It was an option. The long-term cultural health of the club is more important than team selection for one game. Geelong was prepared to leave Stevie J out of the side for 6 weeks to make a statement on team culture .... and look at the results.

Having said that, I think the punishment was sufficient.

if we dropped him and lost to GC by a kick you can bet that I and many others would be very, very upset with the club

if we dropped him and lost to GC by a kick you can bet that I and many others would be very, very upset with the club

I'd be more upset with Brent and his 'recovery session' from the previous week...

if we dropped him and lost to GC by a kick you can bet that I and many others would be very, very upset with the club

If we lose to GC17 with or without Brent Moloney, we'll have much bigger issues.

If we lose to GC17 with or without Brent Moloney, we'll have much bigger issues.

given that at this current moment he is our best player, one could argue his inclusion could be the difference between a win and a loss. There is a lot to lose this weekend

given that at this current moment he is our best player, one could argue his inclusion could be the difference between a win and a loss. There is a lot to lose this weekend

If we can't beat a team of mostly teenagers in their 3rd game without Brent Moloney, we're in a much, much worse position than I'd have thought.

If we can't beat a team of mostly teenagers in their 3rd game without Brent Moloney, we're in a much, much worse position than I'd have thought.

A team that has half of it's players playing their 3rd game, opposed to a team that has half of it's players playing under 30 games. It's not as bigger gap as you would think (especially considering the Ab-factor - he loves playing us). Don't forget, this will be Gysberts' 5th game.

That said, we will win!

if we dropped him and lost to GC by a kick you can bet that I and many others would be very, very upset with the club

I'd be upset with the club - but not because it had disciplined an irresponsible leader

I'd be more upset with Brent and his 'recovery session' from the previous week...

Absolutely

If we lose to GC17 with or without Brent Moloney, we'll have much bigger issues.

Much much much bigger!

Gold Coast's average games per player was 44.5 on the weekend.

Ours was 62.2. It's not the be-all and end-all, but a team with a majority of players in a 3rd game is very different to one of our players being in his 5th.

They'll also lose Campbell Brown from that.

They had 15 games with less than 50 games experience, we had 11. You're right, the gaps not as large as it would seem, but it's certainly large enough to expect a win even without Moloney (though I hope that's not the players' attitude).

I'm glad that the club was swift enough to have it all dealt with on Monday - Investigation; meeting; Penalty; press conference. Less than 14 hours since Moloney left the establishment. It's important that the player's focus on the task at hand for Sunday.

I've watched the Bulldogs v Gold Coast game and whilst the margin was still large, it was a marked improvement in effort from the Gold Coast to the week prior. Sunday will be interesting.

That's a very good point, and I can't blame them for that. We have worked our butts off to have a positive, professional image amongst the football community, we don't need little incidents like this to undo all the hard work that hasa been done.

I'm all for having a drink, and I probably suffer from the same symptoms as Beamer at times, but he made an error, and has to deal with the punishment. The Club has put its foot down to enusre that any potential culture like this will not be tolerated.

Agree with both these posts. I think note should be taken of Schwab's measured words.

He was very clear to use "stand aside", rather than "stand down".

This means his position is still available - most likely to him, at some time in the future.

It was excellent use of words, to convey the message to Moloney, that all is not lost. He can return to his Vice Captain's role, if he can show he has learnt from this and as a result, is once again, ready to be a leader of the team we love.

Tuff Love and it will set a positive example, for all the young guys on the list, showing that the club is into supporting those who able to recognize their faults and come out the other side, a better person for it.

"standing down", would have been knee jerk; "standing aside", is considered thinking, with the club and the player in mind.

Who cares the decision has been made, move on, we have more important things to worry about like why the teams form is so scratchy

i expect Beamer to thrive on field with his own performance and his leadership

a bit like when Benny Cousins lost the eagles captaincy after runnign away from a booze bus and swimming across the swan river!!

Take that smug look off your emoticon

As I stated in my initial response "Beamer got busted and has admitted that although he does not drink often, when he does drink it is to excess. Ponting was drunk and made no admissions about his drinking habits" - yes, it is speculation on my part, but just because he made no admission that does not necessarily mean he did not indulge in binge drinking episodes - I get the feeling Moloney may have said nothing about other episodes if he hadn't been prompted.

We are both indulging in speculation - you extrapolated on this to make the assumption that he had no "history", and I did the opposite. No difference. Anyway, in the wash-up, we both seem to agree on the important aspects, so we move on.

Quite the contrary... I dont not speculate just dealt with the facts at hand.

As a leader in the team, Beamer got terribly drunk and has admitted to a series of past issues where he now feels he has a problem. As junior in the team at 21 Ponting had one public experience of drunkenness....period. Other than that any thing is speculation.

I do wonder if there was more to the issue than is publicly admitted by either the nightclub or the Club. Could the MFC have managed any incident on that night out of the press but privately behind closed doors, Schwab, Bailey and co would have been ropable with what they established actually happened and have punished Moloney accordingly?

Gold Coast's average games per player was 44.5 on the weekend.

Ours was 62.2. It's not the be-all and end-all, but a team with a majority of players in a 3rd game is very different to one of our players being in his 5th.

They'll also lose Campbell Brown from that.

They had 15 games with less than 50 games experience, we had 11. You're right, the gaps not as large as it would seem, but it's certainly large enough to expect a win even without Moloney (though I hope that's not the players' attitude).

And they have Harris, Brennan and Fraser... . There is 470 games or about 22 games per player of dubious quality there.

But the important issue is not necessarily the maths but the fact that both sides have a pre dominance of talented young players who performances can be both exciting but frustratingly inconsistent.

There lies the challenge of the outcome this week. MFC will/should/could might win but its not out of the realms...no dont think about it.

Quite the contrary... I dont not speculate just dealt with the facts at hand.

.......

I do wonder if there was more to the issue than is publicly admitted by either the nightclub or the Club. Could the MFC have managed any incident on that night out of the press but privately behind closed doors, Schwab, Bailey and co would have been ropable with what they established actually happened and have punished Moloney accordingly?

And you seriously don't speculate? Spin that one again.......

Further to the post before - taking out the 6 most experienced players from each side (as there's been a lot of talk about "top 6" on here, which I agree with) Gold Coast's remaing 16 have played 52 games. Our remaining 16 have played 581.

G.C. average 3.25

MFC average 36

It's probably not exactly right, but you get the drift. Indeed, if you take out the might of Nathan Krakoeur, I think their remaing 15 players will have 30 games experience leading into the weekend.

Further to the post before - taking out the 6 most experienced players from each side (as there's been a lot of talk about "top 6" on here, which I agree with) Gold Coast's remaing 16 have played 52 games. Our remaining 16 have played 581.

G.C. average 3.25

MFC average 36

It's probably not exactly right, but you get the drift. Indeed, if you take out the might of Nathan Krakoeur, I think their remaing 15 players will have 30 games experience leading into the weekend.

We get it, 45.

We should win.

We will win.

Happy?

Sheesh!

Geez I'm an attention seeker!

And you seriously don't speculate? Spin that one again.......

You will note I then followed the first sentence with an open question. I did not draw any conclusions from the first sentence. Nice try though

You will note I then followed the first sentence with an open question. I did not draw any conclusions from the first sentence. Nice try though

hmmm. walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, smells like a duck ...but I'm not saying it is a duck...hmmm

i really dont see this a such a big issue....he was on the [censored] and out late....no fights, no pissing on the bar. big deal, sure its not something a VC should be doing but i dont think it deserves the hype its been given

i really dont see this a such a big issue....he was on the [censored] and out late....no fights, no pissing on the bar. big deal, sure its not something a VC should be doing but i dont think it deserves the hype its been given

Jadeez - It is all about position in the club. He is our VC. He is expected to set an example to the team he LEADS.... Surely we do not have to discuss what this means....

Bottom line:

* He is the VC

* He was inebriated at around 2-3am in the morning

* Recovery sessions are key to our ongoing on field success

We have accepted mediocrity for too long as a club. If we are going to be anything we have to make a stand.

Fair call in my opinion. Brent wants the leadership back and will be if he moves forward and does all it takes to represent our beloved club in the manner expected by all who service and support.

Not sure if an established club would hand down this harsh of a penalty, but IMO it is no question a good one for a developing club that is a young group and is trying to set a standard.

good decision, it will probable make him as a player.

Hamish Hartlett of Port Adelaide copped a $2,500 fine for being out drinking with friends after returning to Adelaide from Geelong on Sunday night before a recovery session.

Not sure if an established club would hand down this harsh of a penalty, but IMO it is no question a good one for a developing club that is a young group and is trying to set a standard.

good decision, it will probable make him as a player.

Not sure ? Does Stevie J and the holiday he was given by Geelong ring any bells ? I thought it was way harsh at the time - but Geelong was sending a strong message about their expectation of their players and what they needed to do to be successful.

Well done to the MFC.

Hamish Hartlett of Port Adelaide copped a $2,500 fine for being out drinking with friends after returning to Adelaide from Geelong on Sunday night before a recovery session.

They should've picked Hurley.