Rd 4: Post Game Pain: Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs

[blue4life]

Im not solely of the belief we were doing everything wrong with regards to our players, but I think these guys leaving our club to go to places where they can play the roles that gets the best out of them as opposed to staying with us, where we needed them to shoulder heavier loads has a lot to do with their fortunes even if it is negatively impacting ours.

Not since Fevola was at the club was Waite able to play the role he was better suited to, and even back then we were still short one tall (pardon the pun).

Betts left for the money pure and simple, Waite left for the length of the contract.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but given Waite's injury history and our stage of development at the time it would have been insane to offer him three years, just imagine the outcry if we had and he played 6 or 8 games a year in those years.
North sees itself as a Premiership chance this year or next and has added experienced and classy, albeit injury prone, players like Waite and Higgins to maximise their chances, Hawthorn did the same with great success so you can't wonder at their strategy.
Personally I have no issues with players looking after number one because clubs are ruthless going the other way, so good luck to both Waite and Betts as far as I'm concerned.
As it happens I think Waite played his best football at Carlton in the back half, but we have been so light on for forwards over the past decade that we were left with no option.