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Ryan Griffen’s walkout is the most significant event of the 2014 post-season. It has placed Brendan McCartney on notice and underlined the new landscape in which contracts have become virtually irrelevant and some coaches struggle to retain authority.
If there is a temptation to view Griffen’s request for a trade as the seismic Buddy Franklin moment of this trading period, it is actually a completely different event, just as the reserved Griffen is nothing like flamboyant Buddy.
Griffen, unlike Buddy, is not leaving for treasure. The Giants plan to pay him less than he would receive at Whitten Oval. They can’t afford a rock-star contract.
Griffen also hasn’t selected as his destination a club that is close to a premiership – he isn’t following the successful path of Brian Lake. Unlike Allen Christensen, he doesn’t have particular personal reasons behind his wish for the newly fashionable “fresh start”.
No, Griffen’s motives, from what we can gather, are more about rediscovering enjoyment in his workplace. The captaincy also weighed heavily upon him.
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It will be difficult for the Dogs to dissuade him. As some who know him suggested, a decision of this type wasn’t easily made, and once made, Griffen is not for turning.
Part, but not all, of Griffen’s motive relates to his relationship with McCartney, who has had issues with senior players during 2014. Bulldogs president Peter Gordon’s statement has squarely addressed the Griffen-McCartney relationship – or, more accurately, Griffen’s concerns about McCartney.
By making some of the less-than-pristine linen public, Gordon short-circuited speculation.
Griffen had raised concerns about the coach with Gordon, who told the chief executive, who told the coach. McCartney acknowledged faults and “agreed to work on them”.
“Having returned to Australia on Tuesday night and without any further discussion with us after giving that agreement, Ryan informed us that he had changed his mind.
“We were also informed that he was seeking a trade to GWS – with whom we now understand he was in communication during this time,” Gordon said with trademark candour.
“We are extremely disappointed at his approach and have no intention of indulging it.”
Today the Bulldogs are upset because, in their minds, Griffen had agreed to give the club and McCartney another chance. Was Griffen nodding his head agreeably to avoid conflict? Who knows. But whatever interpretation is placed on that conversation doesn’t matter. He’s out.
Griffen went on a trip to Italy with his girlfriend, and the Mediterranean air didn’t diminish the concerns he had harboured about McCartney and the club environment.
His choice of club, GWS, is best explained by two factors – one was his relationships with coach Leon Cameron, captain Callan Ward, and another Giant, Dylan Addison – all alumni of Whitten Oval.
Cameron spent several years with the Dogs as assistant coach – Griffen’s formative years – and the pair had a relaxed and comfortable working relationship.
The other factor that went in GWS’s favour was Griffen’s wish to be off-Broadway. Griffen would prefer just to play with a minimum of fuss. He would choose the Blue Mountains over the Blues.
The upshot is he has the Dogs bristling, wondering how this could have been avoided and what is required to repair the internal damage.
The Dogs shouldn’t sack McCartney. He should coach into 2015, without any guarantees. Yet amid the crisis, the club can surely glimpse an opportunity.
Griffen will turn 29 soon and has perhaps three years left, by which stage the Dogs might not have the premiership window open. Griffen has only one year left on his contract and would be a free agent next year. The return, if he left, would be underwhelming – an end-of-first-round pick perhaps, or less.
The Giants have pick No.4 and will shortly have pick No.7. There is little sense in the Bulldogs, who won’t contend for a while, retaining Griffen in their circumstances.
This story first appeared in The Age
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