To answer your question simply- yes all 3 deserved contract extensions. Knowbody knows what they are getting paid, Grigg at the time of his extension was playing ok and had earnt his extension. At the time he was in our best 22 but should have been fased out by now but Dimma in his wisdom refuses to play kids in front of him. IMO if he was still on our list but only playing when we had some injuries would be ok with me.
Vickery and Conca are both still young, both have played some good footy and both are early draft picks that deserve extra time to improve especially Vickery being a tall. If we decide they are not the right fit for us at least if they are contracted we get to trade them for someone we might think can do a better job. If uncontracted they can walk and we get nothing.
Pretty simple stuff really.
It's not about what they are being paid. It is about someone like Vickery been given a 3 year extension. Based on his performances I'd argue an extension should have been 1 yr with an option of a 2nd based on certain criteria being met. Not a 3 year gift, he should be like others and made to earn his contract as opposed to being gifted 3 years because he was a first round draft pick or the fact he is a tall. How much more gifting do we have to do with this bloke. Other players haven't been afforded such a luxury
As for Grigg again should have been 1 yr with an option 2 years max, not 3. I scratch my head as to why we give blokes 3 year details when it's obvious that other sides arent' going to be chasing them. But we lock ourselves into contracts that are of no value at trade time because those players aren't of any interest to other clubs, so they aren't going to walk anywhere if no one else wants them. And being shackled with these dud contracts limits our ability to go after decent FAs
I rate Conca, but based on his injury history you have to question the logic behind a long deal.
I also agree with you re your comments about Dimma not playing kids, hence why we don't know if Elton is any good or going to be. Ditto McBean
Just on Hampson being a disaster, it's a pretty big word consider the list I gave you before- it was a miss but so was Post and most of the others.
Hampson was given a 3 year deal when he came to us (the year he had remaining + a further 2 years). He is currently running around in the VFL. He spent the 2nd half of 2014 in the VFL. Outside of being a reasonable tap ruckman he cannot take a mark to save himself and he's not much good at being a resting ruckman up forward because the marking issue plus the fact he isn't a great kick limits his ability to play that role. So based on what we gave up and considering the options available at the same trade period (eg McEvoy & Longer) that we didn't even consider because Hampson was "the man" then I think there is a fair argument to say based on where it currnetly sits it's been a disaster.