Retired #26: Cale Hooker - Has announced his retirement at season's end 🍷

[Lore]

Contract Status: Retiring at the end of Season 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

We’re the country club for sh*t footballers. Age doesn’t have much to do with it.

The amount of bog-average VFL-standard footballers who’ve had 4,5,6,7 year careers with Essendon over the past 15 years is amazing - when they’ve never shown anything and were never going to.

C'mon man you don't know that,we should have given them an extra year just in case.

 

[fairbump_playon]

C'mon man you don't know that,we should have given them an extra year just in case.

I’m pretty sure McKernan is about to blossom.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Why the hell would the Bombers drop Hooker with Hurley out injured?

Because they’re completely clueless

 

[RearNaked]

The tank is on

 

[boncer34]

He'll be a late in

 

[Albertross]

Ca

Why the hell would the Bombers drop Hooker with Hurley out injured?

Cause times are tough. Charlie is paying $34 to kick 6, Dons have put The Hangar on it. Cha ching!

 

[fairbump_playon]

Ca

Cause times are tough. Charlie is paying $34 to kick 6, Dons have put The Hangar on it. Cha ching!

After this game I bet X comes out and says “we’re replacing the morally dubious pokies revenue stream with a fresh new direction. Betting on the opposition to succeed.”

 

[ant555]

Who cares. Omitted, managed. He could barely get out of his own way last week. They explained the decision. End of story for mine.

 

[srobbo]

Hooker looks 60 the way he’s moving atm. Slightly confused as to why he’s an emergency, but regardless I’m ok with the decision.

 

[ghostdog]

Who cares. Omitted, managed. He could barely get out of his own way last week. They explained the decision. End of story for mine.

I care because Zaharakis was never 'omitted.' It goes to the messaging to both players and supporters about what is acceptable and for whom. It's inconsistent, and in context with the way Hooker was treated by Fox last week, it's poorly timed if that's the new normal.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Who cares. Omitted, managed. He could barely get out of his own way last week. They explained the decision. End of story for mine.

There were many other players as shit who were not dropped. He was also played out of position. Plus he has a shedload of credits to his name than Zaka, Townsend, Gleeson, Cutler and a range of other spuds who have been given far more leeway before being dropped. Plus with Hurley, Francis and Ambrose he’s clearly needed against Port. Batshit dumb decision and totally disrespectful

 

[yodellinhank]

I care because Zaharakis was never 'omitted.' It goes to the messaging to both players and supporters about what is acceptable and for whom. It's inconsistent, and in context with the way Hooker was treated by Fox last week, it's poorly timed if that's the new normal.

Maybe his runs have dried up

There were many other players as sh*t who were not dropped. He was also played out of position. Plus he has a shedload of credits to his name than Zaka, Townsend, Gleeson, Cutler and a range of other spuds who have been given far more leeway before being dropped. Plus with Hurley, Francis and Ambrose he’s clearly needed against Port. Batshit dumb decision and totally disrespectful

Disrespectful? Maybe Xavier should make a public apology.

 

[Maxabillions]

Who cares. Omitted, managed. He could barely get out of his own way last week. They explained the decision. End of story for mine.

Woosha basically said it was because we had a lot of games in a short timeframe, so why wasn't he "managed"? Of all the senior players we need to send messages to, surely Hooker is the last one?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Hooker looks 60 the way he’s moving atm. Slightly confused as to why he’s an emergency, but regardless I’m ok with the decision.

Tbf he’s moved like that for three years, still been effective.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Disrespectful? Maybe Xavier should make a public apology.

Well that’ll be a start. Maybe one from Woosha as well to say he ****** up with the selection

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I'm ok with this and if its a start to say no one gets special treatment. Hard to swallow as he's been a great servant and our best defender of the last 10 years but to win you need to be ruthless.

I see it as a message to say you will not be picked next year - are you going to sit around and collect your cash or can we talk about something.

Give him a role as defensive coach next year and use the spare cash to get a free agent. With Bellchambers, Hurley and Zaka gone over the next 2 years we have to bring in two free agents that can play for 5+ years and get some quality draft picks.

 

[Zach Package]

In a normal year a side that wasn’t desperate would have put him through a genuine mini preseason for a month before playing him.

I’m just glad he hasn’t repinged the calf

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Love him but it pains me knowing that Him, Hurley and Zaka combined eat up about 2m of our cap, and we've still got another year or two of them on the books. Talk about a handicap.

 

[CBombers17]

There's not many players on this list you would bother to protect from any professional embarassment. Hooker is one of them. He's one of them because he's been such strong and resilient character at the club. Ironically, because of these attributes I'd be surprised he actually gave two shits about being dropped.

The club still shouldn't have done it. They are doing what stupid organisations do. Making mistake after mistake. Even when you think they would have to learn they don't. People don't care if you've finally found a set of balls and are making more open public decisions (would he just for ootics anyway - not some great philosophy). Don't start with one of the very few players we have who deserves better.

 

[srobbo]

There's not many players on this list you would bother to protect from any professional embarassment. Hooker is one of them. He's one of them because he's been such strong and resilient character at the club. Ironically, because of these attributes I'd be surprised he actually gave two shits about being dropped.

The club still shouldn't have done it. They are doing what stupid organisations do. Making mistake after mistake. Even when you think they would have to learn they don't. People don't care if you've finally found a set of balls and are making more open public decisions (would he just for ootics anyway - not some great philosophy). Don't start with one of the very few players we have who deserves better.

Disagree.

This is exactly what we needed to do. Hooksy’s a big boy & for the better of the group we needed to make a statement that no one is immune from omission after abominable efforts like we served up last week.

Dropping the same turnips week to week wont resonate with the group, whereas this hopefully wipes the slate clean about what the expected standards are moving forward.

I hope.

 

[CBombers17]

Disagree.

This is exactly what we needed to do. Hooksy’s a big boy & for the better of the group we needed to make a statement that no one is immune from omission after abominable efforts like we served up last week.

Dropping the same turnips week to week wont resonate with the group, whereas this hopefully wipes the slate clean about what the expected standards are moving forward.

I hope.

I don't disagree with the policy. I absolutely agree with it. I just think the timing reeks of Essendon knee jerk 'me too' crap (following the lead of other clubs), and the choice of player to do it to.

 

[half time raffle]

Put him out for the year, drop 5 kilo before the preseason and give it one last crack! He still makes us a better team and there is no reason he cant play a similar role to Harry Taylor for Geelong.

On CPH1725 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I'm ok with this and if its a start to say no one gets special treatment. Hard to swallow as he's been a great servant and our best defender of the last 10 years but to win you need to be ruthless.

I see it as a message to say you will not be picked next year - are you going to sit around and collect your cash or can we talk about something.

Give him a role as defensive coach next year and use the spare cash to get a free agent. With Bellchambers, Hurley and Zaka gone over the next 2 years we have to bring in two free agents that can play for 5+ years and get some quality draft picks.

I think he’ll be making wine post-career, not sure he’ll be coaching.

 

[brutus76]

Maybe retire a year early with a % of his contract as settlement?

 

[Lore]

Interesting strategy to pay Burgoyne under the salary cap rather than the football department soft-cap. Wouldn't be surprised if other clubs follow suit and retain veterans on the senior list rather than pay for coaches under the soft cap.