Andrew B Cox
Sydney Middleton (9)
Hi guys, I've been very interested in this thread, particularly as I've been quite close to these West Harbour players over the past year. There are a couple of factors here that need mentioning.
The first is that clubs tend to recruit from clubs below them, rather than above. West Harbour has suffered because it's been sitting around position 6-9 for the past few decades. The club produces players of ability but has trouble retaining them as they are quite attractive to better clubs. It makes it difficult to build performances over a number of years, because continuity is nigh impossible. For example, 18 players of first grade in 2010 had left the club before January this year. That's a lot to replace.
The other point is that player-managers need to turn players over to improve their business. A manager has little interest in the investment a club, with its part-time and volunteer staff, has made in a player's development. So if you're a good player in a mid-table club, a manager can win both ways- the promotion to a better club helps his client to play with better company and showcase his talents, and he can earn more cash because it is easier for a good club to buy from below than buy from above.
Whether Stu was involved with Steve Cummins, I can't comment. However, He'd probably have his number and may have given him a call. And quite frankly, who could blame him? He should act on Eastwood's behalf, after all , they gave him an opportunity this year.
At the end of the day, a player moves, and it is no-ones responsibility but his. Perhaps one of the greatest joys in sport is to be part of something that is greater than yourself- to build something from the ground up, and to revel in shared achievement. If a player chooses to abandon that in order to serve his ambitions, so be it. But he is the lesser for it.
Both Steve and Liam are players who make a difference at West Harbour. I'm sure the whole club will be saddened if they have chosen to depart.
The first is that clubs tend to recruit from clubs below them, rather than above. West Harbour has suffered because it's been sitting around position 6-9 for the past few decades. The club produces players of ability but has trouble retaining them as they are quite attractive to better clubs. It makes it difficult to build performances over a number of years, because continuity is nigh impossible. For example, 18 players of first grade in 2010 had left the club before January this year. That's a lot to replace.
The other point is that player-managers need to turn players over to improve their business. A manager has little interest in the investment a club, with its part-time and volunteer staff, has made in a player's development. So if you're a good player in a mid-table club, a manager can win both ways- the promotion to a better club helps his client to play with better company and showcase his talents, and he can earn more cash because it is easier for a good club to buy from below than buy from above.
Whether Stu was involved with Steve Cummins, I can't comment. However, He'd probably have his number and may have given him a call. And quite frankly, who could blame him? He should act on Eastwood's behalf, after all , they gave him an opportunity this year.
At the end of the day, a player moves, and it is no-ones responsibility but his. Perhaps one of the greatest joys in sport is to be part of something that is greater than yourself- to build something from the ground up, and to revel in shared achievement. If a player chooses to abandon that in order to serve his ambitions, so be it. But he is the lesser for it.
Both Steve and Liam are players who make a difference at West Harbour. I'm sure the whole club will be saddened if they have chosen to depart.
