I got more text messages last night from Collingwood supporters demanding to know what’s going on at Collingwood, and to inform me that Tom Hawkins will kick 12 goals for the Cats on Sunday.
They blurted out 'Ben Reid', the Pies best defender has been rested/managed for this game and won’t play.
Again they blurted, 'is there a conspiracy to get rid of Buckley?', the message ranted.
On a serious note, Ben Reid is 28 tomorrow and has had his share of injuries, but he hasn’t missed a game this year.
It can be argued he is Collingwood’s most valuable player and this is a defining game for the club.
Clearly the thinking is a five-day break is too much for Reid to back up from Anzac Day.
My question is do players get wrapped up in cotton wool too much by their clubs?
Once players had an everyday job and many worked on the tools from dawn to dusk before training at night and then playing.
And never did I hear of a player being managed.
How much time does a full-time player need to recover?
Surely going for a paddle or a wave in Port Phillip Bay then having a massage, jumping on an exercise bike, going for a spa, maybe a casual walk along the beach and even an afternoon nap after a casual lunch in Lygon St.
After several days of such a torrid recovery period, surely a player should be able to pull on the jumper and play a game of Australian Rules Football.
Or have we become just too soft?
I’m KB, that’s my take.