If this is 8 weeks it will inevitably push out to him missing a quarter of his contract.

At least it's not half his contract like Clark.

rumour has it that Frawley is waiting for Damian Barrett's report on today's scan before deciding his future

You were clearly implying that you believed the AFL had implicitly more credibility than other media outlets. If that was not your implication then why mention an the approval process at all? There is no doubt also an approval process for articles on the Herald Sun website, but that doesn't stop them from jumping the gun* as well.

*I have no opinion on whether the AFL website or Damo Barrett have actually jumped the gun; talking purely in hypotheticals.

I never said the AFL site represents the "official position of the AFL", every article states that it is not the official opinion of the league. I said that there would be an approval process so that it isn't just a rumour centre.

At least it's not half his contract like Clark.

And growing by the week.

Plenty of Hanrahans here too.....

Well it is difficult to be a Doctor Pangloss if you follow MFC. Let's face it we'll all be rooned before the season is out!

We picked up two injury prone big blokes, it is no surprise they are in the stands.

Actually in the case of Clark he was relatively good when it came to injuries. He got a rare injury, that doesn't just stop with getting the foot right. It's fair to say that from now on he will be injury prone as his body has undergone a significant change and trauma, which means I think we should get used to him playing no more than 14-16 matches a year.

Dawes on the surface his hand was the main focus, but obviously that was a smoke screen.

Dees tall duo to miss Saints clash: Mahoney - interesting article.

Just listened to the audio then, and take it with a grain of salt but Mahoney believes we should have our talls back by Round 2-3. Yes, Clark and Dawes to be ready to return in 3-4 weeks. Hmm.

Dees tall duo to miss Saints clash: Mahoney - interesting article.

Just listened to the audio then, and take it with a grain of salt but Mahoney believes we should have our talls back by Round 2-3. Yes, Clark and Dawes to be ready to return in 3-4 weeks. Hmm.

What would Mahoney know? I won't believe anything unless I hear it from Barrett or Denham.

But I thought the sky was falling!!!!

It is.

NASA scientists have detected a reduction in size of the upper atmosphere of 0.327542 cm since Barrett made the announcement on TFS last night.

Never a dull moment.

I never said the AFL site represents the "official position of the AFL", every article states that it is not the official opinion of the league. I said that there would be an approval process so that it isn't just a rumour centre.

But if the MFC was still waiting on results of scans at the time that article appeared on the AFL site, then the statement re Hogan missing x number of weeks due to stress fractures, was no more than speculation or, for wont of a better term, rumour.

If it takes a little more time for our forwards to actually be 100% injury free, then so be it. Let's be honest with ourselves, we aren't finals contenders, we have time to get everything right and not rush every injured player back. As previously mentioned, if it was our mids who were starting to crumble and fade then yes I'd be worried, but in the meantime we do still have Fitzy, Howe, JKH, etc, in the forward line, it isn't completely kaputt. Hogan will be back, Dawes will be back, and so will Clark. When will they play together is not answerable at the moment, but it will happen, we are in good hands.

Just think how great it's going to be beating the Saints Rnd 1, I'm 100% confident for the first time in god knows.

Chicken and egg stuff...

If we had Clark, Dawes and Hogan fit and firing for all 22 rounds this year we'd be a chance for the 8 assuming our midfield stays healthy and developed as we'd hope.

SEN just reported that Calrk and Dawes injuries are far worse then what the club is making it out to be and frawley is gone at years end.

Now i know it was only KB and Denham reporting it but they mentioned Dawes had a degenerative knee problem. Now i mentioned this last year as I'm very good mates with a Collingwood backman and when i caught up with him last he mentioned about Dawes and his ongoing knee problem he has to manage for the rest of his career. He had it since TAC cup days. Throughout his career at Collingwood they had to manage him every year and it just got to the point where Collingwood weren't prepared to keep doing this for the rest of his career

I got absolutely flogged on this website from everyone and especially guys like Saty for passing on what i was told. Collingwood were not one bit fussed in getting rid of Dawes and were shocked how much we were prepared to pay overs for his service. Even to this day i have no idea why we went so hard for Dawes. I respect his leadership and experience he brings to the football club but if he struggles to play more then 10 games this year i think we need to bite the bullet and seriously consider the future of Dawes at years end. 500k a year for a bloke on one leg.. I would rather throw the Bank at Patton or Tom Boyd.

With Clark it's now more hamstring issues in regards to changing his running style which is completely normal. Foot is not a problem at all. Hogan just wrap him in cotton wool for the next month. No rush for him.

SEN did not just report that as you said I heard the entire interview and they discussed a number of things about the Dees including Hogan having a back injury, which Denham had no information on. They also discussed free agency and the bigger clubs doing well out of it, KB said Melbourne did okay in picking up players they managed to lure Clark they done well there. Denham made comment about the large amount he was being paid and he believed Melbourne were not reporting how serious the injuries that Dawes and Clark were carrying. He said Dawes he thinks has a degenerative knee while Melbourne are saying Clark has hamstring problems but he thinks his foot is not right.

So if you were flogged on the website for what you posted last year it's probably more to do with the way you portrayed it. SEN just reported is a lot different to , Greg Denham just said. KB said nothing about the injuries at all and it was fairly clear to me that Denham was rehashing stuff he had read while trolling through demonland

I wouldn't take anything Matt Thompson writes as Hard Facts and he works for AFL Online. The guy is clueless. Even moreso in person.

Parrot fashion reporting of the highest order.

Barrett works for the same platform. He went early to sensationalize. He may be right, but i find it interesting the club has not issued anything yet.

WAITING FOR THE SCANS MAYBE.

So i will wait for the MFC to tell its members what is going in

If this article is correct Hogan was/is having scans today. If he hasn't had scans yet how on earth could DB or anyone else for that matter jump to the conclusion that he has fractures. Please.

Damien Barrett gets a kick out of stirring up the Melbourne faithful.

He will be having a great old time reading some of these comments, and I can assure you he reads these comments as I figured out (with confirmation) his demonland profile over the last trade period.

Prior to noticing some of his comments that felt like I had read them two days prior on here I hated him, although since then and now he along with many journos just stir the pot once and while (some more than others) to get a reaction have have the public talking (about them or their related stories whether they're true, false or exaggerated).

Damien Barrett gets a kick out of stirring up the Melbourne faithful.

He will be having a great old time reading some of these comments, and I can assure you he reads these comments as I figured out (with confirmation) his demonland profile over the last trade period.

Prior to noticing some of his comments that felt like I had read them two days prior on here I hated him, although since then and now he along with many journos just stir the pot once and while (some more than others) to get a reaction have have the public talking (about them or their related stories whether they're true, false or exaggerated).

He is a world class [censored], i know north supporters and even they hate him.

This is going to throw a spanner in the works.. But here goes.

Now with Frawley, he keeps banging on about his mates at the club and his veins bleeding red and blue etc etc, yet he's waiting until the end of the season before he decides apparently. This post might be a tad premature but if he leaves, I will be glad. Football clubs and sustained success occurs when you have players who stick by the club, drag it out of the mud, and inspire a climb to the top.

Nathan Jones has never once 'considered his options' and has been on the list longer than Frawley, has endured just as many losses and hardships, and has improved out of sight as an individual and team player. That's a telling sign.

How can your 'opinion' throw a "spanner in the works" ?

A couple of things. Frawley has not put off talks until the end of the year. He has delayed contract discussions to see how the year starts panning out.

You also say that Jones has never once "considered his options". The following is from an Emma Quayle article, "Five Seasons".

“It took me some time to make the decision because I wanted to make sure I was making the right one." “I wasn’t sure where I was going, and so many things go through your head. I was 24 and people tell you these are the best years, so you feel like you should be thinking about it more seriously than ever before. I ended up signing in the middle of last year but I gave it plenty of thought."

It's best to acquaint yourself with facts, Steve.

Also, I was lucky enough to be invited to the MFC board room a couple of weeks ago for an information night on the Foundation Heroes. It was a small intimate gathering where Roos, Jackson and the President spoke and I had a bit of a chat to Frawley. It was only 2 days after his press conference at Luna Park. I wasn't rude or silly enough to directly ask him if he's going to stay, but I can contribute that he and the players are excited about the coming year. He's a very friendly chatty guy, seemed genuinely happy and didn't strike me as someone contemplating leaving. I recognise my gut feelings mean two fifths of SFA, but I reckon the first clear signs that things are really different, and just don't "seem" different, he'll put pen to paper. I've seen players at functions before where their presence has clearly been a chore. Frawley was really engaging and surprisingly "Chipper".

Dawes was also there and didn't seem to be weighed down by his supposed degenerative knee. But he may be a good actor.

I also had a surprisingly long chat to Roosy. Nice guy.

Best of all I met and had a great chat to my childhood hero, Robbie Flower. They say you should never meet them as you tend to walk away disappointed. I'm pleased to say it was the opposite. A fantastically friendly and engaging guy. It made my night.

Steve, best you worry about Salem being an ectomorph and let these others things take their course. I'm surprisingly confident on all fronts, especially Salem.

You know, in every adversity there is an opportunity. If we are without our tall forwards for a few weeks it means we have some extra time developing our defensive structures. We get to understand really well how to counter the rebounding attack out of our forward line. This will stand us in good stead later in the season when we do have a fully functional forward line. I'm sure PR is planning to use every game as a learning opportunity as he builds our capacity to deal with a whole range of game-day eventualities. Remember how, in the past, we have not been able to counter shifting momentum in a game and how there has never been a plan B or an ability to adapt the strategy to meet needs quickly? It's going to change.

It's unfortunate that we are not starting with our best 22 but the reality is that very few clubs have their best 22 on the ground every week. It's just that the good teams are able to adjust and deal with the gaps left by injuries.

This year will be about building the team and its ability to respond in any given situation. Next year it will all come together and we will win more than we lose.

"It was only 2 days after his press conference at Luna Park. I wasn't rude or silly enough to directly ask him if he's going to stay, but I can contribute that he and the players are excited about the coming year"

I asked directly, and what your gut is telling you is correct, as I put before, if he sees the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not the train, he will sign

I get a lot of players talking to me because I am direct

Damien Barrett gets a kick out of stirring up the Melbourne faithful.

He will be having a great old time reading some of these comments, and I can assure you he reads these comments as I figured out (with confirmation) his demonland profile over the last trade period.

Prior to noticing some of his comments that felt like I had read them two days prior on here I hated him, although since then and now he along with many journos just stir the pot once and while (some more than others) to get a reaction have have the public talking (about them or their related stories whether they're true, false or exaggerated).

If that is true, he is a pathetic little man. Anyone who gets their kicks out of stirring up die-hard fans of a bottom club is a sad troll.

I hope he reads that and reflects on his character.

No. No I didn't. I said there would be an approval process, and unless Barrett is the webmaster of the AFL site then there would be.

There is an approval process for all publications of size with multiple contributors - its the editor.

By you saying the "official AFL website" would have an approval process you can see that you are insinuating that the approval of material is by the AFL.

The answer is - no it isn't.

Today would have been a great day to announce a new sponsor for the club. The hits on the website will be going through the roof.

Now we play the waiting game for Hogan's scan results...