People on here raved on about the "culture" of the club when we were losing but over the last few years the world hardly ever gets used. Some players are key to a clubs culture and even though I have no inside information I would think Graham is one of those. It's imperative to keep the bond of the playing group close and trading these sorts of guys doesn't help that. Look at what other clubs have copied from us over the last few years, game plan and tightness of the playing group and you can see it's such an important part of success. My vote is to try and keep him if possible. Hope we can do that.
Exactly the point I have been trying to make but clearly haven't as well as this post
HRT, just on your comment shout having Taranto & Hopper over Graham. Understand your point but wouldn't you want a Graham over a Ross, Castagna, Dow?
Castagna is a three times premiership plyer and clearly a much liked player of the whole group but ther would be no comment about the culture with him if he should get the arse.
I don't get how many times does it have to be said just because you have a premiership it does not neccesarily make you a better player fmd there are so so many instances riddled thru the history of the game where some pretty average players have won a flag or more and played 100 plus games.
As for the culture it was built and continues to be driven by the many oler players we now have at the club. Losing a few popular players wont chabge that.
I think the way F/A and the way players are changing clubs regularly goes it will have little bearing on the so called culture players won't be upset at Graham wanting out or being offered up for trade that is how the system works today.
We have all watched JG and we all think our versions of JG are the right versions based on what we see. That leaves just one other avenue and thats the stats and boy we have a decent body of work to judge him by almost 100 games.
The stats in anyones language are saying average player who is miles behind others and in particular the two lads we are going to bring in.
I think Jack knows the writing is on the wall and he will not get a game in the midfield for us. Nor will others Ross Dow etc not unless we are ruined by injury and that makes all of em nothing but depth players.
Anyway 97 games in and Mr Graham goes at
16.6 DISPOSALS that has to be below average for a mid.
0.4 Goals yep hes a good kick for goal but he is hardly prolific.
5.6 Tackles Thats pretty good but a lot of inside bulls are around this not getting a heap of ball and his pace says to me this will always be high.
1.8 Clearances sheesh no wonder we are after blokes like Taranto and Hopper.
6.1 Contested possesions again an are we needed to fix hence the arrival of Hopper and Taranto.
I/50 Are okay G/A Ordinary what else lacks pace but has a good kick bottom line is what are we losing here an okay player who is also a good club man. it is not going to rip the heart out of us.