John Platten

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Bloodstained Angel

Premiership Player
Mar 21, 2000
3,765
20
Sydney, Nsw, Australia
Watching Craig Bradley run around for the Blues this season it struck me how 'effective' he still is.

He may have lost a yard or two in pace and studiously avoids the really heavy body-on-body work but his sure skills, accurate long kicking and general football 'smarts' make him an asset to any team - even at 36.

Its the same for some other veteran players as well - they may have lost a little pace and stamina but are still very effective contributors. Look at a guy like Paul Salmon absolutely revelling in his career twilight. Paul Roos as well - he looked and moved like a mummified giraffe in his last couple of seasons but how effective was he as a CHB 'sweeper' ?

All of this begs the question which I am sure has been on the minds of Hawthorn fans for a while now :

Did John Platten retire too early ?

Could he as a veteran player been 'managed' a little better by Hawthorn to prolong his illustrious career ?

He was still fit, still very pacy and most importantly, still had the guts and determination to play the game as he had always played it.

Its an interesting 'what might have been' scenario to ponder.

What do the Hawks fans think ?
 
I wondered that too.

Apparently he did have knee problems in his next season with central districts but perhaps Hawk's medical support might have been better.

Bradley did make me think but he is an outside player whereas Platts was an inside one

I think Hawthorn thought that Crawf/Harf/Tails could have covered but you never know.

It'll be interesting to see how players like Burke, Harvey and Kelley last in their thirties

No doubt that judge tended to get rid of them early, and it's well known he didn't see eye to eye with the Rat.

Also the senior list didn't come into play until all the hawk's greats had retired - How bad is that ?
 
Pess, spot on re the seniors list. I think the salary the Rat wanted and what we were prepared to pay forced both players hands. Also John always stated that he wanted to go back and play for Centrals for a last season.
BSA as Pess also said Braddles is more of the outside than inside. The Rat took a hell of a lot more than Bradley ever did. Been great for the blues though, Dons fans must scream when they think what could have been........
 

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Yeah - it will be interesting to see how Paul Kelly plays out his career.

His current contract expires in 2002 when he will be 32 and at the moment he reckons he has 1-2 seasons left after that which will make him 34. At the moment he is still superbly fit and gets a little stronger and bulkier every year so who knows ? - he could easily kick on till 34 and beyond.

Its a shame to realise that Platten and the club did not see eye to eye on a number of issue during his last years, but it is interesting to compare what happened to the Rat and what goes on at Carlton.

Of course Carlton have developed older player management into an art form over the years so I just wonder - if Platts had been at Carlton (god forbid) would he have been able to kick on ?

Would the Blues found the money to pay him what he wanted ?

Would the Blues medical staff have done any better with his knee ?

Would the Blues coaching staff found an on-field role for him that would have prolonged his fitness and enhanced his strengths ?

I dunno but it is interesting to compare how different clubs have very different attitude and strategies when it comes to older players.

I'm not having a go at the Hawks OK guys - its just an interesting exercise to compare clubs and muse on 'what might have been' scenarios.

PS - I remember Michael Tuck wanted to play on for more seasons but the club put its foot down and insisted he retire - was this correct ?
 
BSA you are so close, Platts nearly was a blue. They (in typical fashion) tried to outbid the Hawks before we even got him over here on the old form four. The Rat a blue (the horror the horror).
Tucks case was a little bit different, I mean he was rising 38 and his form while not bad wasnt really anything flash. They had other options coming through and they needed to blood them. Really Tucky at that time was holding a half back flank and just going. So when we took the flag I think it made sense for him to go out 'on a high note' as it were.

You know how highly I regard Kelly, while he stays healthy (the knee not withstanding) and if they play him more as a forward flanker than an onballer I cant see why he cant go at least for next year.
Still anyone at 34 will be looked at I guess, just the nature of the beast in todays game.
 
BSA

You may indeed see me there! Looking at these airfares on offer by Impulse and with a couple of friends willing to loan me their couch to crash out on, I could be at the SCG in round 20. If I do come up, I'll let you know my contact details and maybe we could have a beer before the game.

Best regards
SB
 
No The Rat did not retire too early.

He did come back and play with Central Districts and although he wasn't quite as fit as his Hawk days he was still fitter than most out there.

But he was riddled with niggling injuries he had been carrying for years. He could not have seen another year out at the top level. It was sad to see such a champion trying to overcome these injuries and play for the club he truly loved. The fans loved him for it though.

Long live THE RAT.
 
Hey Servo,
Are you trying to say 'the little bloke'didn't love the Hawks??
You have obviously never been to a Hawk function.
He still comes back to the club on a regular basis.
 
WHAT!!! identify youself.

I did not say he didn't love Hawthorn. I said he did love Centrals. He grew up with centrals and worshipped them for years before playing for them. Became a champion and then moved to Hawthorn.

He can love two clubs just as you can love two women. In this case Centrals are the family he grew up with and Hawthorn the marriage he found later.
wink.gif
 
Originally posted by servo:
WHAT!!! identify youself.

I did not say he didn't love Hawthorn. I said he did love Centrals. He grew up with centrals and worshipped them for years before playing for them. Became a champion and then moved to Hawthorn.

He can love two clubs just as you can love two women. In this case Centrals are the family he grew up with and Hawthorn the marriage he found later.
wink.gif

Well said servo !!

John adored Centrals, his entire family is synonomous with the club and district,
He was a true champion with both Clubs, Yes he has often said He loves Hawthorn, but even though he had the ability to stay with Hawthorn for a couple more years, He chose to give back to Centrals what his heart told him to.....Unfortunately the league he returned to was no where near what he had left.
 

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