Dave. It'd be easier to accept the Bulldogs success if we had some of our own every now and then. I also find it a little questionable how they've managed to keep bringing in new signings with a salary cap in place.
I only watched one half of footy the entire weekend and that was our second half. Interest at an all time low personally.
It wasn't that long ago saints fan would be at least talking about protests to overthrow the board but these days, it's all about money and who has the best management. The fans are just a means of making the money. We all are resigned to failure and the whims of our once great club.
Still enjoy the sport but it's hard to rustle up the same passion when our team can't physically or mentally go with others.
Agreed with you bigred.
The Dogs just know how to wiggle their cap around and generally start by dropping players who they want replaced and having quiet talks on the side saying to the players that they don't fit into the Dogs' future plans. This agitates the players and they whinge to their managers who are told the hard facts by Gould and if they are not happy then find another club. Gould was glad that Josh Addo Carr was caught out with drugs in his system so that he could then boot him out - co-incidental I guess. Kyle Flanno was told the cold hard facts by Gould and he ends up with us as a condition of Flanno getting hired - reluctantly by Doust initially by the sounds of things. Barrett being booted (not affecting their player salary cap of course but I'm just throwing in how Gould works) so that he can hire Ciraldo - who was in many ways keen to come to the Dragons going from some back info on the Forum.
Tevita Pangai Jnr told by Gould that his best thing is to pursue a career in boxing and so he has one boxing match and loses interest and returns to park footy - easy peasy for Gould to get rid of players he does not see will fit into future plans. Now Maloney and Sexton could end up leqving so that they can balance some payments in the longer term to pay for securing Galvin.
Gould has a cold heart - just like Donald J T and couldn't careless what happens to players on the outer just so that the Dogs quest for grand final glory is attained.
The Dogs have a very good sponsor who bleeds blue and white and I would imagine that there are some deals done to look after the new signings that won't affect the salary cap. Gould knows what he is doing. He will have all the excuses under the sun if any official comes questioning their "books" I feel sure.
We need a guy like Gould but not Gould, someone able to pull off similar hirings and firings.