Austin Wonaeamirri

[BangkokDemon 96]

Great news !

Welcome back.

[old dee 23,787]

Sorry to be a cynic but I will believe it when it happens.

[Tatu 416]

That's the best news i had today, hopefully he can be super fit by round 1 2012.

Should send him to Arizona, for some altitude training(HGH)

[PeterJames 46]

Sorry to be a cynic but I will believe it when it happens.

Agreed. Won't get a game this year for us. Maric will hopefully get a good run at it and cement his spot. Hopefully offered a rookie list spot next if there is no one else available.

[east gippsland demon 7]

Great news from Aussie.. If he's back and committed he shouldnt be rookie listed now. Well done to the club on the handling of the whole situation.

[DEELIGHTED 16]

apparently will be back by the end of the week. Great news!

[felixdacat 459]

Was reported that he definitely wont play again this season, and career is quite likely finished - is very interested in playing for the NT Thunder next year? This was on Channel 10.

They said on ch10 sport Wonna wont be back this year and he wants to play for a darwin team next year. He had dinner with Beamer and Jurrah the other night. So he is gone.

Great work from the Journo's at channel 10, What a crack up. Seems someone should have spoken to Aussie. LOL

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Hindsight is a wonderful tool easily misused.

FWIW, it could have been the case that Wonna was planning to jettison his AFL career and play in the NT. He could have had a change of heart in recent weeks.

Its possible the journalists may have got it wrong but just as possible that there has been a change in decision along the way.

[Kento80 83]

Hindsight is a wonderful tool easily misused.

FWIW, it could have been the case that Wonna was planning to jettison his AFL career and play in the NT. He could have had a change of heart in recent weeks.

Its possible the journalists may have got it wrong but just as possible that there has been a change in decision along the way.

First up, so happy to see Wonna back. Has always been a fave of mine. Has been cruelled by injury and fate recently, hopefully the tide has turned for him and he can stay fit and get back to being the exciting Wonna we know and love. Also super happy to see the journos stuff it royally hahaha. Although you make a fair point RR, and there is every chance that just seeing the boys have a win changed Aussies mind. I thought I read something last week where even the club said he wasn't ready (??), so it is obviously a recent change of heart. Lastly, congrats to the club for looking after the welfare of a player. It is nice to see in this age of money ruling sport, that there is still room for human compassion.

[dworship 3,342]

Hindsight is a wonderful tool easily misused.

FWIW, it could have been the case that Wonna was planning to jettison his AFL career and play in the NT. He could have had a change of heart in recent weeks.

Its possible the journalists may have got it wrong but just as possible that there has been a change in decision along the way.

Very insightful, are you a journo?

[Juicebox 628]

Great news to hear about him returning.

Though the remainder of this year is probably a wright-off for him, hopefully we'll eventually see him build on that form in his first season that got us all so excited.

Best of luck to him!

[jayceebee31 760]

The team will be in Darwin in a couple of weeks. No doubt Aussie will be there to catch up with the boys or at least someone from the coaching staff will catch up with him then. Let's wait & see what happens after that.

Might stir up some desire or at least help Aussie to make a decision.

You are a great judge--please continue to keep us tragics informed on ALL MFC matters- very much appreciated by me.Thank you.

[monoccular 17,423]

Very good news to hear that Ozzie is keen to make a comeback and I am sure we all wish him well.

I am certain it has been made very clear to him that it will require an enormous amount of hard hard work and mental application for him to get back to AFL standard, especially given the amount of time he has missed.

The club and especially the 'brothers' will I am sure give him all the support he needs, but it is ultimately all up to him. Are you really up to it Ozzie?? We want you back and firing!

And did anyone else hear Dean Bailey's interview on the news yesterday? Whilst not the most articulate or flamboyant interviewee, I was enormously impressed by his deep thinking on the matter, and by his care and compassion for one of his charges. THE best interview/statement that I have heard from him, and from any coach in a long while.

Well done Dean - I sincerely hope that you succeed in guiding Ozzie back, hopefully to become the crumbing "x-factor" forward who applies that defensive pressure that we desperately need.

[She Devil 64 21]

Great to see Aussie at the MCG today watching the team play.

[Blistering 540]

Great to see Aussie at the MCG today watching the team play.

He was also at the sponsors function and it was great to see him there!

[Steamin Demon 392]

It will be even better to see him back ON the G kicking goals and help winning games.

[PaulRB 6,362]

If Wonna gets fit and focused can he successfully play in the centre and up forward ( i.e. like Rioli)? Does he have the capabilities to create (and defend) in the middle?

[jabberwocky 2,301]

If Wonna gets fit and focused can he successfully play in the centre and up forward ( i.e. like Rioli)? Does he have the capabilities to create (and defend) in the middle?

I believe he was being groomed for this role pre-season las year and was showing some really good form. Got himself fit only to be cruelled by injury after injury.

[Neita3000 37]

Will be interesting to see what happens with young Austin considering his latest set back. According to our latest injury update he won't commence training for another 3 months. Essentially he's already behind the 8 ball for next year. Nonetheless we need to retain at the bare minimum at least as a rookie. Have faith in Aussie he has talent.

[tonatopia 278]

Aussie must stay and will

[rumpole 515]

Much will depend on Austin's attitude and commitment to returning in 2012 and beyond and to the position a new coach takes on him.

I can see the possibility of him being delisted with a view to him being picked on the rookie list if he really wants to remain at the club and make a renewed tilt at remaining an AFL footballer.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I can see the possibility of him being delisted with a view to him being picked on the rookie list if he really wants to remain at the club and make a renewed tilt at remaining an AFL footballer.

Agree. I think he will need to really show he is focussed and that he physically able to cope with AFL. Given MFC need to find space on the senior list. His spot for mine is in jeopardy.

[Pennant St Dee 13,171]

Unfortunatley it looks to be another Ashley Sampi story all over again. As horrible as it sounds you can have all the tools and ability but committment and a cruel run with injuries (and other matters in Aussies case) can just be to much in the end

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Its completely different to Ashley Sampi tragic situation. Poor analogy. Sampi's issues were more serious than commitment and a cruel run of injuries.

[Bay Riffin 1,474]

Will be interesting to see what happens with young Austin considering his latest set back. According to our latest injury update he won't commence training for another 3 months. Essentially he's already behind the 8 ball for next year. Nonetheless we need to retain at the bare minimum at least as a rookie. Have faith in Aussie he has talent.

if its another 3 months then it sound like ground hog day all over again for Aussie.

No way is this just luck. his body was highly likely to get injured after such a lay off. I was expecting it to happen. Grimes is bad luck, but this isn't. he is not conditioned and probably the least fittest at the club.

I think he is worth persisting for 1 more year but he would have to be desperate and totally committed. one more year of injury and it's a waste of a valuable spot so he would be lucky to get another year.