Cam McCarthy takes indefinite leave

[chook fowler 18,392]

He may be a sook or a GenY with an unrealistic sense of entitlement. But he may have serious mental health issue. None of us know so, as it doesn't affect us, I think we should just let it play out without further speculation.

 

[Gorgoroth 12,362]

Not getting a game, signs extension.

getting game, happy with life.

Freo suddenly want him.

doesnt get traded. Cracks the [censored].

...

Claiming Depression is the new "get me outta a contract me thinks"

All a bit convenient I think. And to be honest a slap in the face of those who truly suffer it.

[John Crow Batty 8,315]

17 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

He may be a sook or a GenY with an unrealistic sense of entitlement. But he may have serious mental health issue. None of us know so, as it doesn't affect us, I think we should just let it play out without further speculation.

 

Once these sort of issues become public knowledge it is easy to be cynical because the  public is now used to be mushroom farmed.  We have heard all the boolshyte all before. Most organisations in the public eye would treat illnesses of their workers in a very sensitive and private manner.  One of my workers had to be stood down because of mental illness. All managed quietly and very few people know. The staff member is jiust on leave as far as most people know.

Edited January 31, 2016 by america de cali

[DeeMfc 621]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gws/gws-giant-cameron-mccarthy-cant-believe-the-way-his-season-has-started-as-he-wins-round-8-rising-star-nomination/news-story/bccebf865e08d5760bc4a44cabe07a9f

This article is from the 25th of May 2015. Only 8 months ago and well into the 2015 season proper.

“As soon as I came here I fell in love with the club. I wasn’t here for the early days but a lot of the boys said it was hard early on getting thrown around a bit but I think now everyone’s pretty excited about what the future holds.

“If we keep playing some good footy and keep a few boys together we’re definitely going to go places.”

[Ted Lasso 17,130]

11 hours ago, DeeMfc said:

Prodee and Mach5 have this nailed.

1. GWS recruit CM

2. Freo don't even know him let alone rate him.

3. CM signs a contract extension much to his delight.

4. See point 2.

5. CM starts exhibiting elite talent.

6. Freo starts to take notice.

7. CM starts kicking 4+ bags per game.

8. Freo in desperation gets in his ear and says 'come home to the club you love son'...... We WILL make it happen.

9. CM believes he's going home to play for the club he loves. He's ecstatic.

10. It doesn't eventuate and the world caves in around him leading to possible anxiety and depression.

(If indeed afflicted by these truly aweful mental illnesses I hope he can garner some respite and recover as best he can)

 

Moral of the story.

1. Don't believe everything you are told.

2. Stand by your commitments and re-evaluate your position only when you have fulfilled them. 

 

 

 

 

I don't believe any AFL club would have many elite prospects that they don't know, let alone a young key forward from the West, they may have underestimated him but i have no doubt he was always going to be a target if he showed any interest in going back to Perth, exactly the same as Jesse would.

[Mach5 4,490]

19 hours ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

The amount of comments on this thread about him being a sook just shows how much further appreciation and understanding of anxiety and depression has to go.

The kid can seriously play and I hope he gets its together and plays somewhere when he is capable. 

 

I don't think that's the issue at all. It's moreso skepticism that he is experiencing depression or anxiety, and a belief by McCarthy & his management that he thinks he can force GWS' hand.

[Moonshadow 16,411]

4 hours ago, robbiefrom13 said:

I'll get jumped all over again, but contract law requires equality of bargaining position between the parties, and a whole lot of specifics about this that  I can't remember.  When one party is in an unequal position - and I'd say the monopolistic rights of the player's club in an instance like that of CM makes it a very lopsided negotiation (not adequately balanced up by large amounts of money, if what the boy really wants is to play AFL footy).  Yes he signed the contract, but in circumstances that effectively deny him the right to choose another employer, and which therefore justify questioning the fairness of the AFL's rules about contracts.  The AFL denies him the right to choose a different employer.  One day, this will be challenged, I'm sure.  

Maybe after the excesses of the Essendon FC's behaviour with their employees gets the legal light of day being admitted into what goes on in an AFL club.  Law aims to provide fair rules, and the AFL does things their own way, for their own greater good.  

Some poor kids are going to get called out by Essendon later this year, and the AFL denies them access to the competition which likely enough they belong in, by merit, just as the AFL (and most fans) will not countenance the player deciding who they play for.  Robbie Flower, Tassie Johnson, a lot of guys in the past stood out for a year to get to their own choice of club - but surely there can be better system.  I know what that means about Hogan for example, but once the player is older his departure is allowed.  Think Ablett, Franklin, etc - it isn't necessarily the end of the world, and perhaps it shows respect and allows agency in the players' own lives that should be considered.  McCarthy raises questions about fairness to the player that I think deserve consideration; the system maybe is missing something that can matter to a young man.  He is a talented athlete, with ambition and ability to entertain with his prowess.  But we want to deny him reasonable rights that he would like to have, and we call him names when he respectfully seeks leave-of-absence under the pressure of his situation.  "Supporters" - of the game, not the players.  Are they mere gladiators to us?

How dare you speak reason on this thread robbie!

Interesting points you raise.

[DeeMfc 621]

9 minutes ago, Peter Griffen said:

I don't believe any AFL club would have many elite prospects that they don't know, let alone a young key forward from the West, they may have underestimated him but i have no doubt he was always going to be a target if he showed any interest in going back to Perth, exactly the same as Jesse would.

Obviously they knew of him. it was just a figure of speech to put into point form my opinion of what happened. 

[DeeMfc 621]

 

This statement from McCarthy is from the 25th of May 2015. Only 8 months ago and well into the 2015 season proper.

“As soon as I came here I fell in love with the club. I wasn’t here for the early days but a lot of the boys said it was hard early on getting thrown around a bit but I think now everyone’s pretty excited about what the future holds.

“If we keep playing some good footy and keep a few boys together we’re definitely going to go places.”

Although it is something we will never truly know I find it very hard to believe he could go from loving the place and keeping a few boys together to a complete breakdown.

The excuse of mental illness will be a massive blight on the sport and unfortunately can't truly be measured. 

Also a complete insult to those who truly suffer as Gorgoth stated.

 

[jnrmac 19,327]

10 minutes ago, DeeMfc said:

 

This statement from McCarthy is from the 25th of May 2015. Only 8 months ago and well into the 2015 season proper.

“As soon as I came here I fell in love with the club. I wasn’t here for the early days but a lot of the boys said it was hard early on getting thrown around a bit but I think now everyone’s pretty excited about what the future holds.

“If we keep playing some good footy and keep a few boys together we’re definitely going to go places.”

Although it is something we will never truly know I find it very hard to believe he could go from loving the place and keeping a few boys together to a complete breakdown.

The excuse of mental illness will be a massive blight on the sport and unfortunately can't truly be measured. 

Also a complete insult to those who truly suffer as Gorgoth stated.

 

Didn't Mitch Clark love it at Melbourne? I'm sure he said that many times....Just sayin....

[Mach5 4,490]

22 minutes ago, DeeMfc said:

 

This statement from McCarthy is from the 25th of May 2015. Only 8 months ago and well into the 2015 season proper.

“As soon as I came here I fell in love with the club. I wasn’t here for the early days but a lot of the boys said it was hard early on getting thrown around a bit but I think now everyone’s pretty excited about what the future holds.

“If we keep playing some good footy and keep a few boys together we’re definitely going to go places.”

Although it is something we will never truly know I find it very hard to believe he could go from loving the place and keeping a few boys together to a complete breakdown.

The excuse of mental illness will be a massive blight on the sport and unfortunately can't truly be measured. 

Also a complete insult to those who truly suffer as Gorgoth stated.

 

Paul Gallen last year sure went out of his way to make a mockery of any claims of mental issues or depression.

[stuie 7,374]

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

Not getting a game, signs extension.

getting game, happy with life.

Freo suddenly want him.

doesnt get traded. Cracks the [censored].

...

Claiming Depression is the new "get me outta a contract me thinks"

All a bit convenient I think. And to be honest a slap in the face of those who truly suffer it.

Will totally agree with you if that's what it turns out to be, but just think it's better to play it safe until the truth is known rather than claim it as false straight up just because you don't like the timing or think it's "convenient".

 

1 hour ago, DeeMfc said:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gws/gws-giant-cameron-mccarthy-cant-believe-the-way-his-season-has-started-as-he-wins-round-8-rising-star-nomination/news-story/bccebf865e08d5760bc4a44cabe07a9f

This article is from the 25th of May 2015. Only 8 months ago and well into the 2015 season proper.

“As soon as I came here I fell in love with the club. I wasn’t here for the early days but a lot of the boys said it was hard early on getting thrown around a bit but I think now everyone’s pretty excited about what the future holds.

“If we keep playing some good footy and keep a few boys together we’re definitely going to go places.”

Not sure what you'd expect someone to say after just signing an extension. Have you ever heard a player still signed to a club totally bag it out half way through a season? "Nah, I hate this place, they're all jerks, I'm unhappy and can't be bothered. The coach is a fool as well, can't wait to get out"..... Not likely is it?

 

[DeeMfc 621]

29 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Didn't Mitch Clark love it at Melbourne? I'm sure he said that many times....Just sayin....

Correct.

I think I'll leave it at that.....

[Ethan Tremblay 28,546]

Next time I'm ill, I'm coming here for a free diagnosis.

[DeeMfc 621]

11 minutes ago, stuie said:

Will totally agree with you if that's what it turns out to be, but just think it's better to play it safe until the truth is known rather than claim it as false straight up just because you don't like the timing or think it's "convenient".

 

Not sure what you'd expect someone to say after just signing an extension. Have you ever heard a player still signed to a club totally bag it out half way through a season? "Nah, I hate this place, they're all jerks, I'm unhappy and can't be bothered. The coach is a fool as well, can't wait to get out"..... Not likely is it?

 

I usually refrain from getting engaged with you Stuie but look at the date of the statement. He would not have signed the extension had he been that homesick. GWS would also have done a deal if he was that homesick. They would have known he was. If he was. 

Anxiety and depression are extremely serious and something I don't take lightly. 

Yes, I may in fact be wrong in this instance. Unfortunately it is unquantifiable and some people will use it to get what they want and that is a very low act.

[stuie 7,374]

1 minute ago, DeeMfc said:

I usually refrain from getting engaged with you Stuie but look at the date of the statement. He would not have signed the extension had he been that homesick. GWS would also have done a deal if he was that homesick. They would have known he was. If he was. 

Anxiety and depression are extremely serious and something I don't take lightly. 

Yes, I may in fact be wrong in this instance. Unfortunately it is unquantifiable and some people will use it to get what they want and that is a very low act.

I just think there's no point jumping early. If it turns out to all be faked just to get to Freo I think he should actually be suspended from the comp for at least a year. However, there's no set rules about how these things (mental illness) happen or how quickly they can come on, so I don't think it's right for anyone to imply it couldn't have possibly developed over the course of 8-9 months.

I'm not saying one way or the other, as we truly don't know at this stage. However, if it turns out he has used mental illness as a ruse simply to change teams then it's an extremely low act.

 

[Wiseblood 24,636]

24 minutes ago, stuie said:

Not sure what you'd expect someone to say after just signing an extension. Have you ever heard a player still signed to a club totally bag it out half way through a season? "Nah, I hate this place, they're all jerks, I'm unhappy and can't be bothered. The coach is a fool as well, can't wait to get out"..... Not likely is it?

 

To be fair though Stuie, if he was struggling at that time he wouldn't have signed a new contract that kept him at the club for multiple years.  Obviously when he signed it he was more than happy to stay for the future.

[stuie 7,374]

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

To be fair though Stuie, if he was struggling at that time he wouldn't have signed a new contract that kept him at the club for multiple years.  Obviously when he signed it he was more than happy to stay for the future.

Maybe he was totally happy. But what I'm saying is, it's not beyond the realms of possibility for mental illness to reveal itself over the course of 8-9 months.

 

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

You have to wonder what his manager was doing or not doing!

You would think he would check out prospects with other clubs before letting his charge sign another contract.  Cam played some good games before re-signing. His potential/ability was known.  If nothing else his manager could advise him to wait a few months longer before signing.  (That is exactly what Jesse's manager did.  By all accounts Jesse was ready to resign with us during the summer but his manager had a word in his ear to hold off and let the season roll out.  That is exactly the right thing for a manager to do).

All very well for Cam's manager to shout from the rooftops that they will be back for a trade in 2016.  He had options before Cam re-signed - the kid had just turned 19!  The manager must share some responsibility here.  Its his job to keep his charge out of these situations.

What if Cam was your son or brother...would you be happy how it has played out.  I'd be having a few stern words with the manager to be honest!!

Edited February 1, 2016 by Lucifer's Hero

[Bitter but optimistic 21,556]

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Next time I'm ill, I'm coming here for a free diagnosis.

Clearly Ethan, you are, by association - a nut case.

[DeeSpencer 23,506]

McCarthy extended his deal BEFORE his debut in late 2014. Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gws/simon-katich-not-the-only-star-cricketer-at-gws-cam-mccarthy-set-to-debut-on-sunday/news-story/414d8bcea59a14f830f0314cf8de8a9c

His manager may have been greedy and may have been negligent in his duties to Cam but that's also speculating.

His client had a contract for 2015 on draftee wage (?70k plus match payments) and he presumably was able to sign him for 2016 and 2017 on wages of something like 300k. Ie. enough that should he get a serious injury in 2015 he would still be contracted and able to recover or be able to leave footy with money for a house and a head start in life.

Most home sick kids in their first year come good and presumably Cam felt that way, he was torching the NEAFL and enjoying footy. Whether his manager told him he could always force a trade despite the contract is speculation.

If  was McCarthy - a talented young key forward who's a popular team mate, with a little home sickness - and the club offered me a 2 year extension and guaranteed over half a million bucks I'd sign the deal and take the chance that I'd feel better not worse in a years time.

What would we say about McCarthy and his manager if he was injured in the first game of 2015, never played again and never got a contract for 2016, 2017. What would say about McCarthy if he played all of last year under intense contract speculation like James Aish did? Aish was whacked from pillar to post all because he wanted to get out of Brisbane because in his mind they weren't a professional outfit. Personally I don't like that decision, but I don't like the criticism either. What if McCarthy went through that pressure and had homesickness added on top?

[jnrmac 19,327]

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Next time I'm ill, I'm coming here for a free diagnosis.

Why wait, we can give it to you now!

[Mach5 4,490]

I'm not trying to diagnose.

Instead im questioning the legitimacy of the diagnosis due to other pertinent factors that would indicate a lack of legitimacy.

[Moonshadow 16,411]

3 hours ago, stuie said:

Not sure what you'd expect someone to say after just signing an extension. Have you ever heard a player still signed to a club totally bag it out half way through a season? "Nah, I hate this place, they're all jerks, I'm unhappy and can't be bothered. The coach is a fool as well, can't wait to get out"..... Not likely is it?

 

Didn't an angry Jake Carlile bag out the Bombers last season, not in the words you use though. I remember the quote that went something like "this place is f**ked!"

[stuie 7,374]

2 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Didn't an angry Jake Carlile bag out the Bombers last season, not in the words you use though. I remember the quote that went something like "this place is f**ked!"

And which interview was that in Moonie?