Imagine you are in Alex Witherden’s situation.
You are a Victorian and you were drafted to a club in another state where you have no family connection. You had your teething problems early on and wanted a trade, but you have since settled in well at the club and formed some lifelong friendships.
As a rebuilding club, they show a lot of faith in you and back you in to succeed, giving you a lot of chances to develop into an AFL player and continuously selecting you for the team. In your second year at the club, you come third in the Rising Star Award and have put together 59 games across four years.
In 2019, you sign a three-year contract keeping you there until the end of 2022. You buy a house and become best mates with one of your teammates (Cameron Rayner), while you receive some important mentoring from senior figures (Luke Hodge).
But then, suddenly, the club is no longer rebuilding. Now, the club is in the premiership window. They’ve recruited a veteran with premiership experience (Grant Birchall) and they have brought in an exciting young player to add pace (Callum Ah Chee). To top it off, an era of high draft picks means that there is a backlog of talent (Zac Bailey, Brandon Starcevich) who are hungry to hold down a senior spot.
As a result, you may be a casualty in the club’s quest for a premiership and your spot is no longer secure.
So, you’re in and out of the senior side. You put in some good performances and some average ones. You don’t want to leave but, with senior players playing on, and younger players proving to be essential cogs in the 22, your path back into the senior side isn’t assured. Still, you’ve got runs on the board. Enough to attract the interest of other clubs who think you’re gettable.
As it happens, the club that shows the most interest in you (West Coast) is on the other side of the country and you’ve got no prior association with it or friends or family in that state. Still, you’ve moved states before and, most importantly, they see a clear role for you in succeeding one of their veteran players (Shannon Hurn) who is at the backend of his career.
The catch? This other club isn’t willing to pay you on your current salary, so you would have to take a pay cut to join them.
Here comes the difficult question. Do you stay at your current club where you have a contract for two years and a decent salary?
As I said before, you have played a decent amount of senior footy before recently falling out of favour and senior players (Birchall and, possibly, Daniel Rich) may retire in the next few years, and you could be well-positioned to play consistent senior footy in the near future. Or do you take a chance at this other club who seem to have you in their plans and you could be playing senior footy from Round 1, albeit for less money?
On one hand, your club has been fairly indifferent to keeping you and there’s no guarantee that, when senior players retire, other players (Jack Payne and Deven Robinson, potentially) won’t be favoured as their replacement.
Also, at 22, playing regular senior footy might be more of a priority than earning good money. Besides, if you stay at your club and don’t make it back into the senior side then, by the end of your contract, your value could be significantly reduced.
Potentially, you could sign a modest deal at this other club with triggers that would entitle you to a pay rise or you could take a risk, back yourself, and sign a short-term deal with the hope that a fresh start and more senior opportunities will help you earn better coin down the track.
On, the other hand, abandoning a contract for lesser pay is risky and moving interstate is expensive. Also, as a general rule, clubs are less interested in the development of players they have recruited through trade than those that they drafted. If you don’t deliver for this new club on what you were recruited for, then, potentially, your career could be over.
Theoretically speaking, your career could be over at the end of your contract at your current club too, though if you request a trade and then don’t succeed at the second club, the question is raised whether it is in fact you that is the problem and not the club.
What about a third option where you stay at your club and try to make it back into the senior side while being open to a trade in twelve months or two years if you are unable to get senior opportunities? This way you can keep your options open while having the security of a contract to fall back on.
Klompy
Guest
I would like to welcome Alex Witherden to the mighty Eagles. I would also like to welcome Zac Langdon to the Eagles as well.
Reg Grundy
Guest
I would have thought Brisbane would be paying part of it still as he's still currently under contract until 2022. WCE wont pay the full amount for him under their own salary cap. There was also a salary cap reason for Brisbane in trading him.
Paddlefoot
Roar Rookie
Great article. The rapid emergence of Starcevich this year had put pressure on Alex, and he was on the end of a few Hodge sprays over the journey. Plus the amazing rise of team expectations with a swag of potential players queueing for that critical backline role - all good for a slightly stunned supporter. Answerth is in a similar situation.
Scott
Guest
Yes I am. Wasn’t that obvious by my comment
DTM
Roar Rookie
That Andrews bloke in the backline is no good either so might as well chuck him in. We'll take all 3, no problems.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Sure, all good points, although the Suns selection committee policy to play their group together as much as possible hurt players like Wright and Brodie who were in the top 25 and should have played. Also, Witherden and Wright's salaries wouldn't have been as far apart as you'd imagine. Wright was a salary dump enforced by the covid cap reduction and Witherden looks to be in the same boat.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Ya dreaming, mate. Cameron Rayner just re-signed at the Lions. He's not going anywhere. Also, Brisbane are reluctant to pay part of Witherden's salary. Haha, why would Brisbane trade two quality recent draft pick ups for a fourth round draft pick? Are you, by any chance, a West Coast supporter?
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Yes, potentially a good opportunity at West Coast. Difficulty is, I think that clubs expect results from the players they trade for while they are a lot more patient with draftees. This is an important decision for Witherden which could make or break his career
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. It's unusual territory for the Lions to have surplus quality players. Part of that is just a reality of transforming so rapidly from a Bottom Four side to a Top Four side. But, personally, I am worried about becoming too good too quickly. I don't wanna be like GWS where we come close and then have an exodus of generational talent
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Agree, there are parallels with the Wright situation. I think the difference is in the polarity. My understanding is that Peter Wright was on very good money at the Suns yet he didn't play a single senior game in 2020. Player wages are not publicly disclosed but my guess is that Witherden's salary at Brisbane would be on the upper end of modest and he did play some senior footy in a shortened season and there does appear to be a path back into the senior side. Wright's position was becoming untenable. He was getting good money but not getting on the park and, as a key position player, he was competing with Ben King for the number one forward spot.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Agreed. It does happen to a lot of players. Mind you, the odd variable is that neither of the two teams Witherden is choosing between are in his home state. The other thing is that he is still contracted so he is not being forced out the door.
Daniel Marash
Guest
Brisbane would be foolish to trade Witherden. Rich has 2 years go. Witherden is alike for like replacement - a fantastic kick and no slower than Rich. Birchall should not play many games in 2021. He has slowed considerably and will be slower next year. Ah Chee played only 1-2 good games this year and is at best average in hitting a target by foot. He can be played in other positions. The Lions 2021 backline should arguably be: Answerth Payne/Andrews Gardiner Rich Andrew/Adams Starcevich/Witherdan At times, Bailey will play on the half back flank to inject pace as will Birchall and AhChee butBirchall is now more suited to a back pocket so he can kick in from a behind. Witherden is required and should get enough games in 2021. The Lions must retain depth as they cannot expect their amazing run with injuries to last forever. Daniel Marash
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tom. I agree with you except I would add the amendment 'his career is best served BEING AT the club'. That club could be his current club, potentially.
Scott
Guest
Option 4 - you get Brisbane to pay part of your contract at West Coast and also get them to send your best mate Cam Rayner over to West Coast as well, in exchange for a 4th round pick. Also get the lions to pay Rayner’ contract at west coast as well. That’s easily the best idea.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Replacement for Jetta? What a biggest issues Witherden has is his lack of pace. So not sure he's going to be take up a Jetta type role?
Lukey miller
Guest
Brisbane are a quality club and it would be hard to leave that environment. On the other hand, West Coast are a quality club who clearly want him, even when lists are being rationalised. Perhaps they view Witherton as the long term replacement for Jetta and that would present an opportunity for a long career.
Jorge of Brisvegas
Roar Rookie
Great article. You rarely see the situation of fringe players displayed and explained so poignantly. As a Lions member and longtime supporter I am not used to having good young players potentially cast off when they do not want to leave (#gohome5). But Alex has had good chances, unfortunately most casual league fool owners are aware of THAT mistake whilst marking Brett Daniels in 2019 final. I believe he can be a good regular “Shannon Hurn” type for Lions. I think his strong and long kicking will be more valuable when it is missed in two years rather than waiting in the wings. Perhaps even the run around the back goal outside of 50 that Rich does so well....... or another extra filip. Whatever happens, I wish him well and hope he has success and a good career.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I personally would like to see Alex stay on. I like the Kid. But also see why he's possibly going to be moved on.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Alex Witherden is in a Peter Wright situation, being offered less money and a 4th round pick. The difference is that the Lions are going a lot better and the club interested in Witherden is a long way from home. I think the contract situation is similar to Hogan and Wright, where the new club is offering a restructured contract. But it's still a contract and the money will be there if he can play regular footy. Brisbane won't get decent value in a trade either, but because of the list size bollocks they are forced to move on some quality players. They are currently in a position of trying to move some players and looking at having to delist players, with some re-rookied, or they won't have any list space for draft picks.
DTM
Roar Rookie
This could apply to many players in the AFL system and perhaps has for many who have disappeared over the years. It presents life changing challenges for young men and these decisions should not be underestimated. This is where a good manager is key. The player manager needs to know the player's true value and his strengths (and weaknesses) and advise the player accordingly. If the best option is to move, the player manager then needs to facilitate a deal with the two clubs.