Leaderboard

As I've stated before, Clarke's Lisfranc injury was a dislocation, not involving a fracture, which statistically makes it very likely he'll play again, for years in fact. Yes, Richo had the same injury. No, Egan's was completely different. Obviously, MC is having some irritation when he pushes weight bearing, which given the time left in the season, doesn't allow him enough time to get match fit once he gets back to full weight bearing, i.e sprinting. This is NOT about instability of the foot structure, just the irritable tissues involved in the area, which makes it very frustrating. Sometimes it just needs time to settle, and given his ongoing value to the club in the coming years when we are better, why risk perpetuating that irritation or have him underdone for a few dead rubber games at the end of this year? If football clubs indulged in some of the impetuous impatient rejections of common sense that some on here have, half the players we see out there would've been cut loose a while ago! See you next year Mitch.

No thanks finally starting to see something in him, since Neeld left. a keep IMO

...until the end of 2015 (at least).

Hope Watts signs next, then Sylvia and that Frawley extends.

Just one of those things. There's no reason to remove the metal fixateurs unless they create a problem, and there's no actual probability they will. If it isn't causing a problem, then don't intervene. I had a patient who just "didn't like the idea" of metal in his leg, despite full function (surf, snowboard), so had it removed, developed an infection in the bone as an unfortunate result of the removal, and spent the next 18 months out of action. In MC's case, he rehabbed well and was all good, so the fact he subsequently got some irritation is just what can POTENTIALLY happen. Not botched or bungled, just life. I have no idea of the stats, and it would be fraught with analytical complexities based on the definition of full recovery, due to differing expectations through the populous. For example, a recent patient is a musician, who likes running. He had a Lisfranc fracture/dislocation, and can run again. Could he sprint/jump repeatedly? Don't know, cos it's not part of his life, so he won't be doing that. A more relevant study would be AFL/VFL players who've had Lisfranc, but it would be a smallish group.

With all due respect, BB. We are not the naive ones here. You are wondering about the pros and cons of delisting a player - most came to the immediate conclusion that it is a terrible idea by instinct. That may be frustrating for you, but it doesn't mean it is anything other than a terrible idea.

And being industry standard may also be a contributing factor.

Well at least we can be thankful to BB for taking the argument to its illogical conclusion: if the only positive we would get out of cutting Clark is a spot on the list and the negatives are a $800k hole in the salary cap, terrible team harmony, and a lack of faith so large it would be an ironic juxtaposition to the leap of faith shown by the player in question - I guess there is only one option... See you next year Mitch.

First jetstar flight ex Melb to Perth seems to leave at 7.15 am

Flying Jetstar? He must need a decent paying coaching gig then!

What does this saying even mean?

I disagree with both of you - I'd call them boths snaps.

Very strange question oslik! There could be several logical answers, but the one I prefer is big Max saying something along the lines of "I reckon I can be one of the elite ruckmen in the AFL in two years time, so why lock myself into a longer deal on moderate pay, when I'll be able to command top dollar in two year's time?".

Removing the metal is optional, based on whether it is problematic. Richo's may well have been known to cause issue, so requiring removal. Different surgeons, different methods, but before anybody starts questioning MC's surgeon, there is nothing to question. He's as good as it gets.

Good to hear! And 2 years is fine, as 3 years would be lambasted and four seen as irresponsible. Oddly a 5 year contract would come back around and illustrate a great show of faith. This is straight from the 'Fans Do Contracts: A How To' book...

*sigh*

yarran will be offered as trade bait at the end of the season, and tom bell is a very very average football player, and really we have midfielders that would play ahead of him! the idea of a trade is to strengthen our team, and by trading watts out i seriously doubt we will be able to get a trade that will strengthen our team. Watts could well become one of the most adaptable players in our team not to mention is our best kick between 30-50 m when making a pass. would not trade him, freo is the only serious option and it would be a serious midifielder who we would want to take off them!

How about you tightasses focus on his recovery and future value rather than the current ROI? Seriously he is injured, these things happen, especially to us. He has been worth every cent. Who would you rather give the cash to? Sylvia? Jamar? Gillies?

Bloody hell i need narcotics now. Thanks for that gut wrenching depression. Imagine if he had written the truth!!!!

From the boys at the Mad Monday Show: Stats: 19 kicks 4 handballs 23 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 3 goalsPostscript I don't know what they mean about Norwood's "dissapointing result" (sic) as the Redlegs beat Sturt easily 9.12.66 to 2.8.20.

He's here at my place. Cooked him a ripper fat steak and got rid of a few brewskis whilst trying to convince him to take on the top job. All he's giving me is "not at the moment," whatever that means...

No brazil world cup for me! All signed up! Was a no brainer! From Maxy's twitter. Love his sense of humour

Agree that with the doubts over Clark, Fitzy is not surplus. Where we've got surplus real trade value is in medium mid/fwds - Sylvia, Howe, Watts. Sylvia is not tradeable because of he's UFA. but if he signs ...

Dont want to upset you deeflog but he will have the same size years as the rest of us. No olympics coming up so probably just the standard 365 days.

Tapscott averages 1.8 tackles a game, with your logic we would be better bringing Jetta in who averages 4 a game

It's not that we step back and ask the question, it's because most of us can't be bothered sitting down and calculating 1 + 1 when we already know the answer is 2.

There is absolutely nothing to be gained by playing him this year. That said, there should also be no valid reson why he doesn't complete a full pre-season

It amounts to what used to be called "bunging on side". Show Pony stuff really and costly.

or even an old fashioned flat punt........was good enough for peter hudson and many others n.b. for the gen-xy-ers, a flat punt is not a torpedo

I imagine they have a plan to get him settled to be available for full pre-season. That will be the reason for wiping the possibility of return this season.

Well, he is GOOD at getting things injected into his system by his own admission...

Haha. Well played! More of a legs and thigh man myself....hmmmm legs and thighs Oh wait, got of topic - get better Mitchy!!!

It may be just you, chook! The foot is a brilliant combination of flexibility when required, and utter rigidity when being pushed off from. Bear in mind that in sprinting it takes 4 to 5 times the body weight in load at push off, and as such must be a completely rigid lever, then softens when not under load to allow conformation to uneven surfaces......bloody miraculous kit it is!

But he's a high draft pick who hasn't lived up to expectations. I thought you hated them.

We keep him.

imo he is a required player, it would have to be a fantastic offer

And in my mind has been worth every cent. I got more enjoyment watching him tear it up for 15 games than any MFC player in recent years bar maybe Jurrah. Getting him right for next year makes perfect sense. Hope all goes well.

I'm really not sure what your point is, unless you're suggesting that we should have forseen this.

Thats rubbish, he hasn't been worth every cent, he's been sidelined for nearly 1.5 seasons, lets hope he recovers and plays well again though, best of luck to him.

how about we look beyond all the luvvy dovey and get players that can stay on the non-injured list ?I couldn't care nor ever have for individuals or and attachment thereto come footy I follow the team. Can we get a best 22 to play with some consistency and continuity ? I wish Clark well as a bloke but hes not adding to the gameday and Thats when the real work is done...the stuff that counts. If hes unable to play fit in 14 then quite simply he oughtnt be on the list.

I don't understand these comments. If he was a lazy player bringing the club into disrepute I could see the point. But he isn't. Injuries happen to players on both high and low salaries. And I'm sure he's hurting not being out there far more than any supporters who wish to quibble about the money.

yeah hirdy went to Germany and got calves blood and god knows what else injected into his system

About as sensible and realistic as getting the 4 Gibb brothers to MFC - Barry, Robin, Maurice and Bryce.

Nope. It sucked, but he is coming off a stress fracture to his foot that you blokes would quit the game over. He tries very hard, contributed to three or four of our goals and absolutely is a fantastic leader to his team-mates. Am I disappointed that he hasn't turned into Jimmy Bartel like we all though he would? Yes. But he's our captain, and a young kid trying to play good footy. If he's our captain you need to respect him. If you don't think he should be captain, then he's just a young kid and you need to cut him some slack. But because he's both young and a captain, you all seem to think he deserves neither the latitude we give young players, nor the reverence every captain of this footy club should be given.

Me too

Haha are you serious? His kicking action is very poor and he uses his speed to get him out of trouble in field kicking and then can either make a safe field kick or a long down the line kick. He's not good but he's above the level of Spencer or Ro Bail. As for his goal kicking he has a bad action again but he also has made some clever changes. He has a routine and kicks in a straight line. That gives him a chance. But he also has a bad 2 handed high ball drop which means if he's having an off day or it's particularly windy he won't be so effective. A bit like Riewoldt in that the ball drop will never be good so he'll have days when it doesn't work although I think at this stage he's got a good rhythm on his set shots which comes from confidence at VFL. His kicking is ugly but it is effective and the promising thing is he's made a heap of ground since he started.

Please elaborate, with verbatim quotes preferably (don't paraphrase, I want the opportunity to derive my own interpretation). I very much doubt it is the club's intention to turn Watts in to a ruckman; it seemed to me to be an on-the-fly tactic borne out of necessity, and that's absolutely fine with me.

I know it sounds stupid but I was kinda hoping to win again before the end of the season, and Garland will seriously help me achieve my very ambitious dreams.

At parts it felt like neeld was still coaching. Our manning up was poor, we couldnt get it out of the middle and we still went down the line. Why should dawes run up near our backline to lay a tackle. If we got into trouble we didnt have support. I hope Col's injury isnt to bad. Fitzy was great and viney was his usual hard at the ball. But my question is when they showed Craig in the coaches box he had todd and two others. Where were our assistant coaches. I didnt see Rawlings, brown or royal at all.

Get off of Trengove's back you bunch of ungrateful keyboard warriors.