TonyK
CibbuanoMind your own business Jeff, says Laidley
June 22nd 2008 00:32
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley has hit back at Jeff Kennett after the Hawthorn president slammed the club's decision to play key forward Nathan Thompson.
Thompson took to the field nine days after having keyhole surgery on his left knee.
The 30-year-old got through the match unscathed but before the game Kennett criticised the selection as a potential health risk.
"Something concerns me and it's got nothing to do with the outcome of today's game - Nathan Thompson's named to play today only a week since he's had surgery on his knee.
You can't be serious," Kennett on Triple M.
"And I've said to our guys, whatever you do, for goodness sake, always err on the side of caution.
"Don't push them. Give them another week off, give them two weeks off. So Crawf's out for another week and Croady is too.
"When I heard that Nathan, whom I respect very much, and as you know I work very closely with him, he's an ambassador for Beyond Blue, so I think highly of him.
"When I think that he's had keyhole surgery and now he's playing again a week later it just sends shudders down my back."
North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw said he had full faith in the club's medical staff.
"They're among the best in the competition, so when they say he's ready to go, then he's ready to go," Brayshaw said.
Laidley said Thompson had trained well enough on Thursday to convince the club he was 100 per cent fit.
"(Kennett) probably should mind his own business," Laidley said.
"Thommo was very good. Last Sunday he wanted to play and we changed his training days to give him that opportunity.
"He went and saw the surgeon early on Monday morning and got the tick."
Thompson said he wouldn't have played if he didn't feel that his knee wasn't ready and that he pulled up well after the Kangaroos' 27-point win over the Hawks.
"I've got full faith in our doctors and I wouldn't play even if it was 99 per cent," he said.
"I made sure I put the hard work in and made sure I was right to play.
"The surgeon, David Young, was able to use the smallest arthroscope he could and really small tools, so he barely touched anything.
"He actually said the night after he did it that I'd be back for the Hawthorn game.
"I think the coaches weren't as confident and the doctors were a bit iffy, but once they saw me train on Thursday they thought, 'why not'."
Laidley said the next match against St Kilda on the Gold Coast will be season defining with both sides jostling for a place in the eight.
"When you attack the opposition and the ball like that there's not too many games you're going to be out of it," he said.
"We're playing St Kilda and probably whoever loses it's probably the end of their year."
Thompson took to the field nine days after having keyhole surgery on his left knee.
The 30-year-old got through the match unscathed but before the game Kennett criticised the selection as a potential health risk.
"Something concerns me and it's got nothing to do with the outcome of today's game - Nathan Thompson's named to play today only a week since he's had surgery on his knee.
You can't be serious," Kennett on Triple M.
"And I've said to our guys, whatever you do, for goodness sake, always err on the side of caution.
"Don't push them. Give them another week off, give them two weeks off. So Crawf's out for another week and Croady is too.
"When I heard that Nathan, whom I respect very much, and as you know I work very closely with him, he's an ambassador for Beyond Blue, so I think highly of him.
"When I think that he's had keyhole surgery and now he's playing again a week later it just sends shudders down my back."
North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw said he had full faith in the club's medical staff.
"They're among the best in the competition, so when they say he's ready to go, then he's ready to go," Brayshaw said.
Laidley said Thompson had trained well enough on Thursday to convince the club he was 100 per cent fit.
"(Kennett) probably should mind his own business," Laidley said.
"Thommo was very good. Last Sunday he wanted to play and we changed his training days to give him that opportunity.
"He went and saw the surgeon early on Monday morning and got the tick."
Thompson said he wouldn't have played if he didn't feel that his knee wasn't ready and that he pulled up well after the Kangaroos' 27-point win over the Hawks.
"I've got full faith in our doctors and I wouldn't play even if it was 99 per cent," he said.
"I made sure I put the hard work in and made sure I was right to play.
"The surgeon, David Young, was able to use the smallest arthroscope he could and really small tools, so he barely touched anything.
"He actually said the night after he did it that I'd be back for the Hawthorn game.
"I think the coaches weren't as confident and the doctors were a bit iffy, but once they saw me train on Thursday they thought, 'why not'."
Laidley said the next match against St Kilda on the Gold Coast will be season defining with both sides jostling for a place in the eight.
"When you attack the opposition and the ball like that there's not too many games you're going to be out of it," he said.
"We're playing St Kilda and probably whoever loses it's probably the end of their year."
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