I've feared the 'Gordon wants out' story for a while - though expected it to come once/if Coote got the #1 jumper.
I'm also a big Flash fan and would be furious if such a talent was to walk away from the Panthers, even at 28 I think his best is ahead of him. Such a pity 2011 ended early for him when he was in such fine touch. However, I have nothing against Coote, I reckon he's a couragous young player with heaps of potential.
For mine, there's a no-brainer solution - or at least attempted solution. Put Gordon at FB and give Coote a crack at 5/8. He's a great support player and there's nothing I've seen to suggest he can't play in the line. If I recall correctly, Georgallis selected Coote at standoff for a game in 2011 but Coote's injury woes meant he was scratched.
I admire the effort Travis Burns puts in, but he offers little in attack and could come off the bench to cover the halves/hooker. With Harry Siejka waiting in the wings, I see little future in the Walsh/Burns combination anyway - and I have next to no faith they could lead the Panthers to a GF, let alone get the ball to Jennings in space.
If 2012-13 are the rebuilding years that Gus Gould suggests, I say bite the bullet - forge a combo between Coote and Siejka, give Flash fullback - and a much juicier contract to boot.
I'm also a big Flash fan and would be furious if such a talent was to walk away from the Panthers, even at 28 I think his best is ahead of him. Such a pity 2011 ended early for him when he was in such fine touch. However, I have nothing against Coote, I reckon he's a couragous young player with heaps of potential.
For mine, there's a no-brainer solution - or at least attempted solution. Put Gordon at FB and give Coote a crack at 5/8. He's a great support player and there's nothing I've seen to suggest he can't play in the line. If I recall correctly, Georgallis selected Coote at standoff for a game in 2011 but Coote's injury woes meant he was scratched.
I admire the effort Travis Burns puts in, but he offers little in attack and could come off the bench to cover the halves/hooker. With Harry Siejka waiting in the wings, I see little future in the Walsh/Burns combination anyway - and I have next to no faith they could lead the Panthers to a GF, let alone get the ball to Jennings in space.
If 2012-13 are the rebuilding years that Gus Gould suggests, I say bite the bullet - forge a combo between Coote and Siejka, give Flash fullback - and a much juicier contract to boot.