smssia0112
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2005
Only game in the world where you would see such a situation - the Geelong Football Club (in the AFL) has now signed all but 3 of its premiership stars coming out of contract. They have all accepted significant pay cuts to stay together. Other than Steven King, all offered worse contracts have agreed to those weakened terms.
The players have turned down what could easily be a lucrative offer elsewhere to stay together. They now all have premiership medallions, 9 are All Australian (team of the year), one of them won the Brownlow Medal (best player in the league as voted by the umpires) and another won AFL PA (Players' Association) Most Valuable Player. Yet they have put their own personal achievements aside and negotiated deals well below their values to play at the club that gave them their chance. Imagine if Wayne Rooney was still at Everton because he felt pride for the club and loved his teammates. Even if Beckham had stayed at Manchester United, where he was already making a hell of a lot of money!
Lesser pay to stick together, to play for the same club. That is passion. That is real team spirit. Don't give me the 'soccer is a great sport with all its skill and excitement' argument, because this is the only sport you will see a side put their team and teammates before their pay cheque. I have never been prouder of the game and its players in my life.
With the arrogance, money chasing of so many players in European soccer leagues, and the fact that the club owners have all the money in the world but it can't always buy success, or team chemistry and spirit, isn't it a great story to see a side like this!
These are players who always give up goal opportunities to share it around, who never act like showboats and who acknowledge whoever set it up instead of cherry picking goals and then dancing as if they're the greatest of all time.
I love AFL and Geelong!
The players have turned down what could easily be a lucrative offer elsewhere to stay together. They now all have premiership medallions, 9 are All Australian (team of the year), one of them won the Brownlow Medal (best player in the league as voted by the umpires) and another won AFL PA (Players' Association) Most Valuable Player. Yet they have put their own personal achievements aside and negotiated deals well below their values to play at the club that gave them their chance. Imagine if Wayne Rooney was still at Everton because he felt pride for the club and loved his teammates. Even if Beckham had stayed at Manchester United, where he was already making a hell of a lot of money!
Lesser pay to stick together, to play for the same club. That is passion. That is real team spirit. Don't give me the 'soccer is a great sport with all its skill and excitement' argument, because this is the only sport you will see a side put their team and teammates before their pay cheque. I have never been prouder of the game and its players in my life.
With the arrogance, money chasing of so many players in European soccer leagues, and the fact that the club owners have all the money in the world but it can't always buy success, or team chemistry and spirit, isn't it a great story to see a side like this!
These are players who always give up goal opportunities to share it around, who never act like showboats and who acknowledge whoever set it up instead of cherry picking goals and then dancing as if they're the greatest of all time.
I love AFL and Geelong!
