We still love you Clay.

[SlimPickens]

Re: We still love you Clay.

I don't want to cast aspersions on our medical staff, but once an ACL is torn you lose all your twisting and turning ranges of motion. Straight line running and sprinting, jumping and other movements are fine, but once you change direction suddenly, you will fall down in a heap.

Agree to an extent but I think you'll find that you don't lose rotation through the knee with an ACL tear. The rotation actually become excessive and this leads to the instability, which saw Clays knee buckle when on the lead.

[Bornadog]

Re: We still love you Clay.

He is hoping to be back by mid year.

[Sedat]

Re: We still love you Clay.

He is hoping to be back by mid year.

I hope we take the extremely conservative path - he came back 9 months after the first reco and re-did his knee 2nd game back, and then he re-did his knee 3rd game back after the next reco with an 11 month break. Would almost be tempted to ice him this season and get him cherry ripe for 2017 - maybe give him some time in the coaches box and help him out with some off-field duties. The reality is if he does the knee one more time his playing career at the highest level is effectively over.

[azabob]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Not a bad idea Sedat. Regardless of what the "science"'says surely there is no harm letting him sit 2016 out? I guess the only harm will be to the opposition players in 2017.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Would be a hard sell to Clay.

[azabob]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Would be a hard sell to Clay.

Totally agree. But surely he could see the logic behind it? What are your thoughts?

[Bornadog]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Totally agree. But surely he could see the logic behind it? What are your thoughts?

He is a competitive beast and is itching to get back.

[Sedat]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Would be a hard sell to Clay.

Very. But the consequences of one more serious knee injury are far worse for Clay.

[LostDoggy]

Re: We still love you Clay.

One the one hand, I want us to give him every possible opportunity but, on the other, if he has had a full 12 months+ and the knee is fully recovered, you've got to let him have a rip. Some guys just have dicky knees and, no matter how much time you give them, they're at risk.

If he's fully recovered, taken all the precautions, done all the tests, and we've got the bulk of a season in front of us, he's got to play for mine.

Either way, if/when he gets back to the senior team, I'd hate to be the opposition that day.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: We still love you Clay.

Very. But the consequences of one more serious knee injury are far worse for Clay.

You make a good point Sedat although I notice Menzell of Geelong after 4 knee reco's played at the end of last year instead of waiting for this year.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: We still love you Clay.

When I saw this thread get bounced my gut sunk into my arse with fear for Clay. Thank god it's just convo and not an injury...

I'd like to think VFL around the AFL bye and work him up progressively to fitness and hopefully strong form.

[jeemak]

Re: We still love you Clay.

I don't see him playing for us again if he doesn't at least prove he is capable of some longevity at VFL level this year. Follow the science and bring him back when it says he is ready and let him prove to himself and us he is good to go.

If he can do that and get a one year deal at the close of the year then that's a fantastic result for him, considering where he's coming back from.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: We still love you Clay.

I don't see him playing for us again if he doesn't at least prove he is capable of some longevity at VFL level this year. Follow the science and bring him back when it says he is ready and let him prove to himself and us he is good to go.

If he can do that and get a one year deal at the close of the year then that's a fantastic result for him, considering where he's coming back from.

Cruel but fair.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: We still love you Clay.

We currently have the depth to cover Clay, and give him time to load up his knee slowly. Give it the time it deserves.

[1eyedog]

Re: We still love you Clay.

I hope we take the extremely conservative path - he came back 9 months after the first reco and re-did his knee 2nd game back, and then he re-did his knee 3rd game back after the next reco with an 11 month break. Would almost be tempted to ice him this season and get him cherry ripe for 2017 - maybe give him some time in the coaches box and help him out with some off-field duties. The reality is if he does the knee one more time his playing career at the highest level is effectively over.

The only issue with this is his time out of the game. Malthouse made some interesting comments about Marty Clark this week in reference to the hiatus facing the Essendon players. He said that Clark's decision to go home for a year effectively ended his AFL career and that a year out of the game may well end a few careers at Essendon.

Clay's played no football for two years now approaching his third. I'm not sure he has the luxury of holding off on missing nearly 4 years of match footy.