Bombertalk

from bomberland:

The Essendon leadership group has decided to suspend Andrew Lovett for the next two matches after breaking team rules.

Lovett missed a compulsory training session on Monday morning and has told the club he was out socialising the night before.

“We expect all our players to meet club standards and missing this training session is not acceptable,” coach Matthew Knights said.

“Andrew is extremely important to this club and the leadership group wants him to make the most of his football career – we believe this two game suspension is the right course of action.”

Knights said that Lovett has apologised for missing training.
f*** me...it's surely not that hard to stick by the team rules....dickhead

Has been playing pretty well lately also. Completely stupid.

f***.

just as everything is on the improve - one dickhead stuffs up the momentum.

only last week I was think how rarely we have discipline problems like other clubs often do. hopefull lovett learns for good this time.

Bloody stupid. I'm so pissed right now. We have 12 out with injuries and he goes and does this. He has been flying as well. This will really hurt us. It's not the first time he has let himself and the Club down by getting on the grog and missing sessions.

BTW Well done to the leadership group for taking this tough stand. It could have been easy for them to take an easy option but they chose the hard option.

Unfortunately, he's making a ******* habit of this. While I have been impressed with his form this year, this indescretion has me shaking my head at his attitude. Grow up FFS.

Very disappointing

Though it does give someone else the opportunity - no doubt whoever gets the gig will make it extremely difficult for Lovett to get his place back in the team.

I think it's commendable that we've finally got a leadership group who's going to take a hard line and not take any crap from anyone, regardless of who it is or how they're playing. It signals strength and unity.

Malky wrote:Very disappointing

Though it does give someone else the opportunity - no doubt whoever gets the gig will make it extremely difficult for Lovett to get his place back in the team.

I think it's commendable that we've finally got a leadership group who's going to take a hard line and not take any crap from anyone, regardless of who it is or how they're playing. It signals strength and unity.

Hocking or Hislop (if not injured) will take his place. Just when we looked like going in unchanged for the first time this year....

Breaking team rules and getting on the grog....BLOODY STUPID DECISION.

Suspending him for two weeks when we really need him.....BLOODY GOOD DECISION (would have been so easy to go soft).

Could this cost us the game this week?

BenDoolan wrote:Unfortunately, he's making a ******* habit of this. While I have been impressed with his form this year, this indescretion has me shaking my head at his attitude. Grow up FFS.

Correct. He's a repeat offender. I called for him to be offloaded last year, and although he's played substantially better this year on a more regular basis, i still haven't changed my mind. Problem now is that any club interested in him knows he comes with baggage, so he wouldn't fetch a decent price.

BenDoolan wrote:

Malky wrote:Very disappointing

Though it does give someone else the opportunity - no doubt whoever gets the gig will make it extremely difficult for Lovett to get his place back in the team.

I think it's commendable that we've finally got a leadership group who's going to take a hard line and not take any crap from anyone, regardless of who it is or how they're playing. It signals strength and unity.

Hocking or Hislop (if not injured) will take his place. Just when we looked like going in unchanged for the first time this year....

Would Dyson get a look in. I know Bendigo form ain't AFL form but is he worth yet another chance

I am on the bandwagon now Jimmy... He has to go as he is the loose chain in the link and especially as we have and will have so many indigenous players that he is setting a poor example for.

He has the ability to be one of the most exciting players in the game yet he has no discipline... sad!!

Filthy wrote:Un-f.cking-believable

Have you been walking around with your eyes shut and ears covered for the past 12 months FILTHY? Which part do you find particularly hard to believe?

Is it just me, or doesn't the guy need a bit of a spell in the twos anyway?

On Saturday night, I saw him fumble and turn over the ball a number of times, and take some pretty low percentage options.

Sure he is grease lightening, but he was coughing the pill up plenty.

Hislop/Dyson/Hocking to get a run?

Houli still a week away with an injury?

billyduckworth wrote:Breaking team rules and getting on the grog....BLOODY STUPID DECISION.

Suspending him for two weeks when we really need him.....BLOODY GOOD DECISION (would have been so easy to go soft).

two weeks seems harsh. I would have given him one, played him in the twos and expected a solid training effort if we wanted a recall against the pies.

tom9779 wrote:

billyduckworth wrote:Breaking team rules and getting on the grog....BLOODY STUPID DECISION.

Suspending him for two weeks when we really need him.....BLOODY GOOD DECISION (would have been so easy to go soft).

two weeks seems harsh. I would have given him one, played him in the twos and expected a solid training effort if we wanted a recall against the pies.

Well he was suspended for the entire pre-season comp (which ended up being 3 weeks) for similar rubbish prior to the season. Becoming a serial offender.

I think that they are penalising the side by suspending him. They should fine him a huge amount, hit him the hip pocket, this way he is punished not the club and supporters. He's a player we need on game day to play, not sit in the corner like a bad little boy.

Not a hanging offence but he is a repeat offender. And I bet that wouldn't sit well with either Lloyd or Knights.

If we get a good trade offer then it would have to be considered.

Scott wrote:I think that they are penalising the side by suspending him. They should fine him a huge amount, hit him the hip pocket, this way he is punished not the club and supporters. He's a player we need on game day to play, not sit in the corner like a bad little boy.

No, he has to sit out. Besides the decision was made by the playing group.(senior players anyhow). They told the coach.

quiet simple really. you train, you play. you don't train, you don't play. most footy teams have got the same sort of rule.

you got to have a genuine reason for missing training, particularly if you are being paid to play. being out on the piss the night before is not a valid reason.

Lovett's misfortunes is anothers opportunity.

I am looking forward to watching someone else get a chance who has put in the hard yards.

He usaully plays his best at the MCG so he has really let down the whole club. Hopefully he will finally learn.