Great post Morgan. I actually have a different view, whilst 3 million dollars on the surface appears an excessive amount of money you must apply context by amortising that amount over the contract term, I believe five years.
On the issue of Shuey being a bludger, he is in fact leading West Coast's inside 50's, whilst not the best footballer going around but given how difficult it is getting quality midfielders in the draft, any draft (ever), I'd say Chris Bond's counterpart did a reasonable job.