Contracts are contracts.
I’d be annoyed if we were pressured to let players leave.
So, I don’t think we should be putting pressure on players to leave.
Mutually beneficial scenarios aside.
Sure, have some honest communication and see if there is a mutual decision. “You don’t really feature in our plans for the future, likely to be playing Cup for the rest of your contract”. “If you can secure a few years somewhere else, you should consider it”. But at the end of the day, if somebody wants to collect their $$$ sitting in reserves, so be it.
We don’t really hear about the discussions. Maybe these guys are determined to rekindle their careers and just need a chance. No problem with players wanting to see out their contracts, especially if we are looking to enforce contracts if somebody agitates for a move.
I do think players hold a lot of power in negotiations.
As for Frizz. Similar to Gagai (prior to last weekend), for the right price I’d be happy. I think they still offer more than their replacements would in 2027. But the club don’t only have to worry about 2027, they have to think about 2028, 2029 etc. Hopefully we look back in 3-5 years and say we got much more out of prioritising some of these young fringe first graders than we would have if we lost them and prioritised a year or 2 max out of these veterans.