From the press conference I reckon Sheeds deep down wasn't happy. He's continually publicly backed Izzy when others have told him he's wasting his time with Izzy.
There'll be a short term hit as the anti-Aussie Rules types in Sydney media will go to town claiming the "NRL is fighting back"
but it's actually solved a problem for GWS' list as now they can focus all their energies on the development of Cameron and Patton as their key forward duo for the next decade. They can also now chase Tippett, given they have first pick in both the National and Preseason drafts, so they have a ready-made experienced key forward in place while the other two develop around him.
As for Izzy he claims he didn't have his heart in it so it was best he left. It just makes you admire Karmichael Hunt even more who has been able to fully commit himself to whichever footy code he has played. As far as a lesson for the AFL, it says if you are going to target players from other codes then they need to be genuine committed for the long haul, they needed to have played the game at junior/teenage level at least so they have some knowledge of how the game is played, and they need to have good endurance on top of their natural athleticism. One thing Izzy didn't have was endurance; he was a burst power player in the NRL. At least Hunt, once he got his body shape down to that of an AFL player, could run and run hence his move into the Suns' midfield.
