Cameron Ling blasts Geelong for making public comments about Jimmy Bartel’s uncertain future

GEELONG premiership captain Cameron Ling has slammed his former club for its public commentary on champion Jimmy Bartel’s uncertain playing future.

GEELONG premiership captain Cameron Ling has slammed his former club for its public commentary on champion Jimmy Bartel’s uncertain playing future.

Ling said his three-time premiership teammate would be “filthy” at last week’s headlines suggesting Bartel could be forced to play VFL in 2017 should he decide to prolong his decorated career.

Bartel, 32, will trigger a clause in his current contract guaranteeing a deal for next season, but must decide whether to retire or keep going.

In Round 19 Bartel celebrated his 300th game and just days Cats chief executive Brian Cook told the Herald Sun “there’s a couple of things (Bartel) needs to consider” when he weighs up his future.

Since then Bartel and coach Chris Scott have weighed in with the popular Brownlow Medallist uncomfortable with the prospect of being forced into the reserves.

Ling was upset the Cats had gone on the record about the sensitive topic in a period the football world was celebrating one of the game’s most decorated players in history.

Jimmy Bartel is chaired off the field after playing his 300th career game.

Ling noted that while Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson would hold similar conversations with his superstar veterans, the Hawks were better at keeping discussions in-house.

“I just felt there was nothing to be gained by talking about Jimmy Bartel’s future,” Ling said on 3AW on Sunday.

“I don’t know why it was put on public record. Jimmy would be filthy about it. Jimmy would be not happy whatsoever.

“Especially the timing of it. A month out from finals, just after he’s played his 300th game — just let the bloke concentrate on being the best player he can be for the rest of this year.”

Former Cat Paul Chapman urged the club to treat Bartel with more respect, fearing it was forcing the Norm Smith winner into retirement.

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“What they’re trying to do is push him out the door and that’s evident,” Chapman said.

“You sign a contract with a trigger to play again and you get there because you’ve played well enough and your body is obviously good enough to get there.

“Then they throw in this thing about VFL — but if he’s playing good enough footy, how can you play someone in the VFL?”

Ling revealed Scott warned there was an outside chance he could have to play some VFL games in the 2011 pre-season.

Ling retired at that season, Scott’s first as coach, after captaining the Cats to their third premiership in five years.

Jimmy Bartel has had an outstanding season but is out of contract at the end of this year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I said to (Scott) straight up, ‘Yep, I appreciate you having that conversation. Trust me, it’s not going to happen, because my training performance, my playing performance (and) everything I do I’m going to make sure I’m always in the best 18’.

“I don’t understand why it was put on the agenda publicly to be talking about Jimmy Bartel’s contract for next year.

“I know he’s about to trigger a clause, but have that conversation internally.

“Get to the end of the season and say to Jimmy, ‘OK you’ve triggered this clause, here are the scenarios that could happen’.

“Let him make his call.”

The Cats last season moved on premiership greats Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Mathew Stokes with all finding new homes.