It seems like everyone acted rationally in how they approached the negotiations. What’s less clear is how Freo have managed relationships. Hamling used the word ‘disrespectful’, and I really hope that’s just a reflection of the offer on the page (which is how I read it), and not the manner it was delivered.
But even if it is the offer, the response the club elicits in making a ‘disrespectful’ offer compared to a ‘disappointing’ offer is stark. I don’t think the club (Bell?) has probably appreciated that difference enough. You can negotiate or walk-back a disappointing offer, but if a player feels disrespected then you’ve basically walked them out the door.
If this was a one-off then I would be in furious agreement with Bizkit, but there are some themes echoing with other players. Also, cast your mind back to how Bell used to manage trades; remember when he held a press conference to announce he was calling off the trade negotiations with Melbourne about Jesse Hogan? How he conducted himself was a bit embarrassing.