John Crow Batty

I stand to be corrected but most players who have suffered this injury and had a successful return to top flight footy had a relatively trouble free recovery period I believe. A little different with Tengove. Played far too long with a mysterious injury before first diagnosis and treatment and then had a repeat breakdown when he should have been right again. Now he has to undergo a second long recovery period.

Just goes to show how even modest success is so far in past. Those guys have all aged that I can barely recognise half. I still remembered them in their football prime. Gives me a stunned and numb feeling.

In this case its three judges on the bench plus the sub.

I am quite certain he will recover but the big question is; Will he recover enough to be able to play football at the highest level again after suffering such a compilcated injury? And add the extended layoff and need to get match fitness back. His recent breakdown after supposedly promissing progress up to it suggests to me there may be a chronic fragility to his foot. If he does recover fully we may be looking at another two seasons before he regains optimal form. The odds are not good IMO.

Saw this article in The Age. Always makes me wonder when coaches have to make these sort of denials. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/no-problems-between-demons-and-jack-trengove-says-melbourne-coach-paul-roos-20141104-11h0wa.html

Reported in The Age that Garlett will contest his affray charges. Due to be heard in court next March. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbournes-jeff-garlett-to-fight-affray-charge-20141103-11g39n.html

We lost Bleese and gained Garlett. Whether a win or a loss is yet to be determined. Garlett can play if his head is right and Bleese can play close to contract renewal time but couldn't pull the con job on Roos this time around. Proven facts.

Pity the bluestone college has closed. Closer to home.

Evans?

Sounds like you are hinting it could be related to some sinister international drug dealing and smuggling racket. Just my guess.

You could give us a hypothetical scenario like say the goings on of a South American soccer club. No scandal is too outrageous for some of them.

There is logic for the AFL trying to expand their market but the timing was way premature IMO. Firstly they should have strengthened and locked up their sphere of influence where grassroots support is not reflected by an AFL presence. Namely Tasmania, Canberra(Southern NSW) and perhaps NT. Another consequence has been the weakening of core clubs due to shifting enormous resources and capital to where they are not appreciated and disenfranchising legions of supporters. Where once nearly every game in a round had some interest we are now left with sometimes half the games in a round being a complete yawn. The game is not as healthy as it could have been.

Tapscott must have also ate a lot of spinach.

Yeah but Taz had some good moves.

There was something unnatural about Tapscott. That over puffed physique like something that belongs to a cartoon character. Those soft tissue injuries crippled him. A victim of his own excesses I wonder?

These are the questions you should have been asking 3 to 4 years ago. There have been radical changes in the past 12 months. You have given 35 years membership and support. Pulling out out now means you have given up and lost all your investment in the club. If you have gone this far, best to stick it out and hopefully the payoff will eventually happen.

Thompson one of the gang. And acting like a headless chook ATM. Harvey, one of the good ol boys. Craig. Burned himself at Adelaide. Part of the failed Neeld Junta. Not an inspiring lot. Neeld not worked for 16 months because who would want him after his performance at Melbourne? He had to do some penance.

I guess Neeld is desperate to get back into the AFL system. Essendon with all their current troubles are likely the only club that will entertain hiring him as most other candidates will see them as poison at the moment. Neeld is at risk of repeating the same mistake as when he joined us. He was hasty on getting a senior coach job that he overlooked the underlying problems. Now he is going to club with different but deep problems and an uncertain future.

I tend to agree, he was flawed but also a victim. After 186 and the sacking of Bailey there was no way the team could come together whilst those above Neeld who were the root cause of the problem remained at the club. His hard arse approach and dancing to Schwab's and Connoly's tune whether by instruction or not made things worse. Lyons role was that of a good mate to the wrong friends. Neeld desperate for a senior gig failed to recognise the shyte hole he fell into. If Neeld came into a more stable and happy club he may have done better. Anyone else coaching us in the same environment would have been doomed also.

Personally I'd be happy to see both Jamar and Spencer disapear. Like one good game followed by a dozen ho hum games followed by another dozen out injured. Then the cycle repeats.

Why do I think of Grimes every time I see this clip?

Well, I wish him luck. He may be OK and become a valuable member of our anticipated improvement or just become another ner do well who's has not distinguished himself at our club in the past decade. I really don't put much weight on his unfortunate departure from the Bulldogs. These things happen all too often in football to the wrong people. In reality he is just like a draft pick. Who the fark knows how well they will go? At least this guy has determination to remain in the game and has something to prove.

They must be a tough thick skinned breed at Ocean Grove. They thrive on the being bullied approach it seems. Not like AFL princesses.

And his first season with us was very promising. He looked like he was going to make it.

I think there should be an appropriate time allowed for respect and mourning. A couple of months banner tribute would be best. But no sense to keep on reflecting on the past for too long. If so, it would be logical for the best of the golden years players to be there. That was when we actually won flags. I would prefer to keep looking towards the future.