14 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

The environment was fine for 43 players.

Jake Niall is a goose.

Unless you are a football insider, it's impossible to say it was "fine" for 43. You don't think Watts partied with teammates when at MFC?

I'm happy with the culture driven push the club now has. I'm not confident it was like that in the past, but I don't know any inside intel.

52 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Everyone is different, they grieve differently, stop thinking everyone handles things in the same way.

 

Sure - I have no problem with that. Pretty obvious statement though.

But it’s also exactly the reason I’ll spend my compassion chips on feeling for victims of crime, returning ex-serviceman, the weak in society, and people who are unfairly bullied, vilified and harassed by others, not marquee AFL players who break club rules by boozing when they shouldn’t.

At a human level, I feel a lot of sympathy for Hogan and his unfortunate circumstances last year (like all others here) - but I don’t feel strong level of compassion for a dude who appears to find it hard to manage the conflict between:

- the commitment required to be a professional footballer (with all of the attendant pressures and rewards); and

-  an apparent desire to not have that pressure, and instead spend his time with his non-footy playing mates drinking beers at music festivals and generally being a regular guy. 

The narrative here is just not that compelling for me. The world is full of simply heart-breaking tragedies - this is not one of them.

 

2 hours ago, Dame Gaga said:

You are probably right, and Ralph would be able to back up his story, but us poor souls who follow our club and invest our money, heart and souls into the fortunes of these young men always hope for the best. Call me naive, but I try to be optimistic and like to think the best of people. Taking drugs has probably become the norm in today's society, and athletes are not immune from temptation, but I still don't like it. I have seen the damage it does. To call these substances "party" drugs is a misnomer in my opinion. There is nothing fun or sparkly about becoming a drug addict.

Not everyone who takes drugs becomes an addict just as not everyone who drinks beer becomes an alcoholic.

31 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Not everyone who takes drugs becomes an addict just as not everyone who drinks beer becomes an alcoholic.

This is true, but I was thinking in the context of elite athletes, which is what footballers now claim to be. It is not ideal to be either drinking in excess, or taking drugs, especially in the season. I also previously referred to Ralph mentioning Hogan and Cousins in the same breath. Perhaps Cousins thought he could control his drug intake while playing football, but since then it has all been tragically downhill for him. I do not wish this to happen to anyone, footballer or otherwise.

40 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Not everyone who takes drugs becomes an addict just as not everyone who drinks beer becomes an alcoholic.

True, but some drugs are far more addictive than alcohol. However, not trying to diminish the damage alcohol has done to many in society

16 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Unless you are a football insider, it's impossible to say it was "fine" for 43. You don't think Watts partied with teammates when at MFC?

I'm happy with the culture driven push the club now has. I'm not confident it was like that in the past, but I don't know any inside intel.

Been told that the players were well supportive of the coaches decision to get rid of Watts and Hogan - whilst they like both he and Hogan were also well aware of Hogans ability to go off grid..

Edited March 21, 20197 yr by Grapeviney
Watch what you say please >>>>

14 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Been told that the players were well supportive of the coaches decision to get rid of Watts and Hogan - whilst they like both he and Hogan were also well aware of Hogans ability to go off grid..

Heard the same thing. 

Getting rid of Watts and Hogan was not a personal thing. 

Strictly business. 

Even yesterday Goodwin was talking about genuine love and support for Jesse. 

Sometimes you just can’t work together. 

20 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Been told that the players were well supportive of the coaches decision to get rid of Watts and Hogan - whilst they like both he and Hogan were also well aware of Hogans ability to go off grid..

Reputations can be accurate but often they are exaggerated, and, sometimes blown out of all proportion, however, in most cases, they represent some level of truth.  I suspect this applies in the Watts and Hogan cases. 

  

8 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

....

Getting rid of Watts and Hogan was not a personal thing. 

Strictly business. 

''''''

"It's not personal. It's strictly business". Michael Corleone.

16 minutes ago, M_9 said:

"It's not personal. It's strictly business". Michael Corleone.

Scarface??

16 hours ago, Dame Gaga said:

This is true, but I was thinking in the context of elite athletes, which is what footballers now claim to be. It is not ideal to be either drinking in excess, or taking drugs, especially in the season. I also previously referred to Ralph mentioning Hogan and Cousins in the same breath. Perhaps Cousins thought he could control his drug intake while playing football, but since then it has all been tragically downhill for him. I do not wish this to happen to anyone, footballer or otherwise.

Neither of these blokes fathers would have called their sons "ratbags".  

16 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Neither of these blokes fathers would have called their sons "ratbags".  

I imagine the same could be said of Adolf Hitler, Attila the Hun, and Pol Pots dads.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-fremantle-reportedly-stops-referring-to-jesse-hogan-diagnosis-as-clinical-anxiety-after-medical-backlash/news-story/e7ef967d832cd326b3350cc0f1ff144c

Freo bringing the lols in week 1 of the season

7 minutes ago, Demonland said:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-fremantle-reportedly-stops-referring-to-jesse-hogan-diagnosis-as-clinical-anxiety-after-medical-backlash/news-story/e7ef967d832cd326b3350cc0f1ff144c

What a debacle!  It has been a PR disaster from the start.  Amateur hour.  Hopefully they are more professional in managing Jesse's issues. 

The good news is he trained yesterday and is likely to play round 3.

I really feel for Jesse, not only because of his wellbeing but he started with us when we were a basket case, on and off the field and has seemingly gone to another basket case.  That can't be a good environment for someone with his issues.

28 minutes ago, Demonland said:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-fremantle-reportedly-stops-referring-to-jesse-hogan-diagnosis-as-clinical-anxiety-after-medical-backlash/news-story/e7ef967d832cd326b3350cc0f1ff144c

 

This sort of cynical spin sets back the cause of mental health across the community.

22 minutes ago, Demonland said:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-fremantle-reportedly-stops-referring-to-jesse-hogan-diagnosis-as-clinical-anxiety-after-medical-backlash/news-story/e7ef967d832cd326b3350cc0f1ff144c

When the term clinical anxiety appeared it reminded me of the overuse of the term clinical depression. The latter term has been thrown around a lot when referring to footballers and other professional sports stars. I suspect the term used without understanding what the term actually means, which is major depression or a major depressive disorder, and, amongst other things, is not related to loss or illness (death of a loved one or cancer etc). 

There are lots of us with depression, it does not mean it is clinical depression. 

Stfu ross lyon  and Peter Bell

Edited March 21, 20197 yr by Satan

3 minutes ago, Satan said:

Stfu ross lyon 

You can throw in Peter Bell too Satan

With the likes of Lyon, Bell and Rosich in charge, it's only going to get worse before it gets better.

Edited March 21, 20197 yr by Demon Disciple

the real problem is probably not even plain old anxiety, knowing how clubs like to spin things......and i doubt it is a "well-being issue" whatever the f that is.  to suggest he is not being penalised by being omitted from playing stretches credibility, especially when he turns up for training this week.

seems no-one these days knows what a spade is....... 

36 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

What a debacle!  It has been a PR disaster from the start.  Amateur hour. 

Makes our comms team  look like Pulitzer prize winners!

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bennell-caught-up-in-police-probe-after-physical-clash-with-bikie-20190320-p515y0.html

 

 

Freo lol

At least Fremantle have a cool, calm and collected senior coach who will approach these indiscretions in a mature manner and deal with them appropriately. 

Edited March 21, 20197 yr by Ethan Tremblay

10 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

At least Fremantle have a cool, calm and collected senior coach who will approach these indiscretions in a mature manner and deal with them appropriately. 

Mix one part gun recruit with anxiety issues, one part new general manager with small man complex, one part unbalanced CEO, one part gun recruit with dodgy calves and links to bikies and a coach with anger management issues. Mix and stir. A recipie for success. 

Remember when Jesse first came to the MFC and the plan was to have him move in with Mitch Clark?