Lewis on Retirement

“I’m going to leave the game at the end of the year feeling really fulfilled in what I’ve achieved".

He seems happy to finish in the the VFL.  He will keep teaching the young guys.  He seems genuine in this: 

“We’re going through a bit of a tough period at the moment, so I need to be there support these young kids and hopefully prolong their careers and make sure they understand the learnings you can get through the bad times can obviously help during the good times as well.”

I'm very happy he came to the Dees.  He has taught our players a lot.  He kept them hungry after the first final last year.  They have a better understanding of how to be a professional player.  Gave us leadership when sorely needed.

He may get to play off against his best mate Roughy, in the VFL.  One to watch!

Edited June 4, 20196 yr by Lucifer's Hero

He was doing some coaching on the weekend with Casey also which is a great effort.

A good decision.

I hope they can keep him on in some capacity, if he meets our needs.

Best of luck to him. He has had a very decorated and distinguished career.

He’s played 47 games for Melbourne - it would be nice if that was nudged up to 50 but I can’t see that happening with where we and he are now.

Leaves the game having achieved what few have. 4 times. 

He was a good get for us when we were needing guidance in how to win and how to train and how to be professional. 

Will be interesting to see if he stays on in a coaching capacity. 

 

Heard he's been magnificent internally, particularly with the younger players. 

Hope he stays on in a coaching capacity. 

It was huge when it surfaced he was joining MFC. The same year Hogan extended. 

We’ve all bagged him pretty hard at times, some fair, some not so fair. 

Still, not many in the game can walk away with 300+ games and 4 premiership wins to brag about. 

7 minutes ago, McQueen said:

It was huge when it surfaced he was joining MFC. The same year Hogan extended. 

We’ve all bagged him pretty hard at times, some fair, some not so fair. 

Still, not many in the game can walk away with 300+ games and 4 premiership wins to brag about. 

The normal suspects have bagged him hard, please don't speak for everybody, he was brought to the club for lots of reasons, the positives have far outweighed the perceived negatives

I honestly expected him to change the outcome of at least a few games. I guess his efforts and expertise are felt more not on the field.

21 minutes ago, Damo said:

I honestly expected him to change the outcome of at least a few games. I guess his efforts and expertise are felt more not on the field.

When he broke Cripps leg it changed the outcome of that game.

One of the guys that came in and helped shape the beginnings of a winning culture. Not saying we are there yet on that front, but guys like Lewy are the ones we will look back on and credit with the foundations of what is hopefully a few successful years again. 

I really hope he sticks around the club in some capacity. His leadership and experience doesn't need to go out the door just because he stops playing. 

11 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

When he broke Cripps leg it changed the outcome of that game.

I agree he played a part in changing that game, although he didn’t break his leg (that happened from a Hunt smother, I think). Lewis merely punched him as the Blues and Cripps were getting on top.

Probably worth the investment on the balance of it although the drop off in speed, reflexes and form was probably quicker than the club would've hoped. I think Salem in particular has really benefited from his influence.

 

I’ve been a big fan. We got him across with the 3-year carrot knowing full well that, on field, his third year would be a diminishing return. (I still would like him in the team to take kick-outs though, and was perplexed he wasn’t selected when Salem was a late out v Giants.)

Leaving aside the off-field benefits he clearly has brought to the club, let’s not forget that we gave up next to nothing for him and, in his first two years as we rose up the ladder, he played 43 of a possible 47 games, finishing top 3, then top 10, in the B&F.

45 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

When he broke Cripps leg it changed the outcome of that game.

He was the one that Broke Cripps jaw

Very surprised he is willing to finish in the VFL.  I take my hat off there, as long as there aint the financial carrot in his contract to continue playing.  I can see him giving away a few more 50s and a few suspensions so he won't play that many if I had to guess/bet.

 

My head-shaking has been more at the club than him.  Those that think he got slower suddenly, or started dropping his to his knees in the past 8 months, haven't really looked at him between 2014 and 2016 at the hawks where he had an OK 10 games out of 65?  I watched him closely at Hawthorn, and couldn't believe then, that he was earning a cemented senior gig.  Like Cornes said, no other club was going to offer him anywhere near what we did.  Smell like paying over the odds to me.  If you have a 1994 Mercedes C 280 with a faulty wiring harness, leaking oil and 400,000 km on the clock, you pay market value for that at the most.

In the past 30 years, only the desperate or those wanting big bux have ever seen MFC as a destination club.  When Lewis, via Todd Viney, saw Melbourne as a destination club, we were seduced and didn't think he was really coming due to desperation or dollars.  The big error on our part was that we were a one-paced side to begin with.  If you want to insert leadership on field, you can't do it, and make a slow team slower.  Our only option at that time was Brent Harvey...that was all.

On field, did he make the difference between non-finals or finals; finals or GF?  No.  He wasn't an asset to us on field at all.

 

On leadership.  A true leader can keep his nerve on the field.  A true leader is completely selfless on field.  A true leader facilitates leadership in those around him, and makes the joint better on departing.

 

IMO, Lewis aint no true leader.

An excellent investment. I hope he sticks around to help get the club up again. 

He knows how to do that. 

3 minutes ago, TGR said:

Very surprised he is willing to finish in the VFL.  I take my hat off there, as long as there aint the financial carrot in his contract to continue playing.  I can see him giving away a few more 50s and a few suspensions so he won't play that many if I had to guess/bet.

 

My head-shaking has been more at the club than him.  Those that think he got slower suddenly, or started dropping his to his knees in the past 8 months, haven't really looked at him between 2014 and 2016 at the hawks where he had an OK 10 games out of 65?  I watched him closely at Hawthorn, and couldn't believe then, that he was earning a cemented senior gig.  Like Cornes said, no other club was going to offer him anywhere near what we did.  Smell like paying over the odds to me.  If you have a 1994 Mercedes C 280 with a faulty wiring harness, leaking oil and 400,000 km on the clock, you pay market value for that at the most.

In the past 30 years, only the desperate or those wanting big bux have ever seen MFC as a destination club.  When Lewis, via Todd Viney, saw Melbourne as a destination club, we were seduced and didn't think he was really coming due to desperation or dollars.  The big error on our part was that we were a one-paced side to begin with.  If you want to insert leadership on field, you can't do it, and make a slow team slower.  Our only option at that time was Brent Harvey...that was all.

On field, did he make the difference between non-finals or finals; finals or GF?  No.  He wasn't an asset to us on field at all.

 

On leadership.  A true leader can keep his nerve on the field.  A true leader is completely selfless on field.  A true leader facilitates leadership in those around him, and makes the joint better on departing.

 

IMO, Lewis aint no true leader.

Yyyaaaawwwnnnnn

23 minutes ago, TGR said:

Very surprised he is willing to finish in the VFL.  I take my hat off there, as long as there aint the financial carrot in his contract to continue playing.  I can see him giving away a few more 50s and a few suspensions so he won't play that many if I had to guess/bet.

 

My head-shaking has been more at the club than him.  Those that think he got slower suddenly, or started dropping his to his knees in the past 8 months, haven't really looked at him between 2014 and 2016 at the hawks where he had an OK 10 games out of 65?  I watched him closely at Hawthorn, and couldn't believe then, that he was earning a cemented senior gig.  Like Cornes said, no other club was going to offer him anywhere near what we did.  Smell like paying over the odds to me.  If you have a 1994 Mercedes C 280 with a faulty wiring harness, leaking oil and 400,000 km on the clock, you pay market value for that at the most.

In the past 30 years, only the desperate or those wanting big bux have ever seen MFC as a destination club.  When Lewis, via Todd Viney, saw Melbourne as a destination club, we were seduced and didn't think he was really coming due to desperation or dollars.  The big error on our part was that we were a one-paced side to begin with.  If you want to insert leadership on field, you can't do it, and make a slow team slower.  Our only option at that time was Brent Harvey...that was all.

On field, did he make the difference between non-finals or finals; finals or GF?  No.  He wasn't an asset to us on field at all.

 

On leadership.  A true leader can keep his nerve on the field.  A true leader is completely selfless on field.  A true leader facilitates leadership in those around him, and makes the joint better on departing.

 

IMO, Lewis aint no true leader.

 

I’m going to buck the trend here and say that I’m  pretty nonplussed about this. He was a fantastic player for Hawthorn and an average player for the Demons. And though he’s influence behind the scenes may have helped inspire the club to new levels of greatness, that greatness culminated in an appearance in a preliminary final in which he....well you remember. And I remember all the posts here about it too. Having said that, he seems like a nice fella and I wish him well  

As for folks suggesting he may stay on at the club in some form or another - serious question - is he not welcome at the club he won four premierships at? 

 

Edited June 5, 20196 yr by Mel Bourne

Been a good player for the club, played a role in setting standards and expectations.

On field was a leader and helped get us over the line in games we previously lost.

Haters going to hate and never admit they might be wrong. Showing there lack of class to the end

I expected he'd spend the second half of his 3rd year at Casey but thought it would be under a different set of circumstances.

Cheers Lewy and all the best to you and your family in whatever path you choose 

4 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Been a good player for the club, played a role in setting standards and expectations.

On field was a leader and helped get us over the line in games we previously lost.

Haters going to hate and never admit they might be wrong. Showing there lack of class to the end

I expected he'd spend the second half of his 3rd year at Casey but thought it would be under a different set of circumstances.

Cheers Lewy and all the best to you and your family in whatever path you choose 

Agree PSD I watched him at Willy a couple of weeks ago and he was sticking up for the kids who were getting mauled by much more mature Willy players. Ended up getting report and if I am correct he got caught retaliating. Numerous Willy players did much worse. We have had our monies worth, a pity he could not have got us to a GF last year. 

55 minutes ago, TGR said:

Very surprised he is willing to finish in the VFL.  I take my hat off there, as long as there aint the financial carrot in his contract to continue playing.  I can see him giving away a few more 50s and a few suspensions so he won't play that many if I had to guess/bet.

 

My head-shaking has been more at the club than him.  Those that think he got slower suddenly, or started dropping his to his knees in the past 8 months, haven't really looked at him between 2014 and 2016 at the hawks where he had an OK 10 games out of 65?  I watched him closely at Hawthorn, and couldn't believe then, that he was earning a cemented senior gig.  Like Cornes said, no other club was going to offer him anywhere near what we did.  Smell like paying over the odds to me.  If you have a 1994 Mercedes C 280 with a faulty wiring harness, leaking oil and 400,000 km on the clock, you pay market value for that at the most.

In the past 30 years, only the desperate or those wanting big bux have ever seen MFC as a destination club.  When Lewis, via Todd Viney, saw Melbourne as a destination club, we were seduced and didn't think he was really coming due to desperation or dollars.  The big error on our part was that we were a one-paced side to begin with.  If you want to insert leadership on field, you can't do it, and make a slow team slower.  Our only option at that time was Brent Harvey...that was all.

On field, did he make the difference between non-finals or finals; finals or GF?  No.  He wasn't an asset to us on field at all.

 

On leadership.  A true leader can keep his nerve on the field.  A true leader is completely selfless on field.  A true leader facilitates leadership in those around him, and makes the joint better on departing.

 

IMO, Lewis aint no true leader.

That’s a bit sad. Why bother posting this? The guy’s retiring after a great career in football. That’s all really.

1 hour ago, TGR said:

Very surprised he is willing to finish in the VFL.  I take my hat off there, as long as there aint the financial carrot in his contract to continue playing.  I can see him giving away a few more 50s and a few suspensions so he won't play that many if I had to guess/bet.

 

 

Better players than Lewis have done this - Simon Madden and Terry Daniher are two who spring immediately to mind and it looks like his old mate Rough will be doing the same too.  Just guys who love playing footy and enjoy everything about being in a footy club.  It says a lot about him as a bloke I think.  If anything, it probably enhances his legacy.

2 hours ago, Ben E said:

I agree he played a part in changing that game, although he didn’t break his leg (that happened from a Hunt smother, I think). Lewis merely punched him as the Blues and Cripps were getting on top.

And broke his Jaw