TOPIC:

MarkOlsen wrote: not sure why the Eagles reserves would care losing Keitel.
they can use those other kids they have developed in his role in
round 1 - Sinclair, College, McInness, Tunbridge, Main, Powell, Barrass will all be keen for a game i'm sure if fit..

MO it is abt process, talk to ur FM!

Ronnie wrote: The major question about Tyler was his ability to perform at senior level and how his game would transfer across to playing against bigger bodies. Did East Perth give him the opportunity to answer this? Did he play league or reserves last year? It would've helped!

At colts level, he bullies them with his size. He played ruck a bit. What would he do against men?

At some point someone made a decision that he was not ready or good enough, you choose!

Larry Bird wrote: Was someone giving out free blessings I will have one. The pathway at EP is definitely blocked for the mid level players. But kids with AFL talent like Tyler are different he would have played round one. He is the best key forward on potential to come through EP for decades. Revenge on this one will have to wait but knowing our President it will come. It all adds a little soap opera to the derbies.

I rarely disagree with you but , he isn't and hasn't been!

MO it is abt process, talk to ur FM![/quote]

unfortunately Grump the wafl is not a perfect world, Subi try to pinch all our good players and Swans have to suck it up.

WP may find out this kid isnt the star they think he is which will hopefully deter other clubs from pulling the same trick.

I do think the bottom line is the kid does not want to be EP.

Grump wrote: Grump without getting into the specifics of this particular player as I see it there are two fundamental situations which is causing this angst.

first is the host club alignment. It is impossible to suggest that having a WAFL club aligned to an AFL club materially and substantially reduces the opportunity for younger players to play league footy in a WAFL aligned team. I agree that the alignment will reduce the opportunities but it seems that the club (at least from what I see) is keen to develop the colts coming through and allow natural turnover and transfers to provide the process. Hence the players at the mid level to leave this year ans eek to ply their football elsewhere, I would point out that it is not the degree that was suggested on the forum.

The second elephant in the room is the financial clout that Subiaco has started to exercise in throwing significant amounts of money towards the elite players at other clubs: viz Twomey, Robinson Davis as examples from my club, Swans. I hasten to add we have certainly recruited players from other WAFL clubs and we have had significant success in particular from some ex-Perth players. I would suggest that in the main the reason for those move was by providing better opportunities to disaffected players rather than trying to outbid a rival club's offer as was the case with Twomey last season and Robinson this year. This the fly in the ointment for all clubs except us at the moment, Swans will always be the club of choice to EP and Perth players who see their chances limited by the alignment and (with the chance of offending Perth supporters) being at a club that offers little opportunity to play higher level football in the WAFL. Subiaco's finances are a disparate issue for all clubs as they can somehow beat the system over the cap.

There is a significant danger that the WAFL club wil be split into a number of groups based on advantage or disadvantage and unless the WAFC recognises this the danger to the WAFL competition will be huge and lasting.

Their is an issue of parity brought about by the alignment, finances and regions. At the end of the day it would seem that the issue with this boy has brought some of it out into the open.

On your first point I think it is too early to call. I suspect that it may be a self-fulfilling prophecy when young guys at "East Perth" with limited opportunity see others leave the club and cement their places in other WAFL clubs' league teams.

With respect to the second point it is an interesting exercise to try to work out how Subiaco could manage to fit Robinson into its salary and points caps given when he signed up with Subiaco.

I find it of great concern that a young guy who has not played a senior game of football is going down this path,surely at 19yrs old coming from colts football you play senior football challenging yourself against bigger bodied players at a higher level. He has been in the system for three years and wasn't drafted, not saying with development this will not occur, however at present by making this move he is setting himself up as if he does not perform his reputation will suffer. There is plenty of evidence of players getting drafted at 20 plus as they have proven they can play seniors. I believe he is not getting sound advice and he has already suffered from not so complimentary feedback previously highlighted on this site. Furthermore putting yourself out there some what prematurely I am sure he will experience some very close attention not only from his former club not ideal. You can't blame the kid he is obviously being guided by others. Good Luck

astro wrote: I do think the bottom line is the kid does not want to be EP.

Yes its as simple as that. I am of the belief if a player doenst want to be at your club, let him go. If his heart isn't in it, you wont get the best out of him anyway.

Also, how can EP think this type of thing was not going to happen? Everyone knew that it would from time to time. The general consensus with an AFL alignment is it restricts opportunities at league level. That isn't a myth its a fact. The club took the alignment deal and the $450,000 a year with no illusions. Whether he has bad management advice, his mother is misdirecting him or his German Shepherd has a bung back leg that causes him to piss on his front leg, it all means jack squat.

You cant have your cake and eat it too. Get over it and move on. That's life in an alignment deal. Simple.

I think that it is time for WP to have their thread back

Grump wrote: I think that it is time for WP to have their thread back

its a discussion on a WP subject isn't it?

but reality is we are talking about a young kid here. To be honest I don't think Polly Farmer had as much discussion as this kid has.