Ciraldo keeps banging on about players at the club having a losing culture.
...and then opts for Perham as his #1 Choice Fullback. (What was he hoping to "win" with this move? That's "Mediocrity" right there.)
He "talks a good game" apparently. You can see why Ciraldo might rate that quality highly (watch any interview/presser); a shame it seems footy ability doesn't take precedence.
A "good" coach should be able to get a capable player to "talk" - only a miracle worker can get a slug-placed have-a-chat to run fast.
If it's for defence organisation, then "how's that working out?"
Why would Gould "let" Ciraldo pick "he's not a fullback" at fullback when you have a potential solution on your roster; one you're already paying halves money to and need to see if you are keeping.
Averillo's last contract was to play half-5/8th, so "Centre-money" - which would have to be a downgrade - was always going to struggle against any decent offer from anywhere else, but especially if a Bennett comes knocking and says "I see your potential".
Add that to the uncertainty of "what's my position?", "why is Perham in front of me at fullback?", and "am I even getting a contract at all?", and the money differential just tips the scales. They made it too easy to leave; almost gave him no other choice.
He'll probably go to the next level under Bennett. Maybe we can "Reed Mahoney" him back to the club in a few years time at twice the price.
In the meantime, we should probably grab a suitably large mirror for our talent identification and retention boffins to see if it is really just the players/roster that is the main problem, or if it might have something to do with those assembling it, and coaching it to its full potential (even if in recent years that potential might have been limited).
I was going to say a 20c bag of musk stix & a mint leaf to get the taste out of his mouth!!
