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Let them play by Matt Harrington, Radio Sport 927 June 14, 2002 It's disappointing this week to read the media speculation surrounding Kangaroos coach Denis Pagan. It's been reported that the Roos' coach of the past decade has rejected a new contract from the club. That's fine, it's his personal decision. The disappointing aspect is that the club is putting forward a contract to him now at the halfway mark of the season. Pagan rejecting this offer opens a Pandora's box for the media. Why hasn't he signed? Is he leaving? Where will he go? It's this speculation which will lead to Kangaroo players and fans eventually thinking that he will be packing his bags at the end of the season. With the club starting the season well - considering the turmoil the Roos' season started in - this has the potential to have an adverse effect on the club, both on and off the field.
The pressure that was on Davis earlier this season was disgraceful, and the fact he has played some good football under this media scrutiny is a credit to his character. This could have been avoided. The young star should have had the chance to play good football without the glare from fuming fans. In this situation, with his future hanging in the public domain, there is a chance he would become a scapegoat for fans. Each time he under performs, his commitment will be questioned. No-one needs, or deserves, this scrutiny. It's time the AFL followed the lead of some American sports and implemented new rules to delay contract negotiations until after each season. This new period needs to be introduced to stop the unnecessary speculation, which has the potential to detract from team and individual performances. Under the new format clubs would need to finalise their coach within three weeks of the Grand Final. The following week the clubs would have an opportunity to re-sign their players. Following the re-signing week, opposition clubs would get the chance to talk with uncontracted players. The next step in the process would be the trade period, which would last for a week. At the completion of the contract negotiations, clubs would be in the position to know which players they have kept, who they've picked up, and what they need. Then the national draft could follow. This format could promote a meat market at the end of each season, and allow a money-hungry footballer to name his price, but it would rid contract issues during the season. The season should be about results on the fields, not about who's playing where in the future. Each signing period, a club has the chance to reward well-performed players by signing them to new or extended contracts, giving each club the chance to keep their team together. This idea has potential. The biggest negative would be upsetting the media hounds, forcing them to dig elsewhere for their juicy controversial backpage headlines. Balls and All.....this month • Just one serving at a time Matt Harrington, 13 June 2002 • Roo star under-rated Matt Harrington, 7 June 2002 • Superstars or prima donnas Matt Harrington, 5 June 2002 • Index of all stories |
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