Unbelievable - we have a professional sportsman here representing one of the oldest clubs in the world, who requests personal leave from the club on the outset of what is one of our most important seasons in memory, is then arrested and charged with possession, intent, and causing serious injury (all with a machete mind you) and you're crying for support?

Im sick of this cliche and fashionable attitude - "A very open article that everyone should read before jumping to conclusions on situation and character". Give me a break..

Regardless of any explanation, he has no place at the Melbourne Football Club following this incident. End of story. I say and comment nothing on his personal situation as I know nothing of it nor of the trials and tribulations his position in the Yuendemu community puts him through, save to say that I wish him all the best with what must be a tough time for him.

Footballs clubs are a great big family and as such the football club (inc members) support those people in that family..... Liam needs our support, not to be outcast.

it does look like he is in serious trouble but at this stage the club should still support him. If the charges are not too serious then the club should bail him and get him out of that hell hole. if he stays away from there there may be slim chance he will get his head screwed on back right. Nothing has been tested in court yet but I don't see much hope of seeing him play this season.

You know nothing, as you say, but you cast judgment?

We employ him, and until adjudication we should stand by him.

If he pleas and says he committed a terrible crime then we can break our ties at that stage but, as I keep on saying, nothing is black and white in this world and we shouldn't make rash decisions without all the facts. The justice system will do what it does, and we go from there.

Australia has its challenges, and one is being laid bare at the moment, we are caught up in it and I want the MFC to represent our community as a reasonable and respectful player in this mess.

Good post and I understand the challenges the club is facing at the moment - whatever is the outcome, I would like to think the MFC would not countenance this behaviour from any of our employees. Is it trite to say that professional sportspeople cannot be involved in machete fights??....

I would be interested to see what his employment contract says in regards to this - being charged (not proven) with a criminal offence is cause for summary dismissal in most employment relationships. It would almost certainly be the case with any media or sponsorship agreements, and I would bet my house on the fact that each and every sponsor would be in a position to immediately and summarily terminate their agreements with the club as a result of this incident.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by BennytheJet

Mate it's the complete opposite, Im on the low horse here - "I tell ya what, if my family was involved in a brawl, i wouldnt give a [censored] who I played for/worked for or anything, I would be there protecting the ones I loved. They are the most important thing in my life. Period." How hypothetically noble of you, as would I, and I too would be expected to lose my job over it (amongst many other things)

Yes, I would absolutely tell him he has no place at the club even if he 'just got caught up in the brawl', even though Im not quite sure what is entailed in 'just getting caught up' in a machete fight entails.

So quick to judge.

I am glad your say stands for close to nothing.

I've seen many players come and go, but with the exception of Troy Broadbridge, I have never felt so heartbroken and shattered.

This just cannot be the end for Jurrah and I hope we stick by him and help him, because football has the power to save his life and help his family and he deserves that opportunity so much.

I feel the same deep pain in the guts as I did when I heard news of Troy.

We must remember that the Centre is an extremely violent place, amongst the indigenous community and particularly amongst families: there are serious assaults on an almost daily basis - bashings, stabbings etc. This is not to excuse Liam in any way if he is in fact guilty of these charges, but just a bit of background.

I had always thought that Liam was a fine young leader who could possibly be a sort of ambassador for his people, and maybe lead than from this sort of violent culture.

If this is all true it is a huge setback not just for Liam and his family but for the whole indigenous community of Central Australia in moving on from this violence based culture.

Saddened by this.

Here's Martin Flanagan's article: "Against the odds"

Some from the other thread that was closed would benefit from reading it:

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/against-all-the-odds-20120308-1un96.html

Regardless of any explanation, he has no place at the Melbourne Football Club following this incident. End of story. I say and comment nothing on his personal situation as I know nothing of it nor of the trials and tribulations his position in the Yuendemu community puts him through, save to say that I wish him all the best with what must be a tough time for him.

What a ridiculous argument "Regardless of any explanation" and you admit you know nothing of his situation but you're happy to cut him loose! Like most others I'm far from happy about what's happened at that someone was seriously hurt, but at what point do we stop the cycle of embracing the Aboriginal community and then opportunely cut it off when we don't like confronting complex, ingrained problems.

Simply, we should be trying to be part of the solution, not trying to wash our hands of it.

I like most of you am devastated, and like most of you struggle to understand the complexities of this situation. However I for one have had my middle class middle age eyes opened wide to the plight that confronts many of our indigenous brothers. Their journey is so much harder and angst ridden than most of us will ever know. That such a situation as the one in Yuendumu exists in this country is a blight on our great country. I wish Liam and his family well and most of all that the people of Yuendumu find peace amongst themselves. Perhaps that now that such a high profile person is involved the responsible Governments may step in and finally tackle an intolerable situation. I'm also sad and disappointed for our football club who have demonstrated great understanding and support for indigenous players and should be commended for doing so.

All very sad and tragic for those involved.

The only silver lining of such an event will be how it focuses the Australian public on the ongoing challenges and issues faced in some of the aboriginal communities and provoke us to do more to support them in their healing.

Much as the prospect of Liam not playing footy saddens me, my needs are irrelevant next to the pain and suffering being experienced by those people directly caught up in this event.

Really SH!T News .

Hope LJ wasn't responsible for the guys injury .

What a ridiculous argument "Regardless of any explanation" and you admit you know nothing of his situation but you're happy to cut him loose! Like most others I'm far from happy about what's happened at that someone was seriously hurt, but at what point do we stop the cycle of embracing the Aboriginal community and then opportunely cut it off when we don't like confronting complex, ingrained problems.

Simply, we should be trying to be part of the solution, not trying to wash our hands of it.

If this happened to ANY of my employees - yes I would dismiss them summarily, and would be justified (both legally and morally) in doing so. MFC is a business, not a charity or social awareness vehicle, and for the most part the problems you mention can and must be taken up in other avenues.

MFC player or normal citizen, brutally shanking a member of society in the face with a machete is far far beyond the line where I should begin to feel sorry for them in custody. I have no sympathy even if he is found guilty of carrying around the object in question praying he was not involved in the assaults because he assumed responsibility of leading his community, and the events of Wednesday night have undoubtedly left the community in worse shape now.

So, DL7 do you feel better now that you have hopped onto your little soapbox and pontificated

This is so tragic (and still only limited facts known) but you can't wait to jump into the limelight.....FMD

So quick to judge.

I am glad your say stands for close to nothing.

As am I with yours - luckily you dont have to consider the wider and deeper financial ramifications an incident such as this can have on the MFC

CS to have his say on the matter at 9.30 am today,calling a press conference where I am told he will say we,MFC will stick by him.We have one of the best legal minds in the business in Guy Jailland, so I sincerely hope we use his talents to get him back on track as a very good footballer.

Benny, you're full of it. What the club should - and will - do now is get behind him until the law takes its course and the full facts, or as close to them as we can get are known.

Criminal law moves slowly and this case may not be heard for months. Some outline will be presented this afternoon and then we will know more but not everything.

It's the club's role to back the bloke and support him and his community as much as is possible. That's what footy clubs do. Yes Benny it's a business but a special kind of business that loses any meaning if it does not stand by its own.

The bigger significance of this is that it gives us city whites an insight into the troubled world that many of our indigenous people inhabit.

This is trully sad news.

This couldn't be worse news.

I am bereft of any way to express the sadness of this outcome.

All these people were having a go at me the other day for suggesting he shouldn't have been given paid leave.

Wonder how all these people feel now that there membership money has indirectly paid someone who may have caused a crime.

In my eyes your either a professional sportsman or not, and while alot of people here are trying to sympathize with Liam, end of the day he is the one being charged, not the poor guy in hospital.

To be a successful football club, the team needs there players to stay in line, not go flying halfway across the country and getting arrested right at the start of the season. And if due to personal reasons they can't stay in line, then i don't think they should be on the list. A line needs to be drawn somewhere so it will be interesting to see how the club handles this.

Unbelievable - we have a professional sportsman here representing one of the oldest clubs in the world, who requests personal leave from the club on the outset of what is one of our most important seasons in memory, is then arrested and charged with possession, intent, and causing serious injury (all with a machete mind you) and you're crying for support?

Im sick of this cliche and fashionable attitude - "A very open article that everyone should read before jumping to conclusions on situation and character". Give me a break..

Regardless of any explanation, he has no place at the Melbourne Football Club following this incident. End of story. I say and comment nothing on his personal situation as I know nothing of it nor of the trials and tribulations his position in the Yuendemu community puts him through, save to say that I wish him all the best with what must be a tough time for him.

totally agree, he has had time off with a wrist problem and he is getting into fights? If it was family issues then thats fine he made a choice to stand by his people and his family, nothing to be ashamed off. But now the Melbourne Football Club must make a choice, and make a stand and not accept this kind of behaviour from anyone for any reason, no matter who you are. I think they will too, offer support to him yes help him through this time but never represent our club again thank you theres the door

CS to have his say on the matter at 9.30 am today,calling a press conference where I am told he will say we,MFC will stick by him.We have one of the best legal minds in the business in Guy Jailland, so I sincerely hope we use his talents to get him back on track as a very good footballer.

Good to hear, JCB.

Do we know where Cam Schwabb is talking? SEN, 774? MMM?

Family Feud up there is not a game show .

Lets not Judge him on this till he goes to court .

No one is dead .Thankfully .

I hope we get him a damn good lawyer and support him .

Get him outta there!

Discussion on the subject has been reopened and topics merged.

I urge extreme caution in what is said here given that the charges laid are serious and, unless withdrawn or varied will ultimately be heard in a court of law.

Please remember that under the law a person is innocent until such time he or she is found to be guilty.

All these people were having a go at me the other day for suggesting he shouldn't have been given paid leave.

Wonder how all these people feel now that there membership money has indirectly paid someone who may have caused a crime.

In my eyes your either a professional sportsman or not, and while alot of people here are trying to sympathize with Liam, end of the day he is the one being charged, not the poor guy in hospital.

To be a successful football club, the team needs there players to stay in line, not go flying halfway across the country and getting arrested right at the start of the season. And if due to personal reasons they can't stay in line, then i don't think they should be on the list. A line needs to be drawn somewhere so it will be interesting to see how the club handles this.

I don't have the will to tear this post apart at the moment but I urge people to reject this view and await further news before communal damnation.

Benny, you're full of it. What the club should - and will - do now is get behind him until the law takes its course and the full facts, or as close to them as we can get are known.

Criminal law moves slowly and this case may not be heard for months. Some outline will be presented this afternoon and then we will know more but not everything.

It's the club's role to back the bloke and support him and his community as much as is possible. That's what footy clubs do. Yes Benny it's a business but a special kind of business that loses any meaning if it does not stand by its own.

The bigger significance of this is that it gives us city whites an insight into the troubled world that many of our indigenous people inhabit.

Mate of course it will because it will be a PR nightmare if it jumps ship straight away - regardless of the outcome he won't play a game of football for the club again, and the club will cut ties at the appropriate time. There's things called stakeholders etc that are, and given our legal and economic climate, must be given the utmost consideration. Social awareness and 'insights' into aboriginal difficulties pale in comparison - as said previously, this fight will and must be taken up for the most part in other avenues. Unfortunately businesses have to think about their bottom line.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by BennytheJet

totally agree, he has had time off with a wrist problem and he is getting into fights? If it was family issues then thats fine he made a choice to stand by his people and his family, nothing to be ashamed off. But now the Melbourne Football Club must make a choice, and make a stand and not accept this kind of behaviour from anyone for any reason, no matter who you are. I think they will too, offer support to him yes help him through this time but never represent our club again thank you theres the door

I remember when Ricky Ponting was in a drunken Bar fight in Kings Cross. And a couple of years later was Captain of the Australian Cricket team...