Read an interesting article from 3aw yesterday and thought it would be in an interesting debate/topic.
It’s 50 years to the day since Ron Barassi famously jumped ship from Melbourne to be appointed captain-coach of Carlton in a deal that rocked the football world.
In what remains arguably the game’s most infamous defection, 3AW decided to run through the game’s most controversial moves since Barassi left the Demons.
Chris Judd (West Coast to Carlton)
A premiership captain and Brownlow medallist at just 24, Judd requested a trade to Carlton in 2007 after being courted by a handful of Melbourne-based clubs.
Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong to Gold Coast)
Speculation was rife all throughout the 2010 season the game’s best player was going to join the expansion club. And he did.
Ross Lyon (St Kilda to Fremantle)
In stunning circumstances, the St Kilda coach quit during the 2011 finals series to join the Dockers in a shock move that saw Mark Harvey axed as Fremantle coach.
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn to Sydney)
Many expected the superstar forward to head to the harbour city at the end of the 2013 season. It’s just that it was supposed to be to sign with GWS, not Sydney. The Swans snatched Franklin from their rivals just a year after luring Kurt Tippett from Adelaide in another blockbuster deal.
Leigh Colbert (Geelong to North Melbourne)
Appointed Geelong Captain for the 1999 season but failed to play a game due to injury. Colbert requested a trade to North Melbourne at the end of the season. He never captained Geelong in a match.
Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs to GWS)
The shock of the 2014 trade period. Griffen requested a change of scenery seemingly out of nowhere, forcing the Bulldogs into a corner. They declared they wouldn’t trade him, but ended up doing a deal that saw them land young forward Tom Boyd.
Kelvin Templeton (Footscray to Melbourne)
He was captain of the Bulldogs and had kicked 494 goals, won the 1980 Brownlow, two best-and-fairests and two Coleman medals when he was poached by the Demons as part of a million dollar deal that also yielded Collingwood skipper Peter Moore.
Ian Stewart (St Kilda to Richmond)
A dual Brownlow medallist at the time of his move, Stewart crossed to Richmond in a swap with Bill Barrett at the beginning of the 1971 season. Stewart went onto win his third Brownlow in his first season with the Tigers.
Nathan Buckley (Brisbane to Collingwood)
Signed by the Bears as a zone selection, Buckley initially resisted playing for the league’s new franchise. A deal was eventually struck with Collingwood that saw the talented youngster play the 1993 season with Brisbane before heading south to join the game’s biggest club.
Tom Scully (Melbourne to GWS)
Going into the 2011 season, the No.1 draft pick declared his loyalty to Melbourne. But after a season of intense speculation, the 20-year-old flew to Sydney to inspect the Giants’ training base, and while there announced he had decided to accept a six-year contract that made him the highest-paid player in AFL history.
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Read an interesting article from 3aw yesterday and thought it would be in an interesting debate/topic.
I’m not sure whether i’d agree with all of the above because the more history between the two clubs as rivals, the bigger the defection IMO. As a result, I didn’t really care about Tom Scully or Ryan Griffen.
Of all those above Lance was the biggest of more recent times. I’m not sure how Greg Williams to Carlton didn’t make the list.
So it got me thinking what do people think are the 10 biggest defections relating to our club over the last 50 years?
I’ve only been following the game closely for the last 30 so here is my quick attempt in no particular order which I’m sure will be improved upon.
Gavin Wangeneen to Port Adelaide
Patrick Ryder to Port Adelaide
Roger Merrett to Brisbane
Paul Salmon to Hawthorn
Brendan Goddard to Essendon
Derek Kickett to Sydney
Mark Thompson to Essendon (as coach)
Blake Caracella to Brisbane
I know there were a few others that may have been big like Raines or Carmen to Essendon, but was too young too remember. I remember being disappointed that Blumfield and Hardwick left but i’m not sure they would qualify as big defections so I’ll leave the list at that.