@jirskyr said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1434589) said:
Gallen asked him should Tigers throw "stupid money" to get that key pillar player, he said probably not, they already tried to buy experience and it backfired dramatically.
To clarify, he said it backfired because we bought players well beyond their prime - Reynolds, Matalino, Tamou, Joey etc.
Paying overs for the wrong player is madness, paying overs for the right player is an investment. Ivan made some horrible choices.
But how do you determine who is the right or wrong player before you sign them?
Football nous.
Packer - had a major run in with the law before playing a season of reserve grade at Illawarra where he was only fair. His form in his first year back in FG was solid but not maquee. We panicked when we lost Woods.
Matulino - injuries had started to slow him down before we got him and I think he was signed because he was mates with Packer and Ivan.
Reynolds - bulldogs offered him what he considered insulting money. As a club favourite at the Dogs this was a good sign of what we were getting.
Mbye - form was pretty good at Bulldogs but had not really worked out his best position. Dangerous to pay someone like that marquee money (see also Milford).
Pascoe, Cleary and co butchered the war chest we had because they had been burned by the big 3, the signings lacked footy smarts and patience.