Open Mike

[bennymacca]

surely most of it was about his illustrious Freeling coaching career?

[Bum Crack]

John Platten is on Open Mike tonight, definitely worth a look I reckon!

Comfortably sits top 3 South Aussies in the last 30 years and probably number 1.

Gun

[Rik E Boy]

Platten was skilled of course but man how tough was he? The little fellow copped a lot of punishment and kept getting back up and putting his head over the nut. Impossible for any football fan to not respect and admire Platts.

regards,

REB

[Spargo]

Worked in his pub when Centrals won their first ever flag.
You wouldn't meet a better bloke.

[JK]

Agree with all said about Platts, ripper bloke, absolute champion of the game

[am Bays]

Agree with all said about Platts, ripper bloke, absolute champion of the game

"We want our $20 grand back"

"You can't, it's sitting in the driveway!!!"

You can take the Boy at of Elizabeth but you can't take the Elizabeth out of the Boy....

[Booney]

Platten was skilled of course but man how tough was he? The little fellow copped a lot of punishment and kept getting back up and putting his head over the nut. Impossible for any football fan to not respect and admire Platts.

regards,

REB

As tough as they came, the Rat. His hard edge has cost him over time, like Diesel Williams he has suffered the effects of post concussion symptoms and is unsure what the future holds for him because of it.

[Dogwatcher]

Did he actually say that on the show (I'll be watching it later)?
Because after those original articles were written he and his family were saying that his words had been misconstrued by the journo in regards to how badly he'd been impacted by his concussions.
The times I've spoken to him in the past, I get no sense of those ramifications (that's not to say they're not there).

[Booney]

Did he actually say that on the show (I'll be watching it later)?
Because after those original articles were written he and his family were saying that his words had been misconstrued by the journo in regards to how badly he'd been impacted by his concussions.
The times I've spoken to him in the past, I get no sense of those ramifications (that's not to say they're not there).

I haven't watched the episode but I was referring to this article where he's directly quoted.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/j ... 8d26f3cb4c

FOOTBALL is scaring Hawthorn champ John Platten for the first time.

He fears that an estimated 40 concussions he suffered during his 18-year senior football career have scrambled his brain.

Platten, 52, says his short-term memory loss is “very scary’’, and he wonders if he is experiencing the early effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

The rover, who played in four of the Hawks’ premierships, will visit a concussion specialist soon to determine the extent of any trauma.

The 1987 Brownlow medallist forgets the names of his children’s mates, repeats stories to wife Leanne, and forgets conversations he has had with her and with others.

“It’s embarrassing, not knowing their names,” Platten says.

“And it just doesn’t happen with those guys. It happens with my kids’ friends. I meet them, and then I see them the next week and I can’t remember meeting them.

“I still get a lot of headaches,’’ Platten says.

“I don’t want to be seen as a whinger, because it’s the consequences of playing the game.

“But I want to be able to see my grandkids and remember them.”

‘’I might go see a specialist and they might say nothing has showed up on the brain and that would be good.

‘’But if there’s something there, and you hear when they have tests on people’s heads or when they’ve had a car accident, and they talk about a shady spot, I want to find out.

‘’I don’t want to be seen as whinger because it’s the consequences of playing the game, but I want to be able to see my grand kids and remember them.

‘’In 10 years’ time I don’t want to be sitting here talking to you saying I wish I did something about it 10 years ago.’’

Platten’s problems began about six months ago when Leanne noticed change in her husband.

He sounded distant and would then repeat himself.

The issue was made more pointed when, in June, the AFL Players Association contacted Platten and asked him a series of questions about his concussions, an initiative to ensure the players were treating their situation with great care.

Recalling the amount of concussions he had while playing for Central Districts (1981-1985) and then with Hawthorn in the AFL (1986-97) forced Platten to seek professional care.

“The most scary part was to write down the number of concussions I thought I had each year.

‘’It was about two a year for 18 years.

“I remember the days I would finish a game and I knew I was concussed because all I wanted to do was lie down.

“I did that on a lot of occasions. At times I just went home, other times I went to the hospital, I would leave games in ambulance.’’

Asked to describe playing with concussion, Platten said: “The worst concussion was 1989 in the Grand Final. Every other concussion I had, I knew I was concussed because it happened so often, I knew I had been hit. The games go quick and I didn’t really didn’t know what I was doing at the time.

“The next day I would wake up with a splitting headache and watch some of the replay and I couldn’t remember doing anything that I was seeing.

“It’s scary because the game goes quick and when you came off all you wanted to do was sit down or lie down.

“And once I did that, I’d start spewing and depends how bad or not, I’d get into an ambulance.’’

His worst concussion was in the 1989 Grand Final against Geelong at quarter-time.

Sitting on the bench, Platten didn’t know the score of the game or whether he played.

He’s been told by club officials that the quarter-time break, while his teammates gathered in the huddle, Platten walked towards the middle of the MCG.

“The doc asked me what I was doing and I said: ‘I’m just going downstairs to get changed for the motorcade, the parade’, which was held the day before.

“I can’t remember driving to the game, I can’t remember Jeansy’s famous speech, I can’t remember anything.’’

Platten played 258 games for the Hawks, was a five-time All Australian and four-time premiership winner and was known for an incredible work rate and a fearless attack on the ball.

[Dogwatcher]

I know the article.
Following that, he was on other media to discuss, where he said his quotes had been taken out of context and downplayed the impact it had had on his life.
I also had a conversation with a family member the weekend it was published and he said it had been taken out of context.
My understanding was he'd said those things, but the way it was portrayed was far more significant than the actual impact it's had on his life.
As I said, it will be interesting to see what he said in the show about it.

[Magellan]

Platten was skilled of course but man how tough was he? The little fellow copped a lot of punishment and kept getting back up and putting his head over the nut. Impossible for any football fan to not respect and admire Platts.

regards,

REB

As tough as they came, the Rat. His hard edge has cost him over time, like Diesel Williams he has suffered the effects of post concussion symptoms and is unsure what the future holds for him because of it.

Just to digress slightly, but Williams' current state as a consequence of his head knocks is pretty bad, and in fact quite tragic - at least it was about 4 years ago, and I doubt these things improve with time.

[bennymacca]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

[Rik E Boy]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

[valleys07]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

7 GF's on the trot between 83-89.

Shouldn't have lost the 84 GF, but were pumped in 85 and comfortably beaten in 87.

What was the competition like in 84, 85 & 87? There didn't appear to be a stand out side in either season?

[Magellan]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

7 GF's on the trot between 83-89.

Shouldn't have lost the 84 GF, but were pumped in 85 and comfortably beaten in 87.

What was the competition like in 84, 85 & 87? There didn't appear to be a stand out side in either season?

I'd say it was the Hawks and Bombers, the the Hawks and Carlton in those years, as they filled the top two spots on the ladder. In 1984 and 1985 Essendon were minor premiers, and were particularly powerful in 1985. Carlton were minor premiers in 1987.

I can't say anyone else really was in the race. In 1986 Fitzroy came third, coming up from the elimination final and beating an injured Essendon in the wet, as did Melbourne in 1987 (and just missed making the big one). Footscray kind of pushed the Hawks in the 1985 prelim, but only once the game was done IIRC.

[am Bays]

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

best game of footy I've seen period.

People rave about the 05 & 06 GFs being 1 pt thrillers but they were relatively dour defence orientated affairs.

The 89 GF was tough hard footy but both teams played scintillating attacking footy with a masterclass by G Ablett as the sugar frosting icing top of the cake.

"I'm coming Dipper....:"

[daysofourlives]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

The irony,
Back when there was good teams Geelong were never one, Only pinched flags against the modern day powerhouses of Port Power, St Kilda and Collingwood due to a totally compromised father/son rule which has since been corrected. The one time they came up against THE modern powerhouse they fell terribly short as hot favourites who never had the benefits of any concession unless you call trading with Fremantle a concession, I certainly do, pure genius to get Hodgey and Mitch for Croad AND get Croad back when required.

[Rik E Boy]

2008 was a jag and 2009 and the next eleven Hawthorn v Geelong matches proved it. A compromised rule that was the same for every team interesting theory. St Kilda 2009 and Collingwood 2011 would have smashed the three sides you got.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

The way he talks about it on open Mike is quite scary still, especially the stuff about the 89 gf.

You can see why the afl want to avoid concussions at all costs and it certainly puts the recent suspensions in perspective.

That was a brutal game of footy. Geelong through the kitchen sink at Hawthorn that day and it nearly worked. Although in hindsight that first quarter the Hawks played the ball and the Cats the man and that was the game right there. That Hawthorn side was one of the best teams I've seen. It's laughable such an inferior unit as the recent Hawthorn side won three in a row and that great side did not. I suppose back then there was actually other good teams on the scene.

regards,

REB

7 GF's on the trot between 83-89.

Shouldn't have lost the 84 GF, but were pumped in 85 and comfortably beaten in 87.

What was the competition like in 84, 85 & 87? There didn't appear to be a stand out side in either season?

When someone isn't insecure about the expansion dynasty we can truly discuss the great Hawthorn sides of the eighties. 84 was pretty tight and Essendon roared home. In 85 Essendon were massive with Malthouse Bulldogs emerging. In 86 Essendon faded away but Sydney and Carlton emerged. in 1988 Hawthorn were the clear best side and in 89 it was Blights Geelong and Essendon again. In the late 80s Melbourne awoke from a long slumber but Hawthorn were the champion team of the era that defeated sides that came back for more than one Grand Final (Essendon, Carlton, Geelong). The Demetriouera was against three interstate sides. A fair advantage. Luckily for the Hawks they didn't have to contend with the mighty West Coast model of the early nineties. The old Hawthorn could beat them, not so modern model IMO.

regards,

REB

[LaughingKookaburra]

Excellent episode.

He was an absolute gun. You can throw a blanket over the top 5 SA footballers from 84-94 and then another blanket over the next 12-13. That SA side was one of the best football teams I have ever seen and the way they played together spiratically was unreal. Any representative team that smashes Victoria and WA away is a phenomenal team