Johno to take a Pay Cut to Keep the Eagle!

[LostDoggy]

Brad Johnson has indicated to the club on behalf of a group of players that they will take a pay cut to keep Nathan Eagleton at the club.....

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/dogs-bid-to-keep-eagleton/2009/10/22/1256147842209.html

[Go_Dogs]

Great news, Johnno is just a dead set legend. I wonder who the other senior players may be?

Also, interesting tid bit at the end, talking about the Child Care centre and inferring that it may have caused a few issues between Lake and Eagleton. From memory, wasn't Cooney involved in this venture too?

[Murphy'sLore]

Doesn't it make you proud? Johnno showing true leadership, what a great gesture from the senior players.

btw, if the leadership group is so keen to keep Eagle that they've offered to make this sacrifice, they must really value his contribution (even though there have been some comments on here bagging him a bit).

[Doc26]

That is indeed pleasing news to read stealing a page from the recent Geelong book of self sacrifice. Good on you Johnno and the other lads leading the charge.

[Axe Man]

Great gesture by the players involved. If they are that desperate to keep Eagle that they are willing to take pay cuts then that's a good enough reason for me for him to play on. I only hope that it's good enough for all the Eagleton bashers out there as well.

[Mantis]

Nearly spat my weet-bix out when I read this article this morning.

NO!!!!!!

[Topdog]

Nearly spat my weet-bix out when I read this article this morning.

NO!!!!!!

Haha when i saw the story i was looking forward to your response.

[LostDoggy]

Nice one Johnno & other senior players. :)

[LostDoggy]

Just can't help contrasting this to the Lake 'saga'. Completely contrasting attitudes, and while the Brian story was hyped by the media, the difference is still palpable, one was about 'me', one was about team.

Sure, we can say that Brian was underpaid previously, and Johnno is probably on very good coin as it is, but it's still very good.

Ps. I REALLY like how the club has used the Eagle situation too to maybe recalibrate some too-high salaries of some of the senior players while making them feel like they're contributing to the future success of the club.

[EasternWest]

Nearly spat my weet-bix out when I read this article this morning.

NO!!!!!!

Wow, what a great leader Johnno is. And let's not forget to mention the unnamed senior players who have also agreed.

Mantis, I'm interested to know why you dislike Eagleton so much? I've always been a bit of a critic too, but he's slowly won me over with his durability and ability to respond to the pressures applied to him by the coaches. I mean, I'm still quick to jump off at times, but when we talk about Eagle in hindsight it will be hard not to acknowledge that he has in fact had a terrific career.

As a close friend of mine says "He's a midget. The fact that he even made it to the AFL is a miracle".

[mighty_west]

I know some supporters will be a bit miffed if Eagleton stays, and it's not like he can't go on again, his body seems sound, but i believe something like this could be the difference between thinking you have a shot and KNOWING you have a realistic shot at a Premiership.

For the players to take a bit of a cut to keep players there, the generally believe they can go all the way, and not just have hope, and that real belief will the difference in the end.

Will Eagleton be the difference? Probably not, but the overall feeling in the group will be and making those sacrifices for team success, it is just as much a mental mind set than anything.

[Mantis]

Wow, what a great leader Johnno is. And let's not forget to mention the unnamed senior players who have also agreed.

Mantis, I'm interested to know why you dislike Eagleton so much? I've always been a bit of a critic too, but he's slowly won me over with his durability and ability to respond to the pressures applied to him by the coaches. I mean, I'm still quick to jump off at times, but when we talk about Eagle in hindsight it will be hard not to acknowledge that he has in fact had a terrific career.

As a close friend of mine says "He's a midget. The fact that he even made it to the AFL is a miracle".

My before mentioned post was in jest, like most of my posts on the bald one are, well sometimes at least.

It is no secret he isn't one of my favourites, I feel that when the whips start cracking, he goes missing, especially in big games (his finals record is pretty poor for such an experienced player).

I am sure he will be given ample opportunties this year (if he is re-signed which looks likely), but I just hope that our young guys step up next year to really challenge the likes of Eagleton for a spot in the senior team because to take the next step our side needs to improve and personally I don't see Eagleton as part of our improved side.

[LostDoggy]

Nearly spat my weet-bix out when I read this article this morning.

NO!!!!!!

I feel your pain, my brother!! ;)

[Throughandthrough]

I bet we never find out who the players are that put their hand up.

[KT31]

I bet we never find out who the players are that put their hand up.

I bet you TCD does.

[KT31]

Great to see it's about winning a flag and keeping the core group together.
I thought Johnno might have relinquished the captaincy next season , but now I hope not.

[strebla]

My before mentioned post was in jest, like most of my posts on the bald one are, well sometimes at least.

It is no secret he isn't one of my favourites, I feel that when the whips start cracking, he goes missing, especially in big games (his finals record is pretty poor for such an experienced player).

I am sure he will be given ample opportunties this year (if he is re-signed which looks likely), but I just hope that our young guys step up next year to really challenge the likes of Eagleton for a spot in the senior team because to take the next step our side needs to improve and personally I don't see Eagleton as part of our improved side.

Spot on Mantis I think he will be the starting wingman next year and hopefully gets overtaken during the year by the likes of Hill and Stack

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I am sure he will be given ample opportunties this year (if he is re-signed which looks likely), but I just hope that our young guys step up next year to really challenge the likes of Eagleton for a spot in the senior team because to take the next step our side needs to improve and personally I don't see Eagleton as part of our improved side.

Either.

Perhaps the club is keen to re-sign Eagleton because of the injuries to Wood and Reid? Both these two look the most capable of our younger brigade but they've had fairly big operations which will set them back. For a young player, it's exactly what you don't need.

Club might view holding onto Eagle as important in this regard - particularly for the first half of the year.

[LostDoggy]

Nearly spat my weet-bix out when I read this article this morning.

NO!!!!!!

I agree wholeheartedly. WTF.

[Sedat]

Rocket's only doing this so that 'The Bald Eagle' thread can get to 100 pages

[KT31]

Rocket's only doing this so that 'The Bald Eagle' thread can get to 100 pages

And is one of few in the team who can avoid a flood and kick a goal from 55m.
Not sure about Stack but Hill can't.

[Remi Moses]

very commendable act from our group. The dibs on the Eagle is his failure in the real crunch games i.e prelim finals

[GVGjr]

Doesn't it make you proud? Johnno showing true leadership, what a great gesture from the senior players.

btw, if the leadership group is so keen to keep Eagle that they've offered to make this sacrifice, they must really value his contribution (even though there have been some comments on here bagging him a bit).

No doubt he is popular in the playing group but I wonder if this will really help the side.
Johnson is such a great team man it's no wonder he was the first to put his hand up.

[Doc26]

No doubt he is popular in the playing group but I wonder if this will really help the side.

I'm not really sold either way on Nathan staying or going.

He's a competent and consistent flat track bully which should help us to get over the line in games we should otherwise win but at times struggle to do so. He is also more than familiar with our game plan and his role in that and would seem respected by his team mates.

On the flip side though and has often been commented on he can go missing in the crunch games and in crunch moments but then he also has some mates at times in this category.

I'm slightly inclined to err on the side of retaining him for coverage and for tactical match ups so long as development of his successor through 2010 is not impeded by Nathan filling a regular senior spot.

[EasternWest]

I pretty much agree with your entire post Doc. Well put.