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I disagree with this on pretty much every point. I think Don has been doing an amazing job in very difficult times. He has kept the club moving in the right direction while things looked like going to hell. He's maintained the solidarity of the board and the club as a whole through this entire mess, all the while resisting the temptation to do an Eddie and make it all about him. He's doing exactly what the club president needs to do and keeping the focus on the team while deflecting negative influences (such as a recent pseudo-investigation) and keeping the club running smoothly. This guy has been awesome for the club and now that we appear to have weathered the storm, he deserves to keep on with the club while we move onwards and taste success.

There's no need for jokes around the place when dealing with the club and its leaders after a couple of years under fire.We held an AGM two weeks ago and there wasn't a word of dissent against McLardy or his board at any time during the evening. There was ample opportunity for critics to question the administration over any aspect of club policy. Since then he showed himself to be statesmanlike in steering the club through the difficult "tanking" negotiations. Where were the snipers who want change when the club had its AGM? Where were the people to put their hands up who want to take over and effect the change you're talking about? I know where the snipers were when times were tough and we were copping criticism over sponsors, poor performances on field, questioning the coach's appointment, the Mifsud/Davey affair, Brock McLean on On the Couch and countless other issues. Some of them were talking to Wilson or snitching to the AFL or bagging the club in the media and elsewhere. Leaders need to roll up their sleeves and work hard when the going gets tough. We don't need division and people who would throw us publicly under the bus because they have personal axes to grind. I say well done to Don and go Dees tomorrow night and throughout 2013 and beyond.

The change we need, at least on this board, is a "Do not like" button for this sort of post!

I think it was BS. Caro would not have named names - it would have made her untrustworthy to all her contacts and her cred would have died on the spot. Furthermore, outing the idiot who was talking to her would be good for the club. Gary should have called her on it.

Joke has been reported to the relevant bodies.

Grow a pair. Its over. we did what we did and we have copped a whack. Anything that was done was done with the interests of the club first and foremost. There is no personal enrichment or shady deals. We lost a PP in 2003 and 2007. SOme say it was stolen from us both times. In 2009 we had the spectre of GWS and the SUns coming in to the comp where the draft picks would be distorted for some years. We are here now and we need to be united and we need to say F*** off to every other club and the AFL. Particularly the media. DOnt waste time getting angry at our club and its board or other members or other members of Ology or 'Land. Focus on supporting Mark Neeld and our playing group for 2013. We need everyone on the same reality bus. Go Dees.

I actually think McLardy has done an excellent job.

Had the opportunity this morning to drop by for the 1st time in years. Mixed results. I also jumped on the bike to look at the Tiges which was a significant contrast in style and content. I did sit within earshot of Wayne Campbell and co for 20 minutes, their critique of our list and style was mostly uninteresting. Lots of skills work (it was needed) and a press breaking drill were performed for the better part of an hour. I didn't think it was too intense but it got a little ugly at times due to skill and decision errors. Good: The team as a whole looks very fit and stronger than the 2012 squad. Watts. When the game is flowing he looks a million dollars. Darts through traffic, makes good decisions and executes. I am waiting to see him get isolated by the opposition during the season proper though.... Viney. Scrubbed a few but clearly ticks boxes. His speed off the mark is surprising up close. He said he is very excited Hogan. Great hands. I watched him closely the whole session and he could be the best young tall (huge call after 1 viewing) since Schwarz, Neitz and Bergman(I think that was his name) were running around in the U/19's/reserves. I like his enthusiasm, size and did I mention his clean hands?... Hmmm what else... Dawes is huge, Frawley is super competitive in everything, Barry has studied the "How to" manual by Michael Long very well, Rodan is very cheeky. Bad: Missed kicks. The usual suspects; Bail, Fitzpatrick, Nicholson, and some of the newer guys were the main offenders but across the board I thought the skills were down. Richmond looks way better than us. FYI Tynan was running laps, could be why he isnt available tomorrow night. To be honest the session wasn't the best for getting a formline etc....

This is honestly why I bought my membership. Living in the states I wanted to do something to support the club. So, I purchased an armchair membership, made me feel good and like I was doing something to help the club out.

I'm just tired of all this, it's taken a huge toll on all those that really care for the club and I personally just want it to go away. I follow the club for it's football and not for the Politics or any off field dramas and I don't think I can continue if it's just going to be one [censored] fight after another. If any other supporter wants to stick it up us for this then who cares they would find something else if this wasn't around (snow, tartan rugs, go number 7 etc.etc.) so what the hell. If we start to win games then they can say what they like, does anyone on here really believe that Collingwood and Carlton care what other supporters think? Several years ago I was talking to a Solicitor friend of mine with the view to issuing against someone over a matter of principle and he said; just remember principle costs money, so even if you win, you will probably lose. He convinced me to forget it. Do we really want anymore dirty laundry dragged out for all to see?

Roos is right - Roos advocates draft overhaul but he will forever remain in my eyes as the symbol of AFL hypocrisy over tanking. Roos claimed in 2008 that his instruction to a player not to kick a goal to win a NAB Cup game was a joke, the AFL investigators believed him and he was exonerated. Unlike Chris Connolly who was also joking when he made remarks attributed to him at the infamous vault meeting but copped a 12 month suspension because he supposedly put pressure on Dean Bailey to try to lose games. Roos asked the loaded question of Brock McLean. Hypocrisy on hypocrisy. If there was any pressure, it was on the Swans player not to kick the goal. The joke will always be on the AFL.

Unfortunately, there are too many hypocrites in the media who will not allow this story to go much further. For instance, KB poo hooed a caller who raised allegations of "tanking" by clubs other than Melbourne on the basis that the AFL wouldn't investigate because there was supposedly "no evidence". This suggestion is not much less ridiculous than Wilson's (above). As Kennett pointed out the Liberatore comments made it almost impossible for the AFL not to commence an investigation. Of course, KB, like CW has allegiances to Richmond and the Wallace admission is damning in light of the wording of Rule 19 (5A) or its counterpart from that time. If the AFL was serious about integrity and ensuring the due observance of its rules, it would look at the Wallace article and charge the Tigers.

The way Kennett is going, she'll struggle to get her spot back in the pocket.

Deledio, Cotchin, Martin, Conca, Vlaustuin, Grigg, Dea, Batcherlor, Houli, Maric, Tuck, Foley, Morris plus Sam Lonergan as depth.. thats a pretty formidable midfield.. im actually pretty impressed the way they have built their side up. They have just about every position in their lineup coverd. Dont mind dimma as a coach. Wish we went for him but thats a different story. I can see why its an attractive club to be at. And just to think 3 years ago we were considerd to be more talented and closer to playing finals.

The revamping of our football department occurred over 12 months ago. Neeld inherited a confused and disoriented playing list and they played like this for much of 2012 as players were challenged to play a far more defensive and organised style. Neeld entered the coaching fray making some big and bold statements, he was unable to get a footy team that could consistently fulfil his ambitions in 2012. Those statements were Neeld's expression to the players, the membership and the football world of his ambitions for his football team. He has been unwaivering in his demands of his list and the club has some talented players have been collateral damage. In 2013 we get to watch and decide if the players that he has selected to remain and selected to draft will be willing and capable physically and intellectually of accepting the coaches mandate. Will the loss of the talent be offset by what many hope to be a more disciplined and hardened culture? and will the draftees make a significant inpact in 2013? The reports have been positive this pre-season, as they are every pre-season but there are many learned demonlanders who suggest that there is improved, leadership, fitness and cohesion among the group. This pre-season a very cautious Neeld has made no big statements, there are no great predictions or expectations, but some sense a quiet confidence that he feels that an improved football team will take the field this year. How many wins that translates to is of course relative to the improvement or otherwise of the other clubs, perhaps a more organised and assured team will compete in the 2013 season. The antidote to a flagging membership, a large fine, a battered reputation and a divided Demonland is having a strong team that can eke out wins against solid opposition....And a team that can play a game style that can be reasonably expected to become better and stronger in the future so that the idea of impending finals wins is not something that other teams supporters get to do. So heres to a new season of FOOTBALL, and to a steady upward projection of the fortunes of our club.

If, over the past months, you've been reading this forum and have felt as helpless as I have about the issues our club has been subjected to, then I'd like to suggest that the one thing you can do is be a member. I just renewed my family membership and even though I know the club could have done with my money earlier, I wanted to make a post - investigation statement, that no matter what, I stand by my club, our club. Our club needs our active support and whether you like it or not the biggest indicator of club support is membership numbers. I feel proud to be born into supporting the club that invented the rules of this great game and I am equally as proud to call myself a member. I am sick to death of the oft-quoted statistic of our supporter to member ratio. It is a cop out we rely upon as some sort of consolation for our low member numbers. We, as vocal supporters of the club, must contribute to a culture which says you're either with us or against us. If you're not a member you're just a barracker and surely there's nothing worse than that...

I thought that joke was majak.

K.D. Lang??

I'd rather have Caro on than JGK. And that is saying both a little and a alot. What he knows about footy and the business of footy amounts to not very much.Just another retired polly addicted to the spotlight. Sadly his stint as Hawthorn President now sees him qualified as some sort of uber football sage. Fair dinkum Ian Dicker rebuilt Hawthorn with Dunstall. Dicker on. Kennett off. I had to smile WJ when you referenced an article in the News Ltd Press which described the awful editor of the Oz Chris Mitchell as being 'respected' or somesuch! Very much a case of 'they would say that wouldnt they'! Caro is indeed reflective of the decline in standards of journalism across all areas. In politics its an endless fascination with leadership challenges and controversy and a complete inability to examine policy in any meaningful way. In the footy medjia its the same. Heaven knows any of them might give more than a cursory glance to tactics for instance. The way journos and commentators reverentially discuss each others opinions like they were handed down from Mt Sinai on 2 tablets gives me the heeby jeebies. An endless incestuous circle jerk. Thats the mainstream media in 2013.

Then we better start winning.

Cotchin & Delidio with Martin on the way. Morris is a back pocket, Houli half back, Conca hasn't settled a postion yet, Vlastuin a half back in the champs last year, Foley good player but always injured. If Cotchin goes down they look a bit thin on the ground. Defence is still weak and they rely to much on Jack up forward. I'm not sold on them yet and I think their recruiting at the end of season was poor, they went to the well one to many times on picking up experience from other clubs....but it's still to be seen. It might be a good lesson for us come seasons end.

In Mykonos they substitute tram for Donkey . I didn't know you went to a catholic school BBO? BTW ,I applied for the job in Rome because I thought the town had three things going for it. 1. All roads lead there.(great for traffic) 2.It wasn't built in a day (unlike Beijing) 3. When there ,you have to do what they do (which is not very much). Put in my application ,just waiting for the puffs of smoke from the blokes in frocks.

Well no one else will date me!!

There was, in the good old days, a very charming and accommodating young lady who had the initials LL.

"apparently as Jamar provides more clean ball." I find that really interesting triple j and I would invite some comments. My observation of Jamar, apart from his one stellar year, is that the tapouts he wins are largely ineffective. This is because he tends to tap downwards rather than clearing the stoppage. Unless you have a bulldozer under there it is very difficult to get a clean possession.

For all those worried about this business forever tarnishing us as tankers have a a squiz at today's papers. Nary a mention of anything to do with tanking save a couple of articles that are critical of the AFL in regard to having the incentive in place. The back of the Hun screams about tiered ticket prices. The Bombers will be back in the news soon and the NAB cup will fill space. The journos are combing social media for the next juicy beat up. In a weeks time most people won't even remember the dees were investigated little lone brand us tankers. Yesterday news, today's virtual chip wrapppers. Not one person will care about Melbourne.

I am actually expecting us to lose both games tomorrow, but just hope we can show something in game style and endeavour and some hope from the new squad. Although he is only young, I am really looking forward to seeing Hogan.

I'm pretty excited and proud to be a first-time member!

Fitting that they're $9 for the flag. Haven't played finals in 12 years. Expectations are very high though.......$9!

Herald Sun headline: Dawes magic ruins Majak Daws.

I just hope people have not gone to early on Viney.........He is just an 18 year old kid who has not yet played a game......

Everyone will think we are tankers whether we accepted this or not. The club did the right thing and I was never of the impression that the club was anything other than united these last 7 months, wyl. The AFL was leaking to Caro and so were The Disgruntled Few but they are on the outer now and thier influence has evaporated now. We can get on with some footy with a scandal-less FD, a rejuvenated playing list and some hope. And if anyone calls us a tanker - you just tell them that you follow the only team proven to have never tanked. Then tell them to turn around and watch the footy.

Another themed round? AFL loves the concept. The Tanking Round. Melbourne play Carlton for the Kreuzer Cup. Most Ironic On Ground gets the Brock Maclean Medal.

I think "Winning" will cure all the ills at the footy club.......Clubs at the bottom of the ladder will always attract the wrong sort of media attention... Winning will put more bums on seats........Will attract more supporters to members......Will increase sponsorship...ect....ect... If we start winning evryone would start to feel good about the club and be proud to be members...... This is now the hard part.........We have to start WINNING....

Another thing, I'll never have to read the Age any more.

And let's not forget the fact that we got our name cleared of tanking with the AFL's approval. Putting aside all of my desire to get out of this squeaky clean - we never were. All players needed to give something for this to go away and they all have. The AFL looks ridiculous, we have been massively fines, Bailey has been humiliated and suspended and CC has been made to look like Richard Nixon. This was always going to look messy as soon as our disgruntled former Demons became involved in this investigation started by bad luck and an idiot. I am happy to swallow some pride and take a less than perfect ruling for being cleared of something that I said we didn't do. We didn't tank and the AFL agrees - because you can't prove motive when it comes to actions and experimentation isn't tanking.

I do not care about Robinson, McLean or anyone else at the Blues. Just get the 4 points Dees and then they can all wallow in their loss. It is time!

Well Satyriconathome, I would say it is more satire than humour and it is all relative as to how successful it is... particularly if you compare it to postings on the issue by the likes of Range Rover, Dr Who (more so on Demonology) and to a "lesser" extent, Ben Hur and others here, then perhaps it isn't up there with the best (but the seriousness of their posts precludes them)... but I see absolutely nothing wrong with a little levity in the face of what have obviously trying times for the club.

.... when the tanking was obvious to all and sundry. The penalties? Bailey's gone, nothing to do with us, but he's fine. CC will be having an all expenses paid holiday for a year, will be receiving Christmas Hampers from most of the board for the rest of his life, and is currently wondering what to do with the increased salary he'll receive when he returns. And the $500K? Carlton are still paying off theirs. Very, very slowly. (and at a very low interest ….) We keep our future draft picks. We keep all our (key) staff, our CEO, and our Board. We're not guilty of anything, legally speaking (cough cough). We (will) keep our gaming licenses. We'll keep our sponsors, we can tell everyone we didn't tank, and we didn't lose any premiership points. In a week this will all be over, as opposed to it dragging through the courts for a year or two, or rearing its ugly head every year when draft time comes round and we don't get a pick until the third round. We didn't land the AFL in the sh*t, and as a result we won't be playing 5 games a year as the new expansion team in Port Morseby. And finally, we didn't lose Hogan, Dawes and Barry, who we got for less than what we pay Aaron Davey each year. Did I miss anything in what could have, and probably should have, happened? We Won.

"These claims are unsubstantiated and no evidence has been produced to support them." "No formal AFL investigation will be undertaken in the absence of credible information or evidence." This is the AFL's excuse for not investigating the Lions after an allegation made by Jason McGrath about drug use and match fixing at the Lions was corroborated by a former Lions staff member. Clearly Brocky can cause an investigation against the AFL patsy on his say so but no investigation against a beloved interstate club on corroborated allegations. So you need evidence to investigate the Lions. Clearly two people's allegations, according to the AFL is not evidence, yet only Brocky is needed to bring the wrath of the AFL down upon us. The AFL is officially a basket case competition the way it is being administered. Pathetic and disgusting.

In regards to all things MFC/Tanking, the jokedetector has been getting a bit of a hammering of late, so may not be functioning as well as it might in calmer times. I don't know when I've seen so many "this can't be serious" posts that are.

Not singling you out Ralphus as I noticed more than one response like this and some "Likes", but I have to ask... was LivingSocial.com.au running a group special on humour bypasses this week?

Roy Slaven

never drink & fly home, especially Kero. crash landing...

That is like being given Brussels sprouts for dinner, complaining about it and then being handed a turd sandwich instead. I disagree with pretty much everything Kennett says about football.

Hello.

Hey....My dog is a paid up member.......The TV refuses point blank......The lounge chair is asleep all the time......The letter box said"I have to accept your crap but I don't have to pay for it".....

now we need you to sign up your dog, letterbox, TV & favourite chair. This is how Hawthorn "became" a power club.....

When the C.Wilson and G.Lyon exchange transpired on Footy Classified last week, Caroline asked Garry when in defensive mode (and arms crossed), "Well Garry, do you want me to name..." and she hinted that it was a member of the board. (Which board past or present; who knows). I wish Garry had not been so dismissive and angry for being called out on his credibility, and held to her account to name her frick'n *source. * = snitch, backstabber, not a true MFC supporter in my eyes.

It's in the microchip at the back of your neck. If you haven't had it installed you will be fined.