Was Harvey pushed into retirement???

[Ralphy]

why are we even debaiting this...

[Saints Premiers 2008]

no way he was pushed, if lyon wanted him gone he would have done so when he came in

he has been playing good footy although in my eyes it was obvious this year was going to be his final

to which im fine with

people on here that say he was pushed need to go look up porn or go to sleep etc

[howlinwolf]

Harves retirement was not due to family pressure or the coach/club.

When we met him at Harvery Warne Hamill in early July just after the Freo game and I asked him...

" I don't expect you to tell me if you'll play next year but could you tell me if there is just 1% chance you will ?"

I was surprised with his honest one word answer. "No"

I said "I guess it's a lot of strain on your family?"

He said "No, it's not that. It's time the Club moved on and let go. We need some speed through the midfield and it's time for the younger guys to take over"

I never wanted to repeat that before now out of respect for Harves but now it's official it doesn't matter.

So he HAS retired on his own terms.

[St Marcus]

saint66au wrote:
Why do such emotional occasions in our history have to be tainted with peoples conspiracy theories????

Cant we just enjoy the memories and say thanks ?

Saintly wrote
here , here!!!

AND I SECOND that, lets just enjoy watching him for the remainder of this season and give him the farewell he deserves

[/list][/quote]

[stinger]

saint66au wrote:
Why do such emotional occasions in our history have to be tainted with peoples conspiracy theories????

Cant we just enjoy the memories and say thanks ?

Saintly wrote
here , here!!!

AND I SECOND that, lets just enjoy watching him for the remainder of this season and give him the farewell he deserves

[/list]

[/quote]


hear hear....

[stinger]

One of the media articles states that Lyon and Harvs discussed the big decision last week.

Now, perhaps Lyon suggested to Harvs that he wants to keep injecting youth - primarly because of GC17 and lost drafting opportunities in up and coming years - absolutely no disrespect of course to the great man.

I'm sure Harvs would take this in the right way, and if this is what happend, no doubt Lyon gave Harvs the necessary time and dignity to let it all happen the right way.

I would have loved Harvs to play on next year and hopefully play 400 AFL games, but I fully respect Lyon if he has indeed asked the question to Harvs and prompted the decision.

Whatever happend, I've got 1000% respect for both Harvs and Lyon, well done Saints, it was well managed!

I've studied body language for 25 years!!! For what it's worth, when I saw the Press Conference my first impression was that he was forced.

trolls aren't welcome on this site.....an expertt... ...on bodily language should have worked that out, ffs..... ....and they wouldn't come on here using the coaches name as a nick, clown......

[bigcarl]

harvs has said nothing that indicates he's unhappy with the decision. all careers end. it's inevitable.

i'm glad he's going out while still able to command a spot in the team. nothing sadder than watching a champion going through the motions (anyone remember ali shuffling around the ring in his last few fights).

there's no suggestion from any quarters that harvs was "pushed" into retirement. if i was a mod i'd lock this thread.

[chook23]

ridiculous thread

Harves has mentioned on many occassions this year this would be his last.

I have heard this first hand at a recent club function......Harves was asked

he indicated very very strongly that 2008 would be his last.

End of story

Lets just praise the man and his service.

[joffaboy]

I believe saintspremiers when he says his question was innocent. However it gives the agenda ridden Lyon haters to have a free hit.

After all we have heard how Lyon isn't a Saints man, is a plant by Carlton man Robert Walls, is a AFL plant from its lovechild Sydney, has been trying to end players careers etc etc blah blah blah.

Well now the anti Lyon crew have a nice little conspiracy to hang their paranoia and hate upon.

Oh yeah I have it on good authority that after consultation with Robert Walls and Andrew Demetriou, Ross Lyon was ordered to sack Robert Harvey. This was for two reasons

1) to give the AFl some good publicity after the Collingwood fiasco
2) to stop the Saints in their tracks for season 2008.

Betcha GT would have never exited out Harvs would he? Oops thats right

Fair Dinkum. The guy is 37, has played for 21 seasons, how long do you think he could bloody go for?

But no its all Lyons fault.

Cabbages

[markp]

RL killed (exited out) Bambi too.

[stinger]

what a ridiculous post jb...you have surpassed even yourself there........

[joffaboy]

RL killed (exited out) Bambi too.

Destroying the club with all these early retirements

I heard RL was in the car the Didak and Shaw.

[WayneJudson42]

what a ridiculous post jb...you have surpassed even yourself there........

Perhaps. But then you look at the silly thread and all the crap about how RL compared him to Bradley.. and it really makes you wonder.

[casey scorp]

The club would always be balancing up the issues. The considerations would have been:

Will the inspiration of Harvey on-field in 2009 warrant holding out a developing player from the side and a young recruit from the list?

Will that developing player peak at a time when we will have a real shot at a flag?

Will that young recruit (the last one chosen in lieu of Harvey on the list) ever deliver?

Our current list is ageing, but with a wealth of talented players the window is still open.

Players once they hit that point where they struggle to compete, start to lose it very quickly - how close is Harves to that point?

Does he still have the hunger?

Does he want to play on?

I'd be certain that, on balance, we'd have more chance getting a premiership next year with Harvey in the side than the benefits of the developing player to our medium term chances or the recruit to our long term chances.

I'm sure they let him make the decision.

I'd say they pushed him to make a decision, but that the decision was his.

[Buckets]

RL killed (exited out) Bambi too.

Destroying the club with all these early retirements

I heard RL was in the car the Didak and Shaw.

Damn didn't know that! I knew that he was the one who killed Kennedy

[westy]

One of the media articles states that Lyon and Harvs discussed the big decision last week.

Now, perhaps Lyon suggested to Harvs that he wants to keep injecting youth - primarly because of GC17 and lost drafting opportunities in up and coming years - absolutely no disrespect of course to the great man.

I'm sure Harvs would take this in the right way, and if this is what happend, no doubt Lyon gave Harvs the necessary time and dignity to let it all happen the right way.

I would have loved Harvs to play on next year and hopefully play 400 AFL games, but I fully respect Lyon if he has indeed asked the question to Harvs and prompted the decision.

Whatever happend, I've got 1000% respect for both Harvs and Lyon, well done Saints, it was well managed!

I've studied body language for 25 years!!! For what it's worth, when I saw the Press Conference my first impression was that he was forced.

Go back to your studies knucklehead

[casey scorp]

I'm sure they let him make the decision.

I'd say they pushed him to make a decision, but that the decision was his.

[Sainternist]

Cant we just enjoy the memories and say thanks ?

Couldn't agree more.

Total B.S. to suggest a thing that he was pushed into retirement, imo.

[saintbrat]

being the very "anti- media"' person that he has for much of the past 21 seasons I would read his persona has shown this week in interview after interview- and even back to the BTG appearance as showing that Harves is MOST comfortable- with his decision,

Thommo stated that as he speaks so rarely - even amongst the team- when he does people listen, and then usually agree

he is clear and precise in his statements and almost appears to be enjoying his reminiscing, He has considered and knows his own mind
his planning for his - speech to the players- drawing on the support of close peers, his preparation of a book and extended interview show readiness.

[abandonallhope]

Also could have something to do with that tackle against port in which he was thrown to the ground and was nearly knocked out. Knowing that his body cant take that kind of punishment.

[JeffDunne]

Betcha GT would have never exited out Harvs would he? Oops thats right

What's right? Did I miss something?

Seriously, why do people keep repeating this s*** like it's gospel?

GT’s comments were that we should be planning to exit him out . . . ie we should be planning for life without him and should be reducing his load. GT never once tried to force Harv's into retirement, quite the opposite in fact.

There are only two St Kilda coaches that should be held in contempt for their treatment of Harvs and that is Stan Alves & Malcom Blight (ironically the two blokes responsible for him not winning a flag).

Stan’s treatment of Harv’s after his sacking was deplorable. Him and his sleazy bearded mate spent the better part of two seasons participating in a character assignation of Harv’s (and Burkie & Loewe). Disgusting low life gutter snipers who should be held in the utmost contempt by St Kilda supporters.

[Behind Play]

Robert had made up his mind long before last week.

[bobmurray]

The club would always be balancing up the issues. The considerations would have been:

Will that developing player peak at a time when we will have a real shot at a flag?

How can there be a realistic time frame put on that,we may have another poor draft and pick up 5 more Howards.......

[casey scorp]

The club would always be balancing up the issues. The considerations would have been:

Will that developing player peak at a time when we will have a real shot at a flag?

How can there be a realistic time frame put on that,we may have another poor draft and pick up 5 more Howards.......

Exactly.....so do you take the bird in the hand, or go with the uncertainty of when and whether (if ever) your last draft pick might be a star.

[saintspremiers]

UPDATE:

Now that the club is persuing Cousins, to me that indicates Harvey wasn't pushed, as I thought possible earlier this year.

Cousins appears to be a replacement-type player for Harvey.....it's not like you'd get rid of Harvs so Cousins can play.

By going after Benny, the club in way is saying we now have a hole (perhaps crater?) in the midfield that needs a possible left-field solution.