Cooper Cronk believes Bulldogs recruit Lachlan Galvin should start in reserve grade with his new club, as debate raged over how the 19-year-old would fit into the ladder-leading Canterbury side.
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Galvin’s future was finally confirmed on Friday, with the Tigers releasing him and the Bulldogs later confirming they had signed him on a three and a half year deal until the end of 2028, on a reported $750,000 a season.
Cronk said Galvin should be forced to earn his stripes at his new club.
“If I was Ciraldo, if I was Gould, you’ve got the Dogs on top of the ladder, and they are playing a very good brand of football,” Cronk said on Fox League.
“I would have Lachlan Galvin coming through NSW Cup.
“I would make him play there for two or three games, just quietly go about it, earn the jersey, earn your spot, and the way that he plays, he’s going to have to fast-track his development to be a halfback.
“He plays off the cuff, he reacts to what he sees.
“When you want to be the halfback in the team on top of the ladder, you’re going to have to control the team, control decisions, and they have a lot of ball players in their team.
“They have a lot of guys who like to get to first receiver and handle the football.
“I don’t know if that suits his style but if he wants to play halfback I’d set him in reserve grade, see what he’s got, and then introduce him to first grade.”
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But Kevin Walters had a different view.
“I disagree a little. I don’t think you buy someone for $750,000 and then put them in reserve grade,” Walters said.
“That’s not how clubs operate.
“I find it very difficult if the Bulldogs would put him and play NSW Cup for a couple of weeks.
“They’ve got the bye this week, he’ll get some training done with them. I think they’ll slot him into that seven jumper.”
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Greg Alexander said it was a tough call on Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton, given he has guided the team to top spot on the ladder, but he expects Galvin to replace Sexton at halfback in the Dogs starting side.
“I think he’ll play first grade, I think he’ll be in the side, I think he’ll play halfback,” Alexander said.
“I think that’s why they’ve bought him. It’s brutal but I think that’s it.
“I think the fact they had not re-signed Toby Sexton said everything, it said everything.
“They’ve got him there for a reason. They think he can improve the side.
“He won’t be playing NSW Cup, he’ll be playing first grade.”
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Cronk said he was worried that Galvin would cop the blame if he was picked at halfback in first grade straight away, and the Bulldogs had a couple of losses.
“If he comes in and plays seven and they go backwards and lose game or two, guess who’s going to cop the brunt of it?” Cronk asked.
But then Alexander threw up another scenario.
“So, they bring (Galvin) over, he plays NSW Cup, and Toby Sexton wins man of the match for the next two games, what are you doing then?” Alexander asked.
