It's an odd qualifier to say "indefinitely". Surely, they will simply return to the VFL and until their form aarrants selection, play there. "Indefinitely" implies that they may not return to the VFL either, but take time off.

Or is that just me?

Fascinating and indicative of how things are changing in professional sports.

Was watching On the Couch and they were discussing coaches taking a 3-4 week break mid season just to relieve pressure.

Longer seasons bring with it more issues.

A small matter is the MFC bye. Physically it's a good rest but mentally it's not even a 7 day break.

gunston in particular doesn't look like he can get out of a jog at the moment

6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Fascinating and indicative of how things are changing in professional sports.

Was watching On the Couch and they were discussing coaches taking a 3-4 week break mid season just to relieve pressure.

Longer seasons bring with it more issues.

A small matter is the MFC bye. Physically it's a good rest but mentally it's not even a 7 day break.

It'll be interesting to see if we rest anyone else going into the Geelong match and then the GWS match.

I know many posters can't stand David King, but the footage he and his team provided on AFL360 last night was damning for Daniel Rich from a defensive stand point.

Can barely get out of a jog when the Lions don't have the ball.

Gunstan's form has been extremely underwhelming for a bloke of his ilk.

 

This smells funny. It’s footy, you can go down and play VFL and get the pill. This sounds like they want out of the team.

I had heard that Springfield is not a happy place and then weird things like this happen…

1 minute ago, rpfc said:

This smells funny. It’s footy, you can go down and play VFL and get the pill. This sounds like they want out of the team.

I had heard that Springfield is not a happy place and then weird things like this happen…

One less competitor to worry about 

 

They ain't getting back in either.

Something smelling very funky out springfield way.

The Fagan and Clarko saga still rumbling on in the background, not a fun place to be at the minute.

They are a Qld base side do not travel anywhere and win.

Last seasons win against us was an aberration.

Very weird

This has a very strange feel about it - that both players would go to the coach simultaneously.  I can imagine one player might do that but I struggle a little to see how the situation evolved where both do.

Maybe they both received a post-game bake and got together to discuss the way forward and came up with this.

Edited June 15, 20232 yr by old55

Says a lot about the club if the players are dropping themselves

Doesn’t reflect well on their selection committee if players have to drop themselves for poor form.

Seems like its possibly designed to take the heat off the coach....to avoid him having to make a hard call. But it weirdly brings the whole club into focus doesn't it? 

50 minutes ago, A F said:

It's an odd qualifier to say "indefinitely". Surely, they will simply return to the VFL and until their form aarrants selection, play there. "Indefinitely" implies that they may not return to the VFL either, but take time off.

Or is that just me?

Dangerfield took a mid year preseason last year and really this year too. We did the same with BBB in 2021.

For someone like Rich who’s had a very disjointed season it makes sense to get some work in to the legs.

Gunston might be more of a mental toll of a forward in poor form. But no doubt his body is crying out for a freshen up too.

I could certainly see it becoming a trend for teams that are up the ladder but in patchy form. Obviously you risk missing the top 4 but if you can dip down a little over the next month you’ve still got 6 weeks to catch up.

As we showed last year, there’s really no point limping in to a top 4 spot and hoping you can get hot. You need to carry some form in to finals for the last month or so of the home and away season.

There was a lot of media, and poor footage, around how bad both of them have been. I’d say they knew it was coming and put their hands up before it happened.

I actually don’t think it’s that bad. We applaud players who go when it’s their time to go. Maybe that’s all this is.

I did always think another lanky tall forward was the last thing Brisbane needed. Felt like a bad call by Gunston to go there. 

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We did the same with BBB in 2021.

I think we are doing the same this year...

...mystery injury last week.

Probably one last shot at it.

5 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

Seems like its possibly designed to take the heat off the coach....to avoid him having to make a hard call. But it weirdly brings the whole club into focus doesn't it? 

Their next 4 weeks are Sydney (H), St Kilda (A), Rich (H) and WC (H). They should win 3 out of 4 and they have a repeat match up with the saints in round 23.

If they take care of the Swans this week it won’t be a story and they’ll be well positioned for their tricky last 6 weeks.

My concern would be managing the guys who are gritting through injuries to play each week and the guys who could invariably get dropped. 

 

Jack Gunston's late father was highly regarded when he worked within AFL circles, both at Essendon and within the AFL itself. He was known as a man of high integrity. It doesn't surprise me one bit if Jack G has inherited that streak of honour and taken the initiative and, in effect, dropped himself so as to make life easier for his club. 

What is this? Cricket? 

I admire the noble act from these two but it sort of undermines the coach and selection committee process. The coach needs to be in charge and command respect, if this starts happening on a regular basis then the players may as well run the team themselves. 

43 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

One less competitor to worry about 

Would probably prefer them to be playing against us by the sounds of it.

looks like most here have a negative view of this. I actually read it as a positive for the club that its leaders are taking responsibility for losses. Sure, selection committee should have pulled them out earlier maybe, but I'd rather senior players make a call then not make a call.

They are senior players, basically on-field assistant coaches, they'll know they're not doing well. A few weeks out, a bit of a training block and one or both will probably make a difference later in the year.

Didn't Adem Yze 'drop' himself at one stage? 

20 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Would probably prefer them to be playing against us by the sounds of it.

I said that last year... it didn't go so well

21 minutes ago, Bringbackbarassi said:

looks like most here have a negative view of this. I actually read it as a positive for the club that its leaders are taking responsibility for losses. Sure, selection committee should have pulled them out earlier maybe, but I'd rather senior players make a call then not make a call.

They are senior players, basically on-field assistant coaches, they'll know they're not doing well. A few weeks out, a bit of a training block and one or both will probably make a difference later in the year.

You my be right...its just unusual for two players to do it at once. But in saying that Im probably looking for a negative bias as I want the lions to fall.