It is off season

[tony74]

Today….Michito , Windy and BJ having a kick to kick on the oval
Yesterday…..Sincs and Skunk having a kick to kick
Day before…..Keels working out
Most days…..always some in the gym

[skeptic]

Anything particularly interesting happening Tony?

[longtimesaint]

The fact that Membrey is having a kick is very good news,

[1971]

Lovely to hear that Membrey was there. A sigh of relief.

[B.M]

Bumper trade period Tony!

What’d you think of the Billings trade?

[Vortex]

Bumper trade period Tony!

What’d you think of the Billings trade?

I can answer for Tone…he loves players who DESPERATELY want to be at the club.

[Zed]

If Windy and Pou can improve this offseason to the same degree that Mitchito and NAs did last offseason, then we will have a very good year

Hoping that Hotton makes the leap to at least put himself in the frame for senior selection. Just feel like we need a goal kicking small forward who can go through the middle occasionally - like we had hoped Gresh could do - and put a bit of pressure on Butler and Higgo to perform.

[tony74]

Bumper trade period Tony!

What’d you think of the Billings trade?

Ross only wants players that are 100% committed to the team and the game plan. Yes I’m happy.

[SaintPav]

Cool.

[B.M]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

[Scollop]

It's a tiny part of the TPP. They can use it anyway they see fit.

Jack had an opportunity to demand his spot back by his actions. On the training track and in his games at Sandringham. Maybe Billings avoided one too many contests for Ross's liking

If I was Ross Lyon and I had a guy like Billings who is contracted, but I don't want him in the team...I'd rather he was out of the club altogether, rather than hanging around for 12-24 months

I still can't believe his manager was shopping him around, a week before we were about to play finals

https://www.zerohanger.com/agent-claims ... ws-142782/

[Jacks Back]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

OMG, get over it.

[Banger9798]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

Unreasonably hard.
While I agree the Billings trade was a loss, it's not beyond comprehension that the cost of trading him was outweighed by the cost of keeping him. Looks terrible on paper, but if he had mentally checked out what is the point in retaining.
The mistake was probably offering him that long contract a few years ago

[TheGreatZacsby]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

What are you taking about B.M?

I’m glad to see the back of Billings. Load up picks for our NGA boys next year. Happy to pay “PART” of his salary so that he is off the books when we are pressing for the top 4 and land a big fish. I’m happy that we got a nucleus of players now who are committed to the cause

[cwrcyn]

If Billings was merely going to be a back up for the next two years, spending most of his time at Sandy ( which was most likely), then his move to Melbourne with us paying a part of his salary is a financial win. No club would have taken him at his full $500k salary. Let's be realistic.

So, the options were

1. Keep him on the list playing at Sandy at $500k per year

2. Let him go to Melbourne and effectively recoup some of that money

That's just our club being realistic and sensible. No one was banging down the door for Billings. They know he has a chronic back issue and a foot issue. And as for those complaining about getting a third round pick for him......well, sorry break this to you, that's his best market value right now.

[Moods]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

BM. He’s average. Everyone seems to accept it but you. Because we ridiculously overpaid him isn’t Ross’s fault. In the end we could barely give him away. Why have a ( VERY) average player on your list who is desperate to leave. It’s not fair on the club or the player himself. I think to have a player at Sandy consistently and that player is being paid over 500k to play is ridiculous. And anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional

[SaintPav]

Who’s decision was it to give JB a 4 year contract 2 years ago after he wanted to leave and no one wanted him?

Nonsensical!

[B.M]

If he’s so poor

Why did Melbourne pick him up

Don’t convince yourself of a false notion to justify a list management decision that is absurd

[cwrcyn]

Brett Ratten would had to have pushed for his 4 year contract extension. And the football department and the list manager would have given their stamp of approval. Otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Poor management.

[cwrcyn]

Our opinion of his value in the end means nothing. It's the assessment by the current coaching group that determines what happens, and it looks like their assessment is that Billings is not part of their best 23.

Now, if Billings was considered of real value, clubs like North Melbourne would have been very eager to grab him, yet they had no interest .

Billings' manager was desperately spruiking him knowing full well there was almost no interest.

I sincerely hope he goes well at Melbourne, but I'd say that both the club and Billings himself would have been truly relieved when Melbourne came to the party. As for this notion of " why would a recent premiership club be taking on Billings if he was just big average?"

My answer to that would be to look no further than Luke Dunstan.

[B.M]

Dunstan was taken as insurance in case a mid got injured
He was never going to play in their best team

Billings has been traded in to add to their best 23 - which they have already alluded to

At his best
JB is a good AFL player - if you think otherwise you’re deluded

[SaintPav]

Billings has been traded in to add to their best 23

[Moods]

If he’s so poor

Why did Melbourne pick him up

Don’t convince yourself of a false notion to justify a list management decision that is absurd

Hang on! Which one is it? Is it a poor decision by the Saints to offload a contracted player for a future 3rd rounder AND paying half his wage? If it is, the decision cannot also be that he’s some sort of superstar that clubs were clamouring over to get and we sold him for unders. We basically handed him to the Dees for nothing in the last hour of trade period. Why do you think that’s so? I’ll tell you, because NO ONE rated him, particularly not as highly as you seem to.

As SP said. The poor decision was 2 years ago when we grossly overpaid and overestimated him

[CQ SAINT]

If he’s so poor

Why did Melbourne pick him up

Don’t convince yourself of a false notion to justify a list management decision that is absurd

You are hanging onto the fact that we had to gift wrap him and pay half of one years salary, so, Melbourne can do the dirty work and retire him and everybody can just accept that poor Kack can go down in history as couldabeen who got injured. Jack is broken.

[Impatient Sainter]

I’d expect nothing less from you Tony

Imo
Anyone who thinks it’s a positive that we are paying players to play at other clubs is a delusional sycophant

Surely you can express your opinion without the drive bys? We get it you disagree with the list management decisions, but Tony is a poster of great merit so please ease up on the personal shots.