A question of priorities
I am disturbed by this story in the Herald Sun.
Birth induced so Brian Lake can play final
By Mark Stevens
September 01, 2009 09:25am
DOCTORS will tomorrow induce the birth of Western Bulldog Brian Lake’s girl, ensuring the star full-back will be available for the AFL finals …
Lake’s fiancee, Shannon O’Malley, was due to give birth on September 16, but after consultation with doctors the pair agreed to bring the birth at Freemason’s Hospital forward …
“Obviously the idea was to do it mid-week because with footy finals I didn’t want to be worried about it around Saturday or Sunday.”
In 2000, Brisbane Lions star Daniel Bradshaw missed an MCG elimination final to be at the birth of his first child. The Lions lost.
Three years ago, Sydney Swan Darren Jolly vowed to miss the Grand Final to be at his pregnant wife’s side but was spared the decision when his daughter arrived 48 hours before the bounce.
Others have played on. Kangaroos forward Saverio Rocca left his wife in labour to play in a 2005 elimination final.
What disturbs you about it, Greg? Surely it’s a personal decision for the couple.
It’s not like Collingwood players Swan & Cloke attempting to have their respective court cases deferred during the finals. Now that would be disturbing, footy coming before justice.
Ray Dixon
2 September 2009 at 6:40 pm
This is putting footy ahead of motherhood. I am disturbed that his fiancee may have been coerced into induced labor as a a matter of convenience rather than for medical reasons. Fortunately, the baby girl and mother appear to be doing fine.
Greg Naylor
2 September 2009 at 8:14 pm
Well only if she was ‘coerced’, which I doubt.
Anyway, Saints v Pies this weekend, how’s it going to go?
Ray Dixon
2 September 2009 at 8:41 pm
What are the implications of a draw?
Greg Naylor
2 September 2009 at 10:14 pm
I don’t think you can have a draw in a final – they play extra time in that event. Come on, who’s going to win? (Not that I think the Saints won’t)
Ray Dixon
2 September 2009 at 10:50 pm
Being a Collingwood supporter, I am picking the Pies. The thinking is that Collingwood have been building their force over the second half of the season whilst the Saints have stumbled after an outstanding season.If we don’t get you this time, then we will probably have another opportunity on the last Saturday in September.
Greg Naylor
3 September 2009 at 9:35 am
Yes, that’s how it “appears”, Greg. But maybe the Saints haven’t actually “stumbled” – 2 losses by a combined total of 7 pts is not exactly a slump, and for the past 4 or 5 rounds they’ve had top spot sewn up and nothing to play for. Hopefully they’ll come out full throttle on Sunday.
Good luck, it should be a great game and who knows, maybe they’ll also meet in the GF. It’s a lot more likely than last year.
Hey, I remind you that 12 months ago you were bemoaning that the 2008 GF would be the last you’d ever see. It’s just great news that you’re still here for the 2009 ‘classic’.
Cheers.
Ray Dixon
3 September 2009 at 4:55 pm