Matthews' comments came in the wake of a reported approach to Power from Collingwood after it hit a brick wall in trying to get star forward Jonathan Brown in the black and white.
"Luke is like all of us - we can't leave," said coach Matthews. "If we leave, it's like bailing out when things get tough. You can't do that.
"The reason that this group has been good is that we've got some really strong people who have got good strong competitive character and I'm talking Luke and Jonathan Brown and all the others."
Matthews confirmed the club had spoken to Power about his contract and admitted he would have preferred it if Power had done as Brown did and confirmed his loyalty to the Lions.
But Matthews insisted he was "very confident" Power would stay in Brisbane.
"I'd be very, very, very surprised if Luke or any of our players who have been part of the last four or five years leave," Matthews said. "We're locked in now to see it through."
Easy for somebody like Matthews to say that, after all he is a millionaire and has done very nicely out of the game. Power may have only 4 years left to earn good money out of the game and is entitled to look after himself. Very, very poor form from Matthews to put so much pressure on the kid. It doesn't surprise me though, once a bully-boy, always a bully-boy.
― chrisso (chrisso), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)
I dont think it would worry Power, players these days are smart enough to look after themselves and get as much money as possible.
All this crap about players staying for loyalty is rubbish, they stay for the $.
His manager would be happy with all the publicity just makes his price increase daily.
Plus it might be the right time to jump ship.
― jsa, Tuesday, 31 May 2005 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)
Where is all this money coming from at Collingwood, does this mean the end of the Buckley pursuit of finals football? Some-one tell me again, how many finals would he have played in if he had stayed with the bully-boys?
― Big Bird (Big Bird), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 02:17 (twenty-one years ago)
Thats all well and good, but does this give him the right to put pressure on Power through the media?
― chrisso (chrisso), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 02:54 (twenty-one years ago)
― chrisso (chrisso), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 02:55 (twenty-one years ago)
Malthouse also said they only wanted a fair competition, yet didn't mention the fact players have the advantage of earning heaps more in Melbourne through media deals. Oh well.
― Lucy Lion (Lucy Lion), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 06:33 (twenty-one years ago)
How many players earn heaps through media deals?
Leigh Matthews played all his footy at one club, in the days before the salary cap when clubs much richer then Hawthorn offered more. He has also only coached at one other club, until they sacked him.
Back to Matthews, you can't compare his situation with Powers'. Matthews was captain of the club, their best player and an out-an-out Hawthorn icon who was revered by everyone at Glenferrie. Where does Luke stand? I'd reckon he'd be about 7th or 8th in the pecking order at Brisbane and is no chance of ever being a captain.
― chrisso (chrisso), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)
Of Luke Power, a target for Victorian clubs, Matthews said: "I mean he can't leave now. That would be like bailing out when things get tough and you can't do that, otherwise, what would that say about your character."
The Lions, once the puffed up lions of the AFL, have resorted to emotional blackmail. Wonder what the likes of Craig Bolton (Sydney), Jason Gram (St Kilda), Blake Caracella (Collingwood) and (Aaron Shattock) think about Brisbane's new-found sense of loyalty. They have all been given the shove by the club.
Patrick Smith, in todays Oz.
― chrisso (chrisso), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)
That's if it's all just for the media's consumption. If Matthews tries to heavy Power in private it could well backfire in exactly the same way as Elliott basically drove Hamill out of Carlton in 2000. And Matthews prides himself on his man-management skills whereas 'Crazy John' still thinks 'people skills' are for poofters and other lesser beings. He needs to be very careful.
(For all that, Patrick Smith remains a clot, as even that short sample of his work clearly demonstrates.)
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)
The problem of quoting Patrick Smith is that he is often wrong. Bolton and Shattock were shown the door by the Lions, remember the salary cap. But Gram, Caracella, Knoble, Cupido, Headland, Keena, Robbins and Voss, B. all asked the club for a chance to go elsewhere.
Have a look at what Leigh Matthews has actually said and compare it with say, Malthouse and Macguire when Davis left for the Swans. Where was all this peace and love then?
Being an icon at Hawthorn did not stop others from offering him more money, he still turned them down, he has "cred" when talking to Power about sticking through thick and thin.
― Big Bird (Big Bird), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 02:54 (twenty-one years ago)
But whinging that 'everyone else is doing it' is borderline relevant at best anyway. If you don't believe me, try and fight your next speeding ticket on that basis.
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 03:30 (twenty-one years ago)
Matthews has been in this situation, he' telling Power what he did, that's not being a bully.
By the way, I think you'll find that nearly all of what Malthouse and Eddie said, was said before young Nic made this decision public.
― Big Bird (Big Bird), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 04:38 (twenty-one years ago)
(Given McAllister's tendency to big-note himself I'd need more evidence to believe Collingwood made any serious offers to Matthews while Leigh was still playing and Al club treasurer, but I remember that other presidential windbag Hickey was meant to have made him an offer double his Hawthorn rate around 1981, and Barassi wanted him both as a player at Melbourne round that time and much later to succeed him as coach at Sydney in 96.)
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 05:04 (twenty-one years ago)
However, seeing his recent form, Collingwood recieve ample compensation for his services...
Caracella was told there was no money, and his services were no longer required. Up until a fortnight ago, I doubted Collingwoods wisdom on this decision. I take back those doubts - he's played better than I ever game him credit to do.
― Bennö (Bennö), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 05:41 (twenty-one years ago)
I for one am glad he's playing well and sincerely hope he is enjoying his time at Collingwood. No doubt he has his middle finger firmly raised in the direction of the Lions and Essendon. Good luck to him
― Lucy Lion (Lucy Lion), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)
Chad Morrison is a complete dud however...
― Bennö (Bennö), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)
I say again, you simply cannot compare Leigh's situation at Hawthorn with Power's situation at Brisbane. Chalk and cheese.
― chrisso (chrisso), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)