Hall: Suspended Indefinitely by the Swans

[royboy42]

Hall gets a week, and dropped as well.

see here..

Official Website of the Australian Football League > NEWS ARTICLE > Hall dropped 'indefinitely': Swans

[goswannie14]

Just heard that on ABC radio, dropped indefinitely and getting a Psych assessment.

As much as I love Baz when on song, of late we have played better without him.

[ShockOfHair]

Good move by the club. Hall has mocked the leadership group and the club, not to mention wasted probably a third of his season on the sidelines.

But I don't think the club has to elaborate on why a player is considered "mentally unfit". It's pretty personal, not like 'strained hamstring" (I know, I know, Jarred Crouch's hammies are personal, but that's JC for you).

I'd like to think Hall will use the time to get into the room full of mirrors and deal with whatever he needs to deal with. Can't say I'm that confident he'll play again this year.

[Legs Akimbo]

But I don't think the club has to elaborate on why a player is considered "mentally unfit". It's pretty personal, not like 'strained hamstring" (I know, I know, Jarred Crouch's hammies are personal, but that's JC for you).

I don't think it is relevant anyway. He is mentally unfit to play by virtue of his actions - res ipsa loquitor. i.e. the club has a duty of care to protect Hall and others too.

He could have nothing wrong with his head, but the fact that he king hit Staker and attempted to do the same to Wakelin means he is not mentally fit to play AFL.

For what it is worth, I also feel sorry for him. That picture of he and Goodes sparring has an odd 'Davis come to savis' poignancy about it.

[SimonH]

He will play again this year. (I don't have any inside knowledge-- I just know that for a guy who has competitiveness in his DNA like BBBH, 'psychological issues' couldn't dampen his will to play for more than about 2 weeks, to which you could add a maximum of another 2 weeks for him to convince Roos and the leadership group that he's right to go.)

The real question is: 2009? I know that he's contracted, but Sydney players under contract 'retire' with monotonous regularity.

Seeing that MOL is showing every sign of going on, Leo's likely to go on and Kirk is a certainty to, end 2008 could actually be a good time for BBBH to say goodbye-- helping the gradual generational shift rather than losing all of our senior players at once.

[NMWBloods]

I think any chances in finals are significantly reduced now.

[south_dimmies]

theage.com reports that...

Roos indicated Hall was troubled by something outside football, which was causing anger.

...and that they've been aware of it for 12-13 weeks.

12-13 weeks is a long time in football.

Long enough to court a new replacement. Maybe this Fevola story is actually legit, and they've known all along that Hall is a timebomb.

[hammo]

I think any chances in finals are significantly reduced now.

While Hall's a great player, I do think our forward line functions better without him. The team looks for other targets rather than Hall.

Not sure who will come in, but I'd like O'Keefe to take on the CHF role. He's got the engine and his marking is just about the best in the AFL. If he gets some confidence up then hopefully goal kicking accurancy will follow.

[annew]

I think any chances in finals are significantly reduced now.

Yeah I agree unless Davis is actually not injured and can tick all the boxes.

[NMWBloods]

While Hall's a great player, I do think our forward line functions better without him. The team looks for other targets rather than Hall.

It has done since 2006, but additionally since then we've not really been a threat to the top teams. Unless you have something to compensate, you really need a dominant forward or a couple of decent sized ones to be a flag threat. Our inability to score easily or at critical times, especially against good teams, is our achilles heel IMO.

[swan_song]

Our inability to score easily or at critical times, especially against good teams, is our achilles heel IMO.

In so many games over the past few years we have failed to score a goal in a quarter, or scored only one or two goals in a half (or two quarters)...it just is not a sign of a great team. I know it's one of my pet hates about the Swans, but this inability to score in matches is bewildering in modern-day football. It's especially frustrating when at other times we DO score multiple goals very quickly...

[Margie]

Hall is bad news for the Swans "brand" at the moment and shouldn't play with his current (whatever it is) state of mind. If hurts our finals chances, so be it. Better to have credibility as a fair team than to be seen as condoning thuggish behaviour.

Let him earn his way back or take up a career in boxing. I too hope he gets his head right, though.

[SimonH]

Our inability to score easily or at critical times, especially against good teams, is our achilles heel IMO.

To help the Swans to score more quickly when the game is running their way, we need an 'X factor' player who is tough to match up on, is a dependable kick for gaol, and for whom the sky is the limit in terms of ability and potential.

That player is Ed Barlow.

[NMWBloods]

To help the Swans to score more quickly when the game is running their way, we need an 'X factor' player who is tough to match up on, is a dependable kick for gaol, and for whom the sky is the limit in terms of ability and potential.

That player is Ed Barlow.

Yep!!

[broadfordthug]

Barry was towelled up on the ground and only knows one way to deal with it. Over to the coach and leadership to decide his future. Maybe Roosy could have helped him by isolating him one out in the square or trying a few different things. For what it's worth there was an attempt and given his recent indiscretion should go on that alone.