Massie Retires

[strikemepink!]

did he really play 55 games for us ....

[The Toorak Toff]

Sometimes it's wise to be charitable. I'm sure Kris always did his best. He would be disappointed with his season, but he's had a few mates. He's a good fellow who, as I recall, sponsors a child in Africa and is involved in other community work. I wish him well.

[TheGedemondan]

P.S. I can't see the point in playing Kris this week. Give his spot to a younger player with next season in mind.

Did he announce his retirement before the match so that he wouldn't be dropped?
I have further thoughts, but like he was last year around finals time, I'm too exhausted to contribute.

[Fester]

Altough Mass hasn't had a season to remember his last 5 or 6 weeks have been up to scratch. I think he is being treated a bit harshly here. At least he came back for a season, unlike Primus, Pittman, Bassett, Pike, Crouch, Fosdike and even Harley etc.
I'll shake his hand Saturday arvo and wish him the best.

[SimonH]

P.S. I can't see the point in playing Kris this week. Give his spot to a younger player with next season in mind.

Can't say I share the enthusiasm for Locky's post, but then I draw a distinction between not only speaking good of the departed, and telling it like it is (on one hand) and being churlish and graceless (on the other), that might be widely viewed as hair-splitting.

It seems that some here would have thought the Sydney Swans should have issued the following press release a couple of months ago after Micky O'Loughlin announced 2009 would be his last year:

Press release from Sydney Swans

Senior coach Paul Roos has noted veteran player Michael O'Loughlin's announced retirement, and decided that he has played his last senior game for the club.

"From now on, it's about building for 2010, and handing out games to dead wood who are only interested in personal records and self-indulgent farewells, is not what this club is about", Roos said today. "He'll play for the 2s this weekend. If he can be bothered turning up without having to be bribed wads of cash to do so."

"He might have played 293 senior games for the club, breaking all games and goals-kicked records, but over the last couple of years his output hasn't matched his salary. And as we've explained to him, that's tantamount to stealing from the club."

Roos held no truck with the idea that O'Loughlin was worthy of singling out for praise as a significant contributor to the Swans over the years. "It's a team game," Roos said. "And playing in our team has given him All Australian selection, a premiership medal, and some all-time club records that of course he could never have obtained if we hadn't picked him. He's played a lot of terrific football for Sydney, but the good years were always accompanied by personal glory and praise through the media, and ultimately higher pay demands, leading us to the strong suspicion that Micky O was in it only for Micky O."

Roos concluded by declining to wish O'Loughlin well in "whatever low-trained enterprise" he participates in after retirement. "I'm just off to inspect his locker to make sure he doesn't take so much as a boot-stud that belongs to the club", Roos finished.

[Fester]

P.S. I can't see the point in playing Kris this week. Give his spot to a younger player with next season in mind.

Did he announce his retirement before the match so that he wouldn't be dropped?
I have further thoughts, but like he was last year around finals time, I'm too exhausted to contribute.

On this thinking then Walker, Stopp, Evans and Panos shouldn't play either because they might not be around in 2010 depending on the AFL and the draft!!

[TheGedemondan]

On this thinking then Walker, Stopp, Evans and Panos shouldn't play either because they might not be around in 2010 depending on the AFL and the draft!!

Might not is very different to will not.

[strikemepink!]

aren't we being a bit mean spirited here ... ?

[Adelaide Hawk]

aren't we being a bit mean spirited here ... ?

Yes, we sure are. Massie has been a top contributer to our club, expecially in the days he was Crows listed. When he came back to Norwood he never pouted like some do, and he always gave his best for Norwood. THAT is why he was a high recruitment priority in 2009.

I have no idea why he didn't reach anywhere near his peak in 2009, but it happens to most players at some stage of their lives. Maybe the change of lifestyle, returning to the real world in terms of a working environment scaled back his football intensity, who knows?

Thanks Kris, and all the best in future endeavours.

[JK]

Best of luck to Mass tomorrow and thanks for all your efforts over the years.

Everyone obviously has their own personal opinion on this, and mine is that it's unfair to judge Kris on last years finals series and his performances this year.

I don't know Kris personally (as Im sure most here don't), so I can't say what affect an AFL de-listing during the week of our finals campaign last year had on him, I would certainly understand if it made him question his future and shift the focus right away from playing football.

What I do know about Kris, is that yes he's been underdone and frustrated at times this year, but that he's always been a good club man on and off the field.

When he was AFL listed and hardly playing for Norwood I've seen him regularly call into our training sessions to catch up with the boys - He didn't owe us that, nor the many fantastic performances he put in for us ... We adopted him and just as importantly he adopted us, and I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt from many who are quick to can him.

As I said, just my opinion.

[grenville at the bbq]

I know it's considered the done thing to give only glowing reviews at these times, but I've taken the rose coloured glasses off for a minute. For starters, obvious this was going to happen. He signed for only 1 year, and even if he wanted to go on, if we re-signed him after the effort he's put in this year then even our administrators would look (even more) silly. Kris made it clear to everyone last September how highly he rates the NFC. Most were in denial about this, however it was then reflected in his efforts this season. Reality is he retires with a fatter wallet courtesy of the NFC, money which would have been better spent on players committed to the cause. Yes, Kris played some great football for Norwood in previous years, whilst he was trying to get back into the Crows team. We owe him nothing for that, in fact he owes the NFC for providing him the platform for his AFL success. A real shame for all involved he did not, for whatever reason, decide to replicate that earlier endevour this season.

P.S. I can't see the point in playing Kris this week. Give his spot to a younger player with next season in mind.

Yep dead right IMO Locky,Massie played some good footy when there was an AFL spot riding on it,end of story.Any reflections of him as a NORWOOD footballer should in truth be what he has achieved after there was no AFL carrot being dangled in front of him.If the delisting did hurt him as much as some have suggested and he possibly didn't feel like his mind was on the job (which has looked like it for a large chunk of the year)he shouldn't have signed on and delivered the sub standard football he has delivered.He should have been honest with the coach and club and not left with a wad of cash and buggered off after one year.Kris may well be a great bloke as some people have suggested but IMO as a NORWOOD footballer he has not returned on the investment of member and sponsor dollars the club has given to him.

[psyber]

It seems the Crows may have been right in assessing Kris as having reached the end of his career even though his form had not been bad in his last year there.
Therefore, his judgment in not playing finals at Norwood that year may have been correct.
Simply then, it was an error of judgment on Norwood's part to sign him this year.
I believe he has done his best at Norwood, but just went on trying to play a year too long...

[SDK]

Sorry Locky and Co. do not agree.
Kris Massie played some good football for Norwood over the years but his form this year has not been as good. It is very easy to be critical of someone without knowing all the facts.
Seeing his emotion yesterday it is obvious he has a love of the Norwood Football Club.
Filling his wallet is a ridiculous comment......he could earn a lot more elsewhere.
It really gives me the shits that someone would post those sort of comments about someone who busted his guts for us.

What will Kris do now ? Go back to Victoria or stay here ?
Maybe he could be part of our coaching panel ?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Sorry Locky and Co. do not agree.
Kris Massie played some good football for Norwood over the years but his form this year has not been as good. It is very easy to be critical of someone without knowing all the facts.
Seeing his emotion yesterday it is obvious he has a love of the Norwood Football Club.
Filling his wallet is a ridiculous comment......he could earn a lot more elsewhere.
It really gives me the shits that someone would post those sort of comments about someone who busted his guts for us.

What will Kris do now ? Go back to Victoria or stay here ?
Maybe he could be part of our coaching panel ?

Well said, I agree totally. He played some great footy with Norwood.

Little known fact: He was born in Sweden under the name Kristiaan Martinger.

[GrandOldFlag]

Massie played pretty good on Saturday and could hold his head high. Good for him and the club as a whole that he could finish on positive.