24 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Thanks for that, yes 2017, must be wishing away my life, in any event I can't see Lumumba lasting to 2018. 

We have too few of them left Ernest to give one away. Well I do anyway. However like you I think 2017 is the last for the Prince.

Call me a cynic but I hope we have our rookies all in a row as I would not be surprised by a mid season retirement.

Hope I am wrong but the MFCSS tends me to think otherwise.

I am no great fan of Lumumba's but I think he is being underrated by most here. He played some good footy for the first half of 2015 and given his natural willingness to take the game on he may slot well back into the side. For years he has been played the type of footy that we aspire to. 

He averaged 20 games a year for Collingwood over eight seasons, won a flag and in his last year with them placed highly in the B & F. If he had those sort of stats with us I think we would not so easily dismiss him

1 hour ago, fndee said:

I am no great fan of Lumumba's but I think he is being underrated by most here. He played some good footy for the first half of 2015 and given his natural willingness to take the game on he may slot well back into the side. For years he has been played the type of footy that we aspire to. 

He averaged 20 games a year for Collingwood over eight seasons, won a flag and in his last year with them placed highly in the B & F. If he had those sort of stats with us I think we would not so easily dismiss him

Mid 2015 is now a season and a half ago and it will be nearly two years before the first game of 2017.

Sadly he is over the hill IMO.

9 minutes ago, old dee said:

Mid 2015 is now a season and a half ago and it will be nearly two years before the first game of 2017.

Sadly he is over the hill IMO.

Although gentlemen of our vintage are pleased if we go off at all OD, think you are going off early on HL, to make a call on any player in November is what Sir Humphrey would call "courageous"

5 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Although gentlemen of our vintage are pleased if we go off at all OD, think you are going off early on HL, to make a call on any player in November is what Sir Humphrey would call "courageous"

So be it Saty.

He has been ordinary/ injured for most of his time at the MFC. I find it difficult to see a 30 year having a big resurgence after the last two years.

He re minds me of Dawes. "It" ain't there any longer.

1 minute ago, old dee said:

So be it Saty.

He has been ordinary/ injured for most of his time at the MFC. I find it difficult to see a 30 year having a big resurgence after the last two years.

He re minds me of Dawes. "It" ain't there any longer.

True, but I thought early in pre season Dawes was on the way back, then it fell to bits in the New Year, will be interesting to watch HL till say February, that will be a better indicator

I'm not a fan but if H does make it back into a near full strength team it will be a good thing as he'll be playing better than some very good players.

Very strange situation.  Nobody sees him hit in the head in the two games he's supposed to be concussed, he declines to play when cleared fit by the medical staff last year when we are pushing for finals in both teams and now having missed a the majority of 2016 and with his position in question he declines to come back to training when other senior players do.

Doubt that will impress Goodwin.  I'm not sure what the rules are now about final year injuries and payouts but I'd be wary if I was the match committee.  Hope Mahoney is all over it.  To me it smells.  It doesn't look like a guy dedicated to the cause.

1 hour ago, Vogon Poetry said:

I'm not a fan but if H does make it back into a near full strength team it will be a good thing as he'll be playing better than some very good players.

Very strange situation.  Nobody sees him hit in the head in the two games he's supposed to be concussed, he declines to play when cleared fit by the medical staff last year when we are pushing for finals in both teams and now having missed a the majority of 2016 and with his position in question he declines to come back to training when other senior players do.

Doubt that will impress Goodwin.  I'm not sure what the rules are now about final year injuries and payouts but I'd be wary if I was the match committee.  Hope Mahoney is all over it.  To me it smells.  It doesn't look like a guy dedicated to the cause.

- So you're implying he wasn't concussed but then quoting the medical staff?

- The medical staff cleared him to play "if he felt ready". Obviously after such a long lay off and light duties, he didn't feel ready.

- Senior players aren't training. A couple of blokes who haven't trained for a year have come in for a run with the 1st to 4th players.

- "Declines" coming back to train? Do you know for a fact he was asked to?

Take the tin foil hate off mate...

 

I hope he's finally gotten over the tragic loss of Classius Clay.

i struggle to see a role with him except now as a depth player if melksham/hibberd/jayden hunt go down.

shame, i had great hopes when he debuted against the suns and kicked that rippin' goal.

We won't see him again. 

15 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I hope he's finally gotten over the tragic loss of Classius Clay.

QFT.

Guys, we're not doubting his capabilities on the field.

16 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I hope he's finally gotten over the tragic loss of Classius Clay.

He has. 

But losing Willy Wonka may keep him out for the year. 

Ugh. Here they come...

 

Please no more negative comments on H or you will be banned for Lesse Majeste.

5 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Please no more negative comments on H or you will be banned for Lesse Majeste.

I think it only has one "s" Biff

3 minutes ago, old dee said:

I think it only has one "s" Biff

You are quite coherent for midday OD.Change up the meds?

My question of lumumba is will he ever get back to career best form or anything close to that? If the answer is no then what is the point in persisting with him?

1 hour ago, demonboys said:

My question of lumumba is will he ever get back to career best form or anything close to that? If the answer is no then what is the point in persisting with him?

Umm he has a contract!

Still hasn't fronted to training when a lot of players in similar scenarios are coming back early. Combined with a bit of interest in the press. Wouldn't shock me if just gave it away now. I doubt Goodwin is as interested in the softly softly Roos approach.

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Still hasn't fronted to training when a lot of players in similar scenarios are coming back early. Combined with a bit of interest in the press. Wouldn't shock me if just gave it away now. I doubt Goodwin is as interested in the softly softly Roos approach.

Stay away from training, get body and head in correct space, turn up on 21st ready to go.

Vince, who is now over 30, whose form dropped away in latter part of season, who now has a heap of hungry youngsters up his clacker for his spot, should he return early?

Personally I hope HL proves everybody wrong and has an outstanding season, agreed though the odds seemed stacked against this happening

9 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Still hasn't fronted to training when a lot of players in similar scenarios are coming back early. Combined with a bit of interest in the press. Wouldn't shock me if just gave it away now. I doubt Goodwin is as interested in the softly softly Roos approach.

Out of interest, which "lot of players in similar scenarios" are you talking about?

 

20 hours ago, stuie said:

Out of interest, which "lot of players in similar scenarios" are you talking about?

 

Spencer (form), Melksham (ban), McDonald (injury), Jetta and Jones as leaders have fronted up. Not blaming him for not coming early, just a gut feeling.

 

On 11/11/2016 at 5:01 PM, Satyriconhome said:

Stay away from training, get body and head in correct space, turn up on 21st ready to go.

Vince, who is now over 30, whose form dropped away in latter part of season, who now has a heap of hungry youngsters up his clacker for his spot, should he return early?

Personally I hope HL proves everybody wrong and has an outstanding season, agreed though the odds seemed stacked against this happening

Wouldn't be the worst idea from Bernard but he did play every game he was available for last year. Again, no issue with Lumumba staying away, just a feeling the club might not be telling the full story.

13 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Spencer (form), Melksham (ban), McDonald (injury), Jetta and Jones as leaders have fronted up. Not blaming him for not coming early, just a gut feeling.

As others have pointed out, Vince is the one who I would put as the most similar given his age, (comparative) form and that he would also be expected to be a "best 22" player. I reckon Vince should be at least around in a casual way like McDonald, unless of course his injury has meant he'll start at normal time or later.

Spencer isn't anywhere near the 22, Melksham hasn't trained for a year so of course he's straight in (like Hibberd also), TMac isn't actually training as such, he's just there which he probably should be anyways as a member of the leadership group, likewise with Jetta and Jones.

I'm not too worried about H, yet... He would still have his base of fitness and that's what most of this first few weeks is about. I think his obstacles and priorities will be finding some touch and some confidence so that will happen more once they break the footy's out. That's the time to keep a close eye on him IMO. Reckon we'll be able to gauge his commitment once the "real" stuff starts, rather than see him running a few casual laps.