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?

Think Mick Crane often used to come on the pitch with a tab in his hand!!

If we did that maybe Horne wouldn't have got the s at our mutual ex chinese takeaway lol!!!

You seem to have missed the point by a wide margin.