Need an update on Fritsch, if his foot has not pulled up well/ come back with a bad scan, i think without him, Melk and Petty it will be a bridge too far this season unfortuantely.

  On 28/08/2023 at 07:51, Lewis said:

Need an update on Fritsch, if his foot has not pulled up well/ come back with a bad scan, i think without him, Melk and Petty it will be a bridge too far this season unfortuantely.

See previous post by @WalkingCivilWar

Is fine.

  On 28/08/2023 at 04:37, Wodjathefirst said:

 

I posted this in another thread. I think it sits better here. It appears Melksham is done for the rest of the season but was instrumental in getting us to stay in the top 4 and the team now be considered a serious contender.

If (when) we win the big one 23 players will receive a premiership medal, Melks won’t. I reckon the 23 players deserve and should get ‘player’ medals but I feel anyone who was named in the playing 23 throughout the season should also be given a separate ‘premiership team’ medal. (Could be given at the B&F night later on). Rationale being that it is a team game and they contributed throughout the season.

This way people like Melksham would get due recognition for how they contributed throughout the year. (Similar for Jones back in 2022). 
This should be instigated and ‘minted’ by the AFL.  Lastly, if this already occurs…. sorry. 

Like the NBA, I think every player on the list should get one, only the players on the day get them on the day.

Many players probably wouldn’t want it or may not feel they have earned it, but I’m firmly of the belief that it is a list that wins a flag, not just 23 players.

As mentioned, Melksham is a key reason we held on to top 4.

  On 28/08/2023 at 08:02, Clint Bizkit said:

Like the NBA, I think every player on the list should get one, only the players on the day get them on the day.

Many players probably wouldn’t want it or may not feel they have earned it, but I’m firmly of the belief that it is a list that wins a flag, not just 23 players.

As mentioned, Melksham is a key reason we held on to top 4.

I agree, but I've heard a lot of players discuss this and say it dilutes the value of getting one and many wouldn't want a medal if they didn't play on the day.

I wonder how JJ feels about his.

  On 28/08/2023 at 08:02, Clint Bizkit said:

Like the NBA, I think every player on the list should get one, only the players on the day get them on the day.

Many players probably wouldn’t want it or may not feel they have earned it, but I’m firmly of the belief that it is a list that wins a flag, not just 23 players.

As mentioned, Melksham is a key reason we held on to top 4.

Bravo bravo...  yes, this. 

Just sucks big time!

Devastating news, no other words for it.

I have no idea how clubs function, but what is the likelihood he will remain at the club in a coaching or staff role if his playing days are over? Goodwin seems to have always rated his leadership skills very highly. I recall he was the main driver in getting him over from Essendon and he named him captain once against North when Gawn and Viney were out.

Trying to look for some kind of positives...
 

IF we get to hold up the Cup in five weeks time, IF…

I would make certain that Jake Melksham is on the ground and is acknowledged 

  On 28/08/2023 at 07:59, Jaded No More said:

See previous post by @WalkingCivilWar

Is fine.

Have a look at Mitch Cleary's twitter 

Related, spare a thought for Luke Dunstan who has also suffered an ACL injury. Played his heart out every week for Casey, amassing huge possession numbers. At most other clubs he’d be an automatic inclusion in the firsts.  This is not how he would have seen his career playing out. We wish him all the best too for a speedy recovery, with gratitude for his  important support role.

Sh5thouse.

He’s in ripping nick though. I reckon he could get back.

poor Dunstan too.

  On 28/08/2023 at 09:00, Hampton 22 said:

Related, spare a thought for Luke Dunstan who has also suffered an ACL injury. Played his heart out every week for Casey, amassing huge possession numbers. At most other clubs he’d be an automatic inclusion in the firsts.  This is not how he would have seen his career playing out. We wish him all the best too for a speedy recovery, with gratitude for his  important support role.

This. 
He’s also likely ruined his chances at a third chance elsewhere. Really awful given his career shouldn’t be over. 

Devastating. He’d be gutted. Melksham is a genuinely nice guy.  Fought his way back into the team and is a vital goalscorer. 

  On 28/08/2023 at 04:37, Wodjathefirst said:

 

I posted this in another thread. I think it sits better here. It appears Melksham is done for the rest of the season but was instrumental in getting us to stay in the top 4 and the team now be considered a serious contender.

If (when) we win the big one 23 players will receive a premiership medal, Melks won’t. I reckon the 23 players deserve and should get ‘player’ medals but I feel anyone who was named in the playing 23 throughout the season should also be given a separate ‘premiership team’ medal. (Could be given at the B&F night later on). Rationale being that it is a team game and they contributed throughout the season.

This way people like Melksham would get due recognition for how they contributed throughout the year. (Similar for Jones back in 2022). 
This should be instigated and ‘minted’ by the AFL.  Lastly, if this already occurs…. sorry. 

I agree with what you are saying Wodja.

However, rather than being instigated and 'minted' by the AFL, I think it would be better if it actually came from the club.  Could be presented by captain and coach at the B&F.

In my amature playing days, I was someone who has been a part of teams that went on to win premierships at lower levels.  In one instance, there was a surplus of actual game day premiership medals and I was given one by the coach on the day.  Got to say that at the time, it did feel kind of token and somewhat rubbed the salt into the wounds of not making the squad on the day.  An alternate medal given on another day might actually have been something I'd appreciate.  Still do look back fondly on the mateship of that team though.

Edited August 28, 20231 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Never loved Melksham so much (and he has done some extremely sexy things this season) as when he was sitting on the bench not feeling sorry for himself and being focused on the team and those around him. Just spoke volumes about his good character that has nothing to do with PR or media training. Am now his number one fan for him to get well and come back. Sloane did it, so can Melks.  

Feel absolutely gutted for Melksham, so can't even imagine how he'd be feeling about all this.  Remember him saying a few weeks back that he was just playing every game like his last and I fear that at his age, that might now be true.

Thought that along with some others that didn't quite make it into the premiership team in 2021, such as Bernie Vince, AvB, Jonesy etc, that Jake was a huge part of the group that lifted the MFC back from obscurity, into a compeditive finals team that believed in it's self.

His persistence to fight back into the team over the past two seasons was both inspirational and exhilarating.  Really loved the agressive, compeditive and attacking way he took on the game.   He'd back him self for the impossible shot, have a ping at the sticks when it was on and although he had his share of misses, he'd nail a good portion too (like this one https://youtu.be/Oaw0TDkbI0s?si=bWcikia9Q5wHfBVI ) - probably better than holding it up and kicking to a contested situation or pack of waiting opposition defenders on most occations.  Also think the MFC needed a few players with the combative attitude of never taking a backwards step Jake brings, so well illistrated in the 2018 elimination final against Geelong (see from 0:48 of https://youtu.be/CNGOI8QuEMA?si=LzfcSiNzwkYEWaKW ).  Can only imagine some of this would have rubbed off on our current forward mix over the past 6 - 8 weeks that Jake's been in the side.

If the fist fight between him and Maysey was a sign of disunity and the wheels falling off our season a bit last year, ironically, maybe Jake's missfortune could a catalyst for galvanizing the team for finals this year.

Edited August 28, 20231 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

A terrible result, mainly because he fought his way back into the best 22, not just a top up when needed.  Not an easy task. Getting back to the type of player he was when he first arrived.  Side going to miss what he brings. 

I know it’s all been said now, but what a heartbreaking thing we witnessed yesterday. 

Melksham had to fight hard to get through the Essendon rubbish, then harder to cement himself at a new club. A player of his talent shouldn’t have had to overcome such hurdles, but he just dug away like the dedicated professional he is. For his last few games he was at the pinnacle of his exceptional form, and that’s something else we all got to witness. I’m gutted for the guy, but I’m glad he can go out feeling like he was giving it his all, at the top of his game. 

Our forward line has been dead set cursed all bloody year.

From starting the year without Fritta, to losing Bbb, Tmac, Petty and now Milk is a shocking run of luck.

If any other club had this bad luck we would never hear the end of it.

That we are playing in a QF is a testament to the teams resilience, grit, guts and determination and any other superlatives you may wish to throw in yourself.

I'm sure the club will seek to add another big fwd for next year.

In the meantime if Tmac who has shown good form at Casey the last two weeks, can play well, then we will win a flag.

Without Milk I do not believe we would have made fourth.

But an inform Tmac is certainly a very good replacement.

  On 28/08/2023 at 06:23, The heart beats true said:

This. I literally can’t believe the revisionist history that’s going on.

so name the revisionists

Definitely would not have made 4th without the Milkshake, he has been the difference between wins so many times, he is the grit!

  On 28/08/2023 at 12:25, DEE fence said:

Am now his number one fan for him to get well and come back.

A sneak preview of @DEE fence visiting Melky after his knee operation.

 

 

 

 

 

We seem not to hear about the LARS approach to repairing torn ACLs any more. However, if I were Melksham and the LARS technique was suitable, I'd be very tempted to choose this approach to allow me to get back to playing in 2024 in time for another chance to play finals. I would be thinking that I'm unlikely to be given a contract for 2025 so I need to do whatever I can to maximise my chance for one more shot at a Premiership in 2024.

However, I don't know whether LARS is suitable for this particular injury.  

  On 28/08/2023 at 05:16, IRW said:

Especially since pretty much most of  Land had stopped bagging him and were pretending he was their favourite. 

Glad you owned up.