The position of club doctor is not included in the staff list set out in the Yearbook.

Does that mean the club intends to manage injuries using a panel of specialist medical practitioners without a fully qualified in-house resource - or that they have not yet found a replacement for Andrew Daff? As a fully qualified medical practitioner must surely be on hand at every game, I presume the latter.

I have heard that sports medicine experts of Daff's quality are very hard to find. We have until late February to find someone.

Does anyone have any inside information on the status of attempts to fill this position?

i daresay Max Gawn was thinking this as he limped off the ground at training..

It is not a good situation at all.

It hasn't been a good situation since the start of November.

I can remember one early running session when just about everyone was gut running.

(Mainly because it was early season and not used to it.)

But no doctor in attendance in case of emergencies.

Col. Garland asked Rawlings for a Doctor on Bartrams behalf.

Rawlings just looked over his shoulder at Bartram and replied he'll be right.

Rawlings was right. (this time) 2 min of recovery and Barty was on the track.

If things get more serious the confidence of the players in FD will quickly drop.

It hasn't been a good situation since the start of November.

I can remember one early running session when just about everyone was gut running.

(Mainly because it was early season and not used to it.)

But no doctor in attendance in case of emergencies.

Col. Garland asked Rawlings for a Doctor on Bartrams behalf.

Rawlings just looked over his shoulder at Bartram and replied he'll be right.

Rawlings was right. (this time) 2 min of recovery and Barty was on the track.

If things get more serious the confidence of the players in FD will quickly drop.

You were there to witness this first hand Chippy?

I'm pretty sure the club wants a doctor, HARDEN UP!

I'm pretty sure the club wants a doctor, HARDEN UP!

Wanting a Doctor and Having one are quite different situations.

To Harden Up has absolutely nothing to do with it.

I'm pretty sure the club wants a doctor, HARDEN UP!

You forgot ACCEPTING MEDIOCRITY!

It hasn't been a good situation since the start of November.

I can remember one early running session when just about everyone was gut running.

(Mainly because it was early season and not used to it.)

But no doctor in attendance in case of emergencies.

Col. Garland asked Rawlings for a Doctor on Bartrams behalf.

Rawlings just looked over his shoulder at Bartram and replied he'll be right.

Rawlings was right. (this time) 2 min of recovery and Barty was on the track.

If things get more serious the confidence of the players in FD will quickly drop.

Rawlings will be right 99/100 times, the other 1 times you'll need an ambulance anyway. Unless the club doctors carry round advanced life support equipment at training.

Is there a doctor here? i need a bandaid QUIK!!!

Bear in mind that Petterd wouldn't be with us today if we hadn't had a doctor on staff. They really need to get one before they start up with serious match practice and full contact work.

Bear in mind that Petterd wouldn't be with us today if we hadn't had a doctor on staff. They really need to get one before they start up with serious match practice and full contact work.

Absolutely Ralph. Imagine if a serious injury does occur. Ambulance style and we have no club doctor on sight. No future recruits would want to come near us. Sort it out quickly please MFC. Priority one.

Absolutely Ralph. Imagine if a serious injury does occur. Ambulance style and we have no club doctor on sight. No future recruits would want to come near us. Sort it out quickly please MFC. Priority one.

I think you'll find that they have to have one.The problem is getting a good one. Can't afford to have someone who is less than fully competent or committed

The bloke at Richmond is a life-long Melbourne supporter - but he had so much respect for Daff he'd be sceptical about going into an environment which alienated him. I just hope others in the industry don't think the same way

You were there to witness this first hand Chippy?

Yes I was there.

And quite a few others.

Just a question for those who actually know -- do all / most / any other clubs have a doctor in attendance at ALL training sessions?

Just a question for those who actually know -- do all / most / any other clubs have a doctor in attendance at ALL training sessions?

Good question and one would hope they do since I believe they are running some forms of match practice during training sessions and, as we've seen, we've already incurred one major injury.

The delay in naming the club's medical people is a concern because of the background and the long periods of valued service provided by the previous doctors who apparently left hastily and in unhappy circumstances.

The delay in naming the club's medical people is a concern because of the background and the long periods of valued service provided by the previous doctors who apparently left hastily and in unhappy circumstances.

Yes.. especially given the scarcity of suitably qualified specialists. Club doctors are required to give up an enormous amount of time - including at least 30 weekends. Presumably they sacrifice a lot of money - because they are not available to build their ongoing practices.

No sooner will people come up for air after the holidays than the pre-season cup will be on us. You'd like to think that the new person would be up to speed with the condition of all players before the season starts

Yes.. especially given the scarcity of suitably qualified specialists. Club doctors are required to give up an enormous amount of time - including at least 30 weekends. Presumably they sacrifice a lot of money - because they are not available to build their ongoing practices.

No sooner will people come up for air after the holidays than the pre-season cup will be on us. You'd like to think that the new person would be up to speed with the condition of all players before the season starts

Where is this theory that being a club doctor is a sacrifice coming from? Surely it's a great honour. I'm not saying we shouldn't be thankful for the great service of our previous doctors, but if I was a sports medicine doctor then I'd be over the moon to be working with an AFL club in what is arguably the most advanced sports medicine field in the country and not too far off the best in the world. Sure, being a part time position you have to balance the work for the club with your other work which can make things difficult, but I don't see the negatives out weighing the positives.

About 3 weeks ago I heard from an internal staff member (not full time) within the fitness department that a new doctor had been appointed. My contact was couldn't remember the doctors name; there had been a lot of new names introduced over the previous couple of days!

Where is this theory that being a club doctor is a sacrifice coming from? Surely it's a great honour. I'm not saying we shouldn't be thankful for the great service of our previous doctors, but if I was a sports medicine doctor then I'd be over the moon to be working with an AFL club in what is arguably the most advanced sports medicine field in the country and not too far off the best in the world. Sure, being a part time position you have to balance the work for the club with your other work which can make things difficult, but I don't see the negatives out weighing the positives.

It may be an honour but it can also mean 80 hour weeks, no family time and a dramatic cut in income. These people are highly skilled professionals - the novelty would wear off pretty quickly !

About 3 weeks ago I heard from an internal staff member (not full time) within the fitness department that a new doctor had been appointed. My contact was couldn't remember the doctors name; there had been a lot of new names introduced over the previous couple of days!

Good news - I hope you are right - and I hope the concerns expressed in this thread will lead the club to announce it quick smart (just as it announced Daff's departure)

Dees have recruited the 2011 Nth Melbourne Club Doctor.

Dees have recruited the 2011 Nth Melbourne Club Doctor.

Thanks for that

Hopefully its good news for us - and (more) bad news for North.

Dees have recruited the 2011 Nth Melbourne Club Doctor.

North Melbourne 2011 Football Club Doctor Dan Bates is still listed as the NM club doctor on their web site