Very Jaded

I was very critical about the club allowing Trac back on the field after his injury. I still am not thrilled about it. But let's look at what happened with Trac post injury. He went back on, struggled, was taken off and sent to hospital before the game was over. He was in an ED for 6 hours, had multiple scans and saw 3 doctors (according to him) before he was correctly diagnosed with a high grade spleen laceration. 3 separate doctors got it wrong, doctors who had access to medical imaging, blood tests, monitors and so on. While I don't disagree that we never should have let him back on, I also don't think that it was done with any sort of malice, nor do I think anyone at the club even suspected he had serious internal injuries. Steven May was never sent back on with his rib injuries, likely because he communicated better than Trac about how he was feeling and it was suspected that he had internal injuries. Without imaging, no doctor can correctly diagnose internal bleeding/injuries. I have no doubt that Trac being Trac, he said he was ok and that he wanted to go back on. Our medical team, in hindsight, should have said absolutely not, but given they could only go off what he was telling them, it's not impossible to understand why he was allowed to play on. Trac is clearly and rightly traumatized. When you go thru any type of trauma, you usually look for someone to blame. If he needs to blame the club to feel better, then so be it. I am sure with time, the trauma will ease and bridges will mend.

Viney seems injured to me and Max will probably get a leg amputation knowing him. The most important thing we can do heading into 2025 is nail the off-season and pre-season in terms of fitness and injury management.

Same leaker, or two separate d*ckheads?

What would be their angle? Why burn or sour the relationship with our club, let alone a player you are trying to get to come to your club, by leaking private information?

The ribs sound like a new injury, but I can categorically tell you that he had a PCL injury heading into last year's finals, and unfortunately it's flared up again a while ago. He has been carrying that knee for weeks now. It's possible that it got worse on the weekend of course. I reckon the club doesn't want to have to explain why they've played him thru multiple injuries, so they are saying it's only recent (the knee/rib part, we all know about the hand). It's very obvious to me that he's been playing for two reasons; he wanted to fill the gaps left by Gus, then Salem and then Trac (because contrary to reports, he is not checked out), and it's good for his mental health.

I am not here to judge whether the club has done the right thing by him playing through pain, because I don't know if the benefits to his mental health outweighed the downside of playing injured. And of course players should be judged on their on field output, and nobody, Clarry included, is under any illusion that his output this year has been medicore. We all want and expect more from Clarry, especially given his salary. But as is always the case, it's not what you say but how you say it. Calling him lazy, disinterested, saying he's checked out, a liability, a cultural cancer, is just completely unnecessary, especially when those in the know have been at pains to point out that he is battling multiple injuries, on top of the mental health issues he's dealing with. Clarry has been through hell the last 12 months, and while undoubtably some of that has been his doing, and some of his behaviour has absolutely been unacceptable, he is also a human being who has given us many brilliant seasons and deserved a little bit more empathy than he's been shown. I expect nothing better from hack ex footballers like Cornes, and misogynistic morons like Morris, but I expect better from our own supporters. Guess I should lower those expectations too.

Good. Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

When Brayshaw was medically retired

I doubt he made this decision yesterday The club would have known and has probably already been talking to both SA clubs on a deal. Likely something to do with Dan Houston. Obviously the club and Nibbler wanted to keep this under wraps until the end of the season, but of course someone inside the 4 walls is a rat and let it out. Very uncool!

Wishing you, Georgie and little Zara all the absolute best. These decisions are always hard, but putting your family ahead of your career just speaks to the brilliant individual that you are. I hope we get lots of MELBOURNE fans to round 24 to give you the thanks you deserve. Forever a premiership hero! PS- 2024 needs to die

100% Driving around Melbourne sucks. I live 11km from my office, and yesterday it took me 40 minutes to get there and another 40 minutes to get back, and it's not even close to the city! 6am to 12am is now peak hour 🙃

Most of Koz’s family live quite far away from Perth and Adelaide, which is where he will need to be to play football. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to it tho!

To be clear I am very much pro moving to Caulfield and understand the need to establish a good home base. There is no argument here. My point still stands, that you’ll never be somewhere that pleases or suits everyone (a 5 minute traffic delay on the Monash is a dream, I am on that bloody freeway almost daily and it never takes me less than 45 minutes to get to Caulfield and I’m not that far from Lysterfield!). I know two Essendon players who live in Caulfield and drive to windy hill each day and the drive is awful. Likewise if you look at where the Hawks are building their new home, it’s also in the middle of nowhere. Closest thing to it is the DFO, which isn’t exactly a cool hangout for young players. I understand why players don’t like Casey, I just don’t think it’s the travel that puts them off, as much as that it’s not surrounded by much else. Doubt the top paid players at the Dogs live in the western suburbs. I’m sure lots of them travel from inner or south east, which can be a terrible drive if you need to clear the tunnel.

Absolutely for the right price.

He is 1- contracted 2- highly rated by clubs and brings not only leadership and a superb work ethic, but unmatched defensive abilities. Both SA clubs would be happy to have him, and I will be shocked if we take less than a good second round pick.

Kosi

Or, and hear me out, he wants the best for the club and is just happy for us to accommodate a trade so he can move closer to home. He is contracted, means we hold the power. We won’t screw him over, and he won’t screw us over.

The single biggest issue currently facing the club is that we have a leaky mouth amongst the ranks again!

Also absolute LOL at everyone being sad when 90% of posters on this site have done nothing but heap [censored] on Nibbler for most of his career. Classic Demonland.

It’s ok PF, Jefferson hasn’t left yet!

Have you had a baby? Knowing you are having a baby and actually having a baby is very different. Maybe his wife is struggling, maybe the baby is not well, maybe he has sick family. Life happens and football is still a career for these guys. The timing only sucks because it gives everyone another reason to pile on the club. He is contracted and if we don’t want him to go, we won’t let him go. But given he’s been such an amazing clubman, if his reasons are genuine, and there is no reason to believe otherwise, I’m sure the club will accommodate his request. And for those who thinks he won’t get us much, are kidding themselves. He’s highly regarded by those who actually understand the game. Port could fix one of their biggest issues with him, which is their flaky defensive efforts!

You know that as fact do you?

It literally says it’s got nothing to do with it! He just had a baby. He and his wife are both from SA. It’s probably a genuine request to be closer to family. Not everything is a [censored] conspiracy against the club for goodness sake!

It's all about lifestyle, especially for younger players. You will never find a training location that will suit absolutely everyone, unless you are Geelong and all your players live in the same concentrated area. You will always have players who choose to live all over Melbourne, which is vast and full of gridlock traffic. Caulfield is not going to be any closer for Max Gawn, or Caleb Windsor (Lysterfield to Casey would be way quicker than Lysterfield to Caulfield), or Christian Petracca than AAMI is, but Caulfield is a stones throw away from like 10 cafes, and Gawny's favourite bakery. Whereas at Casey you need to get in the car and drive a good 15 minutes down to where I live which has a high street full of great cafes and restaurants.