Big picture; Are we a destination club

[Scollop]

Love the foundations that have been set up and kudos to the St Kilda directors and the CEO. The role of CEO and coach are the 2 most important in a footy club imo and I believe we have the right people in these positions to achieve the ultimate and hopefully maintain some sustained success.

The list manager and Recruiting staff have outperformed here also. Not sure if the 'spreadsheet' needs to be mentioned but the way we've targeted multiple darft picks perhaps the blueprint seems to be taking shape. Love the recruiting of specialist coaches and the footy department has to be given a lot of credit for the excellent development of youth in the last few years.

The catchphrase we heard throughout 2016 and also with preseason 2017 was; "we're building something special" and the players and coaches have mouthed these words over and over.

With Carlisle and Brown fit and healthy it seems we have the pillars required in defense which we've struggled with over many years. The emergence of Bruce in 2015, Membrey in 2016, and we've seen what Paddy can do in bursts, so with his development we also have the pillars up forward. Over the last few finals campaigns the Dogs, GWS, Swans, Cats, Crows, Hawks and West Coast showed us we had to have a deep midfield to take on the top 4 teams. That is something we are working well towards.

So in summary, there is a great feeling around the club. Richo is a beuty. We should take advantage of our situation right now and be aggressive in targeting elite talent.

[saynta]

Just watched the replay on fox. Two very happy people were the coach and the CEO. Biggest smile I have ever seen on Richo's face. Love it.

[saintsRrising]

Only if we keep winning.

[ROLS-LEE]

I hope Monty and Steele were getting into Kelly's ear about us as a destination club. He would suit us perfectly.

[prwilkinson]

Just watched the replay on fox. Two very happy people were the coach and the CEO. Biggest smile I have ever seen on Richo's face. Love it.

I noticed the embrace at the bottom of the race after the match. Matty Finnis looked as happy as any die hard supporter in the crowd. They were pumped.

[saint3d]

We're certainly not a departure club. Last year no St Kilda players left for another club. Can't see it happening much this year either.

[BigMart]

Depends whether we have room in the Salary Cap?

It's all about the money

[White Winmar]

We're certainly not a departure club. Last year no St Kilda players left for another club. Can't see it happening much this year either.

The departure clubs would be GWS and Brisbance for different reasons. Soon to be joined by the filth!

[dals_da_bomb]

I do wonder how our history impacts our attractiveness to players as a destination.

Those new to AFL are always told Saints are heart breakers. Compared to success of other clubs we are not that attractive to those jumping in - you have to be born in to the saints family almost!

I guess the only ones that can tell us if we are a destination club are actual players and their thoughts.
Great post.

[saintsRrising]

Depends whether we have room in the Salary Cap?

It's all about the money

No. Destination Clubs are Clubs that players join at a lower cost than they could achieve on the open market because they want to play with that club and not just play where they get get the most $$$.

It is was just about the money, Dangerfield would not be at the Cats.

[saynta]

Way to hard on the Saints fellows. We picked up four very good players this year and O'Meara would possibly also have been a Saint only we went cold on him.

Benny Cousins actually went to bed for a week after we turned him down.

[saintsRrising]

We have recently been a Destination Club for players seeking greater playing opportunity than where they were. Membrey, Brown, Bruce, Steele, Stevens.

We now need to become a Destination Club for very good to elite players who could easily stay at their current clubs. Carlisle is probably our one recent success in this regard. For the true elites in the main we need to be see as a finals, if not Premiership contender.

Robo was a special case where our location probably greatly helped and where his wife wanted to return to family in Melbourne.. Hickey was aided by having a gf who wanted to be in Melbourne.

[BigMart]

Of course it's about money...

Paddy wanted to go to Geelong for Lifestyle, yes

But the 800k per year for 4 years didn't hurt...

Players want the best deal they can get... And rightly so, it's business

[saynta]

$800,000?

He short changed himself.

[Wayne42]

Of course it's about money...

Paddy wanted to go to Geelong for Lifestyle, yes

But the 800k per year for 4 years didn't hurt...

Players want the best deal they can get... And rightly so, it's business

800k for 4 years is almost overs at this point in his career...

[saintsRrising]

Of course it's about money...

Paddy wanted to go to Geelong for Lifestyle, yes

But the 800k per year for 4 years didn't hurt...

Players want the best deal they can get... And rightly so, it's business

What was that? Players want the best deal they can get? Why is Paddy at the Cats then?

You must be the only person that does not understand that other clubs were wilingl to offer more money.

If it was only about the money he would not be at Geelong.


Geelong have been forced to deal on Dangerfield, rather than signing him as a free agent, in large part because the Cats have persuaded Dangerfield to join them on a contract that is far from excessive for a player of his standing. Dangerfield could conservatively earn $1.2 million a season for the same length of contract, if he was willing to go to another Victorian club, rather than Geelong, which he wants to join to be closer to his family and that of his partner.

So in choosing the Cats Dangerfield gave up about $400,000 give or take (you can argue the toss about eaxctly how much but certainly he could have secured more than $800K) per year.

Many, many, players do not go to clubs for more money.

Did Roo? Did Loewe? Did Banger?

[BigMart]

Of course players play for money, it's their job

Do you work for money.

Those numbers quoted are not concrete but suggested... few clubs even entertained McCartin because of Lifestyle

But he wanted to go to Geelong to live (or more accurately with his girl)

Similar to players wanting to go home

But with 10 teams in Melbourne... players choose what's the best thing for them
The number 1 factor is total renumeration and that I includes contract length.

Silly to think otherwise... footy is a business, they are commodities

[tony74]

Nice to see some of the GWS players stay over in Melbourne for the weekend.

[saintsRrising]

Of course players play for money, it's their job

Do you work for money.

No, I work to live and not live to work now.

I now place balance as my No 1 Priority and have done for over decade now. I travel for two months each year and for the other 10 months I no longer work the long hours that I used to.
Prior to my kids starting Uni I spent a lot of time supporting my kids in their sport hobbies etc and in volunteering. Now that they are more independent I am indulging in my passion for travel more.

I can easily earn more money if I choose to, but one of my favourite sayings an old bushman told me once is "You are a long time dead". Money is a means to an end and not an end itself IMO and for many of the best things in life time is more valuable than money and is the much more finite resource.

Those numbers quoted are not concrete but suggested... few clubs even entertained McCartin because of Lifestyle

But he wanted to go to Geelong to live (or more accurately with his girl)

I think you have your Paddies mix up.

However this reinforces my point and not yours. ie That many players are not just focused on money alone.

Dangerfield could have joined another club for more money, but by what he valued Geelong was his Destination club and that is where he went.

Similar to players wanting to go home

But with 10 teams in Melbourne... players choose what's the best thing for them

Yes they choose what is best for them.

The number 1 factor is total renumeration and that I includes contract length.

No. For some it may be, but for many it is not.

Silly to think otherwise... footy is a business, they are commodities

Well call me Silly then.

There is no logic to your post and you have failed to understand that if a club can be viewed by a player as a Destination Club that that club does not have to have remunerate that player as much as they otherwise might, and indeed may not attract them at all.

Legion too are the number of players whose existing club is there Destination Club and who choose to stay there rather than move clubs for more money.

Playing finals, and in particular grand finals, has been for some players a powerful lure and made them choose to make some clubs like Hawthorn a Destination Club for them over mere money.

[Trev from the Bush]

Just watched the replay on fox. Two very happy people were the coach and the CEO. Biggest smile I have ever seen on Richo's face. Love it.

I noticed the embrace at the bottom of the race after the match. Matty Finnis looked as happy as any die hard supporter in the crowd. They were pumped.

Gotta feeling that, somewhere in a laneway or beside a railway line in Melbourne, a giant tick was painted in the wee small hours of Saturday morning. Matt and Richo will still be washing the paint of their fingers I reckon!

[Bluthy]

Nice to see some of the GWS players stay over in Melbourne for the weekend.

Home delivery service to show off the goods before purchase. Nice. We'll take a Kelly thanks for delivery next year. Do you take credit card?

[desertsaint]

Depends whether we have room in the Salary Cap?

It's all about the money

If it was all about the money no one would choose to teach or nurse.
It's about the job type, the location, the employer, the money, the family, the lifestyle.
A lot of people, myself included, have turned down higher paid offers for any of the above reasons.

[borderbarry]

tony74, do we know who stayed over? They would be the ones to concentrate on.

[tony74]

tony74, do we know who stayed over? They would be the ones to concentrate on.

An obvious one did.

[Winmar]

Does he share a surname with a bushranger?