The Age:Carlton legend calls for players to show loyalty

Aimed fairly and squarely at the senior players. Gee, publicly pressured now, I think some might squeal and just leave. Interesting times ahead.

But he needed to say it, the only other person who could have probably gotten up to say it would have been Bruce Doull. We should name one of the awards on B&F night after the Flying Doormat.

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- Igor Stravinsky

It was a great speech.

I hope it did not fall on deaf ears.

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Synbad does.

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?

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Where have I heard that before!

Wondered that myself Camel...and I did hear a whisper that someone was not happy with it (don't know if it was one who the speech was aimed at or not).

The players may not have been happy with it, but the fans certainly were.

Campo wouldn't give a shite what he said.
Its all about himself and not the club

Isnt this similar to what John Elliot said regarding hamill. Put the club before money. Yet Jack was widely critised.

Jack had a different way of expressing himself

Well put Mrs Caz!

At last someone has gone public and told it how it is. Big Nick deserves to share the best clubman award with Kouta.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

I can understand Big Nicks comments asking for the senoir players to stand by the club . But do they have a choice. Its alright asking for the loyalty of the players but has the club given them loyalty. Its a different world to what Big Nick lived in and players dont have the choices they had back then if a player popped up that looked like a decent trade they would be gone in a flash. I often think things like this are better off not being aired in public.

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

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.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

While Brisbane and St. Kilda players are binding together and happy to receive $200k under market value, some at Carlton want dollars not worthy of a contributer in a wooden spoon team. Big Nick got it spot on, a way a successful football club was, still is and always will be.

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.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

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

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I think the fairy tale of players playing for the team they supported as a kid happened just as rarely in the "good old days" as happens now, otherwise Collingwood and Carlton would have had 3-4 senior teams, and the Bulldogs barely a team.

The kids whose dream it is to play senior AFL understand the realities of the game: You go play for the team to which you're drafted, and you give it your all, no matter the team, or you find yourself on the rubbish heap with no future in footy.

The fact remains - the players have been given a lot by the club, and now when we (The Club and the supporters) need them to, they should give some back.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Hey CC that's a fantastic idea as soon as I read it I thought it just seems so appropriate and yet this is the first time I've ever seen anyone mention it.

The Bruce Doull award, humble quite achiever who always gave his all - and always for the club. Yep love this idea.

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The great are great to us only because we are on our knees. Let us arise.
--Robert Collier

Well said Sydney.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06