Rhino Richards

Johnson at the end of 2009 > McDonald at the end of 2010.

Hardly, Eade is trying to conjure a flag within his window of opportunity. Its not looking good atm. Eade would not survive to do a re build of the side.

No problems TD. I would have thought in Johnsons case there was sufficient evidence to suggest he was good for 2010. And given they had recruited Hall up forward to strengthen their attack it made good sense to have Johnson along side of him. I would have thought that Johnson had viewed 2010 as his final year and the injury he got early in 2010 only confirmed the obvious. In his final two years, Hird was a shadow of the footballer he was. It was over for him. I dont think given what transpired off the field that Cousins was a likely prospect for re signing. Together with his dodgy hamstrings and his self publicity in his TV documentary, it made sense for him to go now. Lloyd was the last of the traditional FFs and his output in 2009 was also well down on his previous efforts. In addition he was already looking at 4 to 6 weeks on the sidelines in 2010 so it was time to move on. I agree WB are not much show this week and I think there is no risk in seeking to give the WB an inspirational boost by getting them to lift for the potential final game of a Club great. (eg Kirk with Sydney)

About as good as Meesen draft pick number in 2004. The Footy dept read a different set of tea leaves to you. For a player who was in the midfield and played 22 games, coming 15th in the B & F is not a high ranking by the football department. Even Scully and Trengove have overtaken Jones. And there are others too who will do likewise next year.

Proven brain fader under pressure. Carlton can keep him.

Gary Lyon was able to string together a capable season in 1998 and deserved to play in 1999. The same applies to Brad Johnson. Its even more pronounced in Johnno's case. He has missed 4 games in 8 years up to this year. Was the Dogs best in their losing PF. Regardless of whether there was a GF in sight or not, on form and fitness Johnson deserved to play another year. I cant see how you can logically look back and make a case otherwise And hindsight would be a sharper skill if it were applied with some astute foresight Given his career record, I cant see how his last couple of games will blight that in any way unless your name is Aker with an axe to grind. McDonald had the class to accept the Clubs decision. I cant see how it puts him on any higher pedestal than Johnson. Both have been wonderful role models to the game. After struggling pre season and only playing 3 games in the 1st half of the season.....I think there is something called the bleedin obvious.

All the Carlton people I know want McLean and Johnson gone as well.

He didn't I did. And i think you are spot on the money Deez.

The Bulldogs have never been good enough. Two A grade players in Cooney and Lake. A lot of B+s and a few fairweather B-s and Cs.Some ageing players (stars) who gave little this year in Johnson, Aker and Eagleton. This year was their last real sting. They should clean a number of players out come next Monday.

If we were in the same position as Western Bulldogs and wanting to challenge for the flag, I am not sure we would have urged Junior to retire. We would have rolled the dice and risked another year. Here is an article in the Age on Johnsons retirement http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/brad-johnson-makes-his-retirement-official-20100906-14wwt.html "Johnson has played 362 games since his debut in 1994. Famously hardy, he played a minimum of 21 games in every season from 1995 to 2009, but ankle and achilles injuries have kept him to just 13 matches in 2010." "In 2009, he kicked 37 goals, was second at the club for kicks, marks and goals and finished fourth in the best and fairest award as the Dogs pushed to within seven points of a grand final berth. He was amongst his team's best players in the heartbreaking preliminary final loss to St Kilda." Betweeen them, Akermanis and Johnson contributed 80 goals to the Bulldogs cause in 2009, and 11 this year. Recruit Barry Hall, 33, has booted 75 majors. So who had their hand up that Johnson should have retired last year??? Johnson retires from WB as a one of greatest players ever to play for the Club. His record makes him a great of the AFL. Its a misguided and poorly informed slap at him. If anything Johnson has as much ticker for his club as Junior or Neita. What ready alternatives are there to Johnson, a proven finals campaigner?? Stack and Hill are as "firm" as warm butter and Everitt cant crack a game throughout the year even when the side has been struggling. Says heaps. There have been a number of things that have gone wrong at WB this year. Johnson's injury being one of them. There performance against the Pies (sans Hudson and Griffen) was poor and I dont know why Johnsons cops the spray. He deserves better from all football followers.

In a side that still has problems up back, Thornton cant get a game. Warnock can play body on body. He might be a target for the Blues.

We offered CJ one year at the latest possible time in 2008. Last year we just about halved McLean's contract payment and allegedly for two years. And we didn't counteroffer Carlton's higher bid. There a message there. We were not desperate to get rid of them but we sure as hell werent desperate to keep them. If you are going to be a top flight side you need to make hard decisions on your list. I think you summed up the Warnock position fairly. I'd be thinking delisting PJ anyway. But it would be a certainty under that scenario.

Do little things always bug you like that? Honestly its small beer for all the attention Judd deals with.

The content was more about the possibility of Jones being traded and the thread was moved. Simple as that.

Judd would be one of the best balanced footballers in the game even with all the treatment and attention he gets.

Ugh. Could not disagree more. And a petty whinge at best. Judd was magnificent in the third quarter and almost singlehandedly took Carlton from miles back in the game. Sydney had to work hard in the last to subdue him. Manly??.FMD.

I actually thought they let the game go and did not get sucked in by a number of players playing for frees. I thought they paid what was reasonably there and provided good oversight to allow the game to be a real battle in the last qtr.

Yes it was a very good feeling watching them cough up the lead. They blew it. Good effort for Kirk and Roos. Yes who could possibly support Carlton in any game they played? Huh! Wait on... B)

Exactly right. Common sense.

And he's part of that too.

Are you sure about that?

Absolute storm in a tea cup. JV either chooses MFC or he doesnt.

I am still dirty on the club for getting rid of the engine room of our midfield Simon Godfrey. As someelse said players who are not Flag core are vulnerable. And if we left it up to supporters we would trade and delist no one and have 87 players on the list for good depth.

That was already commented upon in the 10 most recent posts on the thread before you posted. Thanks for the scoop.

Or checked the thread you posted it on..... Hmmmm