best thing for liam...get stuck into training. it gives him purpose and structure. let the club fight the media battles and leave the lawyers to argue his legal case. the rest will sort itself out over time.

I agree with rpfc on this one. This situation is too big.

If Liam has to speak to the media, and i would much prefer he didn't, then it should be through the MFC.

I agree with rpfc on this one. This situation is too big.

If Liam has to speak to the media, and i would much prefer he didn't, then it should be through the MFC.

There is probably no one on Demonland who would disagree with you wyl.

But will it happen?

Given that Rudeboy himself visits these boards Id be interested to know what on earth they were either thinking...or playing at ?

Why would you p!ss off the very people youre hoping and expecting to stand by Liam ?

Hands up those who trust a Magpie fan (that has a relationship with Eddie) when he's 'managing' a MFC contracted player without the MFC's knowledge or consent?

Hands up those who trust a Magpie fan (that has a relationship with Eddie) when he's 'managing' a MFC contracted player without the MFC's knowledge or consent?

cannot see many hands in the air Moonshadow

so who knows when Liam's contract is up? Someone must. If its beyond this season I will be less paranoid, if not, I reckon there is more to it. I really appreciate and like Rudeboy's posts here but something is not sitting well with me right now

I love a good conspiracy theory but given Jurrah could be looking at serious stretch in Her Majesty's, its a bit a long straw that his minders are try to get him to Collingwood. He is dealing with huge life issues at the moment. I dont think playing for another Club would be in the priority list.

And if he is found gulity of the alleged offences then AFL contract expiries wont be an issue.

Yes i think contract negotiations are the last thing on Liam's mind at present.

Although i will say i am astounded that the Collingwood President has spoken to Liam before people inside the MFC.

It's just not cool, anyway you look at it.

The Filth will carve us up with Free Agency very soon if we do not stop floundering.

Yes ..... of course I understand that. But equally there's a difference between walking away from a player after training after telling him you're not interested in his off-field problems ....and approaching him and asking him how he is going and whether or not there is anything you can do to help...........

I agree with everything you said but would word it even more strongly. Clubs have welfare officers that look after induction of new players and their wellbeing. I think we can understand that there would be different needs for a Jack Watts who grew up and lives in this town with his parents, to a Trengove coming from interstate at a young age away from the family home and support, to a Liam Jurrah who comes from a culture and upbringing that is light years away from what most of us know.It cant possibly be a one type of support fits all.

Haha! Lately, Old Dee seems to be chanelling Bluey from Demonology :-)

no

noooo

nooooooooooooo

I'm certain Mackinnon and Betheras were thinking in the best interests of Liam here but this isn't small fare anymore.

Liam is deep into an event that transcends the country and will affect his life - the best advice he is going to get is not from an author and an ex-footy player who happen to be friends of his.

Your friends can be your enemies when they try to do "what they think is right."

Those two need to get out of the way and let Schwab do what he is paid to do, he has an army of PR blokes as friends willing to help Liam with his perception issues in a more elegant way, and he can plead his case to the public once the case is out of the way.

The journalistic ethics (or lack thereof) employed by Eddie McGuire might have been questionable but he did conduct the interviews with Liam and his family and with Bruce and Rupert in a professional manner and made it clear that the facts of the case could not be discussed. This is in stark contrast to the Herald Sun treatment of the matter which represented an appalling disregard for the rights of the accused and the alleged victim.

Im a bit doubtful of the conspiracy theorists, I think RB probably had Liams interests at heart and I for one am grateful somebody got up to the NT quick smart and helped Liam back to Melbourne....good work RB.

Disappointed in Bruce Hearn McKinnon and Rupert Betheras. The MFC should not have found out that Jurrah was going to do the interview from tweets.

However it is hard to fault either when it comes to their role in Liam Jurrah making the almost miraculous journey from Yuendumu to the AFL and the ongoing support they provide.

Eddie is just his usual well dressed bully bovver boy self. Nothing surprising there.

I say we move on and focus on the fundamental issues facing indigenous Australians from remote communities.

Yes i think contract negotiations are the last thing on Liam's mind at present.

Although i will say i am astounded that the Collingwood President has spoken to Liam before people inside the MFC.

It's just not cool, anyway you look at it.

The Filth will carve us up with Free Agency very soon if we do not stop floundering.

WYL - Cameron saw Liam on Friday night.

Just getting back to Eddie. I was astounded to hear the conceit in his voice during his argument with Patrick Smith this morning. He virtually told everyone and the MFC to get stuffed, he was going to do what he liked. He more or less said that everyone was jealous because he got the scoop. The question remains how much notice did he give the Club to be included on the interview (if you can believe that he did actually contact the Club). The other point which I dont think is being discussed here is Vlad's reaction. Completely predictable - that he thought it was riveting TV (you're joking) and that he didnt have a problem with it. Of course he didnt have a problem with it. Vlad will not cross Eddie. Let's see what happens if Eddie tries to reverse the takings back to Collingwood for Queens Birthday. You might see the Maggies doing a little bit more flying than they have done previously.

Couple of things:

- On the interview front, Eddie screams hypocrisy right now. If it was Didak following the gun incident, Shaw after the gambling or the drunken incident or any other Collingwood player with any other journo, he'd be screaming bloody murder.

- On the Jurrah playing front regarding the court case, it's a first court date. Taking a case as serious as this to trial can take a very long time. For a comparison, look at the Andrew Krakouer case. Krakouer's assault was December 2006. He was delisted October 2007, and his court case wasn't until early 2008.

- Finally, I just want to wash my hands of this until we get a case here on 'land. Over on BF I've been defending the club's decision not to dump him immediately, but beyond that speculation is going to get us absolutely nowhere, plus the implications for what is a pending court date could affect jury members or the case of either the prosecution or the defence. I implore others to not comment on the case in a public forum such as this, as you risk impeding the course of justice.

WYL - Cameron saw Liam on Friday night.

Just getting back to Eddie. I was astounded to hear the conceit in his voice during his argument with Patrick Smith this morning. He virtually told everyone and the MFC to get stuffed, he was going to do what he liked. He more or less said that everyone was jealous because he got the scoop. The question remains how much notice did he give the Club to be included on the interview (if you can believe that he did actually contact the Club). The other point which I dont think is being discussed here is Vlad's reaction. Completely predictable - that he thought it was riveting TV (you're joking) and that he didnt have a problem with it. Of course he didnt have a problem with it. Vlad will not cross Eddie. Let's see what happens if Eddie tries to reverse the takings back to Collingwood for Queens Birthday. You might see the Maggies doing a little bit more flying than they have done previously.

Yes our CEO saw Liam on Friday. But was anything spoken about concerning an Eddie interview?

Doubt it. He is a MFC Player...Eddie is pushing his luck. No ethics. But nobody seems to worry about that much anymore.

It is hypocrisy 100%. Fox journalism.

I think we should all relax. By Liam putting in (a very limited) media performance with Eddie, he's cleared the air as best he can, given he cannot discuss the case (for Legal reasons). Liam now has until mid May to quietly go about his rehabilitation and work on getting back into the MFC 22 asap.

I guess one big issue as I see it is that the club backed Liam fully, brought him out of Alice Springs to 'safety' in Melbourne, then he went on a TV show without even informing let alone asking the club that extracted him that he was doing so.

A lesser point is that the TV show just happened to be fronted by a self promoting president of a rival club.

Pretty poor in my view.

The journalistic ethics (or lack thereof) employed by Eddie McGuire might have been questionable but he did conduct the interviews with Liam and his family and with Bruce and Rupert in a professional manner and made it clear that the facts of the case could not be discussed. This is in stark contrast to the Herald Sun treatment of the matter which represented an appalling disregard for the rights of the accused and the alleged victim.

Yes, it was the Hun being the Hun.

But you can't control that, BHM and RB should have known better and I am sure Schwab has let them know better since that interview with Eddie.

You have to control what you can control, and we should have been able to dictate what our embattled employee does, surely?

It all seems relatively harmless now, but what happens if an interpreter is brought in an the prosecution discovers Liam said something incriminating in his native tongue?

Such a poor idea for that interview to go ahead.

In any case, this minor controversy is being used masterfully to create a diversion from the allegations.

Yes, it was the Hun being the Hun.

But you can't control that, BHM and RB should have known better and I am sure Schwab has let them know better since that interview with Eddie.

You have to control what you can control, and we should have been able to dictate what our embattled employee does, surely?

Protocols weren't followed and the club became aware when the show came on. Schwab confirmed this earlier today.

It was a very innocuous interview. Apart from a few protocol issues, I think many are making a mountain out of a molehill.

It was a very innocuous interview. Apart from a few protocol issues, I think many are making a mountain out of a molehill.

The next few months are the most important in the life of one Melbourne player - this was a PR effort from people who have no idea what they are doing.

Did it contravene any law? I don't know. Did it complicate matters? Probably.

This is no time for innocuous molehills, he has to fight this charge and win.

Seems that either Eddie would have contacted Bruce Hearn Mackinnon, or Bruce contacted Eddie, in order to arrange the interview. But who contacted who first?

If it was Eddie who contacted Bruce (as I suspect), then he's gone against protocols, has manipulated the situation and it's clearly poor form from a fellow Club President who should know better.

If it was Bruce, then I imagine he would now know he has made an error or judgment in allowing and inviting it to happen.

Not that I care too much about proceedings because what's done is done. But Eddie mentioned yesterday morning he'd been in contact with Rupert Betheras. Who just happened to mention LJ's family members had come down to support Liam. Does anyone really think they just happen to fall into Eddies lap which just happened to coincide with the launch of a new show with Eddies name as its title ? No. Eddie With his journalist hat on would have been sniffing this himself and used Betheras as best he could to achieve this "good get", as those journalists call it.

I think it's fair to say that some people should have known better re: protocols. It however allowed a small vent, given the apparent emphasis in communicating that Liam's support crew had vacated after changes at Melbournefc (ref: Ian Flack, Aussie) -which RudeBoy expressed frustratingly late 2011 on this board. And fair enough too, given the wide gap in cultural and social differences.

Cameron Shwab this morning on SEN said that he knew nothing of the impending interview until it pretty much went to air.

So if Eddie spoke to our CEO earlier in the day it was on different topics.

The first boot has been put in.