It was spoken about in the media thismorning. That Matt was told by the Eagles.In 2018 he would play half the season for the Eagles and the other half for East Perth.Helping the young Eagles player’s improve there game.A few hours had passed and the Brownlow Medalist decided to end his AFL career at the end of the season.My guess is Matt will be wearing the Subi jumper next year.
Matt can be proud of his career. Just an incredibly hard worker with no apparent ego. A team man till the very end
Mike it Matt P decides to play Wafl next year.Would guess most clubs would have a crack at him.And might be able to offer more than Subi for Matts services in 18.Just guessing but Subi wouldnt have to much room in there salary cap.
gtr: just goes to show you, yet again, that the players do not like the alignment at all.
Ark I heard today that Pridda is a Subi man through and through.No doubt the Eagles will want him to play for East Perth.This shocked a few including Subi who would needs a plan to fit him in there side.
yes…Pridda would want to play for Subi if he decides to play at all. I’d think he might take on an assistant’s midfield coaches role if not at the beags then somewhere else given he won a Brownlow as mid. I also believe that once he retires from AFL duties it makes his contract null and void and he can play wherever he likes in the WAFL and is not tied to WART.
gtr: Exactly. I am sure it would have been a wee shock for Simpson and co., whom seem to think that the alignment is natural. Players put up with the alignment because they are paid a quid, and, because, in truth, many would only play the odd game for EP or Peel coming back from injury or loss of form. From the looks of it, they want him to baby sit an EP team, some of whom’s players he has not even met yet, pending the draft.
BC+Ark I’m pretty sure Pridda resigned mid season.Till the end of season 19.He wont be paid out under the salary cap.Although he’s retired from Wce.He’s still on the Eagles payroll till then unless he walks from his contract.Does make him a Feral till 2019.
It appears that Matt was pushed if you believe the story in this mornings paper. Its unfortunate if its turned out this way but there is not much room for sentiment in todays game and I think the Eagles and Matt have made the right call given where West Coast are at the moment.
One question I would put is given that West Coast were prepared to re sign him for 2018 and Priddis is 32 but still capable of playing good footy, would a team who had a bit more pace in the midfield and are in a premiership window (e.g GWS, Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne) take a gamble and offer him a one year contract?? He could add the icing on the cake to an already well functioning midfield. Maybe a long shot.
If Priddis decides to play at WAFL level, I would hope that he would go back to Subiaco, as this is where he commenced his illustrious career.
If he didn’t want that,I’d sooner he’d sit out of footy,rather than babysit Simpson’s softies!
Pridda didn’t play for EP today??.Kim Hagdawn said thismorning that this has all turned a bit nasty.Been reported in the East Coast media.
gtr: good old Priddus has told the Eagles to get knotted – good thing too
Ark so Pridda contracted till 2019.Has turned his back on a guess $800,000 for 2 years.Strong principles give MP that.Told them to stick there money.Good on him.
Kim Hagdorn…hmmm!
If Priddis was rested from the Weagles because “soreness”, it would have made very little sense for him to play today for Ees Perf.
If there is a rift, I am sure the Worst (WA’s statewide suburban newspaper) will be on to it pretty quickly.
Nope - he was given a 1 year extension earlier this year (ie for the 2018 season) - with the pundits guessing around 500k for the season.
gtr: yep, What I would be asking the Eagles is: Why won’t you pick the side on merit? That is, if his form proved to be good enough next season he should play for the Eagles not East Perth.
Interesting stat from AFL.com.au re Sam Mitchell.
He needs 14 more handballs to become the all-time leader, displacing Scott West. They both average ~12.6/game.
West 324 games/4093 HB
Mitchell 323 games/4080 HB
Robert Harvey and Simon Black come next.
But Pridda stands at 235 games/3737 HB ie an average of ~15.9/game. Easily beating the above 5 on average.
Another string to a very distinguished bow. . 