Popped into training a few times during the preseason and Munkara seemed to do very little (if any) contact work. He’d just run a few laps, take a few shots from the boundary and was basically held back from integrating into the main group.
To take such a slow and steady approach with him in the preseason, only to give up on him in year 1 is a very odd and disappointing decision.
If he’s the one pulling the pin, fair enough, it’s his life. I’m still hoping this info is wrong.
Probably out of our hands.
Always thought this would be the outcome, but was hopeful the appointment of some senior indigenous ex players might have prevented this.
Very sad. Was looking forward to having him tearing it up in the senior at some point soon.
what I’m realising as a fan is talent and skill is not at all the most important attribute for a successful AFL footballer. It’s all about attitude/desire to compete, or a pathological fear of losing!
None of “project” players at Essendon display a competitive edge.
No sane person would ever really want to be a footballer, the money is not amazing for the toll is going to take on your body and brain for the rest of your life.
I wonder if any clubs run personality tests of recruits? I think it would reap massive rewards. Essendon need to find the psychos.
Too talented to be at the club.
And we desperately need to get players with sleeves of tattoos.
Except for Patrick Voss
Those tests are only good when the person taking them is honest.
Once you add the lustre of making your way onto an AFL list, I’m sure an 18 year old won’t try to cheat the system.
BRB just going to ask the mushroom lady to cook me up a nice Rogan Josh
Guess that is a smart choice. If you find mushrooms in that, you’ll know something is suss.
If true this would be disappointing. He showed glimpses of the talent he has but clearly a complex issue and I wish him nothing but success and happiness.
Some of you are aware that my boss was his host family so I got pretty good info.
I left the business a couple of weeks ago…sorry
This is news to me. If it’s true it would be a club call, not Anthony’s.
His Girlfriend had just moved down to Melbourne with him and he was loving his footy.
PS
Tex also lives with him and I know he was becoming frustrated as he wants to play on ball
I seriously wouldn’t believe that it was a club call.
Talent only gets you so far. You need the drive and work ethic also. Unfortunately, I don’t think he has the latter two, but had the first in spades.
Brad is finally setting standards, Walla gone and Stringer will get the boot if he doesn’t return in great nick!
I would love to have seen Mumkara make it and if he really wants it, he needs to work hard to get it, just like every other player on a list has.
We don’t actually know he’s not coming back.
I reserve the right to panic.
What are your sources saying?
I’d be happy for him to go back home for a few months. If that’s what it takes.
Or atleast give him more time off, to head home… even if he misses a game or 2 of VFL.
This should be a slow process. We are literally wasting talent if we aren’t meeting these Tiwi kids where they are (emotionally) on the journey.
It sounds like the only thing we know at this point is that we don’t know anything…
I don’t even know that much, because I keep thinking I know something.
So the official news is he was not offered an extension to his 1 year contract. Wanted to stay but club declined. Has interest from other clubs for next year. Was not home sickness.
Cal only said that he’s ‘unlikely’ to be offered another contract.