A.F.L. Thread II

[benchmark00]

Sheedy was past it when they gave him the chop, needed to happen.

Knights was not the right man, though it's easy to say that from here. He read the game wrong. He created a team who were slick outside runners but paid no attention to winning the hard ball or the defensive aspects of football.

Hopefully Hird does another backflip and takes the job.

 

[Redbacks]

Reckon getting rid of sheedy was the right thing to do, the improvement of the younger players after he left was evident. The old school constant dropping of players and lack of development was hampering Essendon.

 

[pasag]

Sheedy was past it when they gave him the chop, needed to happen.

Knights was not the right man, though it's easy to say that from here. He read the game wrong. He created a team who were slick outside runners but paid no attention to winning the hard ball or the defensive aspects of football.

Hopefully Hird does another backflip and takes the job.

Yeah, he was past it but at the same time only worth getting rid of for someone good, not a stab at the dark which Knights turned out to be.

 

[howardj]

Yeah, he was past it but at the same time only worth getting rid of for someone good, not a stab at the dark which Knights turned out to be.

lol

 

[Matt79]

Yeah, he was past it but at the same time only worth getting rid of for someone good, not a stab at the dark which Knights turned out to be.

Reckon that's a bit unfair - applying hindsight to what at the time was a pretty well thought of decision. People were a bit surprised he beat Hardwick, but Hardwick himself has said that on the day, Knights gave the better account of himself.

In another club, in other circumstances, Knights might have been given the time to improve as a coach, but with the politics at work in Essendon, losing to Carlton and the Pies twice in one year, and being so inconsistent was always going to be difficult.

It was definitely time for Sheeds to go from Essendon, but it was always going to be a likely poisoned chalice for whoever took over.

Wonder who the replacement will be. I think Choco Williams would have to be the front-runner yeah? Don't think Hird will want to risk his reputation, massively disrupt his life, take on massive stress, and make less money, to try his hand at this stage. And Essendon would be idiots to give him the job with no apprenticeship after the debacle this season has turned out to be. Time to give a proven coach a go, and to see what someone like Williams can do in an environment where money is not an issue and he can have whatever resources he wants/needs.

 

[pasag]

Reckon that's a bit unfair - applying hindsight to what at the time was a pretty well thought of decision. People were a bit surprised he beat Hardwick, but Hardwick himself has said that on the day, Knights gave the better account of himself.

In another club, in other circumstances, Knights might have been given the time to improve as a coach, but with the politics at work in Essendon, losing to Carlton and the Pies twice in one year, and being so inconsistent was always going to be difficult.

It was definitely time for Sheeds to go from Essendon, but it was always going to be a likely poisoned chalice for whoever took over.

Wonder who the replacement will be. I think Choco Williams would have to be the front-runner yeah? Don't think Hird will want to risk his reputation, massively disrupt his life, take on massive stress, and make less money, to try his hand at this stage. And Essendon would be idiots to give him the job with no apprenticeship after the debacle this season has turned out to be. Time to give a proven coach a go, and to see what someone like Williams can do in an environment where money is not an issue and he can have whatever resources he wants/needs.

Yeah, thing is I didn't like it at the time, so it's not just in hindsight...

Most Essendon fans weren't too happy either.

re: replacement, who would want to take on such a poor list? There's no end in sight with GC and GWS either, so they could be bottom four for at least another 3-4 years easy.

 

[benchmark00]

Has to be a new, young coach.

Chris Scott?

The thing is, there'll be someone who is highly regarded who none of us are thinking about. Happened with Dean Bailey, Ross Lyon etc. Impossible to tell.

#1 on their list will be Hird though. Not a shadow of a doubt. There was strong speculation that Hird had already been appointed a few weeks ago and got cold feet. No idea if that was the case, but it's a romantic combination - Hird and Essendon.

 

[Jono]

So close to an epic come back Richmond

 

[Jono]

Huge value on the Dockers vs. Hawks right now.

 

[superkingdave]

Sneaked in front of you on total points as well as taking the title Jono..need to lift your game next year

 

[howardj]

Let Mad Monday begin!

 

[Matt79]

Travis Tuck the first player to get a 'third strike' and be named as such under the AFL's policy.

Alarming, if I've understood Kennett's comments correctly, that apparently the Hawks knew nothing of this until 24 hours AFTER this latest incident.

Hope he gets whatever help he needs, but it seems likely he'll miss much of 2011 suspended, and face an uncertain future as a player full stop.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

No doubt that overdose story wouldn't have seen the light of day had this been his first or second strike.

Pretty sad state of affairs. The three strikes policy is the ****ing pits IMO.

 

[Matt79]

You reckon? I thought it came out after he was hospitalised, and the police became involved - rather than having anything to do with it being his third strike. Apparently this only counts as a 'strike' because he admitted he had breached the policy - ie he never tested positive.

 

[benchmark00]

Nah, I like the three strike policy if it works the way it should.

1st strike is there because players drinks can be spiked or some other form of accident.
2nd strike is there because it sends alarm bells to the club that the player has a problem and they have to deal with it without the public knowing and so the player can continue their career as they get help.
3rd strike is when the player obviously can't get a handle on his problem and is out.

Hawthorn, up until a couple of years ago, have been seen to have a party drug culture in it, and it's unfortunate Tuck seems to have gotten caught up in it. It's very disappointing that Hawthorn either didn't take strike two serious enough or that Tuck was just too far 'into' it that he couldn't pull back.

 

[Jono]

Huge value on the Dockers vs. Hawks right now.

Even more value now!

Sneaked in front of you on total points as well as taking the title Jono..need to lift your game next year

Haha I lost my cash league by 10 points too, so it all ended in hearbreak.

Great year from you though. Hopefully we can get more competitive teams from CW next year.

Nah, I like the three strike policy if it works the way it should.

1st strike is there because players drinks can be spiked or some other form of accident.
2nd strike is there because it sends alarm bells to the club that the player has a problem and they have to deal with it without the public knowing and so the player can continue their career as they get help.
3rd strike is when the player obviously can't get a handle on his problem and is out.

100% agree.

 

[Matt79]

Nah, I like the three strike policy if it works the way it should.

1st strike is there because players drinks can be spiked or some other form of accident.
2nd strike is there because it sends alarm bells to the club that the player has a problem and they have to deal with it without the public knowing and so the player can continue their career as they get help.
3rd strike is when the player obviously can't get a handle on his problem and is out.

Hawthorn, up until a couple of years ago, have been seen to have a party drug culture in it, and it's unfortunate Tuck seems to have gotten caught up in it. It's very disappointing that Hawthorn either didn't take strike two serious enough or that Tuck was just too far 'into' it that he couldn't pull back.

Yeah, so Hawthorn would have been told after the 2nd strike then?

 

[benchmark00]

Yeah, so Hawthorn would have been told after the 2nd strike then?

Nah Hawthorn only finds out after the 3rd I think, but it should work the way I said.

the club doctor is notified after the 2nd strike but must keep the identity of the player confidential.

Tuck suspended for 12 weeks, but can play VFL after 8.

Apparently has depression.

 

[Matt79]

Your approach is more sensible I reckon.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Yeah, I've got no problem with benchy's approach.

Does the AFL offer any help to the player involved? Because if it is as it stands, and the player just gets told to lift his game then that is totally ****ed.