No new contract for Hart

[sydney-dog]

Blue Boy

Do you disagree with the decision or the way it was handled,

1. Craigy spoke to Ben, one on one and together they went through all the issues, after discussing all the issues Neil put his decsion to Ben and offered him a range of options which included to announce his retirement, Ben chose not too and forced the club to make the announcement

No one is denying Ben's service to the club, he is a original crow player, he came to the club as a 16 year old and has played 16 seasons and 311 wonderful games, but the club has higher responsibilities and stakeholder other then Ben

The cold hard facts are, Ben's body is not holding up, yes anyone can cop a broken arm, but unfortunately Ben has had a chain of injuries including Hammy's, Calf's and achilles, we are already down two players on the list with injuries to Biglands and Hentchel and from a list management position we can not afford to have 6 or 7 blokes over 30 or we will be in the same position when the Aust cricket team lost Chappel, Lillee and Marsh in the one hit, it took us years to rebuild

Blue Boy, this is the first of many tough calls in the next 2-4 years for the crows, Goody, Edwards, Macca, Roo, Bassett, Torney are all pushing on in age, Biglands will play his next league game as a 30 year old, unfortunately the AFL only allow each club to have two vetran status players, so once you hit this age bracket, you need to maintain form, fitness and consistency to keep your spot on the list

The crows are in a no win situation, if they kept Ben and he broke down early next year, the critics would of said, 1 year too many, and missed an opportunity to develop a young bloke in such a strong draft year

This situation is nothing like Mods or Rehn

[Blue Boy]

Blue Boy

Do you disagree with the decision or the way it was handled,

1. Craigy spoke to Ben, one on one and together they went through all the issues, after discussing all the issues Neil put his decsion to Ben and offered him a range of options which included to announce his retirement, Ben chose not too and forced the club to make the announcement

No one is denying Ben's service to the club, he is a original crow player, he came to the club as a 16 year old and has played 16 seasons and 311 wonderful games, but the club has higher responsibilities and stakeholder other then Ben

The cold hard facts are, Ben's body is not holding up, yes anyone can cop a broken arm, but unfortunately Ben has had a chain of injuries including Hammy's, Calf's and achilles, we are already down two players on the list with injuries to Biglands and Hentchel and from a list management position we can not afford to have 6 or 7 blokes over 30 or we will be in the same position when the Aust cricket team lost Chappel, Lillee and Marsh in the one hit, it took us years to rebuild

Blue Boy, this is the first of many tough calls in the next 2-4 years for the crows, Goody, Edwards, Macca, Roo, Bassett, Torney are all pushing on in age, Biglands will play his next league game as a 30 year old, unfortunately the AFL only allow each club to have two vetran status players, so once you hit this age bracket, you need to maintain form, fitness and consistency to keep your spot on the list

The crows are in a no win situation, if they kept Ben and he broke down early next year, the critics would of said, 1 year too many, and missed an opportunity to develop a young bloke in such a strong draft year

This situation is nothing like Mods or Rehn

Syd

You are missing the point the AFC were not forced to do any thing as they chose to make the statement before Ben was ready to - it was handled very badly as both parties had still not agreed so I dont agree with it on any aspect !!!

Football has nothing to do with cricket - so dont go there !!!

Rehn and Modra were both champions of the AFC and left on poor terms - I consider this as another poor choice by the AFC !!!

[sydney-dog]

Blue Boy, my understanding is, the club asked and gave Ben the opportunity to retire and Ben was quite strong in saying no

my cricket comment was just an analogy, the club needs to manage it's list, it needs to manage and the eventual depature of senior players so it does not impact the club in one hit, that's my only comparison

Rehn and Mods did leave on poor terms and Blighty since has admitted he could of handeled the Mods thing better, but the Hart situation is the hardest situation to manage, 90% of players play that one season too many.

I met Doug Hawkins last year, he mentioned too me that his greatest regret was playing at another club, the club made the right decision at the time and he wishes now he retired as a 1 club player as his impact and value to fitzroy was minimal

Rehn and Mods situations are different to Ben's, they can not be compared, Ben has been fantastic for the AFC but the AFC has been fantastic for Ben, but with Ben's past two years, two long term Knee injuries, 5 or 6 players approaching or over 30, good depth in players that can play Ben's role, the need to develop and manage the list, the right decision was made

sometimes the easiest decisions are the wrong decisions and the hard calls are often the right way to go

[am Bays]

One of the qualities that sets elite athletes apart from the rest of us mere mortals is a healthy ego/self belief, which is needed for the heat of battle, "I'm better than you, I can beat you."

However this same self belief makes it harder for athletes to acknowledge when their skill and abilities are starting to fail them.

As an observer of the Adelaide for the last 15 years, it has been obvious that Ben's skills and abilities have been decling since 2002, when he played every minute of every game. Ben's great quality has been his physical fitness and ability to run all day, with him not being able to train optimally (injuries) his strengths to the Adelaide Footy Club are diminshing.

He has been a great and loyal servant to the Adelaide Football Club and he will always will be remembered as a great of the club, but with the position the club is in now, now is the time for the hard decision to be made. The club gave him an opportunity to retire but he clearly doesn't want to, his perogative, but in the cold harsh reality of elite sport, the club is 100% right in this case IMHO.

[scoob]

both sides make good arguments i think...just feel for the bloke, a least they couldve said good luck to him playing elsewhere rather than putting pressure on him to retire and be an assistant.

whilst they are making hard decisions, you might aswell draw a line through biglands, harsh after long term injury i know but ruckman more often than not struggle coming back from knee recons and his main assests of speed and agility will be so diminished he wont be half the player he was, especially at his age. time to give the young fellas a go...and draft/trade for some new big men.

[sydney-dog]

scoob

I think the club will wish he all the best if he decides to move on, but I'm comfortable with the fact they have presented him with another alternative option to remain at the club

[Blue Boy]

Blue Boy, my understanding is, the club asked and gave Ben the opportunity to retire and Ben was quite strong in saying no

my cricket comment was just an analogy, the club needs to manage it's list, it needs to manage and the eventual depature of senior players so it does not impact the club in one hit, that's my only comparison

Rehn and Mods did leave on poor terms and Blighty since has admitted he could of handeled the Mods thing better, but the Hart situation is the hardest situation to manage, 90% of players play that one season too many.

I met Doug Hawkins last year, he mentioned too me that his greatest regret was playing at another club, the club made the right decision at the time and he wishes now he retired as a 1 club player as his impact and value to fitzroy was minimal

Rehn and Mods situations are different to Ben's, they can not be compared, Ben has been fantastic for the AFC but the AFC has been fantastic for Ben, but with Ben's past two years, two long term Knee injuries, 5 or 6 players approaching or over 30, good depth in players that can play Ben's role, the need to develop and manage the list, the right decision was made

sometimes the easiest decisions are the wrong decisions and the hard calls are often the right way to go

Syd

How many time do you need to be told - obviously many.

Yes the AFC had made there decision and Hart wanted to play on - but it all has been handled very badly by the club.

An analogy between Football and Cricket can not be drawn at all sorry as they are 2 different games with 2 different playing fields - but I do have great passions for both sports.

Poor terms are correct for the way some of the club champions have been treated !!!

I have also met Doug Hawkins to - nice bloke who loves a beer and a rant !!!

In the last 2 years - 2005 Ben Hart played 22 of 25 games - 2006 Ben Hart played 13 of 24 games in which most were missed from a broken arm and not from being 32 !!!

Hard decisions must be made all the time - but some deserve alot better !!!

[sydney-dog]

Blue Boy

Your statement the club could of handled it better ?? why because they made a statement when Ben wanted to play on, unfortunately ben was solid in his position, Ben feels he has another three years, Ben was going to hold his ground, the club has a timing issue, it gave Ben two or three options which Ben refused, what more can a club do

Maybe now given that 90% of clubs have already ruled out the possibility of recruiting Ben, reality is sinking in and I maybe Ben is too thinking, he could of managed this situation better

[JK]

Rehn and Modra were both champions of the AFC and left on poor terms - I consider this as another poor choice by the AFC !!!

That was there own doing/choosing though and not the AFC's fault, certainly not with Modra anyway

[magpie in the 80's]

it was a tough decision by the AFC

player doesn't want to retire, thinks he still has 2 years left in him.

club thinks he should retire after looking at his last couple years (injuries)

player thinks he still has a lot to offer playing wise.

club thinks they have the players to cover him.

in the end club is bigger than the player.

benny be thankful for the opportunity of playing 16 years of AFL. (the club has backed you all this time)

AFC be thankful for the opportunity ben has played for the club.(which they would be)

we've all enjoyed your time benny.

[Blue Boy]

Rehn and Modra were both champions of the AFC and left on poor terms - I consider this as another poor choice by the AFC !!!

That was there own doing/choosing though and not the AFC's fault, certainly not with Modra anyway

Blight has publicly declared the only regret he has from his time at the club was off loading Modra to Fremantle !!!

[Blue Boy]

Blue Boy

Your statement the club could of handled it better ?? why because they made a statement when Ben wanted to play on, unfortunately ben was solid in his position, Ben feels he has another three years, Ben was going to hold his ground, the club has a timing issue, it gave Ben two or three options which Ben refused, what more can a club do

Maybe now given that 90% of clubs have already ruled out the possibility of recruiting Ben, reality is sinking in and I maybe Ben is too thinking, he could of managed this situation better

I still havent changed my mind on this and wont Syd !!!

Time will tell and I wish Ben all the best and thank him for his 311 games that he played for the AFC !!!

[JK]

Rehn and Modra were both champions of the AFC and left on poor terms - I consider this as another poor choice by the AFC !!!

That was there own doing/choosing though and not the AFC's fault, certainly not with Modra anyway

Blight has publicly declared the only regret he has from his time at the club was off loading Modra to Fremantle !!!

Don't think they had a lot of choice, and Blighty would have had the wonderful vision of hindsight when he said that ... Not too many people would have tipped the dual reigning premiers to fall away as heavily as they did in 99'.

Mods was a champion player, but was really limited to one position at the beginning of an era that demanded versatility

[Blue Boy]

Rehn and Modra were both champions of the AFC and left on poor terms - I consider this as another poor choice by the AFC !!!

That was there own doing/choosing though and not the AFC's fault, certainly not with Modra anyway

Blight has publicly declared the only regret he has from his time at the club was off loading Modra to Fremantle !!!

Don't think they had a lot of choice, and Blighty would have had the wonderful vision of hindsight when he said that ... Not too many people would have tipped the dual reigning premiers to fall away as heavily as they did in 99'.

Mods was a champion player, but was really limited to one position at the beginning of an era that demanded versatility

Yes hindsight and Blighty - the memories will live forever !!!

[Maddogmike]

Ben Hart could become the Crows runner

[sydney-dog]

Ben's comments at tonights B&F

Adelaide's veteran defender Ben Hart wants to continue his AFL career at another AFL club.

"I need to weigh-up my options," Hart said at the Crows' Club Champion presentation on Friday night.

"I was really disappointed and quite annoyed for the first few days (after he was told earlier in the week that his contract would not be renewed).

"I think I have a few years left in me. I would have taken a one-year contract, but that's their decision and it's not going to change."

Hart, 32, is the Crows' games record holder with 311 AFL matches since his debut in 1992 - the Crows' second season in the AFL.

[mal]

Wonderful footballer shafted by the AFL system.
Do we really think the club could want to cull the career
of one of their famous sons ?
Blame the AFL system not the individual or the club.
What a tragic way to finish an illustrious career.

[Dutchy]

didnt see him there, but then again I only flicked past it....couldnt believe they were counting B & F votes for the finals as well!!! what goes on there?

[sydney-dog]

Dutchy

the Kanga's intended too

[Blue Boy]

During the telecast Ben looked very upset and was fighting it big time !!!

Full credit to him for goin tonight as that would of been so tough !!!

Once again the hat is off and all the best to him !!!