8 minutes ago, boydie said:

Don't worry, the AFL will make something up on the spot as to why Richmond/Fremantle will get to upgrade a player.

GWS needs to fill the gap left by the removal of their pick 17 by Gil and they therefore should be awarded our rookie upgrade. It's only right.

43 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Something is fishy with the AFL ruling if it is in fact a ruling. 

We could have kept HL on the list and paid him the agreed amount, while declaring him unfit to play and eligible for the LTI list and then able to uplift a rookie. 

He then would have retired at the end of the season. 

Something is funny here. 

Something>>>> not funny 

56 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Something is fishy with the AFL ruling if it is in fact a ruling. 

We could have kept HL on the list and paid him the agreed amount, while declaring him unfit to play and eligible for the LTI list and then able to uplift a rookie. 

He then would have retired at the end of the season. 

Something is funny here. 

my thoughts too, mr leg. i sense the afl don't approve of our "solution"

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

When did H actually become concussed??

In the marking contest with Ty Vickery...

Reports were that he was upset that Melbourne didn't allow him to play when he could play (meaning the fourth year in contract couldn't automatically be triggered), but he has now retired because of concussion based on medical advice?

I think the AFL ruling is consistent with past rulings and an understandable position to have in order to prevent clubs from engineering retirements to their advantage.

It seems to me that some people feel aggrieved that Lumumba's departure was left far too late and that this somehow disadvantaged the club. They seem to be of the belief that had he gone in October then we would have had an additional vacancy on our list at draft time to enable the club to draft another player. However, given our draft position with no pick till the late 40s the extra selection would have been a lowly pick and not of great value. Even without the capacity to upgrade a rookie in the off season, we can play rookies in the pre season competition and if necessary, upgrade a player from virtually the start of the season.

The whole thing is a storm in a teamcup - we've lost a player whose contribution was negligible in 2016 and it was unlikely that he was going to get many games next year. He was able to dominate a game once whilst at the club - and that was a pre season NAB Challenge game in his first season. No sweat.

20 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I think the AFL ruling is consistent with past rulings and an understandable position to have in order to prevent clubs from engineering retirements to their advantage.

It seems to me that some people feel aggrieved that Lumumba's departure was left far too late and that this somehow disadvantaged the club. They seem to be of the belief that had he gone in October then we would have had an additional vacancy on our list at draft time to enable the club to draft another player. However, given our draft position with no pick till the late 40s the extra selection would have been a lowly pick and not of great value. Even without the capacity to upgrade a rookie in the off season, we can play rookies in the pre season competition and if necessary, upgrade a player from virtually the start of the season.

The whole thing is a storm in a teamcup - we've lost a player whose contribution was negligible in 2016 and it was unlikely that he was going to get many games next year. He was able to dominate a game once whilst at the club - and that was a pre season NAB Challenge game in his first season. No sweat.

Not such a storm in a teacup when you remember players like Junior McD, Robbo, Jamar & Davey were all rookies. 

7 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Gee chap you must have never had a concussion, you do not have to 'get a direct hit on the chin' so to speak, Gus got one of his from getting belted in the back of the head with a ball, your head can accidentally hit the ground under a tackle and nobody notices it, you can get your neck twisted doing the same thing, or you can get an accidental elbow hit to the temple, they will all cause a concussion as the head snaps back

H played 220 odd games, it could have been a cumulative affect, one of the more 'infamous' is Jeff Astle a famous soccer player who died of a brain injury, they think brought about by heading a wet leather soccer ball so often, he was 'famous' for his heading ability, he was never actually knocked out

Because H is H, if he farted in a particular way this would be news

 

The concussion story is clearly garbage.

There is obviously something else going on.

As far as I'm concerned we have a player that doesn't want to play and a club who won't be played and was keen to cut and run.

If it was simply an injury then the club would place the player on LTI list and upgrade a rookie.

Edit: redleg has already come to the same conclusion.

 

34 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

The concussion story is clearly garbage.

There is obviously something else going on.

As far as I'm concerned we have a player that doesn't want to play and a club who won't be played and was keen to cut and run.

If it was simply an injury then the club would place the player on LTI list and upgrade a rookie.

Edit: redleg has already come to the same conclusion.

 

So what tou are saying then is Josh Mahoney is lieing in public, you can't come to any other conclusion if your opinion is that the concussion issue doesn't exist

6 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

When did H actually become concussed??

I think it was shortly before changing his name. 

Is it catchy? He makes me feel a little bit concussed.

7 hours ago, Vogon Poetry said:

Got to say Saty I question the concussion story because nobody saw him get hit.  In the Age this morning they mention that there is no vision of the VFL game concussion and nobody has been able to direct me to the AFL incident as well.  

Pretty ordinary that Age report. The VFL one was a body collision, not a head shot. Which is enough to give concussion particularly if a pre-existing condition is there. It was caught on video as that game was televised. H came off shortly after. The incident was replayed during the coverage

Can't recall the AFL one and CBF looking for it. But I don't remember anyone questioning it at the time.

Like others, I suspect that there's more than just concussion here but that is the key that both H and the club have used to the exit door.
 

I wish him well. He's a different unit but for a while there he was OUR different unit. He kept his thoughts largely to himself at MFC and focussed on footy. Certainly didn't embarrass the club with his musings like he did at Collingwood (until Ali's passing but I'm blaming the concussion for that). And when he was out there in red and blue he had a decent crack

On 12/21/2016 at 4:59 PM, Wiseblood said:

Would have thought that was slightly harsh.  We don't know the whole story and we don't know all the information H was given about his concussion.  He was under contract and had every right to look at all angles about how he could get himself right and contribute to the club.  Once he was properly informed then he pulled the pin.  Yes, it's a pain that it's come in December and not in October, but to suggest he 'screwed the club' is totally over the top.

what a soft egg thing to say the bloke is a goon get over it good riddance 

19 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

So what tou are saying then is Josh Mahoney is lieing in public, you can't come to any other conclusion if your opinion is that the concussion issue doesn't exist

Someone is lying yes..The whole issue doesn't add up

16 hours ago, hardtack said:

Should have gone to Spec Savers!

bwaaaa thats funny 

 

14 hours ago, poita said:

Thank God that's over. Up with Lard Arse Pickett as the worst value recruit in my thirty-odd years of membership of this club. From day one it was all about him, and nothing about the club or his teammates. I still don't believe that concussion has anything to do with his absence from the club or his retirement. Hopefully we get the full story one day, given that we as members are paying part of his salary not to turn up.

The sad thing is, he probably genuinely does care about the world outside football, and had the opportunity to use his profile and position to do some good. Now the prevailing view will be of a bloke who has worn out his welcome at two clubs, held out his hand for a massive payout for doing nothing, and consistently breached the terms of his contract.

I hope he finds what he is looking for in life, but I'm glad it will have nothing to do with the MFC.

jeez mate ya got this right  total self centered [censored]  glad gone  nick off princess

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

Not such a storm in a teacup when you remember players like Junior McD, Robbo, Jamar & Davey were all rookies. 

This is precisely the reason I have been frustrated that we finalised our list  without understanding H's situation. 

The odds are against picking up useful players late in the draft or in the rookie draft - but most successful teams have one or two. Look at Hamling and Papley this year - or Dalhous and Picken. Actually throw in Morris and Dickson - and the premiers had 5 !! 

I'd also like to think that we are sufficiently close to all our players to know which ones are going to hit the training track on Day 1 - and which ones are not.

Perhaps he did a back flip the night before - but it's reasonable to assume that he had some doubts for some time.

Reckon most supporters would prefer.a speculative pick over an empty slot 

10 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

And if he had stayed on the LTI for a year we would have paid the salary as well, it didn't work out, you never left a job under lesd than perfect circumstances?

To actually doubt the concussion issues is pathetic to say the least next time I chat to Gus Brayshaw or Nev Jetta I'll let them know we have some doubters amongst supporters about the debilitating affects a couple of concussions can have

Yours is exactly the reaction when a player doesn't fit the normal stereotype,  similar to bullies in school or the workplace, except you can do it from behind the anonymity of your keyboard

H came to the club, it didn't work, he has gone, I would just say thank you for his efforts

Bollocks

7 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

So what tou are saying then is Josh Mahoney is lieing in public, you can't come to any other conclusion if your opinion is that the concussion issue doesn't exist

Of course he is.  He is after all a football administrator.

20 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Of course he is.  He is after all a football administrator.

There are "lies","half truths" and "spin". I'm sure his limited availability last year was the source of the problem - so you can say " concussion " But I reckon the fact that he was told he wasn't pencilled in to our best 22 was a factor. If nothing else he's a proud man. That makes it a "half truth " - but a reasonable one in the circumstances.

Just annoyed that we've effectively lost a position on list . Don't reckon that's good management.

Story on FB that Harry Obrien to star in a documentary that covers his struggle for identity.

What a ......

26 minutes ago, hoopla said:

 

Just annoyed that we've effectively lost a position on list . Don't reckon that's good management.

It is disappointing.

We were dealing with a contracted player.   There would have been legal and financial negotiations that were never going to be resolved prior to the draft.

We get to move on and Mahoney does his job and presents an outcome that is palatable and discreet and does the least possible damage to the brand of both parties.

 

Looks like Lumumba will star in a Documentary about him. Now interesting that end of the article it says Melbourne has been given permission to upgrade a rookie?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/retired-afl-premiership-player-heritier-lumumba-is-the-subject-of-a-new-documentary/news-story/58ea9e4a9ef6c9cd0db19d55ba1d827e

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don't understand this. Either he's off the list for 2017 in which case we should be able to upgrade a rookie or he's on the list and should be able to go as a long term injury due to concussion.

The ruling that he's a terminated player and therefor we can't promote someone is ridiculous. 

This is red hot, if true.

For a start, it is absolutely inconsistent with the AFL's stance on treatment of players suffering concussion.

It's an opportunity to upgrade one of the Smiths.

 

18 hours ago, SaberFang said:

I must have missed the part where Nev Jetta or Gus Brayshaw threatened to sue the club over the club's treatment of their concussions. 

I must have missed the part where H threatened to sue the club - I do remember it being reported in the paper and then being debunked by Josh Mahoney

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Looks like Lumumba will star in a Documentary about him. Now interesting that end of the article it says Melbourne has been given permission to upgrade a rookie?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/retired-afl-premiership-player-heritier-lumumba-is-the-subject-of-a-new-documentary/news-story/58ea9e4a9ef6c9cd0db19d55ba1d827e

Sounds like having Kevin Rudd starring in a documentary about himself.   A pair of useless narcissists if there ever was one.  No insight in either case.