Webber

Only sometimes

I don’t like this game Jaded, but inconclusive means they didn’t get a solid end-feel on his Lachman’s test. If this is me in my rooms, I expect the MRI to show ACL rupture, with confidence. Depends on the quality of the tester to a large degree.

Makes me wonder if they mistook ‘not-definitive’ for ‘non-positive’. Whole different can of ugly worms. I’m bound to mention also, anxieties notwithstanding, that all this speculation is pointless. Hopefully it’s somehow therapeutic.

Almost certainly, based on the injury footage. I reckon it’s just a matter of what else and how bad. If it’s just MCL, the fact he was walking around well suggests not bad. Can anyone here can verify that his Lachman’s test was non-positive, I wonder? What’s the source?!

G’day @RyanD, nice to read another physio on here. I don’t know any clinician (physio or orthopaedic surg) who trusts or even uses Anterior drawer to diagnose ACL rupture. Similarly I don’t know anyone who uses non-anaesthetised pivot shift any more. Spot-on with the Lachman’s, but the only way they’re not surgically reconstructing Max’s ACL is if it’s a partial tear (in which case I agree they’d keep it quiet). Fingers crossed it’s a pure MCL, grade 1.

Not for an AFL footballer, and never has been, at least since they started surgically reconstructing in the 80’s.

The question is whether non-operative management allows the ACL to intrinsically repair at all. In Australia, particularly Australian Rules Football states, it’s NEVER left to chance for footballers, they are ALWAYS surgically repaired. There are however some recent studies coming from OS, that suggest the ACL (if caught VERY early post-injury) can self-repair. We just don’t see that approach here, preferring (at this stage) to go for definitive repair with an allograft. Could change in the future, but I can tell you now that surgeons will resist it with all their might.

Yes, Lachman’s is clinically definitive for ‘non-rupture’. (Look up a YouTube video if interested). If the knee allows the test to be done (not too much swelling, pain, or ‘guarding’ response), it all relies on getting an ‘end-feel’ to the test where the ligament is at full stretch, i.e. you feel a taught snap, as if pulling a rope to tension. A ruptured ACL gives you a soft end-feel…no snap. And I have to say it isn’t a nice thing to feel as a clinician, simply because you then have to deliver the news. However, an ACL that’s hanging by a thread will still give a non-positive Lachman’s. If he’s just done the MCL, grade 1 to 2-, he’ll be able to walk ok, until at least the bleeding and inflammation stiffen it up a bit - overnight, next morning. The scan will fill in the details.

That’s probably good, but doesn’t mean the ACL is safe. The incident itself looked innocuous enough as a ‘valgus’ force, meaning the inside of the knee was ‘stretched’. My immediate thought was medial ligament (MCL). There was however a bit of ‘external tibial rotation’ (foot fixed as knee rotates inwards), potentially implicating the ACL. Medial meniscal tears will also sometimes come with MCL tears. Patience is required.

If the ACL is gone (particularly if it’s an already reconstructed knee), doesn’t make much difference if you walk around on the knee or not. Only thing this suggests is that he doesn’t have associated issues - big meniscal tear, tibial plateau fracture. Gonna have to wait for the scans/orthopaedic diagnosis.

He did, and I for one spent a season screaming at whoever would listen that Fritsch is the most obvious and natural forward one could imagine (gleaned from watching him at Casey when he was a stick insect). Goody eventually owned it, happily offering up a ‘what was I thinking?’ mea culpa.

Agree. I thought we might see more of Rivers kicking in this year, precisely because he’s the longest kick in the back 6 (if not the team). Might create predictability though, cos oppo will know it’s gonna be long. Maybe best employed as the quick occasional up the guts option, as he’d hit the centre circle more often than not. Is why I enjoyed Bowey’s kicking in on Saturday, given he’s expert at the short option, and can also get the longer kick comfortably beyond the 50 arc. Keeps ‘em guessing, probably the ideal. McVee could be a second graduate to this role.

Fabulous info. Is very subjective obviously, but makes me wonder who (and how many) are studying the game to rack up the tally?

Had precisely the same dilemma, then very happily realised we all use “BOYS” for the men’s team (who ever shouts “GO MEN”?) Thus, for me, ‘GIRLS’ is entirely appropriate (despite seeming like a cutesy diminishment from a middle-aged man), and it’s a relief, because the alternatives are very odd out of the mouth. Also, listening to the middle-aged women at MFC AFLW games, and ‘Girls’ is their preferred. The problem obviously then comes with respect to those who identify as they/them. I’m toying with “Dee-humans” as the future. “GO YOU MIGHTY DEE-HUMANS!” Hmmmm…….’DEE-BODS’ maybe?

Has that unteachable ability for quick thought and skills to then execute with speed (and minimal error). Full respect to Jayden Hunt’s service to the Dees, McVee is a big upgrade.

Was particularly noticeable to me last night too, @old dee (maybe cos I sat top tier, which I don’t usually). And most noteable here is Alex Neal-Bullen. His combination of endurance and consistent speed to the contest is frankly phenomenal. When everyone else (the Dogs mostly) was grinding down, he was running as far and as fast as the first quarter. Needless to say it falls on deaf ears for many on here, but Nibbler’s all-game work is just extraordinary.

For some reason, the AFL is exempted from Workcover obligations as pertains to footballers. So that’s not gonna help.

And every other day, except most of us men are just too selfish and stupid to admit it.

It’s always interesting to read dissatisfaction with our attacking game when we score 16 goals (or > 100 points). With our defensive qualities, that will win us every game, barring defensive aberrations, regardless of ‘system’. Likewise the entrenched belief that Max will be a guaranteed failure up forward. If he kicks straighter, he’s going to be an almighty headache for every other team. Simple.

Heal well A, and I’m sure you’ll forever remember … platform sandals and alcohol, not such good friends. (Yeah yeah I know, ‘thanks, Dad!” 😉).

Re Fritta (if the foot trampling rumour is true), there’s an abundance of caution taken with feet these days. Bruised (trampled) feet that are too early loaded turn into bone stress points, then fractures. Worth remembering that the feet are relatively small structures having to bear enormous loads, multiples of our entire body weight during jumping, landing and sprinting. For some of us, that’s getting up to a quarter or third of a ton! Care is best, particularly pre-season. Otherwise his training exercises as described are very core-glute stability like. Go Fritta.

Spot on @Demonstone. There’s ample proof around the world that where de-criminalisation has been trialed, hospitalisations drop, crime drops, and overdose deaths drop. It’s the logical, proven step, and nobody in their sane mind could argue otherwise. As with many things however, we are lead by the US, who have constructed industries around meaningless crime and punishment - most obviously their prison-industrial system. Our leaders don’t currently have the courage or foresight for decriminalisation. Ironically, we’ve just seen a spark of hope, with the approval of psilocybin and MDMA for treatment resistant depression and PTSD, one of only a handful of countries to have done this to now. Motivated no doubt by the potential (and it’s huge) reduction in state mental healthcare costs. It will revolutionise mental health treatment, and gradually be extended for further application. There’s no doubt wholesale decriminalisation is inevitable, it’s just the pointless waiting that baffles.

Somebody had to say it I guess. Whenever inclined to self-pity as a Dees supporter (pre-2021 of course), only had to think of the Saints. I do feel for them.

A game-changing pioneer in the history of our sport. And one thing’s for sure I’d say….“She’ll be back”.

Bit of an aside….saw such a Ute this week, with 2 bumper stickers. One side of the bumper had “[censored] VEGANS”, the other “[censored] CYCLISTS”. Sent me into hysterics, as I am both. 😂 Agree about the seeming dominance of Dees stickers, although it always makes me wonder if we’re just attuned to see them.