High praise for Hunter

[Bornadog]

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As his return to the field draws closer, Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter has drawn praise from his skipper, Marcus Bontempelli.


Hunter has one game remaining on his Club imposed four-match suspension following an incident in April, and will be available for selection in Round 6.


The 25-year-old has impressed his team-mates with his work ethic and willingness to impart his knowledge on the young Bulldogs squad since it returned to the training track last month.


“He’s made a really good, concerted effort. You can tell how hard he’s working to try and earn the trust that he’s lost back,” Bontempelli told RSN’s The Breakfast Club on Tuesday.


“That’s obviously a really encouraging sign for Lachie, us as leaders and the football club, to see that he wants to repay the faith.


“He’s continuing to work, not just from a football perspective, but with his off-field leadership as well, to try and help and support every player on the list and especially the leadership group.


“There are some really encouraging signs for Lachie and he needs to continue to do that and let his actions do the talking.”

[Bornadog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Be good to have him back in the team next week.

[Happy Days]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Geez it doesn't take much does it.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Looking forward to Lachie getting back amongst it.

[Eastdog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Looking forward to seeing Lachie back out there.

[azabob]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Geez it doesn't take much does it.

The headline is damn right embarrassing - this shouldn't even be an article.

[Bornadog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

The headline is damn right embarrassing - this shouldn't even be an article.

Why not. He is doing some great things on field. So, he made a mistake after having a blue with his fiance, we can't chastise him for the rest of his life.

[The Underdog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Geez it doesn't take much does it.

It’s ok in the AFL, as long as you clear the bar for being a “Top Bloke” all is forgiven.

[Remi Moses]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Gotta say
Must be a few up for sainthood on here .
He f***** up majorily, but aren’t we allowed some form of redemption?

[The Underdog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Gotta say
Must be a few up for sainthood on here .
He f***** up majorily, but aren’t we allowed some form of redemption?

I have no problem with Lachie coming back and making amends but footballers in general get to gain absolution with the slightest of efforts.

[Remi Moses]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Fair point , but on the flip side they get scrutinized more than the regular joe when they muck up .
There are some repeat offenders who’ve been given absolution also ( hello Wayne Carey )

[Bornadog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

[Axe Man]

Re: High praise for Hunter

Hopefully a good sign that Lachie will remain with the team in Queensland.

Western Bulldogs premiership star Lachie Hunter will remain at the club’s Gold Coast hub as he takes a break from playing to work through some personal issues stemming from his turbulent 2020.

Hunter completed Wednesday’s main training session at Surfers Paradise Football Club and is set to remain involved with the Bulldogs despite stepping out of the team for Thursday night’s match against Gold Coast.

The Bulldogs will blood their fifth debutant in eight games with Callum Porter selected while Billy Gowers also returns at the expense of Hunter and Bailey Dale (ankle).

“Western Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter is currently unavailable for selection due to personal reasons,” the Dogs said in a statement.

“The club will continue to strongly support Lachie as he works through some personal challenges, with his health and well-being to be the priority focus.”

If Hunter jetted home to Melbourne it would be difficult for him to return until late in the home-and-away season due to quarantine regulations.

Upon returning to Queensland Hunter would have to serve another 14 days in a transition hub before linking back up with the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are likely to vacate the Mercure Resort for RACV Royal Pines next week.

Hunter relinquished the vice-captaincy in April after crashing into four parked cars while under the influence of alcohol.

He was also fined by police for breaching the COVID-19 lockdown laws.

Hunter was on his way to teammate Billy Gowers’ house in South Yarra when he crashed, and after leaving his contact details he sought a lift with teenager Bailey Smith, who was also fined for breaching lockdown.

Smith was staying at his girlfriend’s place at the time and in a freak coincidence some of the damaged cars belonged to her parents.

Hunter was left with the expensive repair bill for the cars and was also fined $5000 by the club.

Hunter, 25, has raised $5500 for the Alfred Hospital’s road accident trauma program through a Dry July fundraiser this month.

The Bulldogs have since shielded Hunter from the media.

He has recorded two videos for the club website instead of submitting to an interview and last week spoke passionately about his desire to return to the leadership group.

“It hurt a lot (losing the vice-captaincy), and it still does. Even running out on the weekend I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it once or twice,” Hunter said.

“I’d love to get back there. That can only come over time and it’s going to take a fair bit of time to build back that trust from the coaches, the players, the board (and) the fans.

“Whether that’s next year, whether that’s in a few years … it might not ever come, and that’s fine as well. But I’ll be doing everything I can to get there.”

The Bulldogs have never faced the Suns at Metricon Stadium under coach Luke Beveridge.

Gold Coast named an unchanged side for its first ever game in primetime.

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[comrade]

Re: High praise for Hunter

There was a report in the papers, some days ago, which might go a way to explain Lachie's absence.

There were no names mentioned, so, no pack drill. I am just hoping it was not related to Lachie.

What does this mean?

[Bornadog]

Re: High praise for Hunter

There was a report in the papers, some days ago, which might go a way to explain Lachie's absence.

There were no names mentioned, so, no pack drill. I am just hoping it was not related to Lachie.

What about this:

BEVO - “We’ll keep monitoring how he’s going. We’ve just got to look after him,” he said.“He’ll come back into the side. I can’t tell you when, but he’ll be okay.”
Beveridge suggested Hunter may have been drained from working hard to find his way back into the senior squad.
“Lachie‘s had a bit to deal with and used up a lot of energy in finding his way back,” Beveridge said.
“He had to have an extra month off than what everyone did during the hiatus. He just needed a spell this week.”

Does that sound like he will be back next week?