AFL players playing finals

[sjt]

Adelaide are flirting with the idea of playing key defender
NATHAN BOCK in the SANFL this weekend in a bid to build match
fitness should the Crows advance beyond their AFL semi-final.
BOCK has not turned out for Woodville-West Torrens since 2006,
but is eligible to play for the Eagles in the local league finals
so long as Adelaide remain in the race to the grand final.
Having not played any football since a heel fracture against
Geelong in round 18, BOCK is an outside chance of returning against
Collingwood on Saturday night.
AAP RTV dfb/gab

I thought they had to qualify ????

if u bothered to read this page you would have realised he doesnt have to qualify ...

Yes, you're right Cover King. My apologise.

[stampy]

there is always a big hoohaa about who is available and who isnt, i have a feeling a lot of the afl blokes (if their clubs havent made the finals) arent nearly as keen as the supporters are about playing sanfl finals.thoughts?

[sjt]

there is always a big hoohaa about who is available and who isnt, i have a feeling a lot of the afl blokes (if their clubs havent made the finals) arent nearly as keen as the supporters are about playing sanfl finals.thoughts?

I think Symesy is. But I imagine would rather play for the Crows. I know Stewie Dew puts down the CD GF as was one of his favourite footy moments. Perhaps it depends if they're a "product" of the club or an import. Or how many of the "local" team they know. Brent Guerra was very good when he came back.

[udogs01]

Justin Westhoff in for surgery on his foot, so put a line through him for Central.

Matthew Broadbent should come in for the Eagles though.

Pearce not qualified for Sturt and Thurstans has already ruled himself out for them also.

Thurstans stated on 5AA tonight he will be available for sturt this week if they want him.

[dedja]

there is always a big hoohaa about who is available and who isnt, i have a feeling a lot of the afl blokes (if their clubs havent made the finals) arent nearly as keen as the supporters are about playing sanfl finals.thoughts?

I'm with you Stampy. I posted something about this quite a while ago in regards to Sal coming back and and many posts since about this subject.

In my humble opinion (which is usually carp), if you are relying on AFL players coming back for the SANFL finals to boost your chances then you're in trouble to start with. If you have a settled team and are willing to accomodate AFL players who are very keen to return and who can add to the team balance and structure, then by all means use them.

As I have stated many, many times, when you have depth at the club and there are many players in the 2's fighting hard for a league spot and you also have to drop a current league player or 2 who have played well all year and who bleed for your club then it is very hard (and irresponsible) to include half hearted AFL players.

Look at Toby Thurstans ... one minute he's apparently not interested, now he is. If you were Luke Norman, would you play him in such an important match this week and beyond? If Luke (I have no idea whether he did this) looked Toby in the eye a week or 2 ago and said are you keen to play and he said no, then the answer is self evident I would have thought.

But maybe I'm from Mars ... (I certainly know the 4 women in my house are from Venus though ).

[Chambo100]

Don't believe all you read!

Toby has repeatedly said he would play for Sturt when he CAN.
He says (quote): "Playing for the Power is a roller coaste rdie of emotion".

Do these events seem odd.
1 He has a niggly calf and is ruled out. Says he can't play finals.
2 Next thing he retires from AFL.
3 Now he is available for Sturt.

Speculation:
Between steps 2 and 3 it is quite probable that the Power say to him you are up for trade and we don't want you getting hurt and buggering that up. Toby is settled here and wants to finish his degree and doesn't want to move. Therefore, at his age and likelihood of getting much of a go at Port or anywhere else, he retires.

I will back Toby would always have honoured the commitment he made to Sturt (to play when he can and they want him) if he was able.

I will not accept unless Toby specifically is quoted as saying so, that he didn't want to front for Sturt in finals.

I hope he plays, wins a GF medal and presents it to Chocko as a paper weight. Probably the only new GF medal Chocko would ever see again.

[dedja]

Don't believe all you read!

Not saying I do ... therefore the use of the words apparently and if a few times.

Still wouldn't play him though, but good luck if you do.

[sjt]

Adelaide are flirting with the idea of playing key defender
NATHAN BOCK in the SANFL this weekend in a bid to build match
fitness should the Crows advance beyond their AFL semi-final.
BOCK has not turned out for Woodville-West Torrens since 2006,
but is eligible to play for the Eagles in the local league finals
so long as Adelaide remain in the race to the grand final.
Having not played any football since a heel fracture against
Geelong in round 18, BOCK is an outside chance of returning against
Collingwood on Saturday night.
AAP RTV dfb/gab

I thought they had to qualify ????

if u bothered to read this page you would have realised he doesnt have to qualify ...

Yes, you're right Cover King. My apologise.

But he does have to qualify if the Crows lose Saturday night (just for clarification). As mentioned he's eligible whilst the Crows are still in. Noticed it's mentioned on other thread also.

[whufc]

Yeah good point if he is named for the Eagles to play on Sunday, is he still available for them if the Crows lose on Saturday night.

[Chambo100]

If Bock is struggling for fitness, why would the Eagles necessarily want him?
Would he help or hinder the Eagles preparations?

Whether the Crows have discussed all of this with the Eagles I don't know.
But if not, it sounds like a bit of a presumption on their part, if there are question marks.

If the Eagles are under to pressure to play him and do so with no surety of his fitness going into the game, then it is a gross unfairness in my view to the other 20 players (and also the ones that may miss out) who have worked to get to the finals.

[rod_rooster]

I posted this in another thread but it's probably best off here:

Geez there are some absolute morons commenting on Adelaide now about this. Here is just one example:

Players can play in their SANFL sides while the Crows remain in the finals. I heard the Eagles are not willing to play him unless the Crows allow him to play the full match. What a joke, the feeder league teams should have zero say, if the Crows want him to have a run for a half, even a quarter they should be forced to play him. If not they should lose some of the money we donate to the SANFL teams each year. Same goes for SANFL teams playing AFL players at reserves level, should be up to the Power and the Crows.

Posted by: kyle of adelaide 8:28pm September 08, 2009
Comment 5 of 19

[Big Phil]

Yeah good point if he is named for the Eagles to play on Sunday, is he still available for them if the Crows lose on Saturday night.

No, no he isn't...

I posted this over on the Eagles v North review thread, where someone said Bocky should be sent to the Eagles reserves !!

If he doesn't play for the Crows, he wouldn't be able to play for the Eagles reservrs this week as they finished Minor Premier in the seconds so have the luxury of a week off this weekend.

Valid points posted by Mal (and others) but let's not forget that IF the Crows don't win then it is curtains on their season and Bock will not be needed to have a run in the SANFL. Ron Fuller would have a back up plan for both situations, with the Crows playing Saturday night, before the Eagles on Sunday, he will know the night before whether Bock is in his selection mix or not.

[sjt]

Adelaide midfielder NATHAN VAN BERLO will miss Saturday's AFL
semi-final against Collingwood after failing to complete a training
session today.
An ongoing back complaint also ruled VAN BERLO out of last
weekend's big win over Essendon.
But the news is better for key defender NATHAN BOCK, who has
recovered from a fractured heel.
The Crows will decide tomorrow whether BOCK will come straight
back into the senior side to take on the Magpies or play in the
SANFL this weekend.
AAP RTV dfb/jds

Probably makes Shirley likely to play, and Symes keep his spot (if it was in doubt).

[Grahaml]

The Bock one is interesting. I don't recall him (and can't imagine it) playing SANFL earlier in the season, and even if the crows make the GF he wouldn't have played 3 games by that stage (SANFL prelim is the day after) having only played the elim and 1st semi. This could be a tricky position for the eagles. Bock is a fine player and would really make a difference especially against the number of good talls North have.

[Grahaml]

I posted this in another thread but it's probably best off here:

Geez there are some absolute morons commenting on Adelaide now about this. Here is just one example:

Players can play in their SANFL sides while the Crows remain in the finals. I heard the Eagles are not willing to play him unless the Crows allow him to play the full match. What a joke, the feeder league teams should have zero say, if the Crows want him to have a run for a half, even a quarter they should be forced to play him. If not they should lose some of the money we donate to the SANFL teams each year. Same goes for SANFL teams playing AFL players at reserves level, should be up to the Power and the Crows.

Posted by: kyle of adelaide 8:28pm September 08, 2009
Comment 5 of 19

Why is it so hard to understand someone feeling that way? I don't agree with him but I think it's a perfectly understandable opinion. If Havelberg was making his return this week instead of last and was only right to play a half I would think we would play him in the seconds final for the first half and have the guys play one short for the second half. Reality is for most the SANFL is only a reserves comp for AFL players, and they feel it should be treated as such.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Don't believe all you read!

Toby has repeatedly said he would play for Sturt when he CAN.
He says (quote): "Playing for the Power is a roller coaste rdie of emotion".

Do these events seem odd.
1 He has a niggly calf and is ruled out. Says he can't play finals.
2 Next thing he retires from AFL.
3 Now he is available for Sturt.

Speculation:
Between steps 2 and 3 it is quite probable that the Power say to him you are up for trade and we don't want you getting hurt and buggering that up. Toby is settled here and wants to finish his degree and doesn't want to move. Therefore, at his age and likelihood of getting much of a go at Port or anywhere else, he retires.

I will back Toby would always have honoured the commitment he made to Sturt (to play when he can and they want him) if he was able.

I will not accept unless Toby specifically is quoted as saying so, that he didn't want to front for Sturt in finals.

I hope he plays, wins a GF medal and presents it to Chocko as a paper weight. Probably the only new GF medal Chocko would ever see again.

Yes, something has definitely gone on here as Norman himself made a public comment last week about Thurstans not playing in the finals series for Sturt as he was under the impression he was not available.

[Voice]

I posted this in another thread but it's probably best off here:

Geez there are some absolute morons commenting on Adelaide now about this. Here is just one example:

Players can play in their SANFL sides while the Crows remain in the finals. I heard the Eagles are not willing to play him unless the Crows allow him to play the full match. What a joke, the feeder league teams should have zero say, if the Crows want him to have a run for a half, even a quarter they should be forced to play him. If not they should lose some of the money we donate to the SANFL teams each year. Same goes for SANFL teams playing AFL players at reserves level, should be up to the Power and the Crows.

Posted by: kyle of adelaide 8:28pm September 08, 2009
Comment 5 of 19

Lets just not have finals in the SANFL then. We'll just keep playing until the 2 AFL clubs get knocked out of the finals, then just call the season off. Whoever's top is premier
Kyle is obviously a tool, just like his namesake, Kyle Sandilands.