Open both eyes!

[ctqs]

The bloke wasn't right to play. He, through his manager, said the terms of his return to the game were too tough, and he initially baulked. If that didn't set alarm bells ringing in the last week or so, then, sorry, but you are plain dumb.
He was still associating with characters who, at best, were regarded as not in his best interests. That was another reason for concern.
Then there was his stupid act of shaving/cutting his hair so a sample couldn't be taken. That was ridiculous at best, and had the potential to compromise the testing regime at worst.
He may not have liked it, but tough. He was not in a position to negotiate the terms of his return. He just didn't get it. Time passed, the clock kept ticking, but he was showing little sign of recovery or even contrition. He should have been grateful and gracious about the opportunity to prove himself again. His actions - and lack of words - showed he was anything but.
The club made the right call, and I am relieved.
Footy First means just that. No distractions. No bracing yourself for something, or jumping at shadows, or cleaning up messes.
Yeah he could play football once. He may still be able to. But he has to prove himself off the field before he gets the chance to prove himself on it.
You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

[plumtire]

TOP POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodgerfox]

I wonder if we should have done a 'simulated press conference' with him?

[markp]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

[ctqs]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken? Bugger all. They play the percentages big time. We just need a bit of luck with injuries - often the team that wins the flag has the smallest injury list - and a bit more mongrel - because again, the team that often wins the flag has the most mongrel.
IF we're going to take a risk - and I don't think we need to - it has to be calculated. We don't need a bloke who's not right to play FFS!

[Con Gorozidis]

The bloke wasn't right to play. He, through his manager, said the terms of his return to the game were too tough, and he initially baulked. If that didn't set alarm bells ringing in the last week or so, then, sorry, but you are plain dumb.
He was still associating with characters who, at best, were regarded as not in his best interests. That was another reason for concern.
Then there was his stupid act of shaving/cutting his hair so a sample couldn't be taken. That was ridiculous at best, and had the potential to compromise the testing regime at worst.
He may not have liked it, but tough. He was not in a position to negotiate the terms of his return. He just didn't get it. Time passed, the clock kept ticking, but he was showing little sign of recovery or even contrition. He should have been grateful and gracious about the opportunity to prove himself again. His actions - and lack of words - showed he was anything but.
The club made the right call, and I am relieved.
Footy First means just that. No distractions. No bracing yourself for something, or jumping at shadows, or cleaning up messes.
Yeah he could play football once. He may still be able to. But he has to prove himself off the field before he gets the chance to prove himself on it.
You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

rubbish post. you can never be sure of the reliability of a used car. there is always risk. thats why we have lemon laws and sometimes you get a rubbish car is there is nothing you can do about it - send sometime you get a gem. the world is full of risks. It is about risk assessment and then making a judgement on that risk.

some people on here think the risk was worth it - some dont. but i aint black and white and it aint over.

just remember old benny boy when we watch leigh fisher trundling around at casey next year.

my logic is very simple and as follows:

% chance person A will be a good player - 40%
% chance person B will be a good player - 5%

I would select person A.

IMHO BC is person A and Leigh Fisher or some kid we pick at 96 in the draft would be person B.

[sainteronline]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

spot on

[WayneJudson42]

The bloke wasn't right to play. He, through his manager, said the terms of his return to the game were too tough, and he initially baulked. If that didn't set alarm bells ringing in the last week or so, then, sorry, but you are plain dumb.
He was still associating with characters who, at best, were regarded as not in his best interests. That was another reason for concern.
Then there was his stupid act of shaving/cutting his hair so a sample couldn't be taken. That was ridiculous at best, and had the potential to compromise the testing regime at worst.
He may not have liked it, but tough. He was not in a position to negotiate the terms of his return. He just didn't get it. Time passed, the clock kept ticking, but he was showing little sign of recovery or even contrition. He should have been grateful and gracious about the opportunity to prove himself again. His actions - and lack of words - showed he was anything but.
The club made the right call, and I am relieved.
Footy First means just that. No distractions. No bracing yourself for something, or jumping at shadows, or cleaning up messes.
Yeah he could play football once. He may still be able to. But he has to prove himself off the field before he gets the chance to prove himself on it.
You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

rubbish post. you can never be sure of the reliability of a used car. there is always risk. thats why we have lemon laws and sometimes you get a rubbish car is there is nothing you can do about it - send sometime you get a gem. the world is full of risks. It is about risk assessment and then making a judgement on that risk.

some people on here think the risk was worth it - some dont. but i aint black and white and it aint over.

just remember old benny boy when we watch leigh fisher trundling around at casey next year.

So it's therefore reasonable to say that the club ran the proverbial RACV 500 point pre-purchase inspection... but then decided they'd prefer a new model instead?

Checkmate

[Saints43]

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken?

Hawthorn. Stuart Dew.

[sainteronline]

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken?

Hawthorn. Stuart Dew. Last year.

maybe guerra to ?

[savatage]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken?

Stewart Dew, Brent Guerra...Lance Franklin was a supposed risk too! Need we go on?

[WayneJudson42]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken?

Stewart Dew, Brent Guerra...Lance Franklin was a supposed risk too! Need we go on?

WTF? Dew... I agree. Guerra was drafted to fil a role (but never had the same issues as BC)... Franklin was a 1st rounder FFS...

Need we go on?

[stinger]

The bloke wasn't right to play. He, through his manager, said the terms of his return to the game were too tough, and he initially baulked. If that didn't set alarm bells ringing in the last week or so, then, sorry, but you are plain dumb.
He was still associating with characters who, at best, were regarded as not in his best interests. That was another reason for concern.
Then there was his stupid act of shaving/cutting his hair so a sample couldn't be taken. That was ridiculous at best, and had the potential to compromise the testing regime at worst.
He may not have liked it, but tough. He was not in a position to negotiate the terms of his return. He just didn't get it. Time passed, the clock kept ticking, but he was showing little sign of recovery or even contrition. He should have been grateful and gracious about the opportunity to prove himself again. His actions - and lack of words - showed he was anything but.
The club made the right call, and I am relieved.
Footy First means just that. No distractions. No bracing yourself for something, or jumping at shadows, or cleaning up messes.
Yeah he could play football once. He may still be able to. But he has to prove himself off the field before he gets the chance to prove himself on it.
You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

sensible post......as usual....

[Legendary]

Great post ctqs.

Spot on.

[savatage]

You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

Lots of people are talking about the need to take a gamble to bridge the gap. WTF? What gambles have any of the past recent premiership teams taken?

Stewart Dew, Brent Guerra...Lance Franklin was a supposed risk too! Need we go on?

WTF? Dew... I agree. Guerra was drafted to fil a role (but never had the same issues as BC)... Franklin was a 1st rounder FFS...

Need we go on?

The question was about risks - Lance Franklin had the reputation as being a RISK. Get it?

[Legendary]

Drafting Lance Franklin was not a risk.

Not in the context of Ben Cousins.

Not when you are on the bottom of the ladder and needing young players like Hawthorn were.

How was it a risk in any sense?


Dew was the only risk Hawthorn took and it paid off. But can anyone seriously say it was comparable to Cousins and the present situation?

[savatage]

Drafting Lance Franklin was not a risk.

Well it obviously was a risk if you consider that 4 poorer performing players were accepted above him in his draft year. I'm not comparing Lance Franklin as a Ben Cousins risk - but if you stay on topic, the question was which risk decisions have bought a football club closer to a flag...in Hawthorn's case they took several risks. That is my point - not comparing Ben Cousins to Lance Franklin.

[markp]

Dew was the only risk Hawthorn took and it paid off. But can anyone seriously say it was comparable to Cousins and the present situation?

Tell me again what the big risk was?

If he farks up... he's gone.

Methinks this was a political decision to keep the sponsors happy.

[Legendary]

And markp, were you prepared to contribute $1.5m out of your own pocket to replace Jeld-Wen's sponsorship next year?

Or would you like to see the club insolvent and go under?


I understand your point savatage ... what I'm saying is that Franklin was NOT a risk at all ... Hawthorn took some risks to win a flag, yes. But Franklin was not one of them IMO. About as much risk as Melbourne drafting Jack Watts on Saturday to play in their next premiership.

[markp]

And markp, were you prepared to contribute $1.5m out of your own pocket to replace Jeld-Wen's sponsorship next year?

Or would you like to see the club insolvent and go under?

No.

Yes.

[kaos theory]

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

A rare old porsche is not a human being that can hide things from you. You can inspect the porsche and have a pretty good idea of what work needs to be done, and at what cost to get it right.

You will not face a significant risk that your rare old porsche will sneak out of your garage at night on its own and cause massive distruction, which you will be forced to pay, and pay so much that it completely distupts your family & plans for the future, and your steady flow of income...

[saintbrat]

I wonder if we should have done a 'simulated press conference' with him?

it would have been a good idea for BEN to do an interview with more than 10 questions- pre worded and with a group- maybe just 3 or 4 giving him questions-- he hasn't- unless I'm mistaken and missed it- DONE any form of media conferance where he did more than read from prescribed--

[markp]

If it was a rare old Porsche that had been in storage and was going for a song I would.

All the money I've made through investments has been when I've said "F*** it, no one else can see what a bargain this is..."

When I bought shares that everyone said would do well, they sank.

We needed to take a gamble to try and bridge the gap between us and the top 2....

A rare old porsche is not a human being that can hide things from you. You can inspect the porsche and have a pretty good idea of what work needs to be done, and at what cost to get it right.

You will not face a significant risk that your rare old porsche will sneak out of your garage at night on its own and cause massive distruction, which you will be forced to pay, and pay so much that it completely distupts your family & plans for the future, and your steady flow of income...

Firstly, I didn't initiate the car analogy....

Secondly, what if you couldn't fully inspect the Porsche but it was very very cheap?

Thirdly, if he slipped up once he'd be gone....

Fourthly, what do the sponsors get to decide next?.... Our game-plan? Match-ups? Board members? CEO?....

[ace]

[quote="ctqs"] You wouldn't buy a second-hand car, no matter how nice it once was or how good it looked, if you weren't sure as to its reliability, would you?[/quote]


I would certainly buy a maybe unreliable second hand Ferrari than buy a pick 83 put-put bike.
Pick 63 buys a Phil Raymond, pick 71 buys a Justin Sweeney, pick 83 buys a list clogger.
Ben may be an unreliable Ferrari but at least he is a Ferrari with a Ferrari engine, pick 83 list clogger hasn't even got an engine - unreliabiltiy guaranteed.

[ace]

Now that Brisbane think they can wait and take Cousins in the pre-season draft, we can fool everyone and take him with pick 83.

Imagine the shock on Voss face.

He who dares wins.