2009 player departures

[e25 5]

I miss Robbo, I was always a big fan. He should of played at least one more season as a bit of a farewell tour. I believe he could of added another 30-35 goals this year pending fitness, and he would probably add some great clips to his highlight reel. I am still happy to go to games wearing number 24 on my back.

And another thing, I disagreed with Liam Jurrah receing Robbo's number this season. This is nothing against Jurrah, but I have always thought the numbers of club greats and cult players should be rested for at least a year before they are given to the next bloke. Although I will admit that the number 24 suits Jurrah, as I am sure he will add plenty of excitement to our forward line throughout his career, I just hope it isn't a curse and he is plagued with injury.

so so misguided...

Put our development back to give Robbo a farewell tour? Are you serious??

To be honest, if he'd have stayed on he'd be playing the year out in the VFL anyway.

[GOLF 13]

I miss Wheels the way he was in earlier years, but it was right to let him go when we did.

I miss, well not so much Robbo himself, but the gutteral roar from our supporters that greeted each of those marks.

I miss wheatley's booming kicks, but we have improved our skill levels by replacing him.

But then I also miss the young TJ, the Febey boys, Wilson, Flower and even Peter moore.

Life, and footy, moves on.

[Deeoldfart 8,001]

At their respective primes all those senior players were good to very good AFL players. But as a consequence of age, battle scars and the pace of the game each of these players had fallen off the pace considerably in their final few years. It was the same with White and Yze. MFC did what they had to do and did so professionally and respectfully.

We are much better off for making some of those hard decisions on those ageing warriors and trading Trapper and Brock.

Agree. We have been prepared to make hard and often unpopular decisions with an eye to the future, but we have done so with the utmost decency. Compare this with Tyson Edwards scenario, which was a PR disaster for the Adelaide Football Club.

Edit: I suppose the departure of CJ might be an exception in our case, but the circumstances were quite different.

Edited May 29, 2010 by Deeoldfart

[Pipefitter 2,144]

There were 3 players let go to other teams in the last few years. Brocky, Johnson & Buckley. All widely debated, but all seem like a great move now. Johnson & Buckley are struggling to get a game, and well poor ol brocky, he just cant take a trick.

The football department look to have a real good grasp on who is part of the future and can contribute, and who will never make it.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Grossly oversimplified portrait of Robbo. Robbo put in second efforts as intensely as any player of his time. The problem was that the efforts weren't good enough. He was too easily defended by strong defenders like Scarlett, Glass etc. He had physical limitations and skill limitations but did his best.Every so often, he lifted his team with a mark using the "great leap" you remember him for.

At times, his attitude and his focus was not where it should have been. He had great career at MFC but the game started to pass him by from 2006 onwards when there was a greater requirement for player to be mobile, accountable with good defensive skills. Many of Robbo's 2nd efforts were non existent as he could not keep his feet and his tendency to play the millionaire acts were sometimes done the detriment of the team.