Those great ex-Dockers

by LES EVERETT

AS we watched our old mate Matthew Burton toy with the Dockers at Docklands a few weeks back our thoughts, no doubt, turned once again to that familiar subject. The ones that got away.

Or to be more accurate, the ones we pushed away. If you listen to talk back radio or eavesdrop on other footy conversations you might be forgiven for thinking there's an navy of ex-Dockers out there dominating the AFL.

However, the things you hear aren't always accurate. For example during the height of the recent Drum saga footy expert Mal Brown weighed into the debate on Paul Murray's program on 6PR. He said, among other things, that Fremantle could have snared Matthew Lloyd back in the early days. That's wrong, but it wasn't challenged.

The point of this exercise is to look at the claims that a container load of players from Fremantle have been delivered into stardom in Melbourne. Let's look at the ex-Dockers currently playing for other teams: Winston Abraham (Kangaroos): Presently injured but from 1998 to 2000 he played 68 games and kicked 105 goals for the powerful Roos. He played in a grand final in 1998 and was a premiership player in 1999. In return for Abraham the Dockers got Stuart Anderson. He doesn't play football anymore. Matthew Burton (Kangaroos): Spider has had plenty to do with the resurgence of the Roos. This is partly because coach Denis Pagan has focused on his strengths rather than his weaknesses. Burton is a good knock ruckman and a good link player and that's what he does for the Roos. The 1998 Herald Docker Award winner would be invaluable still at Fremantle.

Craig Callaghan (St Kilda): A much loved Docker, Callaghan is doing pretty well with the Saints. He's kicking goals which is something he worked on with the Dockers but never quite achieved.

Trent Carroll (West Coast): Has been handed some big roles with the Eagles in the absence of key defenders. Tries hard but seems to lose concentration. Achieving at about the same level as he did with Fremantle.

James Clement (Collingwood): In the first derby of 1998 Clement kicked five goals. After the game I saw him cross paths with Eagles coach Mick Malthouse who patted him on the back and said, "Well played." The pair are now together at the Magpies. I thought Clement was a shining light for Fremantle during the disappointing 1999 season but there was a perception among the coaching staff that he wasn't "hard" enough. Perhaps, as with Burton, his shortcomings were being noticed. He looks pretty good now.

Tony Delaney (St Kilda): Made his debut for Essendon in 1993 when he was 17 and looked about 11. It's a tribute to his patience that he's stayed in the system so long and last year was his best. Quite a smart player but have you ever heard a Fremantle fan mutter: "If only we had Delaney back..."? Mark Gale (St Kilda): He's getting a game with the Saints and sometimes looks reasonable. And that was pretty much the story his during six seasons with the Dockers.

Greg Harding (West Coast): At this stage we could call the swap between Harding and Daniel Metropolis a nil-all draw with the Eagles slightly favoured because their player has played more games. But it wasn't a direct swap, the Dockers also got draft pick 51 and Dion Woods might just develop into a handy player.

Brodie Holland (Collingwood): Enjoying himself with the Magpies and has done some good things in big games. Kingsley Hunter (Western Bulldogs): Terry Wallace noticed Hunter was a big strapping lad and turned him into a footballer rather than a full forward. Hunter was swapped for Brad Wira. At present Wira's getting a game and Hunter isn't.

Jess Sinclair (Kangaroos): Has been in and out of the Roos line up. Does the odd good thing but seems to spend most of his of time where the ball isn't. Jeff White (Melbourne): There wasn't a lot Fremantle could do about losing White and now the dust has settled, the salary cap penalties have been evoked and the Dees have played in a grand final, the Dockers have the injured Clem Michael to show for it all. There's no doubt Fremantle would be a better team if White was still around but you never know, Justin Longmuir might just end up to be a better player.

No need to go into detail about Stephen O'Reilly, Scott Chisholm, Gary Dhurrkay, Andrew Wills, Todd Ridley, Chris Groom, Craig Nettelbeck, Michael Clark and Gavin Mitchell who didn't star after being traded.

Trading is a two edged sword. If all the players you off-load turn out to be duds you could perhaps pat yourself on the back. On the other hand it might raise questions as to why you picked them up in the first place. What is clear is that truly successful trades are rare. And when the short-of-talls Dockers get enquiries about a tall, athletic, versatile player other clubs would be prepared to take in exchange for some hack the answer should be clear.

Daniel Bandy is ours. Bandy has been buggered around this year but if he goes somewhere else who can sure he'll be back to bite. Whatever Fremantle does it mustn't make Daniel Bandy an ex.

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