AJ Watch

[linko]

I hope so. If AJ can get back playing like Menzel has I will be so happy for him. Imagine this backline in 2 years. Grundy, Talia, AJ, AA, Smith, Rampe.

[KTigers]

Yes, Menzel, look how well he is going! Who would have thought it. I guess his story does give AJ hope.
Four years out of the game, I would be quite a story.

[707]

Yes, Menzel, look how well he is going! Who would have thought it. I guess his story does give AJ hope.
Four years out of the game, I would be quite a story.

Be nearly five years, probably wouldn't play until 2018. Remember how highly we rated AJ in 2012, has been missed, would be massive if he can get well and play again. Hopefully he does and returns for a "debut" at the SCG.

[mcs]

Be nearly five years, probably wouldn't play until 2018. Remember how highly we rated AJ in 2012, has been missed, would be massive if he can get well and play again. Hopefully he does and returns for a "debut" at the SCG.

It will be a great tribute to perseverance if he can play a competitive match again - even if he doesn't get anywhere near the heights his 2012 suggested he could as a player.

I hope he gets a chance to get back on the field - the roar he will get when he gets announced to the crowd before the game will be worth being there for. I've made a pledge to myself that if (I hope its a case of when) AJ gets back on the field, I will be there for his first game back in seniors, no matter where or when that game is.

[Meg]

Interesting article re Daniel Menzel's support for footy players coming back from knee reconstructions. There is a brief mention of AJ.

"DANIEL Menzel has poured the heartbreak of four knee reconstructions into a new website designed to inspire local footballers sharing his plight."

Geelong?s Daniel Menzel launches website designed to inspire local footballers who have torn their ACL

[neilfws]

There's an older thread here but no surprise you missed it, it's dropped off forum pages 1-3 so is effectively invisible.

AJ Watch

[Crusty]

Thanks Neil.
I could have sworn there was an AJ thread but couldn't find it.
Happy for the mods to shift this over, which is where it should be.

[barry]

Surely he would have to show signs of recovery and into training this summer to be kept on the list.
We cant wait forever.

[RogueSwan]

... Happy for the mods to shift this over, which is where it should be.

Done

[Bloods05]

Surely he would have to show signs of recovery and into training this summer to be kept on the list.
We cant wait forever.

!!!

[barry]

!!!

Yes, an unpopular opinion.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

[CureTheSane]

Normally I'd be a lot more open to sharing that type of opinion, but in this case, the romance of a return is worth it's weight in gold.
Also what it says about the ideology of the Swans.

[liz]

I don't suppose the retention of AJ on the senior list has been entirely out of sentiment. I am making some assumptions here, but not entirely unreasonable ones, given what we've seen. If the club has assessed it's list as

a) being pretty strong, not just at the top but in terms of the potential of a decent number of the untried (and barely tried) players to contribute at senior level;
b) the value of adding another new player to fill the 38th place on the list being of very marginal value, especially where that player would be a pretty late draft pick;
c) and having a strong rookie roster with a number of players worthy of promotion within the season

then effectively having a spare spot free to be filled when needed during the season, according to needs and how the rookies develop during the late pre-season and into the early stages of the season, provides a fair degree of flexibility to the list management. Clearly they won't keep on with this situation for too much longer, and they must also really rate AJ's determination and his chances of getting back to top level footy if a graft ever does stay put in his knee, not to mention highly valuing his potential worth to the team if he does get back. No doubt they also really value the work he has been doing around the club while going through his trials - like his work with the academy and the NEAFL side. Keeping him on the list in some shape or form is a way to encourage him to stick around in Sydney.

The emotional impact if he ever does make it back to play senior footy will be huge, but the healthy state of the list has enabled the club to be a little indulgent in sticking with him for so long.

[Mr Magoo]

I don't suppose the retention of AJ on the senior list has been entirely out of sentiment. I am making some assumptions here, but not entirely unreasonable ones, given what we've seen. If the club has assessed it's list as

a) being pretty strong, not just at the top but in terms of the potential of a decent number of the untried (and barely tried) players to contribute at senior level;
b) the value of adding another new player to fill the 38th place on the list being of very marginal value, especially where that player would be a pretty late draft pick;
c) and having a strong rookie roster with a number of players worthy of promotion within the season

then effectively having a spare spot free to be filled when needed during the season, according to needs and how the rookies develop during the late pre-season and into the early stages of the season, provides a fair degree of flexibility to the list management. Clearly they won't keep on with this situation for too much longer, and they must also really rate AJ's determination and his chances of getting back to top level footy if a graft ever does stay put in his knee, not to mention highly valuing his potential worth to the team if he does get back. No doubt they also really value the work he has been doing around the club while going through his trials - like his work with the academy and the NEAFL side. Keeping him on the list in some shape or form is a way to encourage him to stick around in Sydney.

The emotional impact if he ever does make it back to play senior footy will be huge, but the healthy state of the list has enabled the club to be a little indulgent in sticking with him for so long.

Sorry way too insightful - please remove - we wont emotive and reckless responses

[Crusty]

Swans may play safe with Buddy for Tigers clash - AFL.com.au

"The three-time Coleman medallist was on light duties when the team went through it's paces on Tuesday, and was in runners working on stationary ball work with injured teammates Zak Jones (ankle) and Alex Johnson (knee) when Thursday's session was closed to the media."

This suggests that there is no infection, and it is rehab as normal.

Good news, or probably better described as not bad news.