Player agent blasts Bulldogs
21 July 2004 Herald Sun
PLAYER agent Peter Jess last night blasted the Western Bulldogs' youth policy, claiming it was unfairly costing veteran Matthew Croft thousands of dollars.
Jess also questioned whether the Bulldogs were fielding their best possible side each week.
On behalf of Croft, Jess has written to the Bulldogs, the AFL Players Association and the AFL, seeking redress for what he says is a "total lack of respect that sends all the wrong messages".
"If you don't pick your best side, and Matthew should be in that best side, given his form in the VFL, what are the consequences?" Jess said.
"The consequences are you don't win games, there is a possibility that it can be construed that you are wanting to take advantage of the draft to get a priority pick."
Jess said the refusal to select Croft left the club open to questions about contriving for a low-ladder finish.
"(Croft) has given a lifetime of loyal service and dedication to the club and that hasn't been reciprocated," Jess said.
"Is he being discriminated against because of his age, rather than merit? If he is playing well, which he is, and he has demonstrated that, he should be selected.
"If this is a means by which they can drive themselves to a better position for draft picks, then I think that compromises the draft and compromises the integrity of the draft."
Jess would not reveal the financial component to Croft's contract.
"Not saying, but it was the second year he had agreed to take less; he helped save the club in the first place, so this is the second downgrading he has had," Jess said.
"His reward for helping the club is he gets excluded from being able to play.
"Where is the morality in that? There is no logical reason he shouldn't be playing league football. The only reason is they have made a conscious decision to end his football career. That is unfair."
Jess said he had not received return correspondence from Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose.
"Maybe he is too busy. Maybe he doesn't care. Maybe he can't read," he said.
Rose said Jess's questions regarding selection of the best possible team were ridiculous.
"I think you can read over the telephone my response to that -- I am dumbfounded," he said.
Bulldogs football operations manager Stephen Newport said the composition of the team was dependent on a number of factors.
"If it was purely done on performances in the VFL, I agree with him (Jess), but we have to develop players and every club is the same," he said.
"If you are not going to make the finals, then you have to look at getting games in to players. That is where we are at. Matthew has had discussions with Peter Rohde about this and he doesn't have any gripe with the club.
"I think he would be disappointed if there was any article in the paper about him having issues with the club.
"He has been here 14 years and if the circumstances are right, we are going to give him a farewell match and that will be a good opportunity for all Bulldogs supporters to come out and farewell him."
Croft, in the last year of a 14-season career, had his contract restructured after 2003, acceding to the club's request for a deal heavily loaded on performance.
Coach Peter Rohde recently told Croft and fellow veteran Simon Garlick they would be overlooked for senior selection as the side went with youth.
Both have consistently been among the best afield in matches for the Bulldogs-aligned VFL team, Werribee.
Since he last played senior football in Round 8 against Richmond, Croft has played in seven VFL matches, appearing in the official best players' list on six occasions.
Twice he was outright best player. Garlick has been among Werribee's best in three of the four matches he has played since he was last seen in the AFL.
AFLPA chief executive Rob Kerr recently responded to Jess's letter with a list of options available to Croft under the Collective Bargaining Agreement's grievances procedure.
"We have been involved in discussions and we wait to hear further," Kerr said.
It is understood Jess will delay pursuing the Croft matter until the end of the season.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10198207%255E20322,00.html
