Is GWS Still Viable?

[bulldogtragic]

In one sense, it’s exciting to be them. Picks 3, 12, 15, 18 (Bruhn), 19 and Hopper to come this year. That’s a lot of talent to come into a team.

But they’re just bleeding talent:

Taranto, Hopper, Hill, Bruhn, Finlayson, Corr, Zac Williams, Langdon, Caldwell & Jeremy Cameron - all done in three years, and there’s still a week to go with reports Haynes, Whitfield & Greene might be gettable.

It’s easy to look at the basket case that is GCS. But after overly generous concessions to begin with, and not getting the flag they created to win, if talent walks in and out like this how viable are they long term? If they have 6 picks inside 19 this year but most leave, then they’re simply an incubator of young talent for the competition, no different than GCS. Both destined to float in the bottom 10 from season to season.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

It's forever a cycle; lose good players, gain early draft picks. The longer the trend continues, the more misses in the draft they'll start to have.

You could argue they will be worse off then Gold Coast - at least they can sell a lifestyle. WTF can GWS sell?

When you look at them and then you look at Geelong who are the opposite, the more you realise that our competition is quickly heading towards overseas models whereby you have 'feeder/development' clubs and then you have the 'contending' clubs.

Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood will struggle to ever truly 'fall' whereas it's going to be next to impossible for GWS to succeed.

[josie]

And here’s hoping this cycle continues for a good deal longer, at least until the echoes of Sheedy and Thug Greene are long gone. AFL produced a confection and almost got their quick sugar hit until our proud club beat them in the best game I’ve ever seen.

I hope Toby Thug Greene never wins a premiership with the plastics or anyone else.

I have a bit more respect for GC, even though their club song makes me laugh more than the appalling GWS one.

Pity AFL did not invest more in Tassie eg make every club play at least one game there in H&A season, build a high quality stadium and then plan for a possible Tassie side if feasible. Better than propping up team(s) that hardly anyone follows.

[jazzadogs]

Their strategy is a bit all over the shop too...

Offer long term contracts to Greene, Whitfield, Haynes, Kelly etc. to encourage loyalty and inspire the younger crop to stay with the club.

But now those same 'loyal' guys are being shopped around because their contracts are too big. So how do you inspire the next crop to sign the big contract and stick around?

[Bulldog Revolution]

Their strategy is a bit all over the shop too...

Offer long term contracts to Greene, Whitfield, Haynes, Kelly etc. to encourage loyalty and inspire the younger crop to stay with the club.

But now those same 'loyal' guys are being shopped around because their contracts are too big. So how do you inspire the next crop to sign the big contract and stick around?

Interesting post jazzadogs - they’ve tied up a lot of money in some supposedly elite talent only to find that a few of the players they’d bet on don’t actually have the impact their salary would suggest they should

[Scraggers]

It's forever a cycle; lose good players, gain early draft picks. The longer the trend continues, the more misses in the draft they'll start to have.

You could argue they will be worse off then Gold Coast - at least they can sell a lifestyle. WTF can GWS sell?

When you look at them and then you look at Geelong who are the opposite, the more you realise that our competition is quickly heading towards overseas models whereby you have 'feeder/development' clubs and then you have the 'contending' clubs.

Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood will struggle to ever truly 'fall' whereas it's going to be next to impossible for GWS to succeed.

The falafels out that way are to die for.

[jazzadogs]

Interesting post jazzadogs - they’ve tied up a lot of money in some supposedly elite talent only to find that a few of the players they’d bet on don’t actually have the impact their salary would suggest they should

I mean GC are doing the same thing with Bowes, who they signed on big money when May and Lynch left.

Contracts just seem to be worth nothing to either player or club at the moment, if one of them decides the time at that club is up.

[Twodogs]

I've always said that both GWS and GCS exist to warehouse and shopfront players and provide a place for elite young players to play at and an environment to learn to be professional footballers instead of them diverting to a different sport. The better performing and more talented players then transfer to proper footy clubs after 3-4 years.

After all would you rather be playing footy on a 2-300k a year contract or toiling away playing District cricket for peanuts or A-League soccer for 60-70k per season?

If the AFL were serious about growing the game 15 years ago then they would have established a club in Tasmania back then instead of GWS.

[azabob]

If you are an early pick and drafted to GWS you are guaranteed $750K plus over 7 years.

You either get the money by staying at the Giants or you get the money by an opposition club giving you a god father offer.

[Flamethrower]

GWS are fast becoming the Kansas City Athletics of the AFL.

For those who don't know, before they moved to Oakland the A's played in Kansas City. They were infamous for developing MLB players to the point that they were just about to break out as superstars and get a significant pay rise, and then trading them to teams like the New York Yankees.

GWS seem to be going down the path of drafting top end talent and developing the players into ready-made AFL stars, and then selling the players to the highest bidder.

[bulldogtragic]

GWS are fast becoming the Kansas City Athletics of the AFL.

For those who don't know, before they moved to Oakland the A's played in Kansas City. They were infamous for developing MLB players to the point that they were just about to break out as superstars and get a significant pay rise, and then trading them to teams like the New York Yankees.

GWS seem to be going down the path of drafting top end talent and developing the players into ready-made AFL stars, and then selling the players to the highest bidder.

No way Jose...

But yes.

[SonofScray]

No, they are not.

Gold Coast will work. They will not.

Should just move to Canberra.

[soupman]

No, they are not.

Gold Coast will work. They will not.

Should just move to Canberra.

They'll work, just have to figure out how to turn what they have into an advantage.

A bit like MJP was saying with us needing a point of difference, GWS being based in Sydney (which just quietly is an awesome city, and they aren't even proper West) means they can use that in association with whatever other competitive advantage they can drum up. I think their policy of being arseholes on field in the first 5 years hasn't helped them win respect as an on field destination, but if they can start to build a culture around some leader types they have the tools to be an attractive club to play for.

As for off field yes they have small crowds and don't seem to have made huge progress, but I think it's easy to underestimate the impact Covid had on all the newer clubs across the country that are still trying to convert mild interest into rusted on fans. Half of Sydney is a huge catchment and they will keep growing, it's probably not going quite as well as hoped but I expect the next 10 years was where they anticipated the club really kicking on anyway, whether or not it's poised to do that I'm unsure but its worth sticking it out.

[Scraggers]

GWS are fast becoming the Kansas City Athletics of the AFL.

For those who don't know, before they moved to Oakland the A's played in Kansas City. They were infamous for developing MLB players to the point that they were just about to break out as superstars and get a significant pay rise, and then trading them to teams like the New York Yankees.

GWS seem to be going down the path of drafting top end talent and developing the players into ready-made AFL stars, and then selling the players to the highest bidder.

Is that the pre-cursor to the Moneyball movie?

[azabob]

This thread will do.

Apparently some of their players did some un savoury actions at their mad Monday and likely suspensions to be handed down.

Multiple players facing bans as AFL launches investigation into GWS Giants’ end-of-season party
An end-of-season function has gone horribly wrong and the integrity unit has stepped in.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/multiple-players-facing-bans-as-afl-launches-investigation-into-gws-giants-end-of-season-party-c-16401527

[bulldogtragic]

This thread will do.

Apparently some of their players did some un savoury actions at their mad Monday and likely suspensions to be handed down.

Multiple players facing bans as AFL launches investigation into GWS Giants’ end-of-season party
An end-of-season function has gone horribly wrong and the integrity unit has stepped in.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/multiple-players-facing-bans-as-afl-launches-investigation-into-gws-giants-end-of-season-party-c-16401527

Must be really bad. I thought the line was school girl sex and lighting dwarves on fire as being ok. Or is that Vic club rule?

[hujsh]

"Cleary said there were no victims from the public" lol

[GVGjr]

This thread will do.

Apparently some of their players did some un savoury actions at their mad Monday and likely suspensions to be handed down.

Multiple players facing bans as AFL launches investigation into GWS Giants? end-of-season party
An end-of-season function has gone horribly wrong and the integrity unit has stepped in.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/multiple-players-facing-bans-as-afl-launches-investigation-into-gws-giants-end-of-season-party-c-16401527

Clubs can educate players but it's questionable if they learn much from it. Lets see how this one plays out.

[Go_Dogs]

Sounds like a player tipped them in. Won’t end well.

[Mitcha]

Bringing Stringer in to elevate their culture and leadership.

[bornadog]

Sounds like a player tipped them in. Won’t end well.
Might be a player that is being traded.

I wonder if XOH is involved

[azabob]

Sounds like a player tipped them in. Won’t end well.

More likely someone who was working the event and not a GWS representative.

[Axe Man]

I must be missing something here - how are some bad taste jokes and skits in a private room fine and suspension worthy? Perhaps more details will emerge as the whole thing doesn't make sense on the info to hand.

More details emerge on GWS? post-season function which could lead to suspensions and fines (https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/10/15/more-details-emerge-on-gws-post-season-function-which-could-lead-to/)

Tom Morris has some details relating to the post-season function of the GWS Giants which has recently come to light.

SEN regular and Channel 9 journalist Morris says six players could be suspended and at least one player could be fined $20,000 for the Wacky Wednesday incidents which occurred in a private room at a pub.

It is understood that there was no illegal activity, but some of the skits performed by players and jokes told were highly inappropriate.

?There are still a lot of details coming to hand, I?m not going to try to oversell this and tell you that I know everything that went on a few weeks ago on ?Wacky Wednesday?,? Morris aid on SEN Breakfast.

?It?s the belief of the Giants players that the story got out because the bartender at the pub made a complaint. They were in a private room.

?A couple of players did a skit from a movie, one player who is set to be fined quite significantly dressed up as Raygun. I can?t imagine that player being fined for dressing up as Raygun, but who knows what actions that player did.

?For Adelaide fans, Isaac Cumming and James Peatling won?t be suspended from the start of the season. They?re not facing suspensions.

?I understand there is going to be around six suspended players. One young player in particular, who is said to have made an ill-informed joke about P-Diddy, is set for the harshest suspension.

?The Giants found out about this a few weeks ago, some key players found out about it on prelim final weekend and in the last 48 hours the Giants have been shocked to learn that actual suspensions were on the cards.

?I?m told some of the players are pushing back on the suspensions, believing it?s a private room, nothing illegal occurred. The AFL and the Integrity Unit has had time to consider it, digest it and investigate it.

?Given that around six players are set to be suspended and fines of up to $20,000 are set to be handed out, you?d have to suggest there is more to this.

?I?m just telling you what I know.?

Morris added: ?I also think the Giants players and the club need to be forthcoming with exactly what happened because they?re all being tarnished with the same brush as being super offensive or harming.?

Morris believes the AFL will make a call on the incident in the next 24 to 48 hours.

[bornadog]

I must be missing something here - how are some bad taste jokes and skits in a private room fine and suspension worthy? Perhaps more details will emerge as the whole thing doesn't make sense on the info to hand..

Now that we know what happened - disgraceful behaviour

[Sedat]

More likely someone who was working the event and not a GWS representative.
Yep, a bartender made the complaint.

Supposedly the skits in question were referencing P Diddy and also Raygun. Not sure a private event where there has been some edgy comedy material demands the AFEL integrity unit come in all guns blazing, but then again you have to protect the optics - I guess that rules out Ricky Gervais or Dave Chappelle ever hosting the Brownlow then.

I dont know, perhaps some of their resources could be used down at Shithole Park to make sure the salary cap hasn't been systematically rorted for the last 15 odd years.

[jazzadogs]

Morris added: "I also think the Giants players and the club need to be forthcoming with exactly what happened because they're all being tarnished with the same brush as being super offensive or harming."

Thanks Tom. You were probably sitting in the crowd laughing along with the boys.

[JanLorMill]

Yep, a bartender made the complaint.

Supposedly the skits in question were referencing P Diddy and also Raygun. Not sure a private event where there has been some edgy comedy material demands the AFEL integrity unit come in all guns blazing, but then again you have to protect the optics - I guess that rules out Ricky Gervais or Dave Chappelle ever hosting the Brownlow then.

I dont know, perhaps some of their resources could be used down at Shithole Park to make sure the salary cap hasn't been systematically rorted for the last 15 odd years.
Any team that still does dress ups for their mad Monday should banned. ;) They are funny for 5 seconds.

[bulldogtragic]

Edmund saying players dressed up as Jarrad Hayne, Giddey etc and invoked sex dolls.

Apparently 6 week bans on the table.

[bornadog]

Edmund saying players dressed up as Jarrad Hayne, Giddey etc and invoked sex dolls.

Apparently 6 week bans on the table.

https://i.gifer.com/origin/5c/5c404a6d396004b097e71776b92fc920_w200.gif

[Grantysghost]

Edmund saying players dressed up as Jarrad Hayne, Giddey etc and invoked sex dolls.

Apparently 6 week bans on the table.
Why would you even do that. I've seen it all, played in the 90s so I've got trauma but nowadays it's just not worth it.

[Sedat]

Edmund saying players dressed up as Jarrad Hayne, Giddey etc and invoked sex dolls.

Apparently 6 week bans on the table.
They should have OD'd in a Geelong nightclub and been rushed to ER in order to avoid any sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute.

[GVGjr]

Leadership and development programs clubs put in place are very hit and miss. The fact that some players can't recognise when to pull back from mates doing the wrong thing is concerning given all the education they receive.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Edmund saying players dressed up as Jarrad Hayne, Giddey etc and invoked sex dolls.

Apparently 6 week bans on the table.

Well.....no wonder they're pulling out of the Stringer deal.

[azabob]

My favourite part is Toby Greene being fined $20k for not showing leadership.

The karma bus still has a way to go before it catches up with Toby.

[jazzadogs]

They should have OD's in a Geelong nightclub and been rushed to ER in order to avoid any sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute.

The gws media machine isn't quite as powerful as others...

[bornadog]

Connors still trying to get Stringer to GWS

[GVGjr]

From Mitch Cleary

Breaking - Sanctions for GWS players:

Josh Fahey - Four matches

Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas, Cooper Hamilton - All two matches

Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Lachie Keeffe - All $5k

New Magpie Harry Perryman - $5k

[jeemak]

I'm so glad skits and doing homophobes at people attract maximum fines, but caving heads only does sometimes.

[hujsh]

From Mitch Cleary

Breaking - Sanctions for GWS players:

Josh Fahey - Four matches

Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas, Cooper Hamilton - All two matches

Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Lachie Keeffe - All $5k

New Magpie Harry Perryman - $5k

That's interesting that most of those blokes are best 22 at least and best 5 in some cases and the blokes getting suspended aren't. Funny how that works sometimes.

[jazzadogs]

That's interesting that most of those blokes are best 22 at least and best 5 in some cases and the blokes getting suspended aren't. Funny how that works sometimes.

I don't think it's quite the conspiracy you think - older players fined for not showing leadership, while the younger players were the ones performing the offensive skits.

[mighty_west]

You have fully professional sportsmen earning massive coin, heck even minimum wage is still huge compared to most of us and act like complete dickheads, got what they deserved, if they don't like it go play local footy and work their 9-5 day job supporting the wife and kids.

[GVGjr]

That's interesting that most of those blokes are best 22 at least and best 5 in some cases and the blokes getting suspended aren't. Funny how that works sometimes.

Just talking to a mate and we both noticed the same. It's more than a bit suspect.

[whythelongface]

You have fully professional sportsmen earning massive coin, heck even minimum wage is still huge compared to most of us and act like complete dickheads, got what they deserved, if they don't like it go play local footy and work their 9-5 day job supporting the wife and kids.

I just don’t get the whole mad Monday dress up and piss up. You just know it is going to get out of hand. Nothing wrong with going out for some drinks, enjoying time together and having a good old time but gee when you have a theme called controversial couples and players come dressed as people who have been convicted of serious sexual assault allegations you are asking for trouble. Where is the leadership to stop this from happening-it is akin to some work Christmas parties where anything goes under the guise of people having fun and letting their hair down. Great that the AFL have stepped in and sanctioned players but the leaders do need to be made more accountable.

[chef]

I don't think it's quite the conspiracy you think - older players fined for not showing leadership, while the younger players were the ones performing the offensive skits.

Not really how leadership should work imo.

Certainly vibes of keeping best 22 players on the field.