In todays Herald Sun - Star Demon Aaron Davey played half the season with a wonky knee

AARON Davey can own up now, but he spent the final 12 weeks of last season desperately trying to keep a secret.

The Melbourne forward first injured his right knee in Round 10 and amazed medical staff by somehow lasting until the final round of the season.

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That's all well and good Aaron, really brave and all... But why the hell did we persist with him when the season was all but gone?

We have a history of doing that, playing guys when they are well below acceptable fitness to play because of injuries.

Good on him for gutting it out for so long, but I hope it hasn't caused and doesn't cause any longer term damange...

We have a history of doing that, playing guys when they are well below acceptable fitness to play because of injuries.

Good on him for gutting it out for so long, but I hope it hasn't caused and doesn't cause any longer term damange...

all clubs have a history of playing good players with injuries, we are not on our own

all clubs have a history of playing good players with injuries, we are not on our own

Why wasn't he rested earlier, and operated on , so he would have been ready earlier this season?

hmm, let me get this right, Aaron had a wonky knee and shouldn't have been playing.

The coach who selected him week after week is now coaching at Carlton.

Carlton received the first pick as a PP for losing their last 11 (?) games.

Two of those games were against Melbourne.

Melbourne missed out on a PP by 1 game.

Gee, how happy would Carlton be with a certain ex-Melbourne assistant coach.

Nice try but no cigar.

He did not play R22.

Apart from a miracle snap, he was crap the first time we played them. Totally invisible. Tagged out of it by Houlihan!!

all yo can really take away from this is that someone or some.. hav ebeen guilty of some very poor judgements and the resulting decisions were replorable. Hopefully things are different now they arent at Melb !!

if you're crook/injured and as a result ineffectual in your role then why be there.. never makes sense to me.

Its all very romantic etc to see someone "gut ' it out.. just seems bloody stupid to me. Does no one any favours !!

hmm, let me get this right, Aaron had a wonky knee and shouldn't have been playing.

The coach who selected him week after week is now coaching at Carlton.

Carlton received the first pick as a PP for losing their last 11 (?) games.

Two of those games were against Melbourne.

Melbourne missed out on a PP by 1 game.

Gee, how happy would Carlton be with a certain ex-Melbourne assistant coach.

Melbourne would not have got a PP because that is on a 2 year rotation. 8 wins in 2 years gets a pick. not 4 in one

Melbourne would not have got a PP because that is on a 2 year rotation. 8 wins in 2 years gets a pick. not 4 in one

We would have gotten a PP, but after the first round... Then we would have been eligible for the next year assuming we didn't get 18 or more premiership points... So had we lost to the Blues in round 22 we would have had picks 2, 18 and 20 as opposed to 4 and 21...

Then what'll really melt your melon is the question of whether the footy department would have felt the need to trade Trav with 3 selections already inside the first 20...

Carltank have earned a lifetime of ire from me this year...

One of the worst things I've read all year about the MFC. What on earth were they thinking?

I hope this crepe strategy of playing injured players regardless - Flash, Robbo, Neita, amongst others, is left in the past.

A recipe for mediocrity.

Then what'll really melt your melon is the question of whether the footy department would have felt the need to trade Trav with 3 selections already inside the first 20...

You need to look and consider the reasons that Trav was traded. The issue of the 2nd round PP does not change it a jot!

You need to look and consider the reasons that Trav was traded. The issue of the 2nd round PP does not change it a jot!

Lets see if this explodes in controversy -

I think trading Johnstone was a double win for us.

Not having him is good.

Having Pick 14 is good.

Also, I really expect the medical staff and coaches to do what is right by the players, and over the long run the club, and ensure that injuries are given the best reasonable time to be corrected.

If Neitz has his career shortened by a year because, unfit, he played three too many games in 07 and aggravated his leg problems, who does that help?

It's hard to stand up to the pressure to get them onto the park, but I think medical staff who can firmly draw the line should be applauded for doing such a thankless task - So long as they actually do it.

Lets see if this explodes in controversy -

I think trading Johnstone was a double win for us.

Not having him is good.

Having Pick 14 is good.

Also, I really expect the medical staff and coaches to do what is right by the players, and over the long run the club, and ensure that injuries are given the best reasonable time to be corrected.

If Neitz has his career shortened by a year because, unfit, he played three too many games in 07 and aggravated his leg problems, who does that help?

It's hard to stand up to the pressure to get them onto the park, but I think medical staff who can firmly draw the line should be applauded for doing such a thankless task - So long as they actually do it.

I agree, I'm sort of sad to see him go but I understand why the decision was made. We need a new beginning, we need strogn leadership all over the ground and this is just the first step.

Lets see if this explodes in controversy -

I think trading Johnstone was a double win for us.

Not having him is good.

Having Pick 14 is good.

Why??

Why??

Frankly, I don't think he had the impact that a player given that much on-field protection (players shepherding, feeding it to him etc..) should have.

Believe it or not, according to the AFL 2007 prospectus he was also the worst player in the comp when it comes to turning the ball over from a kick-in. Yet was still routinely handed the kick-ins despite others having a much better record over extended periods. Similarly, despite his much-vaunted kicking skills, he actually recorded a below-average kicking efficiency (delivery to teammates) His risky decisions we're sometimes exciting, but just as often disasterous - he would produce turnovers in the corridor, the sort of thing which just kills morale and maddens defenders. The gains from when his decisions came off were never as great as the problems caused by his, in effect, clangers.

This is symbolic of his role on field - doesn't necessarily deliver the best results over 100 instances, but does still hold the place as the 'go-to' guy as soon as the ball is won.

I don't think his arrogant attitude and infantile behaviour exactly encouraged a professional attitude around the club, either. Particularly when you're supposed to be a star.

Throw in the salary cap relief, the extra place on the list, and the extra space in the best 22, and I really think we came out ahead even before we picked up the number 14 draft pick, who will, of course, be an absolute gun