A real joker in the pack

[DST]

Today's Age indicates that ex St Kilda player Beetham wants to play football at the highest level again after walking out on St Kilda a couple of years ago.

For those who can't remember he is 23 now, has fantastic pace and very good disposal skills and was taken top 10 in the draft.

If he is fair dinkum about playing again, he would be major target for us in the draft this week.

DST

[cruiser]

Bit is he a @@@@head?

[Jeffers1984]

Name rings a bell. Didn't he walk out on the Aints because he was homesick?

[Bleed Red Blood]

Beetham would be a very good pick up. Better than those 'dregs'.

Originally posted by cruiser
I cant believe that the word dikchead has been censored! That is ridiculous, especially given that it was stated by Ricky Barham as club policy and quoted in newspapers. Moderators on this board go overboard at times.

Agreed. Not even allowed a fifteen line sig! What's up with that?*







*No disrespect to moderaters intended

[undy]

The signs are that he isn't a Richardhead: he walked out on the saints, doesn't regard footy as the only thing in the world and found the atmosphere surrounding AFL players in Melbourne suffocating. If he won't get home-sick (he is 23 now) then he sounds like a classic move-to-Sydney prospect.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Classic ex-saint too..

[SimonH]

The article indicates that some clubs have already shown interest, which in this context invariably means 'Victorian clubs'. If he's unlikely to be ignored by everyone else, I doubt whether it would be worth Ricky Barham & co even contacting him.

[Charlie]

Definitely worth a look with our picks. I remember Beetham - he was every bit as highly rated as Lenny Hayes was at the same time. He would be a punt, but he'll come straight into our best 22.

I'd be surprised if he isn't picked up, and I'd be happy if he was picked up by us. I actually think his walkout is a good sign, rather than a reason to invoke the Barham rule. It takes a brave kid to say at 20 'I'm not dedicated enough to do this'.... and walk away. In the past three years, he's played footy, but he's done it for the love of the game, and he's lived outside the sport as well.

[Lucky Knickers]

Look at the club he walked away from?? Sounds like a smart guy - couldn't possibly be a richard!

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Charlie
the Barham rule.

What rule is that Charlie?

[Nico]

My recollection is that he was a pretty average footballer seen as a disappointing commodity for a top 10.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Nico
My recollection is that he was a pretty average footballer seen as a disappointing commodity for a top 10.

But you have to remember he was at StKilda so didn't have a coach. Having a coach may make a real difference

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by goswannie14
But you have to remember he was at StKilda so didn't have a coach. Having a coach may make a real difference

I reckon Barry Hall agrees 100%.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
I reckon Barry Hall agrees 100%.

IIrc Hall played well under Stan Alves and Blight...but then that idiot appointed himself at the Saints and the rest, as they say, is history.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by goswannie14
IIrc Hall played well under Stan Alves and Blight...but then that idiot appointed himself at the Saints and the rest, as they say, is history.

But wasn't Thomas the Football Manager, therefore had a key say in who stayed and went?