Went to the Echuca vs. Mooroopna game yesterday.Karl, of course is playing with Mooroopna in the GVFL.
Lovely guy,did not have a bad word to say about the CFC(loves Murph's progress),Karl was probably best afield,but broke his sternum during the last qtr.purchased a lemon solo for the drive home to the GV Hospital,will be at the Kangas game Friday.
Just a bit of info in case anyone care's about ex plavers,and please ,no predictable negative stuff.

Did he say whether he was considering a comeback at some stage in the future?

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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.

Was hoping like hell that Karl would make it.
Unfortunately, he never did stop his bad ways and was delisted because of this.

Both he and Laurie could have made huge names for themselves in the AFL.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Made a point of saying how happy he was "to be back in the bush and enjoying footy with his mates".

That's good to hear he's back in what he feels is "his element". Hope he's truly learnt some long-term lessons from the mistakes he made while with Carlton, and that will stand him in good stead for some time to come.

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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.

Agree PJ,Karl did it easily in what was ,typically,a very ,very physical country match.
Spoke to me as a very relaxed contented young man.

I for one am happy that he is happy.

Elite sport isn't for everyone who has the talent.

Can you imagine being between 17 and 21 on an AFL list? Once you make it to the seniors, the things that go with it are any young bloke's ultimate dream. You would have girls hanging off you regardless of looks - almost as good as being a rock star. You'd be popular - guys would want to befriend you as well as women. You'd be given drink cards and free drinks wherever you went. You'd be able to mix with other sports stars who might be your heroes. If you were interested in drugs, you wouldn't have any difficulties getting them and the crims who supply them would want to be your friend as well.

In a sense, the remarkable thing is that there are kids who have the commitment to turn their backs on the advantages that the fame brings. To make it, you can't get sidetracked by any of those temptations. And to maintain your success, you have to live a disciplined life for a decade or more. By the time you retire, those benefits would only be available to a much lesser degree.

You look at blokes like Buckley and Bradley, and you have to be impressed by their ability to focus on their footy.

I wouldn't be too quick to criticise any young bloke who can't show the dedication required. Just because you have potential and talent doesn't mean that you have to live that life.

But from a Carlton supporter's point of view, it is sad that Karl and LA weren't in the Bradley/Buckley mould.

I think this is an important issue with some country kids. Many of us remember Stephen Oliver the "Coleman of the Bush" who came with huge wraps and really just wanted to go home and play with his mates, even if he was a cut or fifty above the rest in ability. In the end just because someone is good enough to play AFL doesn't mean they necessarily should or even want to, and it doesn't mean they are a wasted talent if they choose to pursue an alternative path. I wonder if some of these kids go into the AFL system because others expect them to, not because they absolutely want it from themselves.

Karl's no 1 issue was that he was a knockabout larrikin who liked his parties and his wild living, and therefore the rigors and disciplines of top-class footy were not quite right for him.

In a way I marvel at the likes of Kenelly and Rioli who are contemplating giving away their careers early for family or lifestyle reasons, and think of the thousands of kids who would kill to be in their position, but then stop and think, hang on, these blokes are real human beings and at the end of the day all they want is to be happy in their lives. God bless 'em for making a decision based on what truly makes them happy, rather than what everyone else tells them to do.

I know Karl's decision was ultimately made up for him, but it surprises me not the least to find out he's a happy chappy just mucking about in the sticks.

DOA - it's obvious Andrew has a pretty strong support network behind him. You don't come across as a pushy "stage-dad" - just someone who wants to see his kid happy - and I hope he is.

Good points Ponkstar,I am aware of issues relating to Koorie kids and the draft.
Same principals/concepts must,apply to all draftees.

Look we ask our kids to map out a career aged 15 or 16 whether its Maths / science related or humanities etc.(Josh Kaplan) (oh and myself)... and the same with sports.. kids doing gym or swimming... or footy.. or chosing between footy and cricket blah blah... theyre pretty young to choose their lives at those ages...

The most important thing for clubs is to take the responsible approach and provide the right environment and infrustructure for kids whether they be aboriginal .. from the country or a kid from North Carlton.

Karl and Laurie never stood a chance when it all boiled right down.
The PACE program was gone.
A lack of strong leaders around the club.,
And a club imploding into a phase of self survival meant kids like Laurie and Karl were always going to be pushing shit uphill to make it.
They were not your stock standard kids to start of with.

Good luck to them both and every other kid drafted by the club.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Gosh darn golly Synners, you went and crossed the line.

Laurie was at Adelaide before he was at Carlton. Does all of the above apply to the Adelaide football club as well?

Thanks for that update DOA.

From a purely selfish view point I wish Karl could have got his head right in terms of AFL and the required discipline. The fact he turned down the Dogs shows his head or his heart were never going to be in it. From Karl's view point, if he's happy and enjoyinmg himself, then good for him. It could have been easy for him to go down the path of "what could have been" etc.

Just like I'm doing now.

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I hope Karl finds his path in life. Sometimes it does take time.

He'll always be able to say he wore the Navy Blue. I'd kill for that.


Any hidden gems up the bush DOA? Anyone we could hide away until pick 955?

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Yes, so he was.......


So would that mean we would have known his history and still drafted him in hope rather than with a REAL plan (i keep harping on plans dont i?) to turn him around ?????

(Why are answers always so obvious to people...????)

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks for that DOA,..always happy to hear what (ex) players are up to...
I think a few have missed the point also




This says a lot...for a guy whose career involved discipline(he wasn't used to), getting into trouble, having to play a season out at the Bullies knowng he would be cut at season's end...I think this shows a lot.

A number of "stars" who only know success, premiership medallions and being set up financially for life could learn from this...

If the fit just isn't there, well that's it. Good on Karl, it was worth both he and CFC taking the chance...can't begrudge either party

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

billc3,

I wonder what impact having Karl at the club did for a sponsers and members perspective.

you seemed pretty happy we drafted him at the time synners.

as for Karl I am also pleased to hear he seems happy.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I'm happy to hear that Karl is doing well.

League footy isn't for everyone, and Carlton did pretty much pick him from obscurity. He didn't come through the TAC U18's like most young draftees do.

I think Synbad is right in that perhaps the club didn't have the adequate programs in place to assist him in the transition from the country league to the AFL.

But DOA thanks for the update and I'm glad to hear he's still following Carlton's progress and getting excited about Murph (as we all are)

He had history before he went to Adelaide as well. Rather than typing ????? my point is that Laurie was a lost cause. You could have the best plans, leaders and programs in place and in the end he was a sandwich short of a picnic. Waste of a draft pick.