The fallout from being honest about your intention to move clubs isn’t worth the abuse

IT’S the discussion that always rears its head with potential free agents: players can’t tell the club, their fans and the footy world of their intentions to leave prior to seasons end? Brendon Goddard outlines the pros and cons.

Brendon Goddard is seen during an Essendon Bombers training session at the Hangar in Tullamarine, Melbourne, Wednesday, July 4, 2018. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett) NO ARCHIVING

AS we approach the latter part of the home-and-away season, the media coverage and speculation of the free agency pool will gather huge momentum.

Reality is, the talk started some time in 2017, with the media identifying the possible free agents from every club.

The clubs’ recruiting departments have a detailed list of possible free agents years in advance.

I would go as far as saying some teams would identify and target a certain individual years out from their current contract ending. It is the reality of free agency.

One discussion and argument that always rears its head with potential free agents, is why players can’t tell the club, their fans and the footy world of their intentions to leave prior to seasons end.

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Why wait and let speculation and pressure build if you already know of your decision?

I obviously have first-hand experience making this decision.

I was the first ever free agent to leave a footy club when the option became available at the end of the 2012.

Truth be told I didn’t know what I was doing until season’s end, I actually made my decision at the last possible minute.

But every situation and individual is different.

In my opinion, there are the pros and cons of letting the footy world know of your intentions to leave prior to seasons end.

Brendon Goddard is seen during an Essendon Bombers training session

HERE ARE THE CONS:

* Relationships between the player leaving and the rest of the playing group and club.

* The players understand and know how contract negotiations work.

* Every situation is different for each individual.

As teammates we might not necessarily agree with a teammate’s decision to leave but we respect it.

Selfishly, I’ve been disappointed and frustrated when a player has left, particularly a player that is a good person who makes the team better.

A key departure lessens our chances of winning, and therefore our ability to achieve what we want to achieve.

But if they were to inform us before season’s end, I think I would struggle to look at them the same way I did prior to actually knowing.

Even if I had an inkling they may leave, to hear the words and think of the reality would really rattle me.

We still have games to play together and games to win. It would be hard, weird and quit frankly, I feel it would be an uncomfortable position to be in for all parties.

HEAR ARE THE PROS:

* Speculation and rumour would end.

* Lift a massive burden off the players’ shoulders by coming clean.

Some players could feel uncomfortable with lying or not being completely honest to the club and their fans.

From a mental health perspective I can see how it would weigh players down.

I think any person in a normal workplace arrangement is free to give a formal notice period.

I struggled with the decision in general, even though I didn’t make my mind up until the season’s end.

I would be lying if I said it didn’t affect me mentally in some way which didn’t allow me to play at a high level during the year.

* The third positive is that it gives the club more clarity around their list and the management of the list at year’s end.

They have more time to plan and prepare for the upcoming draft, free agency and trade period.

It also gives the club a picture on their salary cap and how much money they have to either extend current player’s contracts or go target a player from another club.

Another positive is the club will get a fair indication of the compensation picks they would receive from the departure of a free agent.

From what I know, clubs are very well prepared for the best and worst outcomes, unless completely blindsided, they have a contingency plan for every decision.

THE FANS

I can’t imagine the majority being overly supportive or thankful for that player’s service to their football club.

I can imagine there being more grief and backlash the player would receive from his own supporters ... and from footy fans in general.

Some supporters can be very critical of individuals at the best of times, but in the eyes of a supporter, to have a player betray the club, leave them for an opposition team, they would take that very personally.

Imagine their Twitter or Instagram feed from all the faceless key board warriors for the remainder of the year?

Imagine it after a poor loss or a poor performance individually.

At the end of the day, it is much easier to say nothing, play dumb and reel off common cliches.

In my opinion, the fallout from being honest just isn’t worth it. Not yet anyway.

One day we may get to the point during which it’s more frequent and accepted from the clubs and public.

But for the interim, players will continue to keep their cards close to their chest until they are forced to show their hand.

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