Jaded No More

Our only hope is to make this a low scoring slog, now that Lever is back in. If we let the Lions pile on a big score, we are absolutely going to get smashed. I am desperately worried about our midfield getting pantsed tonight. We need a massive game from Viney and Clarry if we are any chance.

I definitely did not just Google this and found out that the reciprocal access in SA is only for 30 days per year That's a lot of money for a month of golf. To be fair $1 is also a lot of money for golf if you ask me

I literally don't care. 2024 is dead to me. I already know the AFL will get their Sydney Carlton GF wish.

The risk of another concussion and therefore permanent brain damage will never not be there for him. He's been medically retired because his brain is already showing signs of trauma. There is just no way he ever plays competitively again. The AFL would never clear him, and rightly so.

Kid hasn’t even been drafted yet and already he’s been written off #iloveDemonland

This is probably correct, but honestly the optics are terrible. There was no rush to debut Brown. They could have debuted AMW last week who has had great form at Casey all year and is far more developed than Brown. To debut him as sub was poor, to then drop him when he showed plenty in the 8 minutes he was on the ground, is worse. Poor foresight and management. It’s not as if we didn’t know the schedule of games for both teams.

Jefferson is traveling with the team as reward for good form. We do this often with the younger players who are on the cusp to show them what it’s like to travel for a game and get them really involved on game day. It’s great experience.

I hate them dropping Brown even more than I hated them playing him as the sub last week. Way to just [censored] all over the kids head.

My dog barking at possums is like a Mozart masterpiece compared to listening to BT.

We gave Clarry and Trac 7 years, and Gus 5 and Gus retired not a year into the contract. That's the risk you have to take these days to keep or lure the best of the best without being done for salary cap cheating.

Imagine being that young and having that much money to throw away on bloody golf

Fritta will want to find some form and fast

Indeed, but it’s hard enough when we are missing Gus, Trac and playing a clearly sore Salem, plus a very raw Trent Rivers. What fans refuse to understand or acknowledge is that Clarry is getting tagged because teams know that at his best he wins games. If he isn’t playing who do they try and limit? Viney (since Trac is now out). So who does that leave us with to win the contest? Sparrow, Kosi, Rivers, ANB? It’s not enough North tagging Clarry allowed Viney to have a match winning performance. You can drop Clarry tomorrow and whoever you bring in to replace him won’t get tagged and still wont rack up Clarry’s “poor” numbers. He is down on confidence and output, but he is still better than anyone else on our list who could replace him.

There’s a really big difference between supporters expecting maximum effort and output, and supporters piling on a player who is clearly doing their best after a very tough time in their life. Of course we all want Clarry to be the best mid in the AFL again. I’m sure he wants that too. But until I see solid evidence that his form is due to something he isn’t doing, rather than something he can’t control (eg- lack of pre season, hand injury, mental health etc), then I don’t see the need to judge him or criticize him. I didn’t like how he handled the tag vs North. But likewise I understand his frustration at always being held at the contest. The fact he never receives frees for being blocked. Or his general frustration at his reduced output. It’s not an excuse and he needs to do better, but he’s also human.

Of course not, but the lack of EMPATHY for a one of our very best who has gone through a hell of a lot (more than most know), is staggering. It is fine to suggest he’s down on form. Do you not think he and the club are aware of that? Is there any suggestion anywhere that he isn’t working hard to get back to his best? But maybe, just maybe, the fact that he’s doing well off the field is just slightly more of a focus right now than his on field performance. We are shocked and saddened when McCarthy takes his life, but we are so happy to get stuck into players who are “overweight”, “useless”, “out of form”, “slow” etc without caring at all for what they are going thru personally. The fact that Oliver is playing at all this year, and with a smile on his face, is a goddamn blessing and he has done more than enough for this club to be given grace from the fans, as he has been given from the club. Since his debut he has never missed a beat until last year. He was dominating games at 18. So he’s having an average season. It happens. (I am not having a go at you btw!)

This was a freak accident. It definitely isn’t something that is likely to happen again or be made worse like a concussion. Trac is in the prime of his career and would no doubt look at Gus and see a broken man who had no choice. Of course there is more to his life than football, but you can just tell how much football means to him. Not unlike Gus. I think with time and the right support he will be ok. He might never be the same player, but I don’t think he will hang up the boots. It’s all very raw right now, but time really does heal all wounds. Physical and emotional.

Nothing has ever been less surprising or shocking. The AFL administration is an embarrassment and a danger to our great game.

I heard he’s 110% going to be on masterchef next year. He’s giving up football and going on tv to cook pasta.

Did you just call Oliver an average midfielder?

Anyone who has experienced sudden onset medical trauma will tell you how awful and traumatic it can be. I was rushed to emergency surgery 6 weeks before my wedding and it was absolutely horrific, not just for myself but for everyone around me. I remember being wheeled off into the OR not knowing if I’ll get to walk down the aisle (spoiler alert: I did!). I hope he takes all the time he needs to recover. Those few weeks after major surgery are the absolute worst. You feel like a sack of [censored] and I can only imagine how difficult that would be for someone as fit and active as Trac.

Love fans who expect loyalty from players, but are willing to trade one of our greatest ever players because he’s having a down year due to complex factors. The melts on here over Grundy playing well for Sydney are nothing compared to the melts we will see if Clarry goes on to be a star elsewhere. Luckily that won’t happen.

Love this. With a flag now off the table, it’s important that we use the remainder of the season to find out as much as we can about our list. Go well Andy and well done on all your hard work to get here. Hopefully you’re not the sub 🙄

No Viney no Salo?

It’s an unbearable sport to watch for me these days. I rarely watch any games that don’t involve Melbourne. I hate what AFL has become.

2024 was always going to be about Clayton the person not Clayton the footballer. He has done more than enough in his time with our club to be afforded a “down” year while he gets his health in order. I hope everyone criticizing him never goes through anything personal that impacts their job.