Rivers was a really gutsy player, glad he played for us.

Don't blame him for going to the cats, especially if the rumours are true that he was low-balled in his contract negotiations. I mean which option would you choose?

A/ Play for less money, in a toxic culture, at a lowly club whose actions indicate that they don't care if you stay or go, or

B/ Play for more money, at a well-run and successful club who wants you.

To me, his career was over the moment he bailed on the Dees.

Riv was good as the "third man up" when he was allowed to zone off his man, but was less of a player when teams started to spread their forward lines and make him accountable to one opponent.

Riv was good as the "third man up" when he was allowed to zone off his man, but was less of a player when teams started to spread their forward lines and make him accountable to one opponent.

Unfortunately Tony, because of the weak nature of our list, Rivers was regularly asked to mind a gorilla forward. That was never his strength. Chip and Judy were still relatively young. TMac not yet even out of nappies. I remember Riv getting regularly mauled by Cloke one out in the square... was like watching a buffalo calf being taken down by a lion. You are correct, he was best as third man up, he could read the ball coming in extremely well.

Pity he missed the Demons golden years while he was at Geelong.

Edited August 21, 201510 yr by chook fowler

Won't be remembered at Geelong, stuffed his chances of becoming a great clubman at Melbourne for one finals win.

Stuff him, he left when we needed him the most, hope he doesn't play another game

Another walk out who amounted to meh.

As a 42 year member who has experienced more disappointments than joy, I feel entitled to a bit of irrational pleasure when ex players leaving for greener pastures fall over . The Krauts have a wonderful word for this emotion : " schadenfreude " .

He's a Cats player. Who gives a [censored].

He's a Cats player. Who gives a [censored].

No, when he retires he is an ex Demon and always welcome back.

No, when he retires he is an ex Demon and always welcome back.

I'd welcome him back as well but right now he plays for Geelong after leaving us to play finals, couldn't care less about him.

He was generally an honest toiler for us but also gave moments of sublime joy.

Good on him. Lovely bloke also.

He was generally an honest toiler for us but also gave moments of sublime joy.

Good on him. Lovely bloke also.

The voice of reason. Who'd of thought it?

The voice of reason. Who'd of thought it?

Why didn't you give me a lick Moon?

I'd welcome him back as well but right now he plays for Geelong after leaving us to play finals, couldn't care less about him.

This is where i lean to...

Why didn't you give me a lick Moon?

Sorry mate, I'm just not that into you. Good luck with it though.

When Rivers left I was in the "good on him" camp. I'm prettys sure I said something about he'd done his bit for Melbourne and deserved a chance at a GF with a better side. Now having watched the club lose more and more important players than anyone else through the idiotic Free Agency system, I have had the opportunity to reconsider. Free agency has by now been proven to drastically favour the top sides and relegate smaller clubs to the status of feeders. We have players just biding their time until they can jump to a more successful outfit. I just can't respect someone who thinks they can just walk into a top side and enjoy the rewards of everyone else's hard work.

WTF? That's the definition of walking out, they begged him to stay but he asked us to trade him to Adelaide, obviously he couldn't stay after that - are you suggesting we are supposed to be grateful that he didn't make us lose him for nothing? Great thanks Scott. God our supporter base is soft

I agree. Thompson may have had reasons for wanting to go back to Adelaide, but ultimately we developed him and the moment he started showing something he walked off to be a champion somewhere else.

On a related note, I am so happy that Carlton showed Henderson the door the way they did. It's by far the best thing they've done all year. The player told them he didn't want to be part of the club anymore and they told him to clear out his locker and not come back. Perfect response. Even better would be to make him go to the draft, but I doubt they'll go that far.

Edited August 21, 201510 yr by RalphiusMaximus

The guy played 150 games for the Dees, often in times of unprecedented turmoil, so I'll give him the respect he deserves.

Think there's more to the departure than the convenient "he left for greener pastures, we didn't push him at all" line that Demon fans like to spout

I held no grudge against Rivers for leaving and actually wouldve liked to have seen him win a flag for the Cats - he was a very consistent performer for us for 10 years (in all but 3 the teams performance was abysmal)

At the end of the 2012 season Rivers could see the writing on the wall - and that Neeld was on a path to nowhere. We can't hate every player who's left the club in recent years because the club has given them no reason to stay - and for that matter no reason for members to sign up. Footballers play professionally to win a premiership and after 10 years the club was further away from one than when Rivers started. This now happens at every club by they - Goddard, Dal Santo, Brian Lake etc - they give their club good service, but if they feel they can be of better service to a side capable of winning a flag (particularly in their career twilight) - they'll jump at the chance. The sad reality is that football is a business - and we need to make ours as enticing as possible not only to retain talent but to attract it.

Rivers us gave us good service and was pretty good for Geelong from what I saw as possible - I don't buy the "capitalising on other people's hard work" line - he was part of what improved them from 2012 to 2013 - and nearly making a GF.

Frawley on the other hand, I do not wish well because he was pants for us for lengthy periods - and he jumped on the reigning premiers - Rivers didn't do that. He needed a change of scenery and a club capable of success.

Edited August 22, 201510 yr by Anders

I genuinely wished him success at Geelong, he gave a lot of seasons to the club and wasn't going to get close to winning a premiership with us. Sad that he's never been able to get a clean run of form and injury at the Cats.

I agree. Thompson may have had reasons for wanting to go back to Adelaide, but ultimately we developed him and the moment he started showing something he walked off to be a champion somewhere else.

Thompson left because Daniher wouldn't play him, pure and simple. I remember discussing with friends the year before he left, saying he would go because of the Coach. I believe that is exactly what happened.

Scott played 39 games in 4 years with us and then nearly every game with the Crows since.

Edited August 22, 201510 yr by Redleg

His best year was his first (2004). Not often do you see that.

He had a good career, but didn't get close to the heights expected of him after that mesmerising debut season. I'd put him in a similar category to players like Brad Green and Cameron Bruce (remember 2000?). Green was the best and most loyal of that trio though.

Edited August 22, 201510 yr by Sylvia Saint

His best year was his first (2004). Not often do you see that.

He had a good career, but didn't get close to the heights expected of him after that mesmerising debut season. I'd put him in a similar category to players like Brad Green and Cameron Bruce (remember 2000?). Green was the best and most loyal of that trio though.

Hope Hogan doesn't follow that particular trajectory

No, when he retires he is an ex Demon and always welcome back.

Bitters and i saw him at the "walk to the G" game v Collingwood.

He was there with all the past players.

Surprisingly small in person.

I will think of him as a good servant during crazy times.

Still had time for a couple of reprobates like us.