Declaring no player is now off-limits, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the Oscar Allen-Sam Mitchell meeting is a sign of the times in the AFL.
News of the West Coast co-captain meeting in Perth on Monday with the Hawthorn coach has predictably generated plenty of debate.
While former St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt says it puts Allen's captaincy in question, his old coach Ross Lyon cheekily offered he would be "disappointed" if Port Adelaide don't catch up with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera while they are in Adelaide for two games.
Goodwin was realistic on Wednesday morning, effectively describing the trend of clubs going after rival stars as a necessary evil.
"It's part of our industry. I don't like it, but if you're not doing it, you're not getting players to your footy club," the Demons coach said.
"Every club is in that process of going after any player and no-one's off limits. That's where it's at - it started as leadership groups and now we're moving into captains.
"Right now, as an industry, in club land, no-one is seen as off-limits. Player movement is going to get more and more."
"I don't like it, but I want to be a part of it, because you need to, to grow your footy club."
But Riewoldt is in the camp believing that a club captain meeting with a rival club, even if he is eligible for free agency at the end of this season, is a step too far.
"If it was a Victorian captain meeting with an opposition coach. I would have a really hard time as a captain walking back in and selling the message of ‘this is the path we’re on, this is the journey we’re on, follow me, jump on my back'," Riewoldt said on Triple M.
"I think Oscar Allen’s captaincy comes into question. It puts the coach, a young coach in Andrew McQualter, in a difficult situation. It’s just not a good look.”
Lyon took a different tack on Channel Seven, almost teasing the Power to sound out Wanganeen-Milera about his playing future.
"We’re in Adelaide for a week. Will Port Adelaide roll up? I’d be disappointed if they didn’t," Lyon said.
