"I say to those three or four or five players that are looking at contracts: are they going to play with Carlton and what are they asking for? Please think of the club and work out a compromise where you can give something back to the club that has given you a lot in the last four, five, six, seven years."

It was a great speech.

I hope it did not fall on deaf ears.

CARLTON legend John Nicholls last night pleaded with his side's out-of-contract players to think of the club and what they could do for it rather than what it could do for them.

I wonder, at this point in time, how the playing group in general reacts to comments like that from club greats? WOuld they just dismiss it as some old man interfering only to acknowledge his sentiments 5, 10 years later. Or would they actually take notice and alter their thinking?

The way Big Nick spoke was how it used to and still should be at a football club.

But unfortunatly it isn't anymore.

Loyalty isn't a oneway street. Fans and clubs can turn on a player in a heartbeat. Then wonder why they leave. Players will hold out for better deals and then wonder wny they get traded.

There needs to be a meeting in the middle between players, club and fans. All we are doing is tearing ourselves to pieces for no reason.

Its a different world to what Big Nick lived in and players dont have the choices they had back then

Great speech by Big Nick. He hit right at the heart of the current on-field problem.



I think given the money they now earn, they have the choice whether to have alternative employment or not, which players of Nick's era did not have. Lets get real here, in general terms today's players are much better looked after, and because of this have a lot more choices than were available 40 years ago.

Yes, the players back then had no access to knee reconstructions, hyperbaric chambers, dieticians, exercise physiologists, years of medical and scientific advances, time off when not training to play with their x-boxes and brand new PSPs, fast cars. Balance that with having to work a 9-5 job (even if it wasn't every day of the week) and training, and playing.

We should name one of the awards on B&F night after the Flying Doormat.

I love the way you blokes try put a Bullsh@*#T spin onto everything . Of course the players are looked after and treated better than they were in Big nicks day and so are you at work the worlds changed. When I was referring to choices I meant that they dont get to choose who they play for if they want to play footy, they are plucked out of their home town and told you go play there and if you dont like it you dont play. Sure we would all love the players to put in for the club but the harsh reality for the players is that you are only as good as your last few games and clubs will get rid of you without batting an eyelid . So I dont blame the players for holding out for what they can get and I dont blame the club for getting rid of them if they think they are not worth it. Big nick knows that so to basically come out and say to the players we dont want to be held to ransom is a bit rich. The club needs you guys so give us a break we cant afford what your asking . Get real I,m certain the club is already looking for the next Bannister or Clarke to trade these blokes for