Maryborough Castlemaine District FL (Part 2)

[The thermometer]

That may have something to do with the guy I just highlighted. That is straight from a few horses mouths.

Some more key departures are on the cards according to a couple of sources.

Doesn't help when the coach gets up and sprays the best and fairest (and best player by a mile) when presenting the award to him in front of everyone on the night for his extra cirricular activities!!!

Very clicky club, whispers about that some of the "favourites" were being looked after a bit too well $$ wise, when people performing were not...

 

[Tasty_Cheese]

Doesn't help when the coach gets up and sprays the best and fairest (and best player by a mile) when presenting the award to him in front of everyone on the night for his extra cirricular activities!!!

Very clicky club, whispers about that some of the "favourites" were being looked after a bit too well $$ wise, when people performing were not...

who was the best and fairest

 

[bluey49]

Doesn't help when the coach gets up and sprays the best and fairest (and best player by a mile) when presenting the award to him in front of everyone on the night for his extra cirricular activities!!!

Very clicky club, whispers about that some of the "favourites" were being looked after a bit too well $$ wise, when people performing were not...

Are "whispers" and rumour all that is needed to pot a bloke like Elliot on a public forum. I don't know him real well but from playing against him and talking to him on a couple of occasions I found him to be a tough, smart and fair player and the first bloke to invite you for a drink after the game. Maybe some of these blokes whingeing about not getting enough cash to sustain their ego should listen to and support their coach in J Elliot. After all , the bloke has achieved a fair amount in footy and these one's potting him behind his back might actually learn something to improve their game from a coach like him.

 

[The thermometer]

Are "whispers" and rumour all that is needed to pot a bloke like Elliot on a public forum. I don't know him real well but from playing against him and talking to him on a couple of occasions I found him to be a tough, smart and fair player and the first bloke to invite you for a drink after the game. Maybe some of these blokes whingeing about not getting enough cash to sustain their ego should listen to and support their coach in J Elliot. After all , the bloke has achieved a fair amount in footy and these one's potting him behind his back might actually learn something to improve their game from a coach like him.

Pretty sure the coach doesn't pay the players Bluey so that was not aimed at him... Castlemaine has been like that for a long time, well before Elliot arrived - if you are not in the click then most people end up leaving as is shown by the numbers of players coming and going from year to year!!!

As for the spray Luke Walters copped, not the best time and place for him to air his grievances if he wants to keep players of the calibre of Luke was the point I was making.

Apart from that incident i've heard good things about him.

 

[bluey49]

Pretty sure the coach doesn't pay the players Bluey so that was not aimed at him... Castlemaine has been like that for a long time, well before Elliot arrived - if you are not in the click then most people end up leaving as is shown by the numbers of players coming and going from year to year!!!

As for the spray Luke Walters copped, not the best time and place for him to air his grievances if he wants to keep players of the calibre of Luke was the point I was making.

Apart from that incident i've heard good things about him.

Obviously I wasn't there to hear what was said at the BnF count and I agree it would have been pretty uncomfortable to listen to the best player get a spray in those circumstances. However Castlemaine struggled this year and maybe Elliot's point was aimed at the whole club by saying if everyone worked harder Luke could of been a BnF winner in a finals side rather than a side that missed out. Also despite it not being ideal , at least the spray was given so no one was left in any doubt as to how the coach felt. The ball was then put in the players court as to how they respond. If alot choose to jump ship , does that say more about the coach or the players????

 

[Sacrificial Lamb]

any news on how Trenm are shaping upfor season 09.

 

[G-Mo77]

Obviously I wasn't there to hear what was said at the BnF count and I agree it would have been pretty uncomfortable to listen to the best player get a spray in those circumstances. However Castlemaine struggled this year and maybe Elliot's point was aimed at the whole club by saying if everyone worked harder Luke could of been a BnF winner in a finals side rather than a side that missed out. Also despite it not being ideal , at least the spray was given so no one was left in any doubt as to how the coach felt. The ball was then put in the players court as to how they respond. If alot choose to jump ship , does that say more about the coach or the players????

Coach! Why give a verbal spray in front of the whole Castlemaine Football Club, supporters and players family members? If he had something to say to him it should have been left behind closed doors. If it was aimed at the whole club as a whole he should have stated that.

 

[UNKNOWN04]

Castlemaine are ****ed, with 4 out of the top 6 in the BF gone, really what does that say for the club, it has always happened and really always will.

With the players that are leaving, i have herd 3 will be at Newstead.
they really will be a good outfit this year. top 3 for sure!
wat does everyone else think?

 

[EarToTheGround]

Castlemaine are ****ed, with 4 out of the top 6 in the BF gone, really what does that say for the club, it has always happened and really always will.

With the players that are leaving, i have herd 3 will be at Newstead.
they really will be a good outfit this year. top 3 for sure!
wat does everyone else think?

I'll reserve judgement as I was told by a 'Steader' that the only people turning up to training pre Christmas were their 5 new recruits.

 

[KingRich]

I'll reserve judgement as I was told by a 'Steader' that the only people turning up to training pre Christmas were their 5 new recruits.

The club still really struggles off field with too few willing to pitch in and help out. They have a strong junior base coming through and they need to ensure they look after these kids to ensure that they either stay or come back to the club after they try their luck else where. I will reserve judgement too at this stage although I think they are potentially the big improvers!

 

[The thermometer]

I'll reserve judgement as I was told by a 'Steader' that the only people turning up to training pre Christmas were their 5 new recruits.

25 people were at the pre christmas session at Newstead according to my mail ETG. The side has retained all of the young guys and recruited reasonably well (mainly local guys), but we need to keep in mind that they are starting about 7-10 goals behind Carisbrook, Avoca, Talbot, Harcourt etc without those sides improving so top 3 might be a bit premature...

 

[EarToTheGround]

25 people were at the pre christmas session at Newstead according to my mail ETG. The side has retained all of the young guys and recruited reasonably well (mainly local guys), but we need to keep in mind that they are starting about 7-10 goals behind Carisbrook, Avoca, Talbot, Harcourt etc without those sides improving so top 3 might be a bit premature...

I think they will play finals but top 3 would probably be too big an ask. If I had to put money on this I would expect them to jump at least 2 places and most likely be better than Rovers, Harcourt and Maldon this season.

I would guess they would want to keep a lid on it too because Rovers probably fell into the trap of getting ahead of themselves in 2008.

 

[BrentmeisterGeneral]

Obviously I wasn't there to hear what was said at the BnF count and I agree it would have been pretty uncomfortable to listen to the best player get a spray in those circumstances. However Castlemaine struggled this year and maybe Elliot's point was aimed at the whole club by saying if everyone worked harder Luke could of been a BnF winner in a finals side rather than a side that missed out. Also despite it not being ideal , at least the spray was given so no one was left in any doubt as to how the coach felt. The ball was then put in the players court as to how they respond. If alot choose to jump ship , does that say more about the coach or the players????

So after all that...is Walters staying at the 'Maine, or is he looking elsewhere in '09? Would be a pretty handy "get" for anyone in the minor leagues.

 

[Steader]

The club still really struggles off field with too few willing to pitch in and help out. They have a strong junior base coming through and they need to ensure they look after these kids to ensure that they either stay or come back to the club after they try their luck else where. I will reserve judgement too at this stage although I think they are potentially the big improvers!

Funny thing Rich I havent seen you over in Newstead at training or any of the working bee's that the club has had in the past 12 months, so I would think that your comment about them really struggling off the field might not be correct. If you have a look at what they have done over the past couple of years in relation to ground improvement and drought proofing the ground as well as retaining all their local kids that played for them and almost beat Talbot at the dustbowl over there maybe you would have a different opinion.
As for looking after kids or they will try there luck elsewhere the club is quite willing to see players that what to try at a higher level go and play as when they do come back which most of them seem to they come back and pass on what they have learnt to others at the club.
Maybe if more clubs encouraged their younger players to do that we might see the standard of the league improve even more.

As for recruits and the amount of players at training, preseason doesnt start until Jan 12th and the training prior to christmas was optional and still had over 30 different players attend. Recruit wise clearences dont open until feb 1st so there isnt a club yet that has recuited anyone. can have a recruit if they arent cleared. Lets see what each club runs out with in Round one.

 

[Frustrated]

Spot on Comments. too much bull gets quoted this time of the year. No doubt Newstead will improve and the club has worked hard to keep youngsters and their ground is in tip top nick at the moment unlike the talbot shit heap which never improves. Look for clearances at all clubs and see whos playing where in april. All clubs are obviously trying to improve and are working hard to do so at the moment and until players run out it will be hard to judge who will finish where.

 

[KingRich]

Funny thing Rich I havent seen you over in Newstead at training or any of the working bee's that the club has had in the past 12 months, so I would think that your comment about them really struggling off the field might not be correct. If you have a look at what they have done over the past couple of years in relation to ground improvement and drought proofing the ground as well as retaining all their local kids that played for them and almost beat Talbot at the dustbowl over there maybe you would have a different opinion.
As for looking after kids or they will try there luck elsewhere the club is quite willing to see players that what to try at a higher level go and play as when they do come back which most of them seem to they come back and pass on what they have learnt to others at the club.
Maybe if more clubs encouraged their younger players to do that we might see the standard of the league improve even more.

As for recruits and the amount of players at training, preseason doesnt start until Jan 12th and the training prior to christmas was optional and still had over 30 different players attend. Recruit wise clearences dont open until feb 1st so there isnt a club yet that has recuited anyone. can have a recruit if they arent cleared. Lets see what each club runs out with in Round one.

Gee a bit touchy aren't we boys?? I know quite a few Newstead people and it is the Newstead people and players that I speak to that say this and they said it as of about September last year. Hopefully you guys are improving but I will stand by my comments. You have improved your ground out of sight and this is a credit to you.

As for our dustbowl...... well we love it and other clubs hate it so that doesn't worry us. We will fix it one day! In the mean time....... enjoy hitting the hard deck! It was good of you guys to finally fix that wall between the change rooms this year I must admit!

Clearances are practically automatic these days so lets not beat around the bush! Every club would have secured a few players at this stage that have signed on the dotted line etc. If we cant talk recruits then there isn't much to talk about over Summer is there?? Talbot is tracking along pretty good and should be stronger next season with a number of players already secured. Pre-season training starts back on the 13th of Jan.

 

[The Iron Glove]

Gee a bit touchy aren't we boys?? I know quite a few Newstead people and it is the Newstead people and players that I speak to that say this and they said it as of about September last year. Hopefully you guys are improving but I will stand by my comments. You have improved your ground out of sight and this is a credit to you.

As for our dustbowl...... well we love it and other clubs hate it so that doesn't worry us. We will fix it one day! In the mean time....... enjoy hitting the hard deck! It was good of you guys to finally fix that wall between the change rooms this year I must admit!

Clearances are practically automatic these days so lets not beat around the bush! Every club would have secured a few players at this stage that have signed on the dotted line etc. If we cant talk recruits then there isn't much to talk about over Summer is there?? Talbot is tracking along pretty good and should be stronger next season with a number of players already secured. Pre-season training starts back on the 13th of Jan.

Rich, the comments about your dustbowl might highlight some serious problems of your own in your own backyard. You say your proud of it? It's a disgrace. That fact that the drought has been going on for at least 10 years now should not be an excuse. The goverment and local councils have funding in place to do something about it, all it takes is somebody willing to put in a bit of work filling out the paperwork and meeting with contractors. No club in our league should have an excuse not to have there ground ready by round 1. It is only a detriment to the standard or our league. Personally I believe that if it isn't safe to play on they should either forfeit there round 1 match or forfeit there home ground advantage twice during the year.

Maybe Rich you could ask some of Newsteads volunteers the best way of going about it

 

[Sherman41]

Rich, the comments about your dustbowl might highlight some serious problems of your own in your own backyard. You say your proud of it? It's a disgrace. That fact that the drought has been going on for at least 10 years now should not be an excuse. The goverment and local councils have funding in place to do something about it, all it takes is somebody willing to put in a bit of work filling out the paperwork and meeting with contractors. No club in our league should have an excuse not to have there ground ready by round 1. It is only a detriment to the standard or our league. Personally I believe that if it isn't safe to play on they should either forfeit there round 1 match or forfeit there home ground advantage twice during the year.

Maybe Rich you could ask some of Newsteads volunteers the best way of going about it

u think we are not aware of this iron glove?...maybe we will just go grab a bunch of money of that money tree we have growing out the back of the clubrooms and get it done....i think all rich was trying to say was being a loyal talbot supporter he is proud of the club and everything associated with it..it is cetainly not the best ground going around but it is still our ground!

 

[darkhorse4000]

u think we are not aware of this iron glove?...maybe we will just go grab a bunch of money of that money tree we have growing out the back of the clubrooms and get it done....i think all rich was trying to say was being a loyal talbot supporter he is proud of the club and everything associated with it..it is cetainly not the best ground going around but it is still our ground!

I think if you read what glove has mentioned about grants and funding etc it has nothing to do with you "money" tree, it is good to see people proud and pasionate about their club and facility's, but to be honest the ground surface isnt flash and there is as mentioned money there to be given to clubs to improve their surfaces due to the drought without eating into all the clubs hard earned coin......

 

[Sherman41]

I think if you read what glove has mentioned about grants and funding etc it has nothing to do with you "money" tree, it is good to see people proud and pasionate about their club and facility's, but to be honest the ground surface isnt flash and there is as mentioned money there to be given to clubs to improve their surfaces due to the drought without eating into all the clubs hard earned coin......

i understand that darkhorse, yes a grant would cetainly help, but very little is free these days, everything comes with a cost...re-surfacing a ground would certainly come at a price, even with a grant one with have to think, yes , no???

 

[KingRich]

HaHa I did have my tongue firmly in my cheek when I said I was proud of our ground guys!

The club wants to get it fully flattened and re-surfaced and do it properly. This would mean kicking the cricketers off for a summer which they are prepared to do but it will be a very costly exercise with or without external funding. Contrary to popular opinion the players and committee work their butts off to resow and water that oval every year and believe it or not it was a lot better this year than previous years and it still now has a grass cover which it normally wouldn't so hopefully with continued TLC over summer it will come up ok. Its only at the beginning and end of season that it struggles a bit. During the year, whilst it doesn't look pretty, it is generally soft enough to play footy on.

Clubs continually not providing hot water for showers is a bigger travesty in my opinion!

 

[Pyrenees Puma]

HaHa I did have my tongue firmly in my cheek when I said I was proud of our ground guys!

The club wants to get it fully flattened and re-surfaced and do it properly. This would mean kicking the cricketers off for a summer which they are prepared to do but it will be a very costly exercise with or without external funding. Contrary to popular opinion the players and committee work their butts off to resow and water that oval every year and believe it or not it was a lot better this year than previous years and it still now has a grass cover which it normally wouldn't so hopefully with continued TLC over summer it will come up ok. Its only at the beginning and end of season that it struggles a bit. During the year, whilst it doesn't look pretty, it is generally soft enough to play footy on.

Clubs continually not providing hot water for showers is a bigger travesty in my opinion!

I would have to disagree with you king on that comment,i guess your tongue is still firmly in your cheek. I'm yet to see a player miss a game through being a bit smelly,but i have seen a lot of players miss week after week, after being injured on below standard grounds. I believe that if the league is to keep improving and become a lot more professional.(which i believe it is ).

Ground quality will become one of the most important issues. All it will take is for a player to get seriously hurt as a result of the ground surface not being up to standard. If that player can prove the club or committee didn't fill there responsibility to provide a safe playing environment, that club or committee in my opinion will be in deep s##t.

We have all heard the rumors of the dollars some players are getting in this league,perhaps its about time clubs started spending some of the large budgets put aside for players,and spend that cash on there facilities.Then we might have good grounds to play on, and prehaps even hot water

 

[KingRich]

I would have to disagree with you king on that comment,i guess your tongue is still firmly in your cheek. I'm yet to see a player miss a game through being a bit smelly,but i have seen a lot of players miss week after week, after being injured on below standard grounds. I believe that if the league is to keep improving and become a lot more professional.(which i believe it is ).

Ground quality will become one of the most important issues. All it will take is for a player to get seriously hurt as a result of the ground surface not being up to standard. If that player can prove the club or committee didn't fill there responsibility to provide a safe playing environment, that club or committee in my opinion will be in deep s##t.

We have all heard the rumors of the dollars some players are getting in this league,perhaps its about time clubs started spending some of the large budgets put aside for players,and spend that cash on there facilities.Then we might have good grounds to play on, and prehaps even hot water

Agreed. It's important to remember that some clubs dont have the same luck and conditions as other places with their ovals. Talbot have spent a considerable amount of money trying to secure a better water supply and fix oval etc and have been unlucky with a lot of different things. We pay to truck water on every year when other clubs have access to rivers, reservoirs or bore water. At this stage without spending a heap, we cant do much about it. It did improve last year and will continue to improve if the time is spent on it over pre-season.

I agree that ours as well as others need to improve but the lack of water in this current climate does make it bloody hard! Plus the culture of people expecting to play on MCG like surfaces in the district league is a bit of a joke too.

 

[Sherman41]

I would have to disagree with you king on that comment,i guess your tongue is still firmly in your cheek. I'm yet to see a player miss a game through being a bit smelly,but i have seen a lot of players miss week after week, after being injured on below standard grounds. I believe that if the league is to keep improving and become a lot more professional.(which i believe it is ).

Ground quality will become one of the most important issues. All it will take is for a player to get seriously hurt as a result of the ground surface not being up to standard. If that player can prove the club or committee didn't fill there responsibility to provide a safe playing environment, that club or committee in my opinion will be in deep s##t.

We have all heard the rumors of the dollars some players are getting in this league,perhaps its about time clubs started spending some of the large budgets put aside for players,and spend that cash on there facilities.Then we might have good grounds to play on, and prehaps even hot water

We are only playing country footy and i think that is what a few of us seem to be forgetting, if clubs had the money to fix their grounds then im sure they would, unfortunately though the cash flow is not always as good as others clubs and limits their ability to perform such work..As Rich said alot of time and work has been put into the grouns which can go un-noticed to the external eye, hopefully in time it will come up to scratch...

Hard grounds can cause injuries but serious injuries can occur anywhere at anytime, even on the MCG the greatest surface on them all.

So Puma does that mean Clarky came for a bargain price, or are all your facilities up to scratch..

 

[Pyrenees Puma]

We are only playing country footy and i think that is what a few of us seem to be forgetting, if clubs had the money to fix their grounds then im sure they would, unfortunately though the cash flow is not always as good as others clubs and limits their ability to perform such work..As Rich said alot of time and work has been put into the grouns which can go un-noticed to the external eye, hopefully in time it will come up to scratch...

Hard grounds can cause injuries but serious injuries can occur anywhere at anytime, even on the MCG the greatest surface on them all.

So Puma does that mean Clarky came for a bargain price, or are all your facilities up to scratch..

From what i hear an absolute bargain,and yes our facilities are up to scratch.I heard tonight our club just received a $ 200,000+ grant, so i guess we will only get better.Perhaps you need some one at your club to put in the hard yards and improve your facilities, just like Newstead have. Or perhaps just sit back and whine about the clubs who are having a go. I believe part of our new grant is a players gymnasium, which will be much appreciated by our playing group. Just a little helping hand Sherman, if your club is in a town with level 3 water restictions.Goverment grants for bores, sprinkler systems, and ground improvements are an absoulute shoe in, but i am sure you already new that, as we are a fair bit behind your clubs way of thinking.As i have already said, get some one from your club of there ass to put in the hard yards, so we can all play on good grounds.
Ignorence is no excuse.