All this bashing of Freo is based on the assumption that Neale is leaving. We’re holding up Brisbane because “Neale is going”, we’re holding up Melbourne because we’ll use the pick from “Neale going”.
Seems to me that the club and Bell have said clearly, from the beginning that: Neale isn’t going. IMHO, as far as the club is concerned, they have a year to convince him that Freo is the place to be. I tend to agree. When Bell is saying “we can’t match what Melbourne wants”, I believe he means it. As near as I can see, Bell just made the most miraculous pick swap so that he had a first and second round pick to offer Melbourne. They said “no”. So what else is he supposed to do? The obvious answer, to everyone but Bell, is “trade Neale”. But Neale is a keeper, one of the best in the competition. Hell, if Neale has mates in Brissie, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bell is at the trade table asking what Brizzie want in exchange for those mates.
Keeping Neale is our first, second and third priority.l, they said. I believe him. And I support that stance. I’m happy for others to disagree with that stance, but when did it become ASSUMED that Neale is leaving?