Ken Sheldon on Open Mike

[saintbrat]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/m ... d85a428159

Sheldon admitted it was a challenge dealing with Lockett as a player because he was different from the rest, but said allowing the star forward to indulge in his passion for greyhounds was a key part of it all.

“We’d let him shoot up to Orange and places like that,” he said.

“(But) when you play elite football and you are sitting in the car for nine or 10 hours, eating dim sims, it can be a bit hard.

“I used to allow that, but the media would beat it up that he wasn’t at training. But we were working together behind the scenes.”

Sheldon, a three-time Carlton premiership player, also spoke about his years with the Blues, including being on the receiving end of Wayne Harmes’ famous tap in the dying moments of the 1979 grand final.

KEN SHELDON’S OPEN MIKE WILL AIR ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:30PM

[BigMart]

Those sort of special allowances didn't occur in Sydney and as amazing as it sounds... The reason why he never realised his full potential for prolonged periods

Tail wagged the dog due to weak leadership

Lockett was not in charge, but was allowed to feel as though he was the king... Supporters worshipped him more than the team... As did the club

If he had discipline in his prime... God knows what he might have achieved

[Dr Spaceman]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he would've walked away.

We'll never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stevie]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he would've walked away.

We'll never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's right Doc


Sent from Plugger's Dim Sim filled Holden

[Moods]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he would've walked away.

We'll never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree Doc.

It's a fine line. Brilliant players in ALL sports are treated differently. You reckon MIchael Jordan was treated the same way as the 12th bloke on the Bull's roster? Coaching is as much about man management as it is about knowing the technical side of the game.

I'm not a big Mick Malthouse fan, but apparently this was his specialty. It's about mutual respect going both ways, ie you give the stars a couple of extra allowances here and there and they perform for you as a result, and if the 25th bloke on the list doesn't like it - stiff s***.

[Sainternist]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he would've walked away.

I would assume the latter.

Nevertheless, it was this type of thing which helped foster the bad culture that riddled our club for about thirty years.

That said, I liked Ken Sheldon in his time at St.Kilda. He was a handy veteran to have on the field. It was quite courageous of him to put his hand up for the coaching gig after Doc. He took us to the finals for the first time in almost two decades. I'll always be thankful for his contribution to St.Kilda FC. Probably the best thing for us to come out of Carlton.

[bigred]

I dunno...

Wow Jones had a pretty good Mo.

[The Fireman]

Saw the shorts......I have spoken to Bomba about the Plugger leaving the club thing...he says on open mike exactly what he said to me.

[mullet]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he would've walked away.

We'll never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's right Doc


Sent from Plugger's Dim Sim filled Holden

Ah I laughed so hard at this. Thanks for the laugh

[Scollop]

Special treatment is one thing, but allowing a sportsman to miss training and to be putting strains on his body with the excessive driving etc. is not going to benefit the player or the club in the long term. I disagree that if the club was more professional that he would've left. He probably would have stayed and he wouldn't have been so spoilt. We spoilt him so much that he started forgetting why he was so well paid.

Was he going to throw away his career and stop earning a squillion because the club demanded discipline and professionalism? What a load of crap. I reckon Plugger understands that the move to Sydney is what helped him become a legend. The professionalism that they demanded helped prolong his career and ultimately helped him to become the highest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history.

[The Fireman]

Special treatment is one thing, but allowing a sportsman to miss training and to be putting strains on his body with the excessive driving etc. is not going to benefit the player or the club in the long term. I disagree that if the club was more professional that he would've left. He probably would have stayed and he wouldn't have been so spoilt. We spoilt him so much that he started forgetting why he was so well paid.

Was he going to throw away his career and stop earning a squillion because the club demanded discipline and professionalism? What a load of crap. I reckon Plugger understands that the move to Sydney is what helped him become a legend. The professionalism that they demanded helped prolong his career and ultimately helped him to become the highest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history.

Plugger wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed...prone to violent outbursts. would have been incredibly hard in the early days to contain him..as he matured and saw the big money and what he had to do get it he reformed.

[Scollop]

I realise the club just didn't want to risk upsetting him and I wouldn't be blaming Tony. I blame the club. The episode of Open Mike with Russell Greene helped me remember how bad the Saints culture was in the 80's and Plugger was recruited in 1983.

We were a rabble of a club at the time and needed to retain our superstars to attract the fans. They weren't paying to come and watch us win were they? Maybe if club bosses along with his captains and his coaches gave him tough love and discipline from the start he would've respected that and just towed the line.

[BigMart]

That's what the art of leadership is???

Not to bow down, or suck up to stars... Acknowledge they are important but they must adhere to standards like everyone else

It's about teaching.

If he came through Hawtjorn .... Holy hell! He'd have kicked well over 2000 and they'd have won another flag or 2.

[Darth Vader]

That's what the art of leadership is???

Not to bow down, or suck up to stars... Acknowledge they are important but they must adhere to standards like everyone else

It's about teaching.

If he came through Hawtjorn .... Holy hell! He'd have kicked well over 2000 and they'd have won another flag or 2.

Or been like Gary Ablett and dumped for not training properly.

[Devilhead]

After Yabby left (1976) the club pretty much went into free fall - professionalism and respect went out the window

Yabby went to Hawks in 1981 and look what happened there

Did other clubs get more professional or did we just have a bunch of piss heads playing for the club and running the club??

I know we came under severe financial pressure in 79 - what was the cause of this?

[The Fireman]

After Yabby left (1976) the club pretty much went into free fall - professionalism and respect went out the window

Yabby went to Hawks in 1981 and look what happened there

Did other clubs get more professional or did we just have a bunch of piss heads playing for the club and running the club??

I know we came under severe financial pressure in 79 - what was the cause of this?

I shook the SOS tin.

[Devilhead]

Completely random but I found this while trying to look up some Saints history - good reading from 1978

Article (at top of page) about Robbie Muir getting 8 weeks at the tribunal (in a VFL reserve game) and another article re: the Essendon club president apologising for calling us "animals" after the 78 bloodbath

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid= ... 8296&hl=en

[Trev from the Bush]

Completely random but I found this while trying to look up some Saints history - good reading from 1978

Article (at top of page) about Robbie Muir getting 8 weeks at the tribunal (in a VFL reserve game) and another article re: the Essendon club president apologising for calling us "animals" after the 78 bloodbath

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid= ... 8296&hl=en

Great find.

If I recall this was the game where Merv Neagle's parents also had plenty to say. Big Carl - and I am really testing the memory - went walkabout to his bush shack and the Saints ran completely off the rails. We finished the season like a steam train and missed the finals by half a game after flogging Carlton at Moorabbin. Best on ground in that game? None other than Robbie Muir! He buried the Blues early with his ferocious tackling. It was the game where Dennis Collins got his smart mouth shut by Robbie - who copped ANOTHER 4 weeks!

Reading the tribunal report shows how far society has come in the 38 years since - no way would the player advocate get away with the drudge he is quoted as saying.

1978 - we could have won the flag had it not been the form slump that followed the infamous Essendon match. Only StKilda!

[Dr Spaceman]

That's what the art of leadership is???

Not to bow down, or suck up to stars... Acknowledge they are important but they must adhere to standards like everyone else

It's about teaching.

If he came through Hawtjorn .... Holy hell! He'd have kicked well over 2000 and they'd have won another flag or 2.

Or been like Gary Ablett and dumped for not training properly.

Exactly.

The reality is those personality quirks that guys like Plugger and Ablett had no doubt contributed to how they performed.

Laying down the law may have seen them leave or lead to them being traded. Or they may have changed their behaviour and knuckled down, but in doing so lost that little edge that made them freaks.

Plugger may well have kicked 2,000 at Hawthorn. But he may have only kicked 1,000 or 500. We simply will never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BigMart]

What

Plugger being undisciplined and overweight was a positive

Come on
If he understood that work rate was the only way he could ever reach his potential .... If he was taught that by a great mentor
He would have achieved the ultimate success, because with that belief comes an inner calm and a performance level that doesn't lead to frustration.

There's also a bit of a reason Plugger and Gary weren't involved in any team success... The teams revolved around them.

Who did Hawthorn revolve around?

[Dr Spaceman]

Most people don't know with certainty how theoretical situations would play out.

You do.

Congratulations.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[saintbrat]

Barry Breen ‏@barry_breen Sydney, New South Wales
Open Mike delivers again. Kenny Sheldon magnificent and he is a Saint.

[jonesy]

Confirms his football iq saying locketts the best he's seen.

[1966]

What

Plugger being undisciplined and overweight was a positive

Come on
If he understood that work rate was the only way he could ever reach his potential .... If he was taught that by a great mentor
He would have achieved the ultimate success, because with that belief comes an inner calm and a performance level that doesn't lead to frustration.

There's also a bit of a reason Plugger and Gary weren't involved in any team success... The teams revolved around them.

Who did Hawthorn revolve around?

Plugger was coached and mentored by Darrel Baldock. Hard to find a better mentor anywhere.

[Trev from the Bush]

Thought Kenny was excellent, terrific sensitive interviewing from Mike.

Jonesy, get back to the Essendope thread where your fabulous insights will be more greatly appreciated.