nutbean

You know you are on the nose as a conservative PM when Andrew Bolt is jettisoning you.

The truth will out - just multiple versions of the truth from different sources with different agenda's, replete with glaring additions and more glaring omissions.

good shots - what camera are you using ?

I mentioned this before - Brett Lovett was too short, carried too much weight, had thighs like tree trunks, couldn't really jump, slow as all slow and was one of the best players I have seen at Melbourne, If we recruit this kid and he is half as good as his dad i will be happy.

I didn't think it was possible to have a lower opinion of Armstrong... apparently I was wrong..

Frites ? ( waiting to see how long it takes if Fitzy doesn't make the grade to have his name changed to Fritesy ? )

I understand the idea of promoting a non issue to distract and deflect from the main game that you are not faring too well in. But the deflection he picked has made him out to be more of a dofus that he is already is and adds to the litany of dofusism's that is plaguing him. I had to laugh yesterday when a Lib suggested that most were "playing politics" with their criticism of Tony and his knighthood decision. ahhh bloke... maybe because these are decisions being made by a politician who is paid to play politics.

Is Hayden Lamaro back at the club ?

I applaud those who get given awards - but in the broad scheme of events it really is "who cares" and yet he has managed to turn it into an issue.

I believe pre the first ball being bounced in earnest is exactly the right time to get wildly excited.

Once a duke always a duke but I have found that once a knight just about does me in.

This has me scratching my head. Surely Abbott has advisers who would have said to him, Phil the Greek is a top bloke but you are on a hiding to nothing with this one. Politically, why on earth would you put him up for knighthood ? I honestly think he likes to be contrary for the sake of it.

I am not Watts basher but "very good player" and "excellent player to have on our list" is overreach IMO. I agree with your assessment of his skillset and he is the player that I am most comfortable having the ball in his hand and I love his vision in that he opens up play.To be a very good player he needs to do it more consistently. As yet he has not been a week in and week out footballer. He has had some games where he is really been good for a couple of quarters and then goes missing. I think Roos understands exactly what he has but I would hope that he has expectations that he does what he does more frequently and consistently

Further to this. Whilst not downplaying those that are highly skilled kicks and those that are "average", it has been my opinion that when your teammates give you multiple options and can be those three or four steps ahead of their opponents AND when the kicker has absolute confidence that he knows where his teammate is going to run to - disposing efficiently becomes infinitely easier.

nonsense - it's Jack Watts fault.

Ill leave it at this. I absolutely understand what you are saying. I think that a treatment has been followed with the change of surroundings that is standard practice whilst ignoring the biggest issue. Time will tell.

I haven't missed point at all. The point I am making is my questioning of the specific surrounding associated with period of time when the depression was the worst. The point I am making is to me the most important specific surrounding is the AFL football field and all that is required to constantly play the game. I had this very discussion with a couple of health professionals and whilst they made the disclaimer of not having talked to Mitch, they both suggested that whilst you cannot discount how being in a constant losing environment will have an impact, that having a body that is failing to stand up to the demands of AFL football and not being able to get on the park and taking money for nothing (in Mitch's own words) is the biggest trigger to his illness and this will not dissipate by moving clubs. You will note that I have not been vitriolic in my posts regarding Clark as it is very complex. Playing in a fresh successful club will ultimately be better for your mental health but ( apparently) it was not the constant losing or the club that was the catalyst for his illness. As to taking the Doctors opinions - give these same parameters to three doctors and you will probably get three different courses of action. (Stuie - I get that the "fresh start" is part of the treatment - to me though it has only addressed a small part of the issue and I can't see this move ending up happily - preseason training and injury has already struck and they are not even up to full body contact or match conditions. For Mitch's sake I hope I am wrong)

I get the fresh start but I don't agree that it is a fresh start. Football clubs are football clubs - to me it is the GAME that is environment that should be questioned in regard to Mitch's illness not the CLUB. It is the GAME that is the pressure cooker with the sometime unhealthy expectation of supporters not the CLUB. As I said, if it was going back to the Neeld/Schwab club then I also understand that - but how many times have we heard from players under the Roos/Jackson structure about it being a new club heading in a positive direction. This can only be a good environment to be in. If the fresh start was to move from AFL to playing local footy then I get that. He has already had his first setback with a calf injury. He has mentioned the contribution injuries and inability to get on the ground and earn his keep had on his illness. Yet has he taken himself out of that environment ? The rigors of training at the highest level combined with his body caused his injuries not the club. So if his body continues to fail him at this level - is that good for his recovery ? Maybe I will retreat from "stained reputation" statement and just say that I disagree with his decisions and to the non professional understand why there is a far bit of angst as to the way this has transpired. (I havent even touched on his manager apparently shopping him around without the knowledge of the club whilst the club is doing everything in its power to help him get fit and healthy again)

If this is your idea of depression then I think further education is required.

I'm not sure why we must connect Mitch's depression issues with his ultimate decision. Like most, I have had people close to me suffer from depression and I wish Mitch all the best on his recovery. Like most, I struggle with the decisions he made and behaviors around the decision. I am not a mental health professional but I cannot agree with the advice he was given. The number one driver for him leaving being a "fresh start" doesn't sit well with me. I could agree with this logic if our club was the rabble it had been under the likes of CS but the MFC from a "health" perspective has never been in a better place and is moving forward. It could almost be considered a new club. AFL is a pressure cooker and it wont be any easier at Geelong where I believe the pressure to perform will be greater than it may have been at the MFC. For these reasons I wish Mitch well for his ongoing recovery from his health issues and at the same time say that the decisions you have made surrounding you future will forever be a stain on your reputation.

Saty - There has been some discussion on Matt Jones - doesn't really scream "leader" to me but I only see him from afar on game day. You see him at training. Your thoughts ?

I mirror the MFC. I look a million dollars in Jan/Feb - come March I am bound to disappoint.

bummer

it had to be said

There is a bit of an odor about this whole Garlick business.