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Retired #26: Cale Hooker - Has announced his retirement at season's end 🍷
- Thread starter Burzum
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- Jan 20, 2008
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Wouldn't even have made finals without him.
Think we are going to have to manage him over the next two seasons. Aim for 18 quality games instead of 22 because it looks like his body is just hanging on.
Hoping it’s just the back that has limited him on the second half of the year - if so he can get that right and hopefully get back to his usual self.
I love the bloke more than anyone else on our list but no question he’s been struggling.
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- Jul 23, 2018
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Even if it causes short term pain, id prefer Hooker to go forward permanently again like 2017. BZT and Francis need to play every week alongside Ambrose and Hurls.
Xavier Menzies
Team Captain
- Aug 9, 2012
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I reckon he might be freo bound.
He lives in Perth in the off season
He lives in Perth in the off season
ant555
The Oracle
- May 4, 2004
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So what you are saying is he has a 4 week holiday in Perth every year to visit his family.
- Apr 27, 2013
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Cale will definitely be aware that he is almost at the end. We won't trade him, but I'd like to think we will start playing BZT more in the seniors next year. Get Daniher fit, and play Hooker as our second forward. Very good chance that 2020 will be his last.
His body is starting to fail him. I hope he can rejuvenate himself this off-season, and give us one more year of good football.
His body is starting to fail him. I hope he can rejuvenate himself this off-season, and give us one more year of good football.
Zach Package
Prespakis2Tsatas2Kondogiannis
Think the fact that he turns up on day 1 of preseason speaks volumes.
Doesn’t have to be in the leadership group to be the Rock of Gibraltar for this club, in fact I would argue that he’s earned the right to not be in the leadership group.
Doesn’t have to be in the leadership group to be the Rock of Gibraltar for this club, in fact I would argue that he’s earned the right to not be in the leadership group.
I wish I could like this more than once. This guy has so much heart, would've been a great captain I think.
Cale Hardcore.
- Jun 8, 2014
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Showed signs this year that the end is close, hopefully he can eek out a respectable season in 2020 and maybe take more of a back seat in 2021.
Was there ever a reason or story behind any of the leadership stuff? Did he just not enjoy/want to be in it? Would have thought he'd be close to the first member selected.
- Jun 27, 2014
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Apparently he wasn’t doing enough yoga and pilates for someone his age and therefore when running during games he looked like an elderly mummy in a tight corset. They decided that was bad optics for the leadership team.
- May 6, 2007
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Always struck me as the sort of guy to step aside to give others a go (re; leadership group). Doesn't need to be given a title to know what needs to be done.
I'm a lot more bullish about Hooker in 2020 than many in here. I don't think he's done at all.
People forget the bloke had a pretty crappy preseason with a number of injuries that delayed him even playing til about round 4.
He still managed to have a number of match winning performances but predictably struggled to make it to the finish line.
If he can stay healthy through the preseason and maybe get rested a few extra times through the year (so aim to play about 18-20 H&A games) I think he's still capable of being one of our best once again. Could be down back or could be up forward or both.
It does amuse me how at the start of the year "he's moving well, looks like he hasn't lost his pace" - then later struggling with niggling injuries "he's lost his pace, he's cooked". I reckon him staying fit is the problem. You can't tell me his back wasn't a major issue towards the end of this year. He wasn't suffering just from 'old age'.
People forget the bloke had a pretty crappy preseason with a number of injuries that delayed him even playing til about round 4.
He still managed to have a number of match winning performances but predictably struggled to make it to the finish line.
If he can stay healthy through the preseason and maybe get rested a few extra times through the year (so aim to play about 18-20 H&A games) I think he's still capable of being one of our best once again. Could be down back or could be up forward or both.
It does amuse me how at the start of the year "he's moving well, looks like he hasn't lost his pace" - then later struggling with niggling injuries "he's lost his pace, he's cooked". I reckon him staying fit is the problem. You can't tell me his back wasn't a major issue towards the end of this year. He wasn't suffering just from 'old age'.
He should've stepped aside and gave someone else a go, but he didn't. He stuck his hand up for selection and played like absolute shit.
So no.
- May 6, 2007
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It's his job as an AFL footballer. He is quite literally paid to play football.
TheGreatBarryB
Hall of Famer
Absolute shit my arse.
He was still a better option than the next available. Are you suggesting we shouldn’t have played him when Hurley was out?
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I'm suggesting he got absolutely towelled up by Jenkins and had to be shifted. Hartley then did a good job in defence and was dropped to the 2nds (while Hooker continued to stink it up and play like absolute shit) and then walked out of the club for more opportunitues.
The comment Cale would gladly stand aside from the leadership group doesn't seem to match up. Especially when all the word about he and hurley not being in the leadership group is that it caused a stink.
TheGreatBarryB
Hall of Famer
Hey? Week after Crows he won us the game off his boot against the Suns. Then the final 3 weeks after that our mid and forwards were so poor no defence would have stood up against Port, Dogs and Eagles.
Won the game off his own boot lol.
TheGreatBarryB
Hall of Famer
Literally
He wins games by himself (haha) and only loses when his team mates let him down. What a guy. They'd make him captain aside from the fact he'd only abdicate to give someone else a go.
TheGreatBarryB
Hall of Famer
He wasn’t shithouse against Suns and do you blame him for last 3 games? Was he any worse than the rest? Defence was overrun because of lack of forward and midfield pressure.
Again would his replacement have been any better?