They have enabled him for this long, no chance they'll get rid of him now.
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I have to be 100% honest, not sure Bevo was in the right frame of mind to give the presser. I liked the spirit of what he said but not the way it was delivered. Am I being too tough?
1. Depression is not the only reason Tom has to leave us. We are not sure about that. Maybe his back is the real reason at this point.
2. What are we trying to teach ourselves? Footy is a passionate game. Get that. But I don't give much to what Barret says as others have said on other threads, just forget the guy. Robbo is the same. Have not read or discussed much from him in years. Simply doesn't have much to say. We need to teach ourselves to be totally oblivious to Damien. I think Bevo has made people more aware of it.
It's painful to watch people suffer, and annoying to have the peanut gallery add insult to that, but we are better than him. Now we just stoked the coals again. There will always be Damien Barret's. But, at least we know that Bevo has a heart. Can't see Ross Lyon giving a speech like that.
I do hope Tom gets to read all of these, some beautiful sentiments. I'm a little late to the party but...
Thank you Tom, from the bottom of our collective Bulldog hearts. Your 2016 piggyback will always be an iconic image in the minds of the Red, White and Blue.
The AFL is a poorer place for someone of your calibre walking away, but well done for recognising that it is the best path for you. All the best in your future endeavours, go well BullGod.
I understand where you're coming from - don't give the trolls oxygen argument, which I think is totally valid.
But at the same time, I think it can be important to call out when someone is such a despicable human rather than let them throw vitriol out there with no consequences.
I don't know what the right answer is though.
Is going huge. Just checked the #blacksoulbarrett hashtag and tweets and it's now a 'thing'. People clearly want to make a point to the black soul, call out his hypocrisy and call out his employers. It's nice to know there's a lot of people out there backing up Bevo & Tom.
See your points DOTW. Agree. But it's a pity Luke is the one that has to do it.
Blame the AFL. If they want very young men to succeed in this sport, then they need their sanctioned journalists to be a bit circumspect in the media when it comes to placing emphasis on their contract. And lift the bar on the standards. They may not be able to control the HUN journos or others. But repeated, snide, sideswipes about player's contract value under an AFL banner is hypocrisy.
It's complete hypocrisy also regards mental health. Afl says, Let's all be open about 'the black dog' and laud people like Buddy and Tom when they discuss and open up. But on the other hand AFL says let's sanction our journalists to go after them regards their contract worth not once ( ok, fine ) but continually. The AFL should have stepped in long ago to control GrubGrubGrubGrubGrubGrubGrub and ask him not to continually go that line, again and again. They may not be able to control the HUN journos but get your house in order. Get decent journalists.
If Luke Hodge didn't teach DB something ( knob comments ), he cannot be taught. Remove him.
Tom Browne reporting we are into Tomlinson with the spare cash. Would suit our needs.
Really sad to see Boyd retire so early. I was hoping to one day see a Naughton / Boyd / Sache forward line.
Tom Boyd could return to football at his junior club Norwood
Recently retired Western Bulldogs forward Tom Boyd could make a football return with his junior club Norwood this year.
The 2016 premiership player walked away from the AFL last month citing the mental and physical toll the game had taken on him.
Norwood president Mark Etherington confirmed it had spoken to Boyd, 23, about getting back involved at the club.
“We’ve had communication with Tom regarding his re-engagement with us … as he embarks on the next chapter post-AFL,” Etherington said.
If Boyd played for Norwood he would return to the Eastern Football League club as a one-point player.
However, the June 30 clearance deadline is fast-approaching and any decision on playing local football this year would need to be made by the end of the month.
He is a keen follower of the Premier Division outfit and his family is involved with the Ringwood-based club.
Boyd’s potential addition would be a fillip for the Norsemen’s attack in tandem with star forward Leigh Williams and would boost their chances of making a return to finals.
Etherington said it was important that the club “openly communicate our invitation to him”.
“We see the ongoing benefits for Tom with any potential involvement at Norwood to be an additional support, resource to that which exists at the Western Bulldogs.
“It was more, here’s an opportunity, whether it is now, next month, next year or anytime into the future, we have always been there readily available to support past and present players.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on being a strong family club and we always want to make sure we’re there to encourage all members to continue their involvement with us.
“If that means he comes down and helps out with some training with some of our rucks, or whether it is some tuition work one-on-one, or whether it ends up being that he plays one day, whatever it ends up being, Norwood Football Club is his home junior club and naturally we would be thrilled if he was to elect obviously considering doing that.”
Boyd was taken as the No.1 pick in the 2013 draft by GWS before being traded to the Western Bulldogs, where he was a key member of the side that ended the club’s 62-year premiership drought three seasons ago.
When he announced his retirement he said he no longer had “the desire to play or the enjoyment of the game I used to have” at the elite level.
Norwood sits sixth with a 4-4 record and has not played finals since the 2015 decider.
Do whatever makes you happier Tom. If you just want to play for the love of the game, it sounds good.
His dad is involved at the club too so this would be good for him. Although local footy can be brutal.