26 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Played one game this year.  Two sets of surgery on his back.  30 years of age.  Still contracted until end 2022.

Why do people think Hawthorn is willing to let him go? If he was serviceable, they would be keeping him next year. 

Lewis, Hodge, Bruest were all useful in  young teams which needed leadership.  Now that those teams are contenders you don't need those types any more.

We don't need to be doing the Hawks any favours.

birchall has been fantastic for the bears who are now an experience-laden and finals-focused team in their post-hodge iteration

Perhaps it's all a ploy to fire up TMac ahead of the finals ? 

 

Gunston is having a zoom meeting with Melbourne next week. (According to Ricky Nixon).

A back surgeon who I saw said “never have your first back operation as it won’t be your last”.

After two back operations - if actual 🔪🏥 operations and not injections or similar procedures - at 29 a big no from me. 

On 8/25/2021 at 5:17 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Not surprised. Yze connection as well.

 

 

Nup, just no...his day is done for mine.

All this speculation about Gunston’s back surgeries just highlights to me how speculation is so often used to fit a preferred narrative. There are a number of reasons to have back surgery, some will have the legacy of significant functional limitation, some won’t, but need extended time in rehabilitation, 6-12 months kind of time. If Gunston is up for more football, it’s because he’s in the latter category. How many ACL reconstructions has Max Gawn had? How many shoulder surgeries for Clarry? Tracc ruptured his ACL in his first season at MFC. Harry Petty missed an entire season with groin issues, having missed 2/3 of the previous season. Jack Viney has his feet, but where is he sitting now? Jayden Hunt’s season was ‘done’ based on ignorant speculation 3 weeks ago. He could very well be back next week. All the issues these players have had have been assuredly confirmed on here (at various times) as being liabilities to their future playing success. If we don’t know, and we don’t, then I’d suggest a calmer, less certain approach to the speculation. 

Not a firm no but edging that way. Can see him offering something elsewhere. Hard to find these types.

This bloke is a seriously good footballer, has leadership qualities, and plays well in big moments or big games. We would be mad not to at least talk to him. However, we don't desperately need his type so I wouldn't make his acquisition a high priority.

His age is an issue considering the age of some of our current forwards.

Lots of speculation about injuries. Is this a Dan Hannebury to the Saints or a Stevie J to GWS? If he is the right player you have to take the risk to find out. 

I see both arguments here. However, there are very few players who have the footballing smarts of Jack Gunston. Whenever we've played against him, I can't help but watch how he goes about it. Normally I'd not want a player of his age and injury profile but a fit (there's the rub) and firing Gunston would be hard to say no to. He'd be a terrific mentor to younger players working on their craft and certainly the nous to move into a forward coaching role should Yze move on.

Edited August 27, 20213 yr by Return to Glory

I’m not sure why the angst. He would cost us literally peanuts and would replace a Mitch Brown. It’s a win win even if it’s not. 

On 8/25/2021 at 7:32 PM, Jaded said:

When Tommo is back we do have the option to put Petty forward. But I agree our key position players are mostly on the wrong side of 29. Which is why I’m very strong on keeping Weideman. 

Would love to see Petty up fwd.

A fit Gunston is a quality player / team player and seems to be a very good leader.  He would be an excellent addition to our list, so long as it doesn't compromise our tight salary cap position, either now or for the 2 or 3 year contract that he would be seeking (presumably we would require some 'performance' clauses in there to safeguard our side of the deal).  Clearly our Club is well placed to make a call on all this.

Edited August 27, 20213 yr by Deeoldfart

You’d have to imagine Weed has told the club he is exploring options. 

gunston would be a good back up tall fwd although not like for like

46 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Would love to see Petty up fwd.

It’s gonna happen, deever! Maybe not next year, but soon enough. Not to diminish his defensive work, he’s fabulous, but I’m perhaps stupidly confident he’s gonna do a David Neitz….

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

I’m not sure why the angst. He would cost us literally peanuts and would replace a Mitch Brown. It’s a win win even if it’s not. 

Yep, Daw & M. Brown played a combined total of 1 game.

If Weid is off we may see Petty up forward and then Gunston probably next in line?

Would be good insurance policy provided the deal is right and also if body is right.

We're likely losing the messiah Burgo so need to be a little cautious.

 

 

On 8/26/2021 at 8:40 AM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Hawks were rumoured to want a high first round pick for him from Collingwood last year. 

This year Hawks are looking to boost their draft hand and generally want top 25 picks.

Tell em their dreaming.

Since when do players in their 30s command 1st round or even mid second round draft picks?

Maybe if included within a pick swap, which in effect sees the team picking him up only slip back a few places, but even then it would be a dud deal in my eyes.

The only club that has traded away high picks for aging, injured players of late is Hawthorn and just look at where that has got them.

If we could pick him up for a pick in the 50s like we did Lewis, then I'd say go for it absolutely.  But I'm not sure that Hawthorn are in the same position to be wanting to do that now.  To be honest, I'd have thought they would want to hang onto him pretty badly to help develop some of their own youth around.

Edited August 27, 20213 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

5 hours ago, Webber said:

All this speculation about Gunston’s back surgeries just highlights to me how speculation is so often used to fit a preferred narrative. There are a number of reasons to have back surgery, some will have the legacy of significant functional limitation, some won’t, but need extended time in rehabilitation, 6-12 months kind of time. If Gunston is up for more football, it’s because he’s in the latter category. How many ACL reconstructions has Max Gawn had? How many shoulder surgeries for Clarry? Tracc ruptured his ACL in his first season at MFC. Harry Petty missed an entire season with groin issues, having missed 2/3 of the previous season. Jack Viney has his feet, but where is he sitting now? Jayden Hunt’s season was ‘done’ based on ignorant speculation 3 weeks ago. He could very well be back next week. All the issues these players have had have been assuredly confirmed on here (at various times) as being liabilities to their future playing success. If we don’t know, and we don’t, then I’d suggest a calmer, less certain approach to the speculation. 

Agree.

There's many types of back surgery from laminectomy (I've had one) through to fusion.  All back surgeries are definitely not equal.

2 hours ago, Webber said:

It’s gonna happen, deever! Maybe not next year, but soon enough. Not to diminish his defensive work, he’s fabulous, but I’m perhaps stupidly confident he’s gonna do a David Neitz….

Maybe it will next year. With Adam T back in and Smith doing well than he may well be trialled at chf.

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

You’d have to imagine Weed has told the club he is exploring options. 

gunston would be a good back up tall fwd although not like for like

No to Gunston a BIG YES to Bruest

4 hours ago, Jaded said:

would replace a Mitch Brown

Good point.

On 8/25/2021 at 5:17 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Not surprised. Yze connection as well.

 

 

Dazzle you of all people.  Mods alter the error in this heading pls & ty in advance....

A forward that averages 2 goals a game @ 63% accuracy is of severe interest to me.

 

According to one of the Hawthorn Instagram accounts 3-4 days ago, Gunston requested a trade in his exit interview. The same/next day, our alleged interest breaks in the media. Interesting...

Has he got much left in the tank?

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Has he got much left in the tank?

A gunsTON