1 minute ago, MFC-11 said:

Very well enunciated.

Please not forget that footy clubs are a business and decisions need to reflect the effect on financial outcomes. Increasing memberships are vital for the overall club success. Excitement for 2020 will bring in new members.

Now you know what I do for a crust

Thanks Goody.

Just now, Moonshadow said:

Thanks Goody.

How do i push the retract button?

Hang on I'll check with Richo & get back to you

5 hours ago, Demons11 said:

My mail is Bennell wants to come pending some further investigation into his injuries.  The ops he has had and rehab required means he won’t be available until mid way through the season.

So in effect, the recovery time from when he had his operation in July is almost 12 months.  

There would have to be a reasonable amount of confidence about his prospects for a recovery to consider offering a playing contract. 

I’m not 100% sold on the wisdom of doing this given the club’s injury record of 2019, the fact that we already have a few players on our list coming back from long term injuries and only five places available on our lists. 

Harley’s manager has stated that he will start running next week. I’m not sure how, even in any worst case scenario he is not playing till mid next year. Seven months of being able to run before he returns to the game? 

10 hours ago, Webber said:

What was thought to be a muscular problem was in fact a nerve pathology, which according to current oil, is now sorted.

Let's see.

10 hours ago, Bonkers said:

How in this day and age with professional sports science teams, physios & doctors on top of all of the other consultants outside of club level get the diagnosis about his calves wrong for over 4 years?

Because medical diagnosis, even at the best of times, is a series of calculated guesses. As is treatment, where the best we have is "this usually works".

Have you never had a doctor say "take these morning and night for a week and if it doesn't improve, come back and see me"?

9 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Exactly.  I’ve been a strong No as we have had a shocking run with injuries and struggled to get guys like Vandenburg and Joel Smith back on the park. I’ve got huge doubts in this area.  

Bennell has physical and mental issues to overcome so is a huge risk.  For “free” does soften the risk but need GOODY/Burgess and Brukner to try to craft an impossible miracle. 

What are his mental issues?

4 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

What are his mental issues?

He's giving serious consideration to signing with a club that just finished 17th. 

15 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

What are his mental issues?

I don't know whether mental issues is the right wording but he's had a history of poor judgement with partying and alcohol. I'd also be willing to bet he'd be on a strike for illicit drugs given his history. But what has changed now is that he has a partner and a child with her that seems to be a very stabalising influence, plus he knows this might well be his last chance to resurrect his career so motivation wise it's all there in front of him.

Edited October 31, 20196 yr by Pates

“I just think I’ve still got a lot more in the tank. I’ve come this far and I’m not going to give up, just because of my latest injury. I’m not a person who will just chuck the towel in and give up.

“I love training and I love football. Without football, who knows where I’ll be?

“Getting a third opportunity at the highest level would be life-changing for myself and my partner and my family – it would be the luckiest thing. It would mean a lot to me and my family.”

 

Sounds like a man that still has the white line fever. Oh, ...wait a second...........

2 hours ago, rumpole said:

So in effect, the recovery time from when he had his operation in July is almost 12 months.  

There would have to be a reasonable amount of confidence about his prospects for a recovery to consider offering a playing contract. 

I’m not 100% sold on the wisdom of doing this given the club’s injury record of 2019, the fact that we already have a few players on our list coming back from long term injuries and only five places available on our lists. 

I'm taking that as after effectively 5 years out of the game, a first seemingly successful surgery in July and a second (other leg) a month or so later,  her will be back running in November, taking 6-7 months to slowly ramp to fitness, get some kms in the legs and a block of VFL under his belt. 

I really don't think that is a surprise. 

Imagine the value and spark he could add in the back half of the season coming into finals. 

This thread has all the hallmarks of the Langdon (hE cA|\|’t k1ck) and Tomlinson (He cANt HAz fooTBaLl good ) supposition leading to a pimple-bursting avalanche of goodwill 

 

the bloviating rebarbative naysayers ought commence taking their place upon the nearest ledge for the inevitable ritual Defenestrations and prepare their list of inanities for recitation as they plummet toward doom at 9.8m/s^-2

4 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

11 years between posts, that has to be some sort of record?! I also thought it was a massive risk when the situation was initially reported, I did some thinking and now think it’s a relatively low risk, there’s 44 players on a list and we’ve already delisted a number of injury prone ones. I’m happy we’re looking at doing something un-Melbourne like. 

Glad you’ve noticed. I’ve just been a little busy...

Edited October 31, 20196 yr by Cheney

11 hours ago, dieter said:

This all sounds to me like the mindset of people who are gonna win the 50 million Powerball tonight...

Damn you, I didn't know it had got to 50mill again and me not getting a ticket ?. Had to go check the numbers, phew jackpoted to 20 m next week. Accurate as ever Dieter or just lazy?

11 hours ago, binman said:

I was thinking the same thing. As you say he knows this is the last roll of the dice. He sounded completely sincere when he said in the short interview at Perth airport before flying into Melbourne that he would give anything to play AFL football again. 

I have a good feeling about this. A redemption story. The headline might be:

Bennell exorcises his demons at the Demons

Herald Sun doesn’t get that clever anymore!!!

11 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Exactly.  I’ve been a strong No as we have had a shocking run with injuries and struggled to get guys like Vandenburg and Joel Smith back on the park. I’ve got huge doubts in this area.  

Bennell has physical and mental issues to overcome so is a huge risk.  For “free” does soften the risk but need GOODY/Burgess and Brukner to try to craft an impossible miracle. 

Assume Burgess has been given the first call. His opinion will be critical. 

Petracca and Bennell in the same forward line? Sounds good to me

15 minutes ago, Cheney said:

Glad you’ve noticed. I’ve just been a little busy...

Pity you’ve missed the last decade. In that period, we’ve won 3 flags, made another grand final, and featured in 2 prelims. Missed the 8 only once - bad draw, and horrible run with injuries.

We’ve played truly dynamic football for most of this time. It was quite an incredible 11year period. Without doubt, we’ve been the envy of the competition - other club officials and supporters have been praying for us to collapse on the basis of our remarkable success.

And yet, some here don’t seem to think we a lock for the top 4 in 2020 ...

 

2 hours ago, bing181 said:

Because medical diagnosis, even at the best of times, is a series of calculated guesses. As is treatment, where the best we have is "this usually works".

Have you never had a doctor say "take these morning and night for a week and if it doesn't improve, come back and see me"?

Yes, that's what GP's say......experts in the field however are experts for a reason

3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

It would pay to consider the dedication of Harley to be permentantly in rehab for 5 years.

It is a dark, lonely place, where there is no reward until you get on the back. It is an isolating place. I would argue that his willingness to pursue this after 5 years, shows more passion, than someone who has being operating injury free.

People with addictions hey...

4 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Substitute “Excited” with “Dead”

53 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Pity you’ve missed the last decade. In that period, we’ve won 3 flags, made another grand final, and featured in 2 prelims. Missed the 8 only once - bad draw, and horrible run with injuries.

We’ve played truly dynamic football for most of this time. It was quite an incredible 11year period. Without doubt, we’ve been the envy of the competition - other club officials and supporters have been praying for us to collapse on the basis of our remarkable success.

And yet, some here don’t seem to think we a lock for the top 4 in 2020 ...

 

And Ron’s been hitting the acid pretty hard. 

56 minutes ago, dworship said:

Yes, that's what GP's say......experts in the field however are experts for a reason

Good luck with that.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines!

43 minutes ago, McQueen said:

And Ron’s been hitting the acid pretty hard.