The hard decisions.

[thecotch]

Obviously the club faces 2 really tough decisions this year. Polak and Coghlan.

All indications are polak is, sadly, finished as and AFL player. His long term health is obviously paramount. Rookie listing him would be a bad idea IMO. We have had a lot of success with the rookie list in recent times and putting polly on the list would take the spot of another potential good player. I know it sounds harsh but footy is a ruthless unforgiving business and clubs who don't take the tough decisions flounder.

As for cogs, well geez, I saw him play on sunday for the burgers and I have to say i didn't take any comfort in what i saw. Even at VFL level the game has passed him by. He's just missed too much footy and sadly we will never see him fullfil his potential. Another tough one to be made here.
Browny is another one in this category although he's done ok at times this year purely because of his freakish ability.


Am I being too harsh?

 

[hudson22]

I'd say you are yes. If there is a chance Polak can come back shouldn't that door be left open to him? I was thinking about this yesterday and it reminded me of Lance Armstrong being dumped by his old Tour team (was it cofidis) upon being diagnosed with cancer - bet they regretted that decision. Cant he be left on the long term injury list or something similar.

 

[007Tigers]

polak might be gone its hard to say coz we all dont know his condition and whats goin on with him ect...

as for cogs, it was be a waste of time no get rid of him now, after having him on the list for so long just to let him go will be pointless, id like to wait until next year for him coz after a preseason if he pulls up well i think he should do pretty well next year, gotta remember hes only 25, still has 8 years of footy left in him, even if it takes 2 or 3 years for him to get back to his best would still be worth it

 

[banzai]

as for cogs, it was be a waste of time no get rid of him now, after having him on the list for so long just to let him go will be pointless, id like to wait until next year for him coz after a preseason if he pulls up well i think he should do pretty well next year, gotta remember hes only 25, still has 8 years of footy left in him, even if it takes 2 or 3 years for him to get back to his best would still be worth it

8 years of footy??? Not everyone is Richo and can play well into their 30's. He would probably only have 3-4 years left and with the game speeding up all the time he is in big trouble.

 

[True Thylacine]

1. Would the Club have gone to the expense of Germany if it intended cutting Coughlan? I doubt it.
2. Polak is at 85% 6 or so weeks after being hit by a ****ing tram!!!!!! An acquired brain injury does need some time to mend, its not a bloody hamstring. I think 85% is brilliant and far more than I expected at this stage. Far too early to speculate one way or another and I would hate to take the chance of playing footy again away from him. Surely we can cut him that much slack.

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

Those aren't hard decisions. The club just needs to handle both those blokes with class and those 2 issues will take care of themselves. If we have both those players on the list next year it will only strengthen our club and club culture.

The hard decision is who we are going to give to Brisbane with our first 2 picks to get Johnathon Brown?

Hughes or Polo would be likely suspects. Hopefully we can give them picks 8 and 24 and Hyde.

 

[Bojangles17]

1. Would the Club have gone to the expense of Germany if it intended cutting Coughlan? I doubt it.
2. Polak is at 85% 6 or so weeks after being hit by a ****ing tram!!!!!! An acquired brain injury does need some time to mend, its not a bloody hamstring. I think 85% is brilliant and far more than I expected at this stage. Far too early to speculate one way or another and I would hate to take the chance of playing footy again away from him. Surely we can cut him that much slack.

I understood TT that it was Cogs personal expense, was interested to note that TW mentioned he would sit down with Cogs and sicuss if he's keen to go on...suprised me ...

I agree with Polak that even if he is a 10% chance of returning that the club would at least rookie him...pretty sure league would give dispensation for that
We dont know what the long term prognosis is though...Dr may have different version to what we hope, dunno

 

[True Thylacine]

I understood TT that it was Cogs personal expense, was interested to note that TW mentioned he would sit down with Cogs and sicuss if he's keen to go on...suprised me ...

I agree with Polak that even if he is a 10% chance of returning that the club would at least rookie him...pretty sure league would give dispensation for that
We dont know what the long term prognosis is though...Dr may have different version to what we hope, dunno

Just assumed the club paid for Cogs Bo....Rule 1 never assume! That changes things a lot really so have to wait and see. Polak has to be retained in some capacity otherwise it would be soul destroying fro the young man.

 

[Tigertom]

Decision is easy

This is supposedly a professional club

Coggs stays

Polak goes

 

[Bojangles17]

Decision is easy

This is supposedly a professional club

Coggs stays

Polak goes

Im not convinced that coggs will be able to recapture enough form to warrant his place...I reckon the VFL finals maybe a little test for him...FFS last itme COGS was playing reg footy, petrol was under a dollar and mortage rates were 7%

 

[JSFish]

Just on the Polak thing for a second...surely it's bigger than football. If delisting him is going to upset or hinder his progress in any way at all, don't do it. Only delist him this year if there is absolutely no chance of him ever playing again, and if it won't affect his recovery at all. And for mine, it'd be tough for both these two things to be the case. Having said that I'm not a doctor.

Personally I feel if we can get extenuating circumstances and rookie him or whatever, go for that. If not, leave him on the list for now.

 

[telsor]

Keep them both.

Cogs is finally getting fit...Give him a full pre-season/year to find out what he's got left.

Polak..Under the circumstances you can't cut a player like that ( not to mention I think he's got another year on his contract ). If we can shift him to the rookie list for a year, that'd be even better.