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Bloody night out as souls are cleansed
16 July 2003 Herald Sun
By MARK STEVENS
DENIS Pagan warned his players to bring mouthguards. Pity Justin Davies didn't throw a faceguard into his kit bag.
Davies was forced from Optus Oval last night, blood gushing from a wound below his left eye.
Wearing the No. 7 made famous by shock retiree Brett Ratten, Davies was in a heavy clash with Simon Beaumont during match practice.
Lance Whitnall also hobbled from the ground with a left ankle injury as coach Pagan went about cleansing the sins of Saturday night's 116-point wipe-out to West Coast.
Blues football manager Col Kinnear last night said he was awaiting an update on Whitnall's condition.
Asked if such a tough session was a gamble, Pagan said: "Someone once said to me, fortune in football in fact favours the brave.
"It was willing and really hard . . . a couple of split heads, that's unfortunate," Pagan said afterwards. "That's the price you've got to pay.
"It's a game of physical intimidation. If you're not equal to the occasion, you won't play for long.
"We're second last at the moment. We've got to be right on the edge to be able to compete against the very best."
The list split into two, completed a warm-up and then went at it for 20 minutes.
Pagan made it clear he wanted to see just who was desperate to play for the club.
"It's not about talent or ability. It's about who really wants to play," Pagan said.
"It gives someone who let himself down an opportunity to have his soul cleansed and make a commitment to himself."
Pagan was bitterly disappointed at the weekend that so many Blues played nowhere near their capabilities.
He also watched the club's VFL affiliate Northern Bullants and found little to cheer him up.
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix in sight for the Blues' drastic shortage of running options.
"There's been a few there (at the Bullants) we really want to play well, but they're perhaps just a little bit underdone in terms of the size of their bodies.
"We'd love Kade Simpson to be in our side because he gives us exactly what we want, but he's about 54kg at the moment and we need him to put some weight on.
"We've been dying to play a Blake Campbell, but he's really struggling at VFL level."
Several changes are expected this week, with ruckman Barnaby French under scrutiny.
Veteran full-back Michael Martyn did not take part, restricted to light work by what Pagan described as a "soft-tissue" injury.
16 July 2003 Herald Sun
By MARK STEVENS
DENIS Pagan warned his players to bring mouthguards. Pity Justin Davies didn't throw a faceguard into his kit bag.
Davies was forced from Optus Oval last night, blood gushing from a wound below his left eye.
Wearing the No. 7 made famous by shock retiree Brett Ratten, Davies was in a heavy clash with Simon Beaumont during match practice.
Lance Whitnall also hobbled from the ground with a left ankle injury as coach Pagan went about cleansing the sins of Saturday night's 116-point wipe-out to West Coast.
Blues football manager Col Kinnear last night said he was awaiting an update on Whitnall's condition.
Asked if such a tough session was a gamble, Pagan said: "Someone once said to me, fortune in football in fact favours the brave.
"It was willing and really hard . . . a couple of split heads, that's unfortunate," Pagan said afterwards. "That's the price you've got to pay.
"It's a game of physical intimidation. If you're not equal to the occasion, you won't play for long.
"We're second last at the moment. We've got to be right on the edge to be able to compete against the very best."
The list split into two, completed a warm-up and then went at it for 20 minutes.
Pagan made it clear he wanted to see just who was desperate to play for the club.
"It's not about talent or ability. It's about who really wants to play," Pagan said.
"It gives someone who let himself down an opportunity to have his soul cleansed and make a commitment to himself."
Pagan was bitterly disappointed at the weekend that so many Blues played nowhere near their capabilities.
He also watched the club's VFL affiliate Northern Bullants and found little to cheer him up.
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix in sight for the Blues' drastic shortage of running options.
"There's been a few there (at the Bullants) we really want to play well, but they're perhaps just a little bit underdone in terms of the size of their bodies.
"We'd love Kade Simpson to be in our side because he gives us exactly what we want, but he's about 54kg at the moment and we need him to put some weight on.
"We've been dying to play a Blake Campbell, but he's really struggling at VFL level."
Several changes are expected this week, with ruckman Barnaby French under scrutiny.
Veteran full-back Michael Martyn did not take part, restricted to light work by what Pagan described as a "soft-tissue" injury.
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