Nathan Freeman does hammy

[st.byron]

No wonder we did no good in the draft if RL was picking them. I think people need to realise he has bugger to do with the drafted players but would have had a bit to do with the traded players. Some of previous drafters weren't to good either. Not sure that makes it the coaches fault. Was SW good at drafting?

As for others thinking the worst about a draft in December, well I don't get the point.

Do you mean that Lyon had no input into who was drafted? As head coach responsible for the game plan, he surely would have had significant input into the draft strategy. He might not be calling out the names or doing the research legwork, but surely the head coach, at that time, was key in drafting decisions.

[prwilkinson]

Harves played 18 games in 1990 - aged 18
Played 23 games in 1991 - aged 19.

Amazing how we mythologise the past to tell ourselves something pleasant about the current.

Rob debuted in 1988. In his book 'Harves' he discusses his early soft tissue injuries a bit. Actually, now that I think about it, I can think of at least half a dozen interviews throughout his footy career and post where he discusses how he had to strengthen his lower back, his trunk and the muscles around his hamstrings in order to protect them, which, in turn, helped him become a more consistent player.

Strengthening his trunk probably helped with that famous swivel of the hips too. Was Banger one the first players to lift his arms and stand tall in a tackle to be able to draw a player and release a handball? Something you see every single A.F.L footballer do now. I miss watching Rob play.

[Enrico_Misso]

We paid a lot for a guy with terrible injury history and eight weeks later he was injured again.

We paid even more for a known d**khead and within eight hours he was in trouble.

They were both high risk decisions. Let's hope the long run sees them OK because right now they look dubious in the extreme.

If Rice doesn't work out it may be one of our worst ever drafts.

Well, let's be honest, Carlisle is risky because we are awaiting the outcome of a tribunal, which, if he is found guilty, could see him miss 2 years of playing and training. Personally, I think if he doesn't get suspended he will be a very good/great player for us. Very, very handy.
Freeman needs to get his legs right - if he misses training over the Xmas/New Year period when they are off anyway, having done all of the early heavy fitness stuff, I couldn't care less, to be honest. Aussie Jones had dodgy hammies for a while and then he eventually got them right. Freeman didn't leave Collingwood because of his hammies, he left them because he wanted to play for the Saints.
Rice will be an absolute beauty, and he was a bargain anyway.
Carlisle and Freeman are no bigger risks than speculating how a young draftee will come up. How's Toumpas, Scully and Watts going?
This is going to be a development year anyway, so my expectations of winning % is low - less than 33% again, so 6, maybe 7 wins, so it is all about finding who is in our best 22, and who do we need to get in the following draft/trading period while we are still low enough on the ladder to get a high draft pick.

That is the glass half full view.
I hope you are right.
But yes we should at least do better than the inept Melbourne recruiters!

[ripplug66]

No wonder we did no good in the draft if RL was picking them. I think people need to realise he has bugger to do with the drafted players but would have had a bit to do with the traded players. Some of previous drafters weren't to good either. Not sure that makes it the coaches fault. Was SW good at drafting?

As for others thinking the worst about a draft in December, well I don't get the point.

Do you mean that Lyon had no input into who was drafted? As head coach responsible for the game plan, he surely would have had significant input into the draft strategy. He might not be calling out the names or doing the research legwork, but surely the head coach, at that time, was key in drafting decisions.

I would suggest he had little impact at all in the drafting of players. If he did then he had to much power. My informed guess is, as he should, he had bugger all to do with it. Surely we didn't pick McCartin last year because of game plan? Or even a later pick like Lonie. Havent the recruiters said we got Lonie because we rated him higher than what he went?

[st.byron]

I would suggest he had little impact at all in the drafting of players. If he did then he had to much power. My informed guess is, as he should, he had bugger all to do with it. Surely we didn't pick McCartin last year because of game plan? Or even a later pick like Lonie. Havent the recruiters said we got Lonie because we rated him higher than what he went?

You might be right. I have no idea how they work it out and who makes the calls. I did though see those STKFC made videos the past couple of years where they're all sitting around talking about different players in the draft. And Richo has been there both times and giving input both times. Can't imagine recruiters not giving weight to the opinion of the coach.....

[Con Gorozidis]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

[Con Gorozidis]

Harves played 18 games in 1990 - aged 18
Played 23 games in 1991 - aged 19.

Amazing how we mythologise the past to tell ourselves something pleasant about the current.

Rob debuted in 1988. In his book 'Harves' he discusses his early soft tissue injuries a bit. Actually, now that I think about it, I can think of at least half a dozen interviews throughout his footy career and post where he discusses how he had to strengthen his lower back, his trunk and the muscles around his hamstrings in order to protect them, which, in turn, helped him become a more consistent player.

Strengthening his trunk probably helped with that famous swivel of the hips too. Was Banger one the first players to lift his arms and stand tall in a tackle to be able to draw a player and release a handball? Something you see every single A.F.L footballer do now. I miss watching Rob play.

Yes and he still racked up 40 AFL games before his 20th birthday.

[ripplug66]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

[remboy]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

[No77778]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-12-19/l ... ps-forward news on freeman.

[Jacks Back]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

Well yapper was pretty good!

[remboy]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

Well yapper was pretty good!

Gee autocorrect can be annoying. Meant to say 'talls or smalls' but then again maybe they did need someone with a big mouth when Milne retired

[Bunk_Moreland]

Starts running again on Monday apparently

[ripplug66]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

Well yapper was pretty good!

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

[Con Gorozidis]

Players get two weeks break for Xmas right?

So this really wont affect Freeman at all. He wont even miss any training. As long as he doesn't hit the piss in the next two weeks he will be fine.

[saintbrat]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/t ... d6097e6bf9

shortened version of the above
apparently some of the younger players did a 5Km run this morning and joined others for weights swim etc
more senior players have a time triall mid week before the holiday

finish on the 23rd and return the 6th although TV news suggested the 3rd

[bigcarl]

Starts running again on Monday apparently

Good. Keep moving is the best policy, I reckon, though I'm no medico.

[loris]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club.

OMG Con What an image I will have of Richo now!!!!

[samuraisaint]

I remember in 2007 there were a series of articles and interviews with RL about our issues with back related hamstrings and other leg injuries we had under Thomas and Blight before that and there was talk about 'meat and potatoes' or something similar. Does anybody remember this and can shed some light on what the problem was and how it was solved?

[samuraisaint]

Starts running again on Monday apparently

Good. Keep moving is the best policy, I reckon, though I'm no medico.

They say with lower back injuries the best treatment is to keep doing what you have to do, and keep working, rather than being inactive. Hamstrings often being a lower back related injury makes it common sense to keep doing regular work so that the hamstring doesn't stiffen and seize up.

[samuraisaint]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

Well yapper was pretty good!

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

Watson picked Milney. He would have watched the Reserves Grand Final and saw Milney bury us (like the rest of us).

[sunsaint]

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

That's twisting and misunderstanding where Thomas was coming from
He took all the young saints under his wing and his roof
Many dinners at his house players with family
He sussed milne 's character out early and used away stats to justify his position
RL couldnt care less

[Con Gorozidis]

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

That's twisting and misunderstanding where Thomas was coming from
He took all the young saints under his wing and his roof
Many dinners at his house players with family
He sussed milne 's character out early and used away stats to justify his position
RL couldnt care less

I never liked that side of GT. Having certain players over for dinner or BBQs. Playing favourites. A bit creepy if you ask me. Just a slight element of creepy scout leader vibe about him. Ok maybe help out a kid from a broken home from Alice Springs or something but Luke Ball didnt need a 'father figure' and his real family lived nearby. Just a bit off imho.

[ripplug66]

Lets be realistic. The head coach is the big swinging dick in any footy club. Of course they would get involved in recruiting. Its just human nature.

Who said he wouldn't. To blame only the head coach when selecting players in the draft means you don't understand the process. he would have less say than Elshaug. Well he should. He hardly sees these guys play apart from maybe the championships and a video or two. The other guys see them live many times and it doesn't matter how you argue, live footy is better than TV. He wouldn't rate the guys from 1 to 50. Doubt he has any imput on that and if you listen to selectors that is a major reason we have picked certain players.

The recruiters basically pick the drafted players and the coach would certainly have more say in the traded players. RL actually said on radio this year before the draft he wasn't even going to come to the draft but had to because he had to read out the name of the first player drafted by Freo. Probably being a bit of a smartarse but it also shows how little imput he has. As does every coach I would imagine.

The coach would possibly have some input in determining what type of player he thinks the club needs (ie talks or smaller), but when it comes to identifying that actual players, that's the recruiters job.

Well yapper was pretty good!

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

Watson picked Milney. He would have watched the Reserves Grand Final and saw Milney bury us (like the rest of us).

Well I stick by what I said. Doubt Watson knew much about him. I very much doubt coaches are picking rookie players. More likely Bevo liked him.

[ripplug66]

He was better than good. Doubt GT knew anything about him at all.

That's twisting and misunderstanding where Thomas was coming from
He took all the young saints under his wing and his roof
Many dinners at his house players with family
He sussed milne 's character out early and used away stats to justify his position
RL couldnt care less

I never liked that side of GT. Having certain players over for dinner or BBQs. Playing favourites. A bit creepy if you ask me. Just a slight element of creepy scout leader vibe about him. Ok maybe help out a kid from a broken home from Alice Springs or something but Luke Ball didnt need a 'father figure' and his real family lived nearby. Just a bit off imho.

Did he play favourites? Maybe like every single coach probably in AFL history. Its human nature. I actually cant see anything at all wrong with players going around to a coaches place. The ones that seemed to do it a bit went ok. I think Rooy, Lenny and bakes for starters. maybe he should have had more there. And comparing a coach of 18 plus kids to a scout master is a bit over the top. That does make it creepy but it isn't a good comparison IMO.

As for Sunsaint my comment was on recruiting a guy not what he did afterwards. I think GT knew more about players than any coach we have had in the last 30 years or since Jeans. Is that a good or bad thing? Probably neutral.