I heard nothing in anything that Colin Young said to give me the impression that Freo prevented this trade. And when he says about GWS "they've dug the heals in" and that Freo "They've left no stone unturned. This trade should have been done a week ago." ... I think it would be more accurate to be pointing the finger at GWS rather than Fremantle.
But once again, we are being told about a decision being made, where a tough stance is being taken to make a point, and Fremantle is the one being hurt by it. Many will either just dismiss that fact or put it down to coincidence or blame Bond. I think there is just too many data points to not see the pattern that happens with fixturing, umpiring, MRP and trades. While the general media reports tend to be negative towards Fremantle, people are conditioned to think this is just the norm.
When GWS trade out 8 players, most of them from lower picks than McCarthy and still under contract, when GWS have 5 other tall forwards of the same height as McCarthy or taller, when McCarthy is absolutely determined that he will play out his career in WA, and GWS flatly refuse to trade or even consider a trade, it stinks and to me that stink is a little fishy.
(NB: I'm not even that unhappy that we didn't get McCarthy. I think we currently overrate him. So this is not sour grapes from me).
