Free agent Dog exploring options as club holds off on offer

[westdog54]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-14/still-no-deal-for-dog-grant

WESTERN Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant could exercise his free agency rights, with the club yet to offer him a new contract.

The 26-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Bulldogs would not be able to prevent him from leaving the club if he chose to do so.

Grant's manager, Anthony McConville, said his client would explore all available options after not being approached by the Bulldogs.

"Jarrad Grant hasn't been offered a contract and at this stage of the season you have to think it's unlikely," McConville told Channel Nine on Monday night.

"With this uncertainty, he's got to be looking at options."

Grant has played 81 games for the Bulldogs since making his debut in round five, 2009.

He booted 11 goals in his 19 appearances for the Bulldogs this season.

The No.5 selection in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft has battled form and endured an injury-interrupted time at Whitten Oval, fracturing his left foot in last year's pre-season campaign.

Grant signed a two-year contract extension with the club at the end of 2013.


Wowee...

[SlimPickens]

Can't say I'm surprised. As much as people talk him up, Jarrad hasn't offered enough this year. 14.5 touches a game, 2.1 tackles isn't enough for a player who spent majority of his time on the ball.

[Greystache]

No surprise, in fact I would've been more surprised if we did offer him a new contract. He just isn't talented enough to cover all his flaws, especially against good teams. I like we're potentially going to make the tough calls on players who can't take us forward to success. I expect Minson to be out the door shortly too.

[chef]

He's eeked out his career as far as he can with is i guess.

[bulldogtragic]

Bevo has showed that he doesn't gift games to anyone. So with that said Grant played 18 games plus 1 final. That's hardly a shithouse player that is in the category of needing to be moved on for the betterment of the list.

[The Doctor]

I wonder if we are waiting to see if we can bring anyone in before dealing with Grant?

[Mantis]

Bevo has showed that he doesn't gift games to anyone. So with that said Grant played 18 games plus 1 final. That's hardly a shithouse player that is in the category of needing to be moved on for the betterment of the list.

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

[Ozza]

I know you are always going to have injuries....but...assuming Libba and Stevens are right to go next season - a few players get pushed down the line (or outside the centre square) to other positions. You would also think that McLean, Webb, Dale, Daniel, Hrovat - at a minimum - will be more prominent in selection next season, depending on who comes out of pre-season really up and firing.

Grant has been best 22 this year...but realistically, is in the bottom 3 or 4 of that 22.

I'd say that there is a reasonable enough chance that he would be best 22 for much of next year. But with the very real possibility that he gets pushed out of the side, for me, any more than 1 year would be the wrong move. If that means Grant wants to weigh up his options, then I am fine with that.

[bulldogtragic]

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

[Cyberdoggie]

He isn't a shithouse player.. He just isn't a really good player and it can be questioned if he is someone who will take us forward.

Agreed, he has some value but i'm not sure he's a player that is going to stand up for us in big games like finals.
He is never going to be a physical beast and has a tendency to miss goals that he really should nail. If we are serious about improving then we need to move him on.

[Greystache]

Agreed, he has some value but i'm not sure he's a player that is going to stand up for us in big games like finals.
He is never going to be a physical beast and has a tendency to miss goals that he really should nail. If we are serious about improving then we need to move him on.

I'm not convinced he'd find a home elsewhere either. I'll provide some detail if he is delisted, but speaking to an opposition scout from another team, clubs don't rate him and very much apply the Lewis Taylor approach of leave him free because it won't hurt us.

[Mantis]

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

The question has to be asked where Grant will be ranked at the start of 2016 or 2017?

If we had more than 2 or 3 of the following up and going at finals time - Libba, Stevens, JJ, McLean & Smith then I doubt that Grant would have been in the team. I understand that you always have injuries, but you can't rely on these to remain in the side.

Look I like what Grant brings to the team, but his out-put & effect on games just isn't enough for a player at his age.. Will it improve, perhaps, but if push came to shove then you invest time into others.

[Cyberdoggie]

If we cut 4 spots on the list. With Ayce, Darley & Fuller if Grant was cut he'd be judged at ranking at about the 34th player on the list. I can't believe he's at least ranked top 22 players almost all year but falls down to 34th this week.

I don't think that is the case, I think the club see's his potential to improve as limited with some glaring weaknesses in his game, he is still best 22 but that may not be the case by the end of next year with others improving. If we let him go now we will get the best possible result as compensation. It's about trading your stocks when they are at their highest possible value in order to get the best return. Grant is not irreplaceable, so let's use that to improve our list. The better we perform, the harder it will be to bring in top talent without making sacrifices.

[Happy Days]

Grant is very much a required player, and most of what he does gets marginalised in the eyes of many supporters (referring to no one on here) because he had the NERVE to get drafted in the top 5 and not kick 80 goals every year. His basic skill errors are often ridiculous but he more than makes up for it with everything else he does. He's the best true wingman on the list by a fair way, and we just don't have enough of this type to move him on.

Could this be a case of us going early on all of our re-signings, putting us in somewhat of a difficult position with regard to bringing in outside talent? Personally I would have preferred we extended Grant than someone like Prudden.

[Bulldog Joe]

I probably would prefer we keep Grant, but we also need to consider where we are heading and the need to continually renew the list.

Missing from the finals side we have Stevens, McLean and Dale who I see as all being able to fulfil the role that he plays and improvement is more likely in the other 3.

We also have Libba to push someone else out.

It is a difficult issue, but you simply cannot keep everyone.

[The Pie Man]

Grant is very much a required player, and most of what he does gets marginalised in the eyes of many supporters (referring to no one on here) because he had the NERVE to get drafted in the top 5 and not kick 80 goals every year. His basic skill errors are often ridiculous but he more than makes up for it with everything else he does. He's the best true wingman on the list by a fair way, and we just don't have enough of this type to move him on.

Could this be a case of us going early on all of our re-signings, putting us in somewhat of a difficult position with regard to bringing in outside talent? Personally I would have preferred we extended Grant than someone like Prudden.

Agree - I don't disagree with the criticism of Grant, but once you offer a contract to Prudden, surely Grant's done enough to warrant one also.

[Mantis]

Agree - I don't disagree with the criticism of Grant, but once you offer a contract to Prudden, surely Grant's done enough to warrant one also.

Prudden at 21 has a new 1yr deal in what might be a make or break season.. Not sure Grant would sign a 1yr deal if it was offered.

They are also competing for different roles and with 3 experienced small/medium defenders coming to the end of their careers Prudden might be a bit of insurance if those 3 fall off quicker than expected.

[Ozza]

Agree - I don't disagree with the criticism of Grant, but once you offer a contract to Prudden, surely Grant's done enough to warrant one also.

I don't understand the comparison. Completely different type of player. Completely different age group.
They aren't competing for the same spot - and Prudden's only had 4 AFL games for you to judge him on.

[Twodogs]

I don't think that is the case, I think the club see's his potential to improve as limited with some glaring weaknesses in his game, he is still best 22 but that may not be the case by the end of next year with others improving. If we let him go now we will get the best possible result as compensation. It's about trading your stocks when they are at their highest possible value in order to get the best return. Grant is not irreplaceable, so let's use that to improve our list. The better we perform, the harder it will be to bring in top talent without making sacrifices.

We'd be looking at mid range compo at best? Nada if we bring in a FA of our own.

[The Pie Man]

Not trying to suggest Prudden & Grant are the same type of player - but Prudden's been there a little while now, with plenty of time injured....even this year once he finally strung a few games together he still had to miss (and he was ok against Collingwood I thought) I just wonder how that looks in comparison to a fairly solid if sometimes flawed / sometimes quite flashy 19 games from Grant's perspective.

Having said that - I wouldn't mind us only offering Grant an extra year.

[westdog54]

We'd be looking at mid range compo at best? Nada if we bring in a FA of our own.

I said it on the list management thread, but this only makes sense if we're not seeking a Free Agent.

[Bulldog4life]

I would like Grant to offered a one year Contract with conditions on him getting another year. For example if he plays 16 matches or more.

[Hotdog60]

Grant may have been offered a 1 year extension and wasn't happy and told his manager to see what's out there. For all we know this may have been put out there in round 10 or 12 and he said let's wait to the end of the season and the club may have gone cold after that.
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

[bornadog]

Grant may have been offered a 1 year extension and wasn't happy and told his manager to see what's out there. For all we know this may have been put out there in round 10 or 12 and he said let's wait to the end of the season and the club may have gone cold after that.
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

In July the discussion on FB: "Bulldogs Online" was he had been offered a two year contract.

[FrediKanoute]

I know you are always going to have injuries....but...assuming Libba and Stevens are right to go next season - a few players get pushed down the line (or outside the centre square) to other positions. You would also think that McLean, Webb, Dale, Daniel, Hrovat - at a minimum - will be more prominent in selection next season, depending on who comes out of pre-season really up and firing.

Grant has been best 22 this year...but realistically, is in the bottom 3 or 4 of that 22.

I'd say that there is a reasonable enough chance that he would be best 22 for much of next year. But with the very real possibility that he gets pushed out of the side, for me, any more than 1 year would be the wrong move. If that means Grant wants to weigh up his options, then I am fine with that.

2 points:

- all of those highlighted have shown potential, but none of those really play Grant's position or style. None of those have his speed. If I had to be honest Hrovat/Honeychurch/Hunter are 3 of the same. If any are going to make way for Libba and Stevo it is those three rather than Grant. Given Hunter's end to 2015, you would think him a lock, so it makes life hard for Honeychurch and Hrovat.

- bottom 3-4? He was generally always picked on the ground in the starting 18 and only made sub 1 or 2 times. Assuming Murphy is first picked, Grant would comfortably sit somewhere in the 10 to 15 range.

If the club haven't offered a contract that is fine. I trust Bevo and J-Mac. What I would say though is that Grant wrongly cops a lot of flack from a lot of supporters, mostly based on things he has done (failed to do) previously. Hid gut running this year was awesome. He is quick, both across the turf and with his hands. He has good reach. Personally I think he has Honeychurch and Hrovat covered and in 2015 he started to show some promise. Was he worth pick 5? No, it was a cock up. Is he better than 20 players on our list - yes.

[FrediKanoute]

I probably would prefer we keep Grant, but we also need to consider where we are heading and the need to continually renew the list.

Missing from the finals side we have Stevens, McLean and Dale who I see as all being able to fulfil the role that he plays and improvement is more likely in the other 3.

We also have Libba to push someone else out.

It is a difficult issue, but you simply cannot keep everyone.

Honeychurch out - Stevens In

Libba will need to earn his place back - year after a reco is generally not a great year, so I wouldn't banking on him displacing anyone in a hurry, but I also have no doubt spots will open up for him

Dale & McLean - both great young talent who will pop in and out of the team. Yes they may displace Grant, but equally they could also suffer 2nd year blues.