Austin's  head wasn't in the right place this year as he mourned the loss of his father Matthew and of his mentor Maurice Rioli. 

He came back late in the season at Casey reserves and suffered an ankle injury that required surgery.

Games MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 31 Goals MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 37

Games CSFC 2011  2 Goals CSFC 2011 0

 

Games CSFC Reserves 2011 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 0  

Sadly for Aussie, 2011 has been a year from Hell. When he is really up an going he brings a touch of magic and excitement to our team, and a small forward role beckons in 2012 if he wants it badly enough. He somehow needs to put 2011 behind him, and have a huge pre-season to get his body and mind right for the AFL. I expect the Club will give him plenty of time (perhaps on the Rookie List), and continue to support him in every reasonable way. The rest will be up to Aussie. I really hope he makes it, for the sake of his late Dad, his Tiwi community, and all Dees fans.

Edited October 18, 201114 yr by Deeoldfart

Sadly for Aussie, 2011 has been a year from Hell. When he is really up an going he brings a touch of magic and excitement to our team, and a small forward role beckons in 2012 if he wants it badly enough. He somehow needs to put 2011 behind him, and have a huge pre-season to get his body and mind right for the AFL. I expect the Club will give him plenty of time (perhaps on the Rookie List), and continue to support him in every reasonable way. The rest will be up to Aussie. I really hope he makes it, for the sake of his late Dad, his Tiwi community, and all Dees fans.

Deeoldfart you are more generous than me.

I doubt he will make it.

Has had IMO half a dozen good games in his 4 years ( 26 games ) at the Dees.

2012 is put up or shut up time.

The AFL is a cruel world we need his spot on the list for someone who can make it onto the park most weeks.

MFC need to offload 3 players this year in total from its list.

JoelMac, Wonna and Maric are gone.

Best hope is a rookie spot - Not sure he will make it though.

Deeoldfart you are more generous than me.

I doubt he will make it.

Has had IMO half a dozen good games in his 4 years ( 26 games ) at the Dees.

2012 is put up or shut up time.

The AFL is a cruel world we need his spot on the list for someone who can make it onto the park most weeks.

I don't think we are that far apart old fella ..... I agree with all but your second sentence, and even there I'm giving Aussie the benefit of the doubt (which I think he deserves).

Edit: grammar

Edited October 18, 201114 yr by Deeoldfart

Will be tough for Wonna to make it at the Demons in 2012. Hope he does, but is he mentally strong enough?

Nup , not good enough , not committed enough .

MFC need to offload 3 players this year in total from its list.

JoelMac, Wonna and Maric are gone.

Best hope is a rookie spot - Not sure he will make it though.

We only HAVE to delist 2 more. It's Wonna or pick 72/PSD - depends what we think is on offer.

His Dad's passing earns him some leeway on compassionate grounds for what happened in 2011. These matters have to be taken into consideration at a quality football club.

But I'd make it last chance saloon for Aussie in 2012.

If he is retained, this will be his absolutely last chance.

It will be a huge challenge, both physically and mentally, for him.

Do you have it in you Aussie? Over to you mate.

I am sure all here would just live you to do consistently what you have done sporadically over the last few years.

Tough love going on here...

Absolutely no sensitivity to the cultural and spiritual needs of this boy.

Newton has been on the list for SEVEN years for 20+ games and there's no 'footy's a tough environment, blah, blah, blah'

Usually I keep my cool, but I nearly lost it with some of these offerings.

I think the right and fair decision for Aussie may be to put him on the rookie list. Fact is he has gone through a really rough year emotionally in 2011, form showed that throughout the year until he was given compassionate leave (which was the right thing to do for both parties). But it seems there may be some questions on his commitment to the club after this year, and the distance between himself and his family could be a really telling factor.

The rookie list players have received a boost with their payments, and it may be a good opportunity to see where he's at without putting the pressure on being on the senior list.

Definitely want him around next year be it senior or rookie list. We have barely seen him and Jurrah in the same team and I really think that could be something special.

I don't mind the idea of demoting Aussie to the rookie list, while sacking Newton to make room. That way we get to keep Joel MacDonald for depth/insurance.

I think this option gives us flexibility. We have Davey, Jetta and Bennell as small fwd options, keep a veteran defender and can elevate Aussie as soon as we get a long term injury.

The only risk is a club may take a punt on him in the earlier drafts

We've got three spaces spare on the rookie list.

I think that'll be most of the changes that we're likely to made. Being a weak draft, it's unlikely that we'll pick more than four players (we've currently got three spots) and more than three or four rookie spots.

I think the most likely outcome is three national draftees and three rookies. We can free up list space next year and use the compo picks and possibly use five or six picks in the ND next year and a further 2-3 in the rookie draft.

Austin will hopefully surprise in 2012. Yes, he's had some setbacks but he has wonderful talent and a solid preseason will make the world of difference. Go mate!

Really hope he can get it all back together, Aussie at full fitness adds so much to the side.

Tough love going on here... Absolutely no sensitivity to the cultural and spiritual needs of this boy. Newton has been on the list for SEVEN years for 20+ games and there's no 'footy's a tough environment, blah, blah, blah' Usually I keep my cool, but I nearly lost it with some of these offerings.

Great logic - we gave Newton unlimited years to show his wares, therefore we should offer the same thing to every other bloke who struggles for whatever reason. How about learning from our Newton mistakes and cutting blokes at the right time rather than several years too late?

Compassion and understanding of the cultural and spiritual needs is the reason why we retain him as a rookie. It balances that need against our need as a professional football club to have the strongest possible playing list. If we were ignoring those sensitive issues completely as you're suggesting, then there'd be a strong case for delisting him and saying good bye full stop.

I'll be happy to see him around for another season. But I want to see him in tip top condition come NAB Cup time assuming no injuries. Has to show something now if he wants to be an elite footballer. If he's still sluggish and unfit then he's a lost cause.

Edited October 24, 201114 yr by america de cali

He had such an exciting first year. Since then he's struggled physically, mentally and emotionally. I would love to see him given one more year to get his body right, improve his fitness and regain some confidence.

Comparisons to Newton are a bit unfair IMO. Aside from Wonna's first season, we really haven't had the chance to see him at his best.