Melbourne legend and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, Garry Lyon, has spoken out about the power and influence of player managers in trade discussions.
Lyon commented on the player managers as Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca was seen travelling to Adelaide to discuss a potential move to the Crows.
Petracca is contracted at the Demons until the end of 2029, but looked at a trade away from the club last year, and is reportedly looking at a trade away again this year.
Lyon said that player managers can get players into a deal, only to help them walk away from it in the middle of the deal.
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"Stand up to the managers. Don’t be weak-kneed, lily-livered. Stand up and do what’s right for your club," Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“They (managers) can get you into a deal that now has you wanting to walk out of your footy club.
“These managers were there with them - Christian’s hasn’t, he changed his - but they were there telling them this is the best for you. ‘Sign this seven-year deal, it will secure your future, look at the things you can put in place, you can invest well, this will be great’.
“Then two years later they go, ‘come on, I’ll get you out’.”
Lyon's co-host and fellow Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Tim Watson, explained how the player managers have power over the clubs.
“What if his manager says, ‘ok, you’re going to block this, I’ve got this other player at your club and we’re going to be talking about him in 12 months’ time, the deal and the negotiation might become very difficult, I need a favour in part from you right now, then I will then help you as best I possibly can’,” Watson said.
“Everything is a negotiation. It’s a negotiation with the managers, and they are very powerful in the game.
“They’ve got players, they can help you keep a player, they can help you recruit a player.”
Lyon also spoke about Petracca wanting a trade away from the club he supports, saying the Demons still have the power.
“As I’ve said all along, Melbourne have got the whip hand here. I’m a Melbourne supporter, if there’s not a deal that suits Melbourne, then Christian plays for Melbourne. I’m happy with that, I’m happy with him going back in there.”