I think that John Pierek article was actually a subset of a larger one talking to Swan that has then been cut down for the website headline. He's actually not usually that bad. In fact the Age Journo's as a rule aren't completely hopeless you just have to get them on the right subject.

Emma Quayle is great with profiles and draft stuff. Our very own Melbourne supporter Jesse (not that Jesse) Hogan knows his cricket and footy. Greg Baum is good when he keeps his left wing agenda hidden and just commentates. Even Jake Niall has his good days when he's not been a lazy tool. And Caro, dear Caro, if she only would refuse talking BS about Richmond, Hird, tanking or North and just focused on some quality reporting she'd be ok as well.

The herald sun guys do a decent enough job of just taking quotes and putting them in the paper and provide some interesting graphics and data some times. As long as they focus on doing their job and don't get delusions of grandeur and actually try investigative journalism or anything silly like that then they do ok as well.

I just love how Martin shopped himself round last year and no-one would have a bar of him.... Wonder how much less Richmond offered him when he came back

I just love how Martin shopped himself round last year and no-one would have a bar of him.... Wonder how much less Richmond offered him when he came back

Initial offer of 450 revised to around 400 was the talk. Best thing was he wanted 600 and even GWS sneezed at that. Wish they paid him though and he left Richmond in a screaming mess going out in the PSD. Would've been a huge blow up.

Initial offer of 450 revised to around 400 was the talk. Best thing was he wanted 600 and even GWS sneezed at that. Wish they paid him though and he left Richmond in a screaming mess going out in the PSD. Would've been a huge blow up.

I am looking forward to Caro's deep probing investigations into the failings of RFC.

I am looking forward to Caro's deep probing investigations into the failings of RFC.

You will need more Years than both of us have left put together waiting mono.

I just don't see the problem.....Footy needs people like Swan and Dusty....otherwise we just end up with robotsDuring my time I have seen a lot of great footballers who did not comform to what footballers were supposed to be like.....And as for some people calling them dumb...they are earning millions of dollars doing something they love....I wish I was as dumb.....

Footy certainly does not need known associates of criminal gangs, and players who display that in their public behavior, gangs who have been associated with extortion, gun running, murder and drug running. Especially in the case of Martin who seems quite happy to use the public stage of an AFL match to promote the bizarre ideas and values of such gangs.

They are a disgrace, and so are Swan and Martin for proudly promoting their cause.

Damn these robots objecting to murder and drug running and sex slavery. It's political correctness gone mad, I tell ya!

I mean, whatever they want to do in their private lives is their own business... wait... no... I think we've found a line that might be crossed here.

But also, 'allegedly', of course. Except for Martin, who flaunts his association with major crime figures in the very specifically public space of football.

Hrm...

Damn these robots objecting to murder and drug running and sex slavery. It's political correctness gone mad, I tell ya!

I mean, whatever they want to do in their private lives is their own business... wait... no... I think we've found a line that might be crossed here.

But also, 'allegedly', of course. Except for Martin, who flaunts his association with major crime figures in the very specifically public space of football.

Hrm...

Well, not sure what the point is you are making, but having AFL footballers so publicly associating with criminal elements as Martin and Swan do is not only an appalling public image, but a nightmare for the AFL. It is for a very practical reason. Criminal gangs like to associate with sporting celebrities because it not only gives them "legitimacy" in the eyes of the public, especially the young, but also it creates a way in for corruption of the game to flourish which is what their ultimate objective is, and is the AFL's worst nightmare. This is an issue far beyond political correctness, and I personally am amazed any fan with the welfare of the game at heart could possibly think it was merely PC.

If you don't believe me, look at international soccer, cricket, cycling, basketball, American Football, Field Hockey, rugby league where criminal elements see corruption of elite sports as a key growth area for illegal revenues. All have been at one time or other tainted by criminal activity associated with match fixing in one form or another. With the AFL getting deeper and deeper into the black hole of dependency on gambling revenues and its associated advertising support (and unfortunately the MFC is

by necessity one of the worst examples of it), the potential for corruption only gets worse. To dismiss it as PC, is living in a very dangerous mind set indeed.

Surely, this is an appropriate time for Caroline Wilson to trot out her writing template calling for the Richmond President and CEO to resign and for Martin and Jake King (whose questionable connections were highlighted recently when the First Lady of Football was conveniently on leave) to be summarily dismissed.

She could also add that there are now huge question marks about the ability of that club's coach to take the team forward in the wake of its recent shock NAB Challenge defeat at the hands of the AFL's easy beats.

Wait ... I forgot we're taking about Richmond and they have immunity from that template. Where's the wet lettuce?

Surely, this is an appropriate time for Caroline Wilson to trot out her writing template calling for the Richmond President and CEO to resign and for Martin and Jake King (whose questionable connections were highlighted recently when the First Lady of Football was conveniently on leave) to be summarily dismissed.

She could also add that there are now huge question marks about the ability of that club's coach to take the team forward in the wake of its recent shock NAB Challenge defeat at the hands of the AFL's easy beats.

Wait ... I forgot we're taking about Richmond and they have immunity from that template. Where's the wet lettuce?

Used to a tram ticket WJ

Unfortunately there are not many of those about these days.

Used to a tram ticket WJ

Unfortunately there are not many of those about these days.

Possibly the only advantage of myki over the old tickets us that has more use as a weapon .... :-)

Slow news week.

No one got busted speeding, driving without a licence. driving over .05

Getting [censored] at a night club, urinating in lane ways at 2am.

So let's just fill the space with C**P

Footy certainly does not need known associates of criminal gangs, and players who display that in their public behavior, gangs who have been associated with extortion, gun running, murder and drug running. Especially in the case of Martin who seems quite happy to use the public stage of an AFL match to promote the bizarre ideas and values of such gangs.

They are a disgrace, and so are Swan and Martin for proudly promoting their cause.

Have these players been charged with any criminal offence ????

Where is the associations with murders????

have you checked that all your friends and associates are squeaky clean

Some players come from backgrounds that are not all middle class and PC and have great upbringings. Maybe they play this game (and play it very well) to somehow make something of themselves

But because they don't fit into supporters idea of the perfect world......You berate them and they should be ashamed of themselves and are a disgrace.....get over yourself.

This has nothing to do with middle class niceties nor political correctness. It has everything to do with the integrity of sport. I will do EVERYTHING in my power to ensure the thugs of the local mafia, the Russian mafia, and the Chinese triads get NO traction in our society. If you are comfortable in them obtaining that then I will take you on as well. I have lived in Asia and Europe in senior business positions and have experienced first hand what these people do. They are not at all nice. I can tell you they see Australian sport as a prime target because it is so popular, Australians are so stupidly gambling oriented, and it puts them at the centre of society. They could not ask for a better formula! The number one target is the AFL, as it is the wealthiest, and most high profile sport in what is regarded as one of the most profitable sports markets in the world.

I see an incredibly stupid complacency about this sort of thuggary in Australia to our great cost. I for one do not want to leave this legacy for my children. Maybe you do?

This has nothing to do with middle class niceties nor political correctness. It has everything to do with the integrity of sport. I will do EVERYTHING in my power to ensure the thugs of the local mafia, the Russian mafia, and the Chinese triads get NO traction in our society. If you are comfortable in them obtaining that then I will take you on as well. I have lived in Asia and Europe in senior business positions and have experienced first hand what these people do. They are not at all nice. I can tell you they see Australian sport as a prime target because it is so popular, Australians are so stupidly gambling oriented, and it puts them at the centre of society. They could not ask for a better formula! The number one target is the AFL, as it is the wealthiest, and most high profile sport in what is regarded as one of the most profitable sports markets in the world.

I see an incredibly stupid complacency about this sort of thuggary in Australia to our great cost. I for one do not want to leave this legacy for my children. Maybe you do?

I think you miss my point......I am not for these types of people at all......I just think it is a free world last time I looked.......You cannot choose players friends for them....I don't have the audacity to tell you who to mix with

I too have combated these types of people all my working life....but for you to degrade players and say they should be ashamed because they are footballers and you do not approve of their friends is just holistic and snobbery .......just my opinion ......

I think you miss my point......I am not for these types of people at all......I just think it is a free world last time I looked.......You cannot choose players friends for them....I don't have the audacity to tell you who to mix with

I too have combated these types of people all my working life....but for you to degrade players and say they should be ashamed because they are footballers and you do not approve of their friends is just holistic and snobbery .......just my opinion ......

I used to go Dougherty's in Brunswick and do boxing training (my personal trainer took me there - I didnt fit in at all with lots of muscled up blokes and tons of Ink). Toby Mitchell used to use the ring after my session. He was always very polite and friendly to me. I had no idea at all who he was.

I stopped going ( my work moved to the other side of town) - three months later someone took shots at him outside the gym.

It was then from the papers I found out more about him.

Its not snobbery or being holier than though but I wouldn't want my daughters going out with people who other people find it necessary to take potshots at !

I dont say that players should be ashamed of socialising with them - I say they should use better judgement.

I think you miss my point......I am not for these types of people at all......I just think it is a free world last time I looked.......You cannot choose players friends for them....I don't have the audacity to tell you who to mix withI too have combated these types of people all my working life....but for you to degrade players and say they should be ashamed because they are footballers and you do not approve of their friends is just holistic and snobbery .......just my opinion ......

Well I would go so far as if they want to associate with these people and insist in bringing them into the inner sanctums of Afl clubs (as both Martin and swan have done) then they have no business playing Afl. They are in a very priveledged position and are under constant gaze of the media. Martin in particular seems to think this gives him a license to publicise his criminal agenda. Under no circumstances is this acceptable. He is in effect using the billion dollar AFL publicity machine to promote his own perverse set of values, and in the process bring his gullible team-mates along with him.

It is not on. There is no way the AFL should allow it, however much our middle class perceptions of a fair go and libertarian attitudes might tell us we should. These guys have no such scruples, and neither should we. Otherwise we surrender the right to exist and the right of the sport we love to survive.

I'm sure there are many who think I exaggerate. I do not. We are contesting against totally unprincipled people. I value my liberty and way of life too much to allow them any room whatsoever.

I think you are seeing way to much into this.......I hope you have checked all our players friends and associates.......We might have to sack a few...

For what it's worth, I find myself wanting to mock both sides of the 'they're just characters we can't all be robots' and 'they are undesirable elements who should be purged'.

In football and society.

I think you are seeing way to much into this.......I hope you have checked all our players friends and associates.......We might have to sack a few...

As long as our players play well and win games I have little interest in who their mates are.

I don't bloody care if they are not the souls of virtue.

Found a shot of the two chatting away, they've concealed the tatts to try and keep it secret...

The important thing is that Eddie has come out and backed him. And as we all know Eddie trumps all laws and jury decisions.

Slow news week.

No one got busted speeding, driving without a licence. driving over .05

Getting [censored] at a night club, urinating in lane ways at 2am.

So let's just fill the space with C**P

So, you haven't caught up with the events at Albany (WA) court ** from yesterday?

Vald's "integrity commissioners" (what a misnomer that is, especially given the events of the past year) must have good look at that, regardless of any legal sanctions.

** there was another thread on this but the politburo / censors have got to it

Interesting what is going on on this site. The "other thread" miraculously reappeared and just as quickly disappeared again. More and more like a Cold War spy story!

I think you are seeing way to much into this.......I hope you have checked all our players friends and associates.......We might have to sack a few...

There is a difference between having friends and associates that may have some question marks over their past and the likes of the former sergeant of arms of the banditos who has had not one, but two broad daylight attempts to gun him down.

I caught a bit of SEN this morning when a caller rang in and asked about GWS paying Scully all that money for a 6 year contract. Denham laughed and said they paid him a million in his first 2 years and GWS can't say they wouldn't have given Franklin a long contract when they gave Scully a 6 year deal and basically hasn't lived up to it.

He then said Franklin is a 2 time premiership player and a leading goal kicker and superstar and said I know who should be given a long contract.

I can't stand him when he bags us but when he does it to other clubs it's actually funny to listen to.