http://afl.com.au/news/2013-08-20/no-more-handouts

This guy is getting worse.

In this article, he mentions our use of a priority pick on Blease, without acknowledging the fact he badly broke his leg before he even played a game. What's worse is that he blames us for $cully leaving. Tell me Damian, did he leave to go to a successful side? No. He left because him and his stupid father care about money, nothing else.

If Barrett actually had a clue, he would acknowledge that an improved Melbourne outfit would be beneficial to every club and media outlet in the league - ticket sales would improve, TV viewing would improve etc.

This article is not Journalism, it's a blatant attack written by a wannabe intellectual looking for an easy kill.

[censored]

the AFL has played a role in our situation, we have caused part ourselves but we deserve help, damien barrett doesnt like mfc and is too unproffessional to at least try and give us a fair go

When it comes to draft assistance - whether a club 'deserves' it is immaterial, irrelevant, and any other synonym you would like to put in there.

We need one, the AFL needs us to have one, the rest is noise and bluster.

He a journolist, it what they all do.

Personally I no longer buy their papers or use main stream media when ever I can avoid it. As they all have the ethics of a crooked car salesman.

yeh not a fan at all

same guy said it would take 10 years to turn this ship around, paul roos said 1-2 he has no idea what he is talking about.

Waste of space on football stories, knows nothing about the game. He's a bigger girl than Carro.

http://afl.com.au/news/2013-08-20/no-more-handouts

This guy is getting worse.

...........

[censored]

I would have to disagree Damien Barrett has always been that bad and was always a [censored].

When it comes to draft assistance - whether a club 'deserves' it is immaterial, irrelevant, and any other synonym you would like to put in there.

We need one, the AFL needs us to have one, the rest is noise and bluster.

...or, to put it another way [censored] off Barrett you [censored]!

wouldnt mind meeting him in a dark alley haha, he is happy to have a dig at any team after they lose.

we have lost by 90 points or more like 12 times in the last two years.

What a muppet.

Anyone who says Melbourne doesn't deserve a priority pick because its terrible recent history is its own fault, just shows themself to be an absolute fool.

For what other reason, other then your own mistakes, would you be consistently down the bottom of the ladder?

I can't comprehend how these journos just can't grasp the concept that the priority pick is not about fairness or justice or what's deserved.

How do these guys get jobs?

Total carp.

Scully left because the AFL created a cashed up monster with unrivalled powers to steal players. Take GWS out of the equation and Scully would probably still be here.

Blease broke his leg just after we drafted him.

Nonetheless, those decisions were made under a previous administration. It's not like those responsible for taking those players are saying 'hey, we stuffed up, can we have another go please?'. We're run by totally different people to those who were here in 2008-2009.

And then he has a go at us for getting Viney under the 'convenient' father-son rule. Yep. It's 'convenient' when you're Melbourne, but it's par for the course when you're Geelong and you get Scarlett and Ablett. Father-son is a part of the competition, not sure how that is relevant at all to Barrett's insipid attempt at an argument.

The AFL world would be a lot better without Damien Barrett.

The only reason I can disagree with this article is because it is about my club.

It is fairly logical and rational but would lead to the end of my footy club. Therefore I must protest.

Barrett is a maggot.

What a terrible article.

The man is simply trying to stir up a bit of controversy.

The reality is that what happened with Blease or Scully who were drafted 5 and 4 years ago respectively (and there have been extenuating circumstances in both cases with the AFL having had a strong hand in us losing the latter) isn't particularly relevant to the question of whether we're entitled to draft picks at the end of 2013 when we will have a virtually new administration, new coaches and a new start.

There's a rule about draft assistance on the AFL's books and if we're not entitled to it then they might as well scrap the rule if a team that's had seven down years doesn't qualify.

Besides which, if the AFL wants to see crowds of 13k at the MCG like last Sunday then I guess they can please themselves.

I've said it before that those against Melbourne receiving a priority pick are running a farcical argument. In short: Melbourne is too bad to receive a priority pick. I mean, come on! Are we supposed to take these fools seriously.

he doesn't look like he has even played little league......who cares what the mental midget thinks ffs

he doesn't look like he has even played little league......who cares what the mental midget thinks ffs

Just another nerd, a poor mans Hutchy

I don't think there has been too much grumbling recently about the priority pick, and with all the big clubs going to the US on the AFL junket for equalisation I don't think we will hear too much if the commission gives us a PP.

IMO a priority pick in itself will not change our fortunes... but it is a start.

It would not surprise me in the least to hear that the AFL grant us a pick on the proviso it is used to draft in some experience rather than drafting in another young 18 yr old player.

BTW I agree Barrett is being a tool.

I seriously can't believe these guys rort a living dishing up schlock like this that is more akin to something you'd find on a fan site. It is not journalism, it's opinion and a poorly constructed one at that. So let me get this right, because we have been woeful in our decision-making/actions we don't deserve assistance; but if we'd done well we wouldn't need that assistance anyway. Ridiculously flawed notion.

Edited August 20, 201312 yr by Dr. Gonzo

the AFL has played a role in our situation, we have caused part ourselves but we deserve help, damien barrett doesnt like mfc and is too unproffessional to at least try and give us a fair go

I would think that one of the gravest issues facing the AFL is that the divide between the worst 3 or 4 teams and the rest of the competition is becoming wider. The effects of this are enormous.

No one wants to see teams regularly getting thumped.

Week after week we have games of which the results are a mere formality. They attract paltry crowds. People lose interest.

Television ends up broadcasting boring, one-sided matches that people either don't watch, or turn off part way through.

An exciting, even competition with all 18 teams having some chance of winning most of their matches is the ideal scenario.

It is within the interests and, indeed, for the longevity of the AFL that the AFL commissioners do something positive to restore a more even competition.

Our club is quite possibly the one in the most parlous position. GWS is currently weak, but have loads of exciting young talent who will improve, as Gold Coast has improved.

That we need a good 'kick along' is undeniable. The AFL cannot afford to have our club - with the important name of Melbourne - continuing to be an embarrassment.

What form(s) this 'kick along' takes is open to conjecture. A special early draft pick would have to be one of the options being considered by the AFL. Despite past (mis)management of the club, something has to be done to get us competitive again.

His argument is filled with so much bias and is one-eyed. The father-son rule is used by all clubs, Essendon were able to pick up Daniher last year at pick 10 when he was touted as possibly going number one, doesn't mention that. Also as stated in another post Geelong have been blessed with father-son recruits who helped them win a flag, and they were able to take them with some late picks before the new rules were brought in, he doesn't mention this. Then he forgets to mention that Carlton, who actually cheated, were given multiple priority picks after they were punished for their crimes. And he also forgets that other clubs like Richmond also had multiple priority and number one picks just like us. He's a cokchead.

I actually don't care if we get one or not as I don't believe it's going to make or break our club. The only thing that will get us back is bloody hard work and bringing in players who want to give their all, not just the most talented (I hope we've worked that one out). But this guy needs to be told what for. Anyone know how to bring these points up with him?

Looks like Barrett has achieved his aim.

Give demons supporters something to rant and rave about, extending his relevance.

Give opposition supporters something to strongly agree with him on, as they fervently kick a club that is down in a display of gleeful schadenfreude.

I wouldn't pay this moron any more mind.

Ps. He is a Norf supporter, so every step MFC takes closer to death, theoretically in turn brings them closer to a safe future.

It's a hopeful article.

I'm not normally prone to snobbery - the very working class conditions I grew up in virtually proclude it - but I consider the rank and file footy gossip mongers like Barrett to be beneath me and not worth wasting energy on by hating them.