TonyK
CibbuanoHart should hang up the boots
November 12th 2006 02:01
Former Adelaide Crows champion Ben Hart is expected to make a decision on his future early next week and if he hopes to keep his football reputation intact retirement would be the logical path to take.
After being controversially axed by the Crows in October, Hart had indicated a desire to continue his AFL career at another club.
Hart will turn 33 before the start of next season should he choose to play on and with the pace of the game evolving at a rapid rate courtesy of rule changes; it would be fair to suggest the game has passed him by.
While there is no questioning his credentials as a dual premiership player, two-time best-and-fairest, four-times All-Australian and the first Adelaide player to play 300 games, a move to another club for the sake of one season or two at best would only serve to tarnish his reputation.
Former Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton enjoyed a stellar career at the Hawks which yielded five day and five night premierships and three All-Australian guernseys.
However, his career ended on a less than impressive note with one-year stints at Sydney and Collingwood respectively.
His stint at the Swans in 1994 was punctuated by an ugly incident in which he stomped on the head of former Hawk Rayden Tallis and received a seven-match ban.
Moving to another club at the twilight of your career only serves to prolong the inevitable, especially in the modern era when clubs can't afford passengers.
While Hart's axing was labelled as "football tragedy" by inaugural Crows captain Chris McDermott, it has to be said that there is no room for sentiment in football and with Rhett Biglands and Trent Hentschel sidelined for all of next season with serious knee injuries and queries over Hart's body to withstand the rigours of another season, the Crows were left with no option than to axe the 311-game veteran.
Hart has expressed a desire to move into coaching, illustrated by his interest in the vacant assistant coaching position at Port Adelaide.
However a move to Alberton remains remote given Port's preference for coaches with experience.
Considering there has been little or no interest from rival clubs in securing Hart's services for next season, accepting the Crows offer of a role in developing the club's younger players would prove to be the ideal grounding for any further coaching aspirations.
While Hart described the club’s decision as “very disappointing,” at the Crows best-and-fairest count last month, it has to be remembered that this is the club that gave him his opportunity at an AFL career and kept him on their list in 2004 despite playing on six games.
The honour of being a one-club player is a rarity in an era of professional sport punctuated by money over loyalty.
For the sake of his football reputation and the honour of being a one-club player, Hart should hang up the boots and give something back to the club that has given him so much over the course of his 15-year career.
After being controversially axed by the Crows in October, Hart had indicated a desire to continue his AFL career at another club.
Hart will turn 33 before the start of next season should he choose to play on and with the pace of the game evolving at a rapid rate courtesy of rule changes; it would be fair to suggest the game has passed him by.
While there is no questioning his credentials as a dual premiership player, two-time best-and-fairest, four-times All-Australian and the first Adelaide player to play 300 games, a move to another club for the sake of one season or two at best would only serve to tarnish his reputation.
Former Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton enjoyed a stellar career at the Hawks which yielded five day and five night premierships and three All-Australian guernseys.
However, his career ended on a less than impressive note with one-year stints at Sydney and Collingwood respectively.
His stint at the Swans in 1994 was punctuated by an ugly incident in which he stomped on the head of former Hawk Rayden Tallis and received a seven-match ban.
Moving to another club at the twilight of your career only serves to prolong the inevitable, especially in the modern era when clubs can't afford passengers.
While Hart's axing was labelled as "football tragedy" by inaugural Crows captain Chris McDermott, it has to be said that there is no room for sentiment in football and with Rhett Biglands and Trent Hentschel sidelined for all of next season with serious knee injuries and queries over Hart's body to withstand the rigours of another season, the Crows were left with no option than to axe the 311-game veteran.
Hart has expressed a desire to move into coaching, illustrated by his interest in the vacant assistant coaching position at Port Adelaide.
However a move to Alberton remains remote given Port's preference for coaches with experience.
Considering there has been little or no interest from rival clubs in securing Hart's services for next season, accepting the Crows offer of a role in developing the club's younger players would prove to be the ideal grounding for any further coaching aspirations.
While Hart described the club’s decision as “very disappointing,” at the Crows best-and-fairest count last month, it has to be remembered that this is the club that gave him his opportunity at an AFL career and kept him on their list in 2004 despite playing on six games.
The honour of being a one-club player is a rarity in an era of professional sport punctuated by money over loyalty.
For the sake of his football reputation and the honour of being a one-club player, Hart should hang up the boots and give something back to the club that has given him so much over the course of his 15-year career.
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Comment by katyzzz
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MS Paint Art
Success, I know what boots are. There you go, my prejudice against football just came down to 98%.
You're doing well, my nice little 'no nose' friend.
katyzzz
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession