TOPIC:

KCEF wrote:

Surely Perth haven’t paid transfers for the Sparks brothers and they’ve left??? What’s the story here? Never heard of that before

My mail from a pretty good source was not long after signing they received an offer for more money playing down south, Carey Park I think it was. So they asked Perth for more money to match it I guess and have never attended a training session. To me that is absolutely grubby and I think Perth is entitled to ask for the transfer fees back under exceptional circumstances or seek some sort of compensation from the WAFC.

At the very least those points it costs us to be on the list should be waived. Understandably the club will want to keep them on the list so in the event they decide to go back to EP or another WAFL club then we are entitled to transfer fees. If they have a change of heart and turn up to play then those points count. The WAFC needs to intervene here.

And I was told they pretty much shut up shop after that and have not answered or returned calls.

That unbelievable. Sounds like its for the best that they're not a Perth.

Actually I'll go one step further, I think the club should sue them for compensation.

I remember one EF fan asserted that if a club doesn't match a rival's offer for a contracted player, that should be grounds for the player to terminate the contract... novel view of how contracts work. But to the issue at hand: I imagine the club would think it would be a bad look to sue a player, so I don't think we would go after the Sparks'. But we should certainly refuse any transfer. And (if this is what happened), what business is it of Carey Park to make offers to contracted players? Surely there are rules around that? 

Otherwise, I just despair at how much money has been wasted by PFC. Not saying it's anyone's fault, but the transfers for these two, Quill, Masten, Loersch, Ainsworth and others - all pissed away. 

Why on earth is Quill still showing on our team list on the PFC website. He hasn’t been at the club since April last year. Also there are others who are still listed even though have apparently left the club, such as Hug, Perkusich and J.Busher.
 

Avery, M Jones and Z Hill also still on the list despite rumours of their departure. I can only assume it is because they are still contracted, so we keep them listed in case a transfer fee is required. Though I can't see any other state league club being interested in Quill, J Busher, Jones or Hug. 

Buyer beware  I guess.....frustrating as it is for you guys.

Assuming the story about the Sparks is true. If sparks didn’t sign a contract Perth cant sue them. Carey in a different competition and not governed by the WAFL Rules. Sparks did not sign a contract with Perth and they mustn’t have been contracted at East Perth, so Carey doing nothing wrong. East Perth clearly did the transfer so is entitled to the transfer fee and Perth got what it paid the transfer fee for - ie the transfer. East Perth don’t guarantee that Sparks  would play, that’s up to Perth and the Sparks.
No basis for the WAFC to intervene morally or according to the rules.

I'm sure a lot of that is true, Factor. But surely a transfer fee is only payable when a player signs a contract? God knows Perth have done a lot of dumb things over the years, but surely we wouldn't pay a transfer fee and put them on our team list before a contract is signed. Whether Carey Park have an ethical obligation not to approach contracted players, and whether doing so harms their reputation is something I guess they have to grapple with. It is self-evident that the Sparks' cannot be compelled to play for Perth, but we can and should prevent them playing elsewhere. 

From what someone said earlier, sounds an agreement must've been made (hence the transfer) but the contract wasn't signed- otherwise Perth are in their rights to say I don't think so if they asked for more money. Pretty average by Sparks x 2 and pretty dumb by Perth not getting the contracts signed (if thats what has happened). I guess we'll never know unless someone gets the inside word