These guys have been around almost 10 years and yet they absolutely ALWAYS manage to get soft tissue leg injuries during pre season training.

Heven't our medicos learn't ANYTHING about managing these 2.

I am very frustrated.

Meh.

Both are in the twilight of their careers, and both will be replaced shortly. While there is no doubt that Whelan adds significant strength to our backline, his injury opens doors for Cheney and Bail, who are his future replacement.

As for Wheatley, we can do without 60meter turnovers.

We will have to delist 4-6 players at the end of this year, good players but they need to get fit or they could be one of the 4-6 players.

Wheatley will be gone, fit or otherwise

Wheatley will be gone, fit or otherwise

Your Kidding

In answer to the OP's questions, Whelan played round one in every season from 2002-07. He missed the start of 08 and will miss the start of 09.

Wheatley has played round one from 02-05 and in 08. He played round two in 06 and 07.

However, both have missed large chunks of seasons through injury - particularly Whelan.

As for Wheatley, we can do without 60meter turnovers.

Better than the 15 meter turnovers from a number of other players

Better than the 15 meter turnovers from a number of other players

As tedious as this topic is, I would have to agree with you Russian. No one likes a turnover, but I would prefer to see it happen 60m down the park cos it would mean we actually kicked the agget for a change.....

Meh.

Both are in the twilight of their careers, and both will be replaced shortly. While there is no doubt that Whelan adds significant strength to our backline, his injury opens doors for Cheney and Bail, who are his future replacement.

As for Wheatley, we can do without 60meter turnovers.

Oooh. Cold.

True though. My concern is that I want our young defenders to learn from these guys... Well, at least one of them. If we could have 3 wreckers running around in the years to come, just imagine. Even Wheatley, though never a crowd favourite, is a mature player at the club and would have a lot to impart to the young kids. Even DB reflected this in his list assessment. We can't have a team completely made up of the 21 and unders.

Oooh. Cold.

True though. My concern is that I want our young defenders to learn from these guys... Well, at least one of them. If we could have 3 wreckers running around in the years to come, just imagine. Even Wheatley, though never a crowd favourite, is a mature player at the club and would have a lot to impart to the young kids. Even DB reflected this in his list assessment. We can't have a team completely made up of the 21 and unders.

I agree. I would love to see a few more "Wreckers" around the place and understand the need to keep the few remaining mature players around to show the way. I just hope they don't impart on the kids some of the ridiculous bad habits which have been displayed over the past couple of seasons. That said, maybe the kids can remind the mature players what it is like to aceept nothing less than complete commitment to the team......

Better than the 15 meter turnovers from a number of other players

Don't want those either.

We can't have a team completely made up of the 21 and unders.

True, but give me a fit Rivers, Garland, Frawley, Martin and Grimes over a fit Whelan and Wheatley any day of the week. The reality is that Whelan has always been injury prone, and while he is a great player, he is not part of our long-term future. That is not to say that he can't be a fantastic role model to our players, which he no doubt is, even when he's on the sidelines.

And which of Rivers, Garland, Frawley, Martin, Grimes, Cheney, Petterd and whoever else is now competing for a defensive position would you leave out in favour of Wheatley? Yeah, didn't think so.

tbh ive always thought wheatley was one of our better kicks, his ability to hit targets from kick outs very often.

unless you find stats to prove other wise, i recon your way of.

Whelan puts his body on the line. He has the chops to be given lee-way.

Paul has more talent than most on our list and has spun his career out for a long time.

But how would he have fared under say, Malthouse? I remember not only how much woey was paid but how much he paid with his body. Chewed up quick. Paid well but.

Would Wheaters have made it if his balls were to the wall?

We at MFC will never know.

I would have preferred Whelan in 31.

Whelan will never, ever, retire :D

Just thought I'd clear up the misconception.

Play on

Whelan - Played 6/9 round 1's

Wheatley - Played 5/9 round 1's