1 minute ago, Smokey said:

You can hire all the coaches and sports scientists in the world - they will never understand the player's bodies quite as well as the players themselves.

you really think an 18 year old knows his body, its requirements and it's limitations better than professionals, eh?

i'm wondering why we waste all this good money on coaches and conditioning specialists

i'm sure the players and the union combined could do a better job

11 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

you really think an 18 year old knows his body, its requirements and it's limitations better than professionals, eh?

i'm wondering why we waste all this good money on coaches and conditioning specialists

i'm sure the players and the union combined could do a better job

To a certain extent - yes, I do. They are professional athletes - not your average 20 year old off the street. Of course the professionals are required for guidance, but the coaches can't feel a player's hammy or knee the moment before it goes. Only they can.

As everyone else, I'm only speculating here anyway. I'm choosing to back the players in that they made a decision for the right reasons. That's all.

 

 

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by Smokey

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-coach-simon-goodwin-defends-the-clubs-scrapped-preseason-training-camp/news-story/4064c4bdc5039b1f06e9d020b476f4d8

I have a massive issue with the story.

It refers to Salem and Tyson as 'stars' of the competition.

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Jones doesn’t have Goodwins phone number?

Jones can not have a comfortable chat with the coach?

Jones can not front the coach on the players behalf?

Jones goes behind the coaches back to some players organisation to approach the coach at the players behest.

The position of either one of Jones or Goodwin is untenable, that’s the only clear outcome here.

On 12/14/2017 at 6:35 PM, General Malaise said:

This is either:

a) Good

b) Bad

 

Didn't we get canned by the media this time last year when Tyson and Salem got injured?

amusing how one year we are apparently pushing people too far, yes this year we are soft again. Anything for a story I guess!

Also like to add that I would be amazed if our players went to the AFLPA without consulting our player leadership group. We have no idea who from our playing list went to the AFLPA, but hypothetically if it included Viney, Jones, Lewis, Hibberd etc.... would we all be saying these players are soft?

Surely this is more a case of our players wanting to get the most out of the preseason, and maybe the focus on fitness and skills is perhaps more beneficial than sleep deprivation and pushing beyond normal limits and reserves?

One final thing that I note is that unlike last year we seem to have a few more players recovering from injury or post season surgery... so perhaps this is a prudent thing to do.

Anyway, mountain... mole hill and I don't really pay much notice to Brown or Frawley's comments in the media.

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I would have prefered that players had spoken face to face with Goodwin. 

If that had happened this wouldn’t be an issue. But the AFLPA were bought in

I agree SWYL.

There were better ways of handling this little fiasco both by players and by coaches.

This is the outcome of media inexperience at every level of the club. Beyond that, it is an overblown beat up on a no news day by the 1000 strong media throng whose lives depend on reporting something.

As for Spud Frawley, the Court Jester and Campbell Brown, an accident without a cause, I would hardly acknowledge them the time of day. Even less, consider their opinions carry any weight.

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by Hot as Hell

On 14/12/2017 at 5:04 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

That is true. 

But one would think there would be negotiation with players on whatever the 'deal breaker' aspect of the camp was for them.  After all the article says:  "The club's football department was satisfied they had taken significant measures to increase the safety for players after last year's camp".  So the club had acted on some known issues. 

Negotiating the activities at the camp is acceptable (not ideal).  But to boycott cancel the whole shebang.  I'm speechless and left wondering what sort of team are we? 

Soft.

44 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

I reckon this camp last year contributed to our injury toll big time. You can not compare an NRL player to an AFL player they are a completely different beast.

Without being in the inner sanctum it's difficult to ascertain how much damage the camp caused last year.

Most of us were peeved with the gruelling mid season fixturing of four games in 18 days when players were dropping like flies. Maybe we should have gone to the AFLPA about the fixture.

I don't profess to know anything about the camp but from what I have read the club assured the players better safety implementations than last year.

I find both sides of the argument interesting but the lack of trust toward the FD is a little unsettling IMO.

20 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Hilarious irony!

Concerned that the players are calling the shots on this one, but don't think it's a biggie to be worried about. If Goodwin can turn this into a positive to the players it will quickly go away. His and the fd's reaction over the next 6 weeks will determine the outcome.

However, I'm certainly interested to read the views of all posters, even if I do not always agree with them.

Christmas cheer to all

A little bird told me that it was cancelled when they found out it wasn't going to be mixed.......

57 minutes ago, bluey said:

Jones doesn’t have Goodwins phone number?

Jones can not have a comfortable chat with the coach?

Jones can not front the coach on the players behalf?

Jones goes behind the coaches back to some players organisation to approach the coach at the players behest.

The position of either one of Jones or Goodwin is untenable, that’s the only clear outcome here.

You have all the facts? (does anyone outside the club?)

1 hour ago, bluey said:

Jones doesn’t have Goodwins phone number?

Jones can not have a comfortable chat with the coach?

Jones can not front the coach on the players behalf?

Jones goes behind the coaches back to some players organisation to approach the coach at the players behest.

The position of either one of Jones or Goodwin is untenable, that’s the only clear outcome here.

Would not quite put it like that but understand the sentiment.

This is a massive communication fail on the part of the football department and the players. From the players perspective you are entitled to single out Jones and Viney as co-captains just as one can call out Goodwin and Josh Mahoney on the other side.

A sorry affair that only a successful 2018 can erase. If there is no success the required actions are obvious.

At the Demonland cafe.....

Sounds like a communication fail by both players and coaches to me too.

Presuming players didn’t discuss with football dept when they had issues.

Presuming also the football  dept did not get player feedback / buy in to camp.

Union involvement ought not to have occurred or been required. Bad move.

Silly outcome for the club ,but gives PJ , board and all involved time to show each other  some respect and get on with the not negotiable that we make the eight.

Bonding sessions are often required at clubs, but players stance seems to have  put more pressure on themselves re performance now and they have little room for  any further boat rocking.

 

 

 

If our womens side was offered the to do the same camp they would jump at the opportunity.

 

3 hours ago, bluey said:

Jones doesn’t have Goodwins phone number?

Jones can not have a comfortable chat with the coach?

Jones can not front the coach on the players behalf?

Jones goes behind the coaches back to some players organisation to approach the coach at the players behest.

The position of either one of Jones or Goodwin is untenable, that’s the only clear outcome here.

Very well put.

Players shouldn't be subject to macho stuff like this  at Christmas time, there is a  thing called tapering  off. Athletes don't have to be robots for 12  months just to appease their boozy smartphone supporters they have to train smart and be respected. Gone is performance enhancement and gone is the special forces commando mentality.

Cameron Mooney appeared to give us an almighty dump on SEN this arvo from the snippet I heard. Couldn’t catch it all but mentioned something about 14 players and something about a laughing stock.

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by america de cali

3 hours ago, Win4theAges said:

I reckon this camp last year contributed to our injury toll big time. You can not compare an NRL player to an AFL player they are a completely different beast.

It's not just people trying to compare AFL and NRL players they are trying to compare our club with a team boasting 3 of the top half dozen players of their generation 

 Cameron Mooney appeared to give us an almighty dump on SEN this arvo from the snippet I heard. Couldn’t catch it all but mentioned something about 14 players and something about a laughing stock.

Situation normal then .... Carry on.

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by Fork 'em

4 hours ago, binman said:

I don't have anywhere near enough information to form a reasoned opinion on this issue.

Though true, when has this stopped certain recidivists from continuing to make the same commentary, albeit in different forms, as if they are the moral right.

24 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Cameron Mooney appeared to give us an almighty dump on SEN this arvo from the snippet I heard. Couldn’t catch it all but mentioned something about 14 players and something about a laughing stock.

These 14 clowns should be named and shamed.  

As members we have the right to know who this clique is that think they are bigger than the club.

Edited December 18, 20178 yr by Petraccattack

Much ado about nothing.

4 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

These 14 clowns should be named and shamed.  

As members we have the right to know who this clique is that think they are bigger than the club.

Personally, if the true number is 14 then I think who ever leaked the information from the AFLPA or the club should be hung, drawn and quartered.

This whole biz should never have been leaked out in the first place...

3 hours ago, bluey said:

Jones doesn’t have Goodwins phone number?

Jones can not have a comfortable chat with the coach?

Jones can not front the coach on the players behalf?

Jones goes behind the coaches back to some players organisation to approach the coach at the players behest.

The position of either one of Jones or Goodwin is untenable, that’s the only clear outcome here.

Bluey has spoken well today

Pity Jones couldn’t go out with the coach for a quiet Pot and Parma and sort this out before the PA got wind...