Is there an actual point to this thread or we just having a discussion for discussions sake?
All seems rather pointless.

Bigger problems at the Villa mate, but that's for a different forum.

Finally got rid of an Agar at my RL team and my footy team gets one!

I thought so as well, he has done a lot of good publicity about it in the past to raise awareness.

He is a fantastic example of how things can be turned around.

true, how unlucky can you get!

Unlike all the other discussions on here, because they all end up with the matter resolved and a mutually-agreed plan of action?

I would disagree. I used to smoke, though never heavily. I certainly didn't get up to anything like 20 in a day unless I was on a particularly heavy night out. When I gave up, I noticed a huge difference to my athletic performance. Any professional sportsman who smokes is knowingly indulging in a habit that is having an adverse affect on his performance. It doesn't matter how good they are, they could be better if they stopped smoking.

I don't agree with it but it's a personal decision. If the player can still do what the club ask of him then there is really no issue. If he can't due to a lack fo fitness due to smoking then it becomes an issue. I'd presume that o'meley is fit enough to play in the club's eyes. The fact that he could be better if he smoked is irrelevant

as I have said, maybe this is why we're not retaining him, Gentle seems to be a lot less tolerant (and I am greatful for it)

Exactly and it was only frigging pot and not chasing the dragon as some clueless fool aluded to

It's a no brainer for me - smoking has negative effects on sports performance. See here: www.livestrong.com/article/36976 ... rformance/ jama.ama-assn.org/content/203/3/189.short www.nsma.org.au/facts/fitness.htm

It's a no brainer for me - smoking has negative effects on sports performance. See here: www.livestrong.com/article/36976 ... rformance/ jama.ama-assn.org/content/203/3/189.short www.nsma.org.au/facts/fitness.htm

What's wrong with red these days?

A mis-click. Fixed it now.

Jolly good. That green was quite obnoxious.

It was rather, wasn't it.

The player who smokes has nothing to do with anyone other then his family, or have do we need a thought police as well.

Perhaps we should keep an eye on the local take away's to ensure that they are not abusing there bodies, also we should watch they are not over indulging in carnal behaviour.

We are paying there wages after all

So, smoking makes a player better or worse at RL?

Or Jason Smith.

However, these are probably the exceptions to the rule. There's no doubt that adding toxins to the body inhibits athletic performance, so I agree with the posters who think it's probably not a good thing for an sportsperson to choose to do.

Smoking is not good for any-one, however I think the point is some feel it is a lifestyle choice of an individual, and the poster you are replying to is an ex-heavy-smoker, but he is right it is an individual choice.
Like I mentioned in my response I do not care as long as they do the business on the pitch, which O'Meley does, maybe he could be/have been better had he not smoked, however that is his choice.

Some people have stated on here that they aren't bothered as long as they do what's expected on the pitch.

That's a losing mentality right there, something we are trying hard to erradicate at this club. To say that, sets a standard that a player can coast along at, just enough to get by, anything else is extra but not required.

Smoking is one an action to this statement, along with drinking and other things. That whoever it is, isn't too interested in performing the best they can and looking to improve.

It's no different to not improving/neglecting any other part of training or tactics.

The problem is that this is so hard to enforce non-smoking/drinking rules that it's swept under the carpet.

If someone smokes then they're probably not going to be as good as they could be. Doesn't mean they're not good enough to play at the top level though. I'd guess o'meley has been smoking since before he played SOO and for Oz

Well said. It should be incumbent upon any player employed by our club to do everything within their power to ensure optimum fitness and athletic performance. Settling for any less than this is accepting failure.

I have respect to any ex-smoker/drinker/drug abuser, I appreciate how hard it must be to quit.

However, coming purely from a fans' perspective, I want my players to be at the best they can possibly be for their performance. I regard going out with friends in the off season, or having a few celebratory drinks after winning a game, more like a treat then a habit. If a player has a smoking [uhabit[/u, then yes it's their choice to do so, however it is my opinion and 100% fact that it is not positive to their fitness, aerobic capacity and capability to give their best possible when it comes to playing. Therefore, I'm anti-ProRLplayer smoking!

I agree with this, some players are lucky/talented enough to be better than peers without putting as much effort in or looking after themselves (smoking).

It's a dangerous precedent to set though, could fit players be excluded from training if they know they would be still fit enough to play?

There are many instances in many sports where players have been dropped for various reasons which are know to affect their performance. But could still quite easily walk into the team and play aswell/better than others, say for example being out till 3am the night before.

It's a difficult subject to understand really.

But wtf has it got to do with you, me or any other self-righteous dick?

If the club have a zero smoking policy, then don’t sign anyone up who smokes.
If he smokes and you still sign him up, then you get what you get.

If (as someone suggested) we get rid of O’Meley ‘because he smokes’ and we end up with a none smoking player with less ability, because we cannot get a decent replacement, will you be ok with that?