North Melbourne

[the big bang]

Left to rot on $300k? ( Reportedly )

From what I gather, Port pay him minimum wage ( about $45k ) and the Roos make up the rest of his monies ( about $250k ).

Not a very smart move from a club $6.5m in debt that's just been to the US for some high altitude training ( waste of time as they dont have a facility here to keep simulating that training ) and then asks it members to hand over some more cash to reduce debt.

Why not have him on your list as back up? Might not be in your best 22 but he has to be better than number 35 on the list.

We are paying him either way, why not give him a chance? He is miles off our No. 1 team and holding a spot that will now be given to a youngster who gets an extra year to develop. Its called a strategic move. Cutting your loses, something Port should have done with Chad/Motlop and havent had the balls to do with Kane.

The US trip was externally funded, no $ came out of the NMFC for this trip.

the way i look at that is, whoever 'externally funded' the trip, could have sponsored the club for however much the trip cost.

[Dutchy]

They already do

[Dirko]

Disapponted with Gav, looked like he would be anything 2 years ago, now it looks like he will be nothing in a Power jumper

Roos are actually doing the right thing by him, they could have easily left him on the list to rot in the VFL all year (he is miles from being in our best 22) instead they have let him have a crack in a squad which might be easier to crack for his benefit.

You were saying. He's now the highest paid rookie in the AFL....

[Dutchy]

Well its up to Gav now, be interesting if he pulls his finger out or not.

[Media Park]

Will be interesting to see if the North season gets as many comments and views as the pre-season stuff...

[Swervyn]

Whats the news on Wells? Will be able to play at all in 2012?

Also - Was there ever any chance North wouldve looked at Fev? Pay him pittance & tell him if he screws up ocne he is out - wouldve been worth the gamble, would free up the Petrie Dish.. I thought with Brayshaw in charge it couldve been a big go!!??

[the big bang]

They already do

well then, they could have sponsored them for more.

[Booney]

Experts agree that without the ability to use a facility that replacates high altitude ( low oxygen level ) training ( as Collingwood have at the Lexus Centre ) then the impact high altitude training has on the body only lasts 14-16 days when you return to normal atmospheric conditions.( high oxygen levels )

Perhaps investing in one of the above mentioned chambers ( I have heard figures of around $250k) would have been more beneficial as the players would now, according to experts, no longer be feeling the effects of the camp.

Long story short, when the club is $6.5m in debt, what a waste of money.

[stan]

Experts agree that without the ability to use a facility that replacates high altitude ( low oxygen level ) training ( as Collingwood have at the Lexus Centre ) then the impact high altitude training has on the body only lasts 14-16 days when you return to normal atmospheric conditions.( high oxygen levels )

Perhaps investing in one of the above mentioned chambers ( I have heard figures of around $250k) would have been more beneficial as the players would now, according to experts, no longer be feeling the effects of the camp.

Long story short, when the club is $6.5m in debt, what a waste of money.

Boon, based on what you have said if this was indeed acurate (I seriously dont feel like researching this , then I would agree with your statement that it is a waste of money. What would be better is probably doing a trip away as team building event, but of course not at the same cost of the states. Or as you said get one of the chambers at you training facility.

[Booney]

From wiki :

Altitude training is the practice by some endurance athletes of training for several weeks at high altitude, preferably over 2,400 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level, though more commonly at intermediate altitudes due to the shortage of suitable high-altitude locations. At intermediate altitudes, the air still contains approximately 20.9% oxygen, but the barometric pressure and thus the partial pressure of oxygen is reduced.[1][2]

Depending very much on the protocols used, the body may adapt to the relative lack of oxygen in one or more ways such as increasing the mass of red blood cells and hemoglobin, or altering muscle metabolism.[3][4][5][6] Proponents claim that when such athletes travel to competitions at lower altitudes they will still have a higher concentration of red blood cells for 10–14 days, and this gives them a competitive advantage. Some athletes live permanently at high altitude, only returning to sea level to compete, but their training may suffer due to less available oxygen for workouts.

Altitude training can be simulated through use of an altitude simulation tent, altitude simulation room, or mask-based hypoxicator system where the barometric pressure is kept the same, but the oxygen content is reduced which also reduces the partial pressure of oxygen.

[Booney]

Experts agree that without the ability to use a facility that replacates high altitude ( low oxygen level ) training ( as Collingwood have at the Lexus Centre ) then the impact high altitude training has on the body only lasts 14-16 days when you return to normal atmospheric conditions.( high oxygen levels )

Perhaps investing in one of the above mentioned chambers ( I have heard figures of around $250k) would have been more beneficial as the players would now, according to experts, no longer be feeling the effects of the camp.

Long story short, when the club is $6.5m in debt, what a waste of money.

Boon, based on what you have said if this was indeed acurate (I seriously dont feel like researching this , then I would agree with your statement that it is a waste of money. What would be better is probably doing a trip away as team building event, but of course not at the same cost of the states. Or as you said get one of the chambers at you training facility.

Agreed. Team building can be done anywhere and if they had money ( some from sponsors and much from the players and coaches themselves ) then either get serious about the debt reduction or leave a legacy to those coming in the future by building a high altitude simulating chamber.

[Dutchy]

Scott approached the board for funding, JB and the board said no, but if you can fund externally from the clubs operations they would support it so Crocker and Scott approached sponsors and members to raise the funds and the players chopped in also.

[mighty_tiger_79]

i dont understand all the fuss about high altitude training, just a waste of time, money and resources

[Psyber]

Boon, based on what you have said if this was indeed acurate (I seriously dont feel like researching this , then I would agree with your statement that it is a waste of money. What would be better is probably doing a trip away as team building event, but of course not at the same cost of the states. Or as you said get one of the chambers at you training facility.

I think Booney's estimate is about right.
While new red blood cells can survive up to 180 days in optimum conditions, the stay at altitude is not long enough for the percentage of new cells to be high.
And on the persons return to lower altitudes, where they don't need so many cells to compensate for the lower O2 saturation, the replacement of dying ones will slow down.
So the benefit is rather transient.

The money would be more effectively spent on illegal doping with Erythropoietin.

[stan]

Boon, based on what you have said if this was indeed acurate (I seriously dont feel like researching this , then I would agree with your statement that it is a waste of money. What would be better is probably doing a trip away as team building event, but of course not at the same cost of the states. Or as you said get one of the chambers at you training facility.

I think Booney's estimate is about right.
While new red blood cells can survive up to 180 days in optimum conditions, the stay at altitude is not long enough for the percentage of new cells to be high.
And on the persons return to lower altitudes, where they don't need so many cells to compensate for the lower O2 saturation, the replacement of dying ones will slow down.
So the benefit is rather transient.

The money would be more effectively spent on illegal doping with Erythropoietin.

Yeah good stuff Psyber. Look at Geelong. Bigger, stronger, faster and went for longer than all other teams, even though they lost one of there best players.