Paul Salmon Retirement - EFC Release...

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RadioShark

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Jan 26, 2002
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Albury, NSW.
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This must surely mean Essendon is in DIRE need of a quality ruckman...

PAUL SALMON ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

Essendon champion Paul Salmon has announced his retirement from football. Salmon told Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy of his decision this afternoon. Salmon finishes having played 224 games for the Bombers, kicking 520 goals during that time. His return for the Bombers this season yielded 15 games and 11 goals.

Salmon cited business and family reasons as the major influences behind his decision. "I certainly felt that I could have gone on and made a contribution but I have so many other things in my life and basically they must now be my priority," Salmon said. "I want to spend time with the family and my business interests, including Journey Corporation, and my media role with Channel 7 take up a lot of my time."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Essendon Football Club for their support and in particular Kevin Sheedy and Peter Jackson,"Salmon said. "I would also like to thank my teammates, I had a fantastic time with them last season. I would also like to thank the supporters of the Essendon Football Club for the way they embraced me. My career has come full circle and I really feel comfortable with this decision - it is a nice way to finish."

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said the match committee had only planned for Salmon to return for one season but were forced to think long and hard about asking him to play again after his successful return. "We fully appreciate the situation Paul is in away from football and it is he who has to decide what comes first," Sheedy said.

"As I have said a number of times, we wouldn't have made the finals' without him so as far as I am concerned his comeback was very successful. Our young ruckman in David Hille, Simon O'Keefe and Aaron Henneman have also learned a hell of a lot from him. Paul Salmon will always be a great Essendon person and I thank him for last season and wish him well for the future."

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said the club was delighted with Paul Salmon's comeback. "He made a very positive contribution to the club. And he has now set the record straight, by retiring as the Essendon champion he will always be remembered as," Jackson said.

Simon Matthews
 

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Blame Sheedy. He stuffed around and couldnt make up his mind over Barnaby, and didnt make any offers for Dean [Brogan]. We had plenty on offer, but he didnt take the initiative and consider taking a green ruckman and building him into something better.

Of course, I'm not saying that I wanted this to happen. Far from it. I'm just surprised that he didnt look into our ruckmen supplies properly.

And now he's gone to Perth in search of a ruckman. What - - is he thinking that he's going to be able to convince Gardiner to nominate for the draft, even when he's contracted and has no intention of going anywhere!? Bah, humbug. Sooner or later he's going to learn that you cant have everything you wish for.
 
Sheedy had made his mind up over French and Brogan. He stated he didn't want to trade for a ruckman, and was happy with Hille and Henneman.
Why would Essendon want Brogan? French I can understand, but what would be the point in trading for a ruckman that needed development? Sheedy has Hille and O'Keefe, if they wanted another young ruckman to develop, i'm sure they could draft someone. Another young up and coming ruckman isn't what Essendon needs. They already have two of them.
 

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