Pre Game Promise AFL Rd21: Carlton vs Gold Coast

[Thryleon]

Eddie himself said he needed to go.
He was drinking heaps and on his way to depression (if not already there).
The fresh start gave him new life and new love for the game.
Then he was able to come back and it happened again, got a 3rd lease of life.

Had he stayed, he wouldn't have been the same player, and wouldn't still be playing.

This is true, or maybe he would have left a few years back when the rebuild started and ended up somewhere where he could have won a flag.

Or maybe, he would have hit his 400 game milestone with Carlton, Yaz and Garlett might not have gone off the rails, and we might have won a flag with malthouse.

Who knows?  This what if game has many answers, but the one thing that I can be certain about is that with the benefit of hindsight that was a shocking call.