on their list now)
Bernie McMullen
Guest
God I love your view of the world... the last one that is
Aron
Roar Pro
How dare you.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I saw him pull out of a couple this year and just throw the arm out, that may have colored my judgement.
MattinSG
Guest
Actually no. If it was done just prior to #10, and it meant they could get McAsey or Dylan Stephens, that actually may be better than two quite good guys, who are not quite excellent enough. My issue is with Hinkley. I think the list management is quite clever (and consistent since the disaster of 2017)
Brock
Guest
Had the fifth most tackles in the afl to round 15 this year.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Rumours are that it will be a 5 year contract at around $3m which makes it $600 – 650k which is close to what he was on at GC. Apparently Bulldogs offered him a 5 year contract @ $700k a season but he wasn’t interested in going there because there are no indigenous players on their list. I am sure he will be a lot happier at Carlton than he was at Gold Coast especially with Betts, SPS & Jones there along with Cripps who he played some junior footy with.
RT
Roar Rookie
What Paul D said below.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Just responding to your remark “not a huge fan of the tackle”. Ports best tackler in 2019 was Boak who averaged 4.86 a game. Martins 2019 average was 5.56.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I agree that there are only very special circumstances where a player should be allowed to nominate the club they are prepared to go to. It would have been fairer to Gold Coast if Martin said that he wanted to go a club in Victoria and it was up to GC to get the best deal for themselves with an appropriate contract for Martin.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Robbie Gray is a 4 time b&f and 4 time all Australian, AFLCA player of the year and Ports best ever AFL player. Albert Jnr doesn’t tackle either……some players are allowed given how amazing they are, Martin is no Robbie Gray.
Aron
Roar Pro
How does that change the merit of the argument?
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
"Carlton....the best club in the entire world"? Yesterday I was on a Melbourne tram sitting next to an obnoxious & rude man. When the right moment came I said, "You are obviously a Carlton supporter". His silence spoke volumes!
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Great article Aron. At least we have got a new coach as well. Light at the end of the tunnel.
Paul D
Roar Guru
No, because their contracts are still running. I think there's a huge difference between a club holding a player to a contract they signed, and re-drafting an uncontracted player who wants out and doesn't want to play for you. Certainly the players, as professional employees would make the distinction, I can't see how they wouldn't.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Glad to see Carlton know his worth. Let's hope they have the coaching structures in place to lift hom to those levels. His ability is certainly worth that. As I say, as good as Cripps, and better than the rest (Walsh is probably up there too.)
RT
Roar Rookie
Those other players didn't nominate for the PSD.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Martin has averaged 3.71 tackles a game, Robbie Gray has averaged 3.22 a game .
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
If GC did that deal they should be investigated.