jmac70
On the porch
Sam Fisher given a five year jail sentence.
Oppo Camp Other Club News/General Discussion
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Abdul_The_Bull
All Australian
Ouch! I saw that... how far he has fallen.
I typically subscribe to the notion that we all have an inherent understanding of what's right and what's wrong and that one must learn to live with the consequences of one's actions (basic accountability and responsibility). This is based on the premise that we do understand our situation and the difference between right and wrong. However, I feel deeply for guys like this. I wonder what must go through their minds to make the choices they do? I know there is a movement that promotes openness and encourages communication (I'm thinking of "It ain't weak to speak") but how do you start a conversation... Often, I fear, the can has been kicked too far down the road before there is any notion that you need help.
I do hope that the AFLPA have structures in place to help players prepare and develop strategies for life after football.
NMBB
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Minimum three years
Got off lightly.
76woodenspooners
Brownlow Medallist
Every year the AFL competition ejects out to the wider community approximately 140 men, who from the age of 18 have been earning far more money than their peers in the normal world. They have become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. That lifestyle includes what they perceive to be their needs and wants, as well as lifestyle pressures they feel from lovers, friends and family (both real and imagined pressure).
Most of those 140 won’t have the skills / luck / acumen / whatever to earn anything like the coin they did in the AFL. And that can be a brutal transition.
Sure, they know what’s coming. No doubt their club / AFL / AFLPA has systems in place to help prepare them. But some men will be in denial. Some men just won’t have the imagination to understand what it’ll be like. And maybe some will, but their support network around them won’t - who’s making sure his lover understands that they won’t be able to have a fancy overseas holiday every year?
Some of those 140 will have a seamless transition because they’ll still make very good money - the Chris Judd types.
Some of those 140 will have a seamless transition because they lived a modest life as a footballer and ended up with a home and a modest investment portfolio to set them up.
Some of those 140 will find it difficult, but figure it out and adjust. Humans - including spoilt footballers - can be very resilient and adapt when they need to.
Some of those 140 will go totally off the rails, as has clearly happened with Sam Fisher.
What to do?
It’s a tough one.
On one hand you have the AFL / club who are impacted by this (Sam Fisher is not good for the AFL / St Kilda brand at the moment) so from that it follows that the AFL / club need to take responsibility for preparing players for life after footy. And they do.
On the other hand, sometimes it’s for the best to cut the cord.
And let’s face it, unless “ability to reintegrate into the community after AFL” becomes a key drafting criterion, or the competition becomes amateur, there will always be instances of this.
HoraceStrasbork
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Criminals are like businesspeople or corporations. The difference being they weigh up years of incarceration rather than fines or sanctions when committing nefarious acts
sr36
TheBrownDog
AFL clubs are doing a good job of getting kids into career pathways alongside footy. It's a shit happens situation that shouldn't be attributed to the AFL.
In his defence, he's been clean for two and did rehab, I think they take that into consideration
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Last night I went to an event at my local with Peter Daicos and Doug Hawkins.
I had a brief chat with Hawkins, who told me he caught up early this week with Tony Liberatore. Tony apparently said that the AFL is in the process of medically retiring Tom. Really sad if true.
I had a brief chat with Hawkins, who told me he caught up early this week with Tony Liberatore. Tony apparently said that the AFL is in the process of medically retiring Tom. Really sad if true.
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Totally believable - his last few months have been super concerning. After the really sad experience with Picken, I hope that more proactive intervention happens here
That's quite a surprise, but also understandable. I'm sure Tony himself, as a parent, would deep down be hoping that Tom retires, but he obviously isn't going to tell him what to do as a grown man.
I definitely don't think Tom should play again this season, and see how he's going after an extended period away from the game.
Unfortunately this has a Murph vibe to it, in the sense that the situation and decision will be taken out of his hands.
And as an ex AFL player, he gets the customary discount.
Would count himself unlikely he wasn’t released with a full apology.
There's plenty of that in it also. That charge can come with a life sentence.
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Looks like Douggie led me down the garden path.
ElliottsMaggies
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3 weeks is a long time in footy.. anything could happen by then.
Fat Jesus
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They were likely expecting the docs to say he shouldn't be playing on.
Pleasant surprise for him and the club.
Abdul_The_Bull
All Australian
The Doctors also cleared Murphy.... just saying.
ElliottsMaggies
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The club doctors clearing him on game day is different to the AFL & specialists looking at that player's history of concussions & deciding their future.
Libba would probably only need one more knock to the head & he'd be told to retire. I imagine he, his family, the club, the supporters would all be going through the same fears we did with Murphy.
Abdul_The_Bull
All Australian
Agreed. But that was kind of my point, although poorly presented on my part. This whole area (concussions, CTE) is so 'unknown' that it is almost entirely dependent on the player's appetite to risk rather than any objective and/or measureable results.
Mollythedolly
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Murphy was initially cleared to play, didn’t end well. Good luck to Tom, you want to see players of his ilk ply their craft.
Mollythedolly
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The AFL specialists initially cleared Murphy as well.
ElliottsMaggies
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Yes until he got that next knock at training. I think we can all agree Libba is also now just one knock away from retirement. And they're going through the same scenario we all went through with Murphy.
They'll all be watching every game he plays in with their hearts in the mouth. I haven't read the Doggies board, but I'd imagine they'd have supporters over there saying similar to what we were all saying about Nathan. It's not going to be comfortable viewing as he plays like such a bull anyway.
Cousin of Daicos
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ok now I wouldn't entertain the idea of recruiting him
I'd be staggered if any club did now
Although it sounds like Essendon are open to it
