View Full Version : The Loyal Knee
Rabbitoh
4 Jul 2008, 15:58
With Luke Webster ready to make an amazing comeback to Football, does the Club repay his loyalty with another 1 year contract. Over the years, Websters form and game opportunities have likely been hampered mostly by niggling injuries associated with the long breaks away from the game.
A servicable and by far not the worst player when given game time, I reckon the physical and personal battles he has had, and the efforts to get up for games show alot about his character. With only 8 odd games left this year to prove himself, surely an extension for 2009 is worth the effort for all parties concerned.
Whaddya reckon?
summerthebat
4 Jul 2008, 16:10
When you think about who is most likely going to be or should be axed at seasons end, it might be worth just holding onto him for one more year considering the squad's depth?
I don't know!
I don't know if he's nessessarily loyal, courageous yes, determined yes, loyal I'm not sure. He obviously wants to play AFL at the highest level and he's been riddled with injuries so going to another club is out of the question. So it's either Freo or nothing.
I think Freo have shown the loyalty to him to keep him on the list for this long.
BTW I am a big fan of Webby and hope he goes well with no further knee injuries for the rest of his career, but surely this will be the last year on freo's list.
edgehead47
4 Jul 2008, 16:51
No idea, i rate him a 50-50 chance of being culled at the end of the year, maybe a 40-60 chance. Considering the poor season we've had it doesn't look too promising that he will be retained but he's batted so hard through the injuries it would be a shame for it to end now.
He is one of my favourite players and there is a lot worse on the list. I for one would keep him for another year for depth. Lets be realistic though, his chances of becoming a permanent member of the team are pretty slim, so is it worth keeping him as we look towards undertaking a "mini rebuild'?
NiGHTFuRY
4 Jul 2008, 17:06
Agree with Freodogs post....
The axe will be swinging come seasons end. Depending on who and how many we think we can draft will most likely determine his fate.
summerthebat
4 Jul 2008, 17:17
Agree with Freodogs post....
The axe will be swinging come seasons end. Depending on who and how many we think we can draft will most likely determine his fate.
Exactly, it really comes down to how many younger players we want to recruit.
FarmersWife
4 Jul 2008, 17:42
It'd be worth keeping him, just to see how he goes with the knee recuperation. Will be handy information and experience for the club to give him another year.
Memories
4 Jul 2008, 17:55
If anyone asked me the TWO definites who are going to be axed at the end of the year (besides the ones we know about) it would be Webster and Browne. I really have to wonder if players who are bad at the game just don't care enough about it to improve, injuries aside. Webster wasn't setting the game on fire when he was around and fit, maybe due to his stifled development like Browne, but we will never know.
If we are going to keep people on the list who don't perform but have courage/heart/purple blood/etc we might as well keep MacManus too, recall Cook, etc.
webster has been a great guy around the club for many years, and has won various clubman awards. Yes, he has been through alot, but in the end, after three or four knee reconstructions, he's costing somebody who is fit a spot on the list. I think his time has run out, unless he pulls something out the bag late this year, then i think theres 90% chance its over for him. You never know, given the dockers ladder position, Harvs might take a gamble and give him another crack before seasons end. All the best to Luke though, hes been a battler right from the start.
According to my reckoning, there are three players that are basically reasonable quality but injury riddled; Dunn, Browne and the Duke. I think that's probably 2 too many (some may say 3). Browne and Webster in particular have this tail end of this season to show something or that's it I feel. Browne's probably got the bigger concern because his injury problem is more likely to re-occur, but his type of player is more needed at the club. Webster, if the knee holds over the next few months, though catastrophic if it goes wrong, is more likely to be able to play on (many have forged solid AFL careers with re-constructed knees) but is older and probably a less needed type of player ... where does this musing leave me ... I think the answer is I don't know.
One thing is for sure, given Webster's situation and given where the club is at, we really don't have much room for sentiment when it comes to our list. We need every spot to be giving something to the club or allowing for some potential. I love the Duke, but if he keeps a young'n with some potential out of the team, then I feel his days might be numbered.
Ask us again at the season's end and maybe we'll have a better idea ... lets face it, his knee could blow up in a week or two and that would answer all our questions - hope and expect this not to occur of course.
he kicked the point to win the game on the day I got engaged.. so yes, he deserves another year ;)
shibz_1989
4 Jul 2008, 22:43
he kicked the point to win the game on the day I got engaged.. so yes, he deserves another year ;)
Was that against the crows? Haha, if so...the crowd went off...it was as if it was goal :D
Was that against the crows? Haha, if so...the crowd went off...it was as if it was goal :D
Haha yes! I remember sitting in the cheer squad behind the goals watching that, partying like it was 1999 :cool:
NiGHTFuRY
5 Jul 2008, 09:09
Haha yes! I remember sitting in the cheer squad behind the goals watching that, partying like it was 1999 :cool:
http://iandaffern.ca/gfx/Purple.jpghttp://iandaffern.ca/gfx/Purple.jpg[/img] (http://iandaffern.ca)
:p;)
http://news.realfooty.com.au/sport/docker-webster-makes-successful-return-20080705-328j.html
Docker Webster makes successful return
July 5, 2008 - 8:06PM
Fremantle's Luke Webster believes he is just two or three games away from returning to peak powers after making a successful playing return from a career-threatening knee injury.
Webster, who underwent the same revolutionary knee surgery as Sydney's Nick Malceski when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the third time on April 5, tallied 11 kicks, 10 handballs, five marks and a goal for East Perth in their 56-point WAFL loss to East Fremantle on Saturday.
The 26-year-old moved freely throughout the contest and got better as the game wore on, playing predominantly through the midfield.
"The knee felt really good and strong," Webster said after the match.
"I was pretty confident all day and it was good to get through.
"I thought I touched the ball alright today and my skills were pretty good."
Webster, who has played just 33 games for the Dockers and is in the final year of his contract, said he was confident he would make an AFL return this season.
"I reckon I'm a pretty good chance (of returning to Fremantle's line-up)," Webster said.
"I felt good today and touched it pretty good. I'll just try to build on that and get some good form up to push for selection.
"My body feels really good, I feel fit, so I'm probably two or three games away (from my best football)."
Webster's playing return came just 91 days after suffering the injury.
With his AFL career on the line at the time, Webster admitted he had little choice but to undergo the radical surgery which involves using an artificial ligament instead of grafting tissue from elsewhere in the body.
"It was an amazing thing to come back in 12-and-a-half weeks but it's been really good so far and hopefully I can take it into next week," Webster said.
Meanwhile, Fremantle utility Daniel Gilmore has been diagnosed with post traumatic migraine - not post concussion syndrome that was originally feared - after copping a head knock at training last month.
Gilmore, who has experienced bouts of lethargy and dizziness since the knock, has resumed light training but it is still unclear when he can make a playing return.
With Luke Webster ready to make an amazing comeback to Football, does the Club repay his loyalty with another 1 year contract. Over the years, Websters form and game opportunities have likely been hampered mostly by niggling injuries associated with the long breaks away from the game.
A servicable and by far not the worst player when given game time, I reckon the physical and personal battles he has had, and the efforts to get up for games show alot about his character. With only 8 odd games left this year to prove himself, surely an extension for 2009 is worth the effort for all parties concerned.
Whaddya reckon?
Keep Him?
Absolutely! :thumbsu:
And bury my heart at wounded knee!
Chris who
7 Jul 2008, 02:03
he kicked the point to win the game on the day I got engaged.. so yes, he deserves another year ;)
I got married that day - The inlaws got in with the dj so the dockers song played when my time had come for a speech.
Yes yes my father in-law is a docker supporter and yes hes the dude with a purple kayak in the swan every week
i can see that bionic luke may be kept - after all he'd be pretty cheap wouldn't he? based on the asumption we are getting rid of macca & heath & johnson , browne & others so we'll have lots of room on list
fat wombat
7 Jul 2008, 18:24
I think Black has another year on his contract to fight people in the WAFL.