Luke Donaldson, Murray Hamblin, Leigh Gathercole retires

[Thiele]

2 September 2008





The West Adelaide Football Club wishes to announce the retirements of Luke Donaldson, Murray Hamblin and Leigh Gathecole. The playing group and coaching staff were informed of their decisions before training on Monday night.



Donaldson who has played 100 games from 2001 with the Club will play his final league game against North this Sunday. Donaldson said, “I would like to thank everyone at the Club, in particular my team mates over the past 8 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Club, made terrific life long friends and met many great people who have supported me along the way. I would also like to thank my family and wife Danielle for their support.”



Coach Andrew Collins said, “Luke Donaldson is a great Club man of West Adelaide and it has been a privilege to Coach him in his final season as a player with the Club.”



Donaldson, who has been offered an assistant coaching role with the Club next season, is currently weighing up his future options.



Hamblin has played 43 games from 2005 since joining the Club from Central Districts. Collins said “Murray Hamblin is one of the most professional, athletic footballers that I’ve coached. The way he goes about his physical preparation for every game is unbelievable. He is a great role model and leaves a legacy to his professionalism.”



Gathecole is retiring due to a serious back injury. Leigh was a former State League Player with the Bendigo Bombers and a State Representative for Country Victoria. Collins said, “Unfortunately we didn’t see the best of Leigh this year due to his back injury which has forced him to retire. Fortunately, Leigh has accepted a position as a Development/Skills Coach with the West Adelaide Football Club next season and we look forward to his continued involvement with the Club.”



The West Adelaide Football Club thanks Luke, Murray and Leigh for their service to the Club, and look forward to their continued support in the years to come.

[Macca19]

Luke has played great footy for the Bloods since crossing from the Western Bulldogs. Well done Luke.

Hamblin turned his career around with the Bloods and also played some good footy.

Never got to see Gathecole play.

[Thiele]

Luke has played great footy for the Bloods since crossing from the Western Bulldogs. Well done Luke.

Hamblin turned his career around with the Bloods and also played some good footy.

Never got to see Gathecole play.

Gathercole only played 1 league match

[bundy]

Don't think think we saw the best of Leigh, due to an ongoing back problem but he had the talent.

[Big Phil]

Congratulations to the 3 boys on their various careers...

To Murray Hamblin in particular, well done to the former Centrals player...

Was vey very unlucky to not have played in one of our early premierships...

A great footballer and a top bloke to boot, as I'm sure the other 2 boys are...

[wycbloods]

Well done to Luke who has been a great club man in his time at westies. Well done also to Muzza he has been a good player for the bloods. At least he has a good modelling career to help with some extra cash now that footy has finished . Who knows whether Gathecole could have been any good as he has been really hampered by his back problem. Good luck to all of them in there future endeavors.

[G]

Geez Big Phil, you've done it again. Is there anyone who has played at Centrals who isnt a "GREAT footballer" -Murray Hamblin, give us a spell.

[Big Phil]

Geez Big Phil, you've done it again. Is there anyone who has played at Centrals who isnt a "GREAT footballer" -Murray Hamblin, give us a spell.

Whatever G,

Sorry, I forgot, we're not all GREAT like you...

It's my opinion and I'm entitled to it, as are you, whether it be right or wrong it doesn't matter...

You tell me what makes a "great" footballer in your eyes then if you are such a great judge ???

[Big Phil]

Hey G,

Did you send Warren Partland at The Advertiser an email telling him he got it wrong as well...

I noticed his headline regarding the 3 Westies players retiring had the word "STARS" in it !!

How do you like them apples !!

[G]

No wonder you're struggling to comprehend the word GREAT, if you think Warren Partland is any sort of a judge. As for STARS, well the last named of the trio played 1 game.

If he was such a Central GREAT, why did he struggle for a game before being moved on and by your criteria Coulter and Kreig must be Superstars.

[Big Phil]

No wonder you're struggling to comprehend the word GREAT, if you think Warren Partland is any sort of a judge. As for STARS, well the last named of the trio played 1 game.

If he was such a Central GREAT, why did he struggle for a game before being moved on and by your criteria Coulter and Kreig must be Superstars.

G, do us a favour mate and get over yourself, we are not all the "perfect judge" liek you clearly seem to think you are

Stop detracting from the guys mentioned in the thread

If you think you can write them something better than Warren Partland than go your hardest...

[Thiele]

Well done on a excellent Carreer Luke Donald son he was great club for West Adelaide and so was Murray Hamblin

[G]

Big Phil now that you're in the "media" perhaps you should learn not to get carried away with adjectives and superlatives.
No need to get dark because you've made a mistake -we all make em, and where have I ever stated "how GREAT I am etc".

[Big Phil]

Big Phil now that you're in the "media" perhaps you should learn not to get carried away with adjectives and superlatives.
No need to get dark because you've made a mistake -we all make em, and where have I ever stated "how GREAT I am etc".

Sorry, you are right, at no stage did you mention that you were great, but you certainly post your thoughts with the impression that only yoiur opinion is right and nothing else matters...

So please tell me G, what makes you such an educated judge to say that I made a mistake ?

How is voicing an opinion a mistake ? If that's the case, then perhaps you've made the mistake and were wrong ?

Isn't this what forums are about, people's opinions. If you don't agree with these opinions fine, it's your choice.

So will be so kind to advise Mr Partland from The Advertiser that he was wrong, I'd like for you to do that.

Perhpas you need to learn to not get carried away with your posts and you might not get the reactions you do...

[wycbloods]

Big Phil now that you're in the "media" perhaps you should learn not to get carried away with adjectives and superlatives.
No need to get dark because you've made a mistake -we all make em, and where have I ever stated "how GREAT I am etc".

What makes you an educated judge to say that I made a mistake ?

How is voicing an opinion a mistake ? Isn't this what forums are about, people's opinions ?

So will be so kind to advise mr Partland that he was wrong...

Perhpas you need to learn to not get carried away with your posts and you might not get the reactions you do...

Here Here.

[Big Phil]

Big Phil now that you're in the "media" perhaps you should learn not to get carried away with adjectives and superlatives.
No need to get dark because you've made a mistake -we all make em, and where have I ever stated "how GREAT I am etc".

What makes you an educated judge to say that I made a mistake ?

How is voicing an opinion a mistake ? Isn't this what forums are about, people's opinions ?

So will be so kind to advise mr Partland that he was wrong...

Perhpas you need to learn to not get carried away with your posts and you might not get the reactions you do...

Here Here.

Thankyou wycbloods...

I'm going to leave my response to G's posts at that because like I pointed out to him earlier, this is unfair to detract the thread from the topic at hand and the 3 Westies players that retired. If G would like to take things up further with me in regards to my opinions, he has the option of sending me a PM.

[captain dangerous]

Westies are in all sorts of trouble. Thats about 7 of their most experience players all retired, when most seem like they had a bit more footy left in them. Whisper is, there maybe a couple more big names to go. Throw in Hassan and Hill on top of that, who wont play for most of next year because of injury.
Most people seem to think that they needed 5-6 quality players on top of their current list. How they intend to replace the guys who have left and then find 6 more will be interesting. I think there may be a fair bit of pain ahead for West supporters.

[firstblood]

Logan Hill we be in full training after Christmas...he's staying on with the Blood's and is looking forward to it. I don't think West are in all sorts of trouble...they have not fared worse this year whilst blooding kids and with a couple of decent recruits, next year i see a huge improvement. If you look at this time last year Westies were getting thrashed week in week out by over 100 pts under the Weed and that's using a lot more experienced players than this year.

[captain dangerous]

I think the scoreboard flatters westies a bit, prob because from the games i have seen, there has been lots of numbers behind the ball, something i dont think weed ever did.
My point really is, you have only won two games, and while you might have some promising kids they aren't going to make you competitive without some genuine experience and quality around them.