Club suspends Byron Pickett

[45HG 1,559]

with that attitude it doesn't seem like he cares if he makes 200, and as such, neither do i

[Guest poita]

They might do a Dean Rioli and (LITERALLY) carry him over the line for the last 2 games of the year.

Would be disapointing if he couldn't make 200 considering how close he is.

Dean Rioli's extra two games made him eligible for the father-son rule. The care factor on Byron's extra two games would be nil (or less).

[deanox 9,985]

could we sack byron as a player but reemploy him to be our tackles and toughness coach?

[grazman 7,451]

They might do a Dean Rioli and (LITERALLY) carry him over the line for the last 2 games of the year.

Would be disapointing if he couldn't make 200 considering how close he is.

That shouldn't even come into it - Hutchy was stuck on 98 games and he really did bleed for the club.

[Whispering_Jack 30,573]

That shouldn't even come into it - Hutchy was stuck on 98 games and he really did bleed for the club.

The odds that we will ever see him in the red and blue are fairly long in my opinion.

We're 0-6 and a player of his experience should know better than to not front when an emergency. As it was, we had one player drop out through injury.

If I were a selector, I would think long and hard about picking him to play for the club again.

[beelzebub 23,382]

The odds that we will ever see him in the red and blue are fairly long in my opinion.

yep.. all the verbals sound more like positioning for a handshake parting.

Maybe the best thing for Byron is to go home and sort out his issues. Wish him well.

[Toad33 57]

I can't understand why; if the club want to decipline Byron, they suspend him from the club for one week? It's like they are giving him a week off!

Wasn't what he did similar to that in the first place; I mean by NOT turning up when he SHOULD have?

The club should have him doing a week of pre-season 'gut running', with a club trainer supervising, somewhere public, like around the the 'Tan Track', where the media can come and watch and take pictures and write about him in the papers. His team mates (or at least the leadership group) should also have to attend, to give encouragement and make sure he isn't slacking. Afterall it is their faith and trust he NEEDS to win back, NO ONE ELSES.

I agree with the suspension from AFL games . He should be made to earn his spot, not just on form, but on dedication and desire as well.

Now is a good time to talk to him about what he wants to do next year. He should be asked if he wants to be in a team that is capable of winning a flag or be a 'washed up has been' who let a golden opportunity go by.

As most will know I am a staunch believer in making players earn their spot on form and dedication. I don't believe Byron earnt his spot earlier in the year, well not from what I saw when he played for Sandy anyway. So seeing him dropped was a GOOD thing, and knowing he won't play for the next five weesk is too, in my eyes.

Go Dees - Weed out the weak.

[Gouga 570]

yep.. all the verbals sound more like positioning for a handshake parting.

Maybe the best thing for Byron is to go home and sort out his issues. Wish him well.

Byron has achieved all there is achieve in football. What else does he have to play for?

At 0-7 we have to look forward. Even though it a loss for the club it is probably best for all parties to move on.

What are people's thoughts on promoting Shane Neaves? Is he ready to go?

[Gouga 570]

Go Dees - Weed out the weak.

Hang on. This incident does not make Byron weak.

I'm almost positive this incident would not have happened had it not been for his sick mum.

[Toad33 57]

Hang on. This incident does not make Byron weak.

I'm almost positive this incident would not have happened had it not been for his sick mum.

It has NO relevance to Byron's situation, in regard to what he has done.

It does however have a relevance to HOW I think players should earn their spot in the team.

What Byron did to lose his spot was just STUPID or selfish or thoughtless; only he and the club knows.

Like ALL players on our list I hope he is made to earn his spot back, NOT be allowed to walk back into the team because he made his playing weight and has a reputation.

FWIW I think he has only kept his spot this long because we have had injuries.

Yze is a player who WAS made to earn his spot and IS making the most of the opportunity.

Go Dees - WEED OUT THE WEAK.

[re draft molan 1]

Hang on. This incident does not make Byron weak.

I'm almost positive this incident would not have happened had it not been for his sick mum.

The ball is entirely in Byrons court. Personally I think he will take his medicine, go back to Sandy, star, and force his way back in the side. I hope so. I think we need him. He is such a presence on the field.

[Gotta be the year 0]

Dees189277 tried to bring this to our attention the other night but was cut down by Jaded. Nice scoop well done.

Hopefully Pickett gets himself together and can play out the season. His experience and hardness is invaluable to the side.

[Jaded No More 68,972]

Actually, Dees189277 was trying to get confirmation regarding a rumour that was posted on Demonology, and I locked the thread because it was unsubstantiated, and defamatory.

Btw, the rumour was that Pickett has been sacked, which he hasn't, so it was proved to be incorrect.

[occo 2]

I think byron should be sacked...i honestly do...we wont make the finals...lets get buckley in and give him some game time. Im sick of playing older players who wont be at the club in 2 years. Jesus melbourne look at urself. Neitz, McDonnald, Whelan, Holland, Brown, Bizzell, Ward are all getting old. Ok some of these arnt the best players but they are depth. God help us in 2 years if injuries rock us again. Players like buckley and chris johnson wont get good by being forgotten each week. I honestly think melb can win a premiership but not for at least 3 years. Get Newton out there, keep playing Warnock...he will learn from his mistakes. What good is it keeping byron when we have buckley and garland knocking on the door. Im fed up with it...i really am and the melbourne management make me scream. Short term pain for long term gain. Jesus christ if they cant handle that then they can forget about me coming to each game and supporting them as much as i do

[Gotta be the year 0]

I think byron should be sacked...i honestly do...we wont make the finals... Players like buckley and chris johnson wont get good by being forgotten each week. I honestly think melb can win a premiership but not for at least 3 years. Get Newton out there, keep playing Warnock...he will learn from his mistakes.

I haven't given up on the finals and I don't think it is unrealistic. I think to make the finals Pickett needs to be there for his presence alone. I am a big fan of Dunn, Warnock, Bate and Sylvia and they can use the guidance of a 'hard, run through the lines' type player. If we do make the finals it would be nice to have a Norm Smith medalist in the trenches.

I don't think I need to see much more of CJ to form an opinion.

[AlphaDee 17]

I think byron should be sacked...i honestly do...we wont make the finals...lets get buckley in and give him some game time. Im sick of playing older players who wont be at the club in 2 years. Jesus melbourne look at urself. Neitz, McDonnald, Whelan, Holland, Brown, Bizzell, Ward are all getting old. Ok some of these arnt the best players but they are depth. God help us in 2 years if injuries rock us again. Players like buckley and chris johnson wont get good by being forgotten each week. I honestly think melb can win a premiership but not for at least 3 years. Get Newton out there, keep playing Warnock...he will learn from his mistakes. What good is it keeping byron when we have buckley and garland knocking on the door. Im fed up with it...i really am and the melbourne management make me scream. Short term pain for long term gain. Jesus christ if they cant handle that then they can forget about me coming to each game and supporting them as much as i do

I don't believe that we should sack Byron right now but I agree that we really need to give all the young guns as much game time as possible. Not all of them every week but certainly half a dozen games each over the remainder of the season.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Hang on. This incident does not make Byron weak.

I'm almost positive this incident would not have happened had it not been for his sick mum.

Gouga , Pickett's career is littered with off field lack of discipline. That has nothing to do with his mum.

Demonland and Graz are spot on as usual about the situation.

Who cares what he wants to do next year? It wont be in the AFL and certainly nothing to do with MFC.

[nomed 113]

yep.. all the verbals sound more like positioning for a handshake parting.

Agree Bezulbub, we haven't got the full story here.

Why suspend Byron for a week, with 4 weeks at Sandringham if he chooses to come back?

Byron hasn't been left with much choice, 5 weeks total on the sidelines?

That’s a round 13 return!

Maybe his contract won't let management just sack him, if he is on match payments it’s a big pay cut, so they push him into a corner.

If he comes back, well that's a real show of character.

PS Is this the last year of Byron's?

What sort of contract is he on?

[QueenC 74]

He should be gone by year end.

You could well be right Rhino.....

It would definitely be a pity, but given the circumstances it would seem to be somewhat inevitable .

[QueenC 74]

not really harsh. Not turning up to a senior game as an emergency is almost unforgivable.

I totally agree with this. It is your job. Full stop, end of story.

He what!!??? Execute him now!!

It seems he got what he deserved.

According to ESPN this morning....... Apparently Pickett sent an SMS to Daniher on the morning of the game saying he was too hung over to play.

Make of that what you will.

[The Slack-Jawed Yokel 0]

Gouga , Pickett's career is littered with off field lack of discipline. That has nothing to do with his mum.

Demonland and Graz are spot on as usual about the situation.

Who cares what he wants to do next year? It wont be in the AFL and certainly nothing to do with MFC.

Well said.

It was always a big risk recruiting someone who was deemed "unemployable" by their previous coach and by the looks of things it it hasn't paid off.

I laughed when I saw all the nonsense floating about this site with people complaining about the MFC's lack of trading over the summer. Well here's what happens when you trade for players that other teams don't want.

[GoDs 0]

I totally agree with this. It is your job. Full stop, end of story.

It seems he got what he deserved.

According to ESPN this morning....... Apparently Pickett sent an SMS to Daniher on the morning of the game saying he was too hung over to play.

Make of that what you will.

Quite bad when you consider that a named player (rivers) wasn't playing. Perhaps he was given the call up?

[Redfin 0]

This is very disappointing from Byron, when the club he is playing for needs him fit and on the field.

My understanding of the “punishment” handed down to him by the club is:-

Can not play for 1 week at AFL/VFL level, and

Can not be considered for selection at AFL level for a further 4 weeks.

My view of this is different.

Who is this disciplinary action punishing?

We have Byron who at the start of the season was supposedly not match fit, finally gets selected and plays below standard games, gets dropped, and fails to meet his commitments by not turning up to a game where he is named as an emergency.

There is possibly more involved but to me that short summation says to me that he does not want to play football, so by imposing the discipline handed down by the club will not give him the option to prove himself, but simply allow him to disappear from the football world.

Knowing what little I do of this, the action I would take would be:-

Fine him for failing to show at the dogs game.

Have him address his team mates to make his playing intentions clear.

If he doesn’t want to play, end it there and then, amicably. (contract permitting)

If he does want to play, allow him to prove it on the track, select him for West Coast and let his game do the talking, and selection continues.

If his game improves it will be obvious he want’s to play, if not, adios!!

The club have stated that it believes a fit and committed Byron is an important component of our team. How is suspending him from AFL selection for 5 weeks helping the team?

If Byron also believes he is an important part of the team, he will prove it.

If he doesn’t he should retire now.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

He clearly is not match fit and has not been all year.

He is not play up to AFL standard.

He is not fit and committed and is a negative impact on the culture. Suspending him was the sensible thing to do in due respect of the playing group that are busting their guts in a difficult season. It should be remembered that the players leadership group and the FD determined the punishment. What does that tell about what the other players think about a bludging free loader

Allegedly he rung ND to say he would not attend the game as an emergency player because he was hung over?

The imposed sentence allows him the opportunity to redeem himself without the Club being heavy handed and knee jerk in its reaction. Its placed the ball in his court.

Had we sacked him now? We would look as sweet smelling as Richmond and would be pillared in the media.

I doubt whether his contract will be renewed and he will "retire" at year end.

[old55 23,687]

It sounds like a fair and strong decision by the club to me.

Byron has the opportunity to show that he really wants it.

There's a fair incentive even if it is just the $s - where else is he going to make ~$300K/year? assistant coaches don't make that much ...

If he shows commitment he's an important player for us.