OnTheRocks
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 11, 2016
- 5,088
- 7,415
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Haha! All these 'I'm telling you' big footy egos.
John 8:7
Sin and stones and all that.
John 8:7
Sin and stones and all that.
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I suppose that’s the reward for being a 4 time premiership player with little to no injuries prior to this and for being damn good bloke (don’t know him but appears to be). Not too many other players would be given the same privilege. Hope he can finally beat this injury once and for all.Lovely retirement fund for Birch, going to be 3 years and close to 2mill for 2c of bugger all.. what a job
“Oh s**t - it’s Worksafe. Everyone hide. You with the limp - f**ken run into the cupboard now or you’re sacked”PS. Have a staff meeting now lads, I might chastise someone if they're late.... warnings all round right?
Indeed.
There are only two things that make up the American Psyche:
1. Making money to kick ass
2. Kicking ass to make money
There is nothing there to suggest we should follow such a lead.
I would hope (and believe) there is a bit more to the Hawthorn Football Club than that.
The thing with this is that the players association is there to look after the players interests, it's a union doing the collective bargaining on behalf of the players against the leagueDon't think many companies or clubs are really looking for that kind of commitment anymore, but then again neither are the people or players.
Just watch what the players insist on at their next collective bargaining agreement, and then come back and talk to me about how our club should be looking after their players well beyond what they return in their play for the team, while they are with us.
The thing with this is that the players association is there to look after the players interests, it's a union doing the collective bargaining on behalf of the players against the league
It's job is to get the best working conditions and return for the players, the freedom to move etc
It's not quite the same as a normal job, we don't get drafted out of school and forced to put a few years in somewhere. I look at the way Hawks go about it as being smart in that it helps with player retention when they want to retain the player. Some think the players have too much power now vs the clubs, they can't exist without each other so it is a balancing act.
At the same time the clubs are competing with each other and like any good workplace, employee welfare and benefits is one way to stand out from the crowd, you can't do it with salary due to the cap so you have to do it in other ways.
I think the Hawks are pretty good at it, they aren't the only club but they are one of the top clubs at it. It can lead to situations that disappoint supporters in the short term when someone like Cyril retires early or Birchall sits in limbo.
But it also helps get guys like Jaeger and Mitchell through the door, and keep players like Breust and Gunston and Sicily at the club when others come knocking.
It's also a balancing act that they need to get right and they won't always get it right.
I don't think any of them, player or club thought Birch would be on the sidelines this long, maybe with a crystal ball they would have played it differently but I can understand them hanging on to him in the belief he will come back and play again, he was a big part of four flags and a long period of success at the club and while he hasn't played for a while that doesn't mean he hasn't contributed in other ways at the club.
We tend to think what they do for the 2 hours on the weeekend is the entirety of their job but it isn't.
I reckon the Hawks need to borrow the VRC's curtain and gun so when a player goes down we can just put them out of their misery then and there. This rehabilitation nonsense is a waste of time, I mean what player has come back to play after a serious knee injury anyway?
short memories and a delete buttonI doubt there is a level of self-awareness there that will let that happen...
TA lot of egg on face when Birch suits up again
A lot of egg on face when Birch suits up again
I doubt there is a level of self-awareness there that will let that happen...
I'm sure I have. Heaps.T
Why? You have never made a wrong call on BF?
You got inside info that he's back, in form, can sustain it, and will show through his actions over the next couple seasons that waiting through any length recovery was the right action to take?
Awesome!
Interesting, I reckon the opposite happens. Most of the posters who are regulars and get it wrong often put up their hand and say how pleased they are to be wrong. Mostly those who are part timers and doomsdayers just never come back to regular contributions if the sun comes up.
Wouldn't it be nice to not mischaracterize what's been said, and just acknowledge that a few posters have their suspicions that getting back will be tough for Birch, and further getting back and playing excellent sustained footy even harder?
That's hardly saying Grant's time with us was wasted, or he was never a champ, or hasn't contributed mightily, simply that long term leg injuries that break down consistently with ramped up activity are not encouraging news to belief in an athlete's best ability - availability.
so anyway, how is Birch's knee?
so anyway, how is Birch's knee?
There is no news on birchall’s knee, only complaining about him not playing and fantasising about sending him off to the glue factory. Might as well talk about something more interesting like paint drying or economicsso anyway, how is Birch's knee?
There is no news on birchall’s knee, only complaining about him not playing and fantasising about sending him off to the glue factory. Might as well talk about something more interesting like paint drying or economics