Should players need to be told that staying out on an all night bender will hinder their performance? Should they need a curfew? I don’t go out on the piss on a Sunday night for many reasons, one being that I’ll know I’ll be rat shit all week.

Sorry for my ignorance but have any of our players broken the law or team rules?????

Should players need to be told that staying out on an all night bender will hinder their performance? Should they need a curfew? I don’t go out on the piss on a Sunday night for many reasons, one being that I’ll know I’ll be rat shit all week.

Spot on NBH, that is my whole point. We shouldn't need a curfew. The players should take ownership and want to get the best out of themselves.

There seems to be a lot of people thinking this is acceptable. If so, I don't think you quite understand just how excessive drinking affects people at this level of fitness. I'm no expert on it, but my old man is and when I was playing footy at a high level he drilled it into me pretty well. Muscles are made up of 70% water. When you binge drink, you get extremely dehydrated. Pretty obvious I know, but thats pretty much saying alcohol drains your muscles, and it takes a long time for them to recover. Ever woken up after a big night with sore legs? Cramps in the calfs? It's pretty obvious the toll alcohol has on the body.

When I was at my peak fitness I remember how much a big night would affect me. It seemed to put my training back 2 weeks. It would take weeks just get back to where I was, and thats without improving. It didn't take long to realise I couldn't have big nights out and be the best I could be. It seems to me that in under 18s we had more commitment than a lot of professional AFL footballers.

If your rat sh&t all week then you got problems pal.

So i take it that no rules or laws where broken.
I still can't work out how it affected there performance if they went out AFTER they played???

Moving on from that wonderful afterschool special...

They may not need a firm curfew, but they need guidelines dictated to them by someone, and if the leadership group aren't doing it then the club needs to put their foot down.

It's one thing for one of our players, particuarly one of our very best, to be out on the piss at all hours, but it's a completely different issue when the president is doing the same.

Sticks should be asked to step down immeadiately.

Just proves he will never be and never was presidential material.

Thats if its true.

Remember it was a night game. The players would not have got back to the hotel til aound midnight. Sticks says ok leadership group lets go have a beer and a chat about the leadership lacking on the field. They head back to their rooms after 2. Chinese whispers adds an hour.

COuld be a number of things. Sticks gets back to the hotel at midnight and has a beer in the bar with Bryces dad (old mate of sticks) who was in town for his sons 50th. Leadership group decide to have a beer after the game to discuss the game which is always good fun after a game and its 8 days until the next game. They two groups merge at the bar.

You called it a beat up last night. Why the turn around?

Who approved Sticks coming in as Prez after Pratt...I doubt he will remain after the next vote though....

I havent heard much more than earlier, will know more Monday Tuesday.....here is what i can update:

a/ MC met today on Lygon st, for an extended period. Highly unusual for this to occur (or so I am told)
b/No hard calls at selection table for our boozy leaders, with Cloke the only ommision and that would appear to be form based only
c/ ratten has put ALL players, coaches on notice that if there is a loss this weekend, players futures at the club are on the line
d/ There have been some 'rules' drafted, that the players have been made aware of, not sure of wording etc but will try and find out more. I doubt the player rules will be made public, but will tell you what i can next week.


My read on this situation is that Ratten has been pretty soft, the fact that heads will roll only if we LOSE this weekend is a joke in itself. That is Carlton circa late 1990s. Chances are we'll win against a greatly understrength collingwood and this will get swept aside. this was a great opportunity to make a statement, and he hasn't done that. A loss whilst devastating in the context of our season, MAY set us up for longer term success by exposing some of the so called leaders (and cancers) in our team. Once again, excluding Judd and Carrazzo.

Within the last 24 hours the media has heard the same rumblings we have, my contact claims two media reps have contacted him about the situation, and despite knowing some details, has played a straight bat, so unlikely to go further unless it can be substantiated elsewhere.


Regarding Drinking after the Freo game, the story about Sticks and 3 players is FACT, the one about Fev drinking in his room, whilst am confident it is true, cannot be substantiated.