Very disappointed that this 'culture' is still an issue. Got no problem with the boys having a life and letting their hair down, to a point. Guess they don't hurt as much as us and our underperformance doesn't bother them too much.

Maybe our captain's influence and leadership isn't all that successful then?

_________________
We are on our way back...

He's improved the players' posture, that's something

So can anyone give the rundown of what actually happened (or didn't)?

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Tomorrow is today in 5mins and yesterday in lots more minutes.

Couldn't care less about what the boys get up to off the field, we're all guilty of the weekend shenanigans but..........

To be out on the piss two weekends in a row when you've had a stinker, carrying an injury and haven't been able to train for some time is just POOR FORM.

Fevs had it tough of late and is copping with a fair bit but still no excuse for some of his on and off field antics in particular one which just proves how immature he is and will never grow up.

What really pisses me off is some of the guys that let the club down have been part of the lowest of lows any club could sink to. You'd think that these boys in particular are starved of any success and it being within arms reach would do everything it takes to experience it for a first time...... Puzzles me!

Todays news is tomorrows fish and chip paper?

(if you live in the 1940s)

_________________
Cheap Bike Insurance
Selling Baseball Cards

Never thought I'd say this but the BF thread is spot on.. the negative culture still pervades our footy club, and it is led by #25.
[edit]

I always suspected that Fev would go off the rails once his marriage crashes. Over the years it has been for all to see that he only showed real quality once he got into a stable relationship with Alex.

His form on and off the field has since been a total reflection of the state of this relationship. The whole Ireland crap happened right after their first split.

I am disappointed that we have a piss poor culture at the club. We have spent so much money on the football department so I would expect this to be manged much better. Clubs who made it to the top have been able to get their players to behave like professionals. One of Richmond's biggest problem for many years has been their party culture. Thats one of the reasons for their constant failure.

If have read Nick S. say in an interview that during the dark years players "gave up" in many ways and did not put 100% in as well as party too much. Well, it seems that some of this has reemerged and it would explain the very inconsistent form.

If we want to get back into the top 4 and have a real crack at the flag this has to change, and if it means Fev has to be made an example off - well so be it.

Let's have a look at Eddie. Since he came to the club he always showed glimpses but was inconsistent and clearly not fit enough. Also clear that he was one of the worst when it came to rocking up to pre-season. [edit] This year he turned the corner and really got himself fit and focussed and changed his lifestyle and see how well he is playing - 4 qrts of it.

It is a real problem that the club is addicted to Fev. We have no other good forwards - maybe except for Waite but then we weaken our defense. So the club is scared to do anything about it as none of our forward KP prospects look too good. It will be very difficult to change this - especially with GC joining soon.

_________________
TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

[edit]

If whats going on with Fev is that bad we should send him off for Rehab. Maybe a health farm or something. If his problem is booze or whatever then a month or two in rehab might just straighten him out. Might impress his wife and she might take him back. Thats if it is as bad as people are saying. Im sure the club would be monitoring him.

It coluld be time to bite the bullet.

Good post Mikkey - I say we make an example of Fev and cut him loose asap. That will hurt to a certain extent, although I still think we'll be a better outfit without him.

He's on a downward spiral and taking others with him. If Stevens has a problem which it seems by looking at him he does, then he needs a month in red as well.

We're not much better than the Eagles if we continue to ignore DH players because of their football ability.

_________________
end of message

I doubt there is anything in the world that can match the feeling of having a beer or two or twenty after playing a game of footy. It's just a wonderfully enjoyable experience, and is ultimately one of the biggest reasons for playing footy.

I'm sure Fev will really enjoy them in the club rooms of the Dandenong FC after the game. Right now, that's where he's heading.

_________________
end of message

Only in your dreams.

What really turns me against Fev right now (and I have not been a Fev basher in the past) is the fact how this incident looks in context with the Freo game.

I was surprised how uninterested Fev looked against Freo. Now the binge drinking happened the week before and I have no doubts the club would have known quickly what happened - especially if the story regarding why Houla was dropped is correct.

So if Fev was given a spray or fine in the days up to the Freo game, his terrible display could be compared to the famous Freo game when he nearly got sacked. I am really worried and disappointed what is going on behind the scenes.

_________________
TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

This is gonna come accross as me sticking up for Fevola.................. But i assure you it is not.

This is a very personal thing for me to say but i'll say it anyway.


Last year, my girlfriend and fiance of 13 years left me. She was verbaly abusive and aggresive and totally broke my heart.

I IMMEDIATLY turned to booze. It was the first thing i went for. It doesn't help when your batteling depression.

I was out every night getting drunk...........sometimes till 6:00am AND THEN i went to work. Hungover as all hell and most of the time breaking into tears in front of workmates and managment.

They could have EASILLY let me go. Sacked me with good reason! But............ they didn't.

Had they of sacked me, who knows where i would have ended up. It could have been dangerous. But, lucky for me, i had the support of my employers, friends, family and loved ones.........and i worked through it.
I saw a "Shrink" (as some would say) once a month and have finally got my life back on track. Still have really tough moments every now and then............ but i'm doing well!

Why am i telling you this?

Cause i honestly believe Fevola is suffering depression too. He is superstar footballer who can play, but that's probably the ONLY TIME he can feel validated about himself. When he's on that field in front of screaming fans.
So, when he's having a bad game, he'll take it to heart - thus why he carries on the way he does.

I could only imagine how heartbroken he would have been after hitting the post. Rejected and insignificant............. he would have lost all self belief.

I used to do that too. I HATED myself.

Depression is a shitty thing. Outside your window can be nothing but sunshine - but all you can see is dark clouds.

The club now must stand by Fevola. More than ever. Don't look to trade him, drop him, sack him.................. but stand by him and let him know that he has friends and more importantly - SUPPORT to help him through this.
Fevola has been a TOTAL DICK in the past. But i very rarely ever hear the club ask themselves Why? - We just make him out to be the bad guy.

Fevola is in serious need of help.

I feel for the guy, i really do.

And yes, at the same time, i'm angry at him for being out till 7:00am because as a professional footballer and leader of our team he should god-damn know better.

But at the same time, i sort feel what he's going through.

I just hope the club try and help him rather than take the easy option.


Anyway - just my $0.02c

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

I don't know if I agree with you totally Ryan, but I do think you've hit part of Fev's character on the head, he uses stupidity as a barrier to the world when he has issues in his life.

_________________
"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I was listening to my local ABC whilst stuck in traffic last night, and there was an interview with a guy who had done a comprehensive study on AFL players. He said the three major factors they face are booze, anxiety and risk taking. He also said in a squad of 40, only 2 (5%) are at the extreme risk, about 1/4 are subject to risk and the rest are generally fine.

Anyway, he started to talk about the 2 who are at the extreme end of the scale and I was thinking he was going to say that clubs need to identify the 5% and eliminate them, but instead he said it was the Club's responsibility to care for them, look after them and provide them with a supportive environment. From what I could gather, that 5% is constant across all clubs all the time. So axing them isn't fixing anything, it's just transferring the problem from individual to individual.

Nice post Ryan.

And it comes back to the point...does a football club have the know-how to deal with extreme personal issues like that?

That's is exactly right!!

It is what I deal with on a daily basis. Cases with people you couldn't imagine.

Some clubs do but most don't and Carlton is in the later and it causes more problems than most realise.