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I spoke with Todd Viney about Mitch today, as we ended up sitting two rows apart at the TAC Cup GF. He watched the game with Goodwin. Said that "yeah we want Mitch to stay but it's complicated. Just gotta work through some stuff before he makes his mind up." Make of that what you will, but Todd was not defeatist, and having felt certain Mitch is leaving I said goodbye to Todd surprised that it's not so clear cut as the media makes out. Also congratulated Goodwin, who got out of his chair, initiated a handshake with me and said "thanks for havin me at your club" My club! Man, he is a smooth operator!

Hold that thought. Hearing Dangerfield is now very much in play, with likelihood somewhere near 90%. More info tomorrow.

I haven't wanted to post in this topic as yet knowing that until now, it's been very much uphill for the Dees to get him over the line. But as a Dees supporter and also sharing a friendship circle with patty and knowing him personally, I can confirm he is very much open to moving from adelaide, tat the media releases he has done were pushed on him by senior crow officials trying to maintain stability. I can also confirm that if he leaves adelaide it will be to Melbourne. That is all I can say for now, I don't want to mention anything else before he decides 100%. But if I was to put a figure on it, I think pat is better than even money to make a change. The deal put to him will make him one of the top 3 paid players in the game, along with a leadership role. Obviously the crows and Dees need to agree on a trade and I have no idea what that might involve, however pat is genuinely open to crossing to the Dees this trade period.

They're going to lose all their stars. And we're reaping all the benefits.

Nice. You posted this at 1.06am today. By 'tomorrow', do you mean 'Sunday tomorrow' or 'Monday tomorrow? Just checking if I need to sit on Demonland refreshing this page for 12 hours straight today. Thanks in advance.

Won't happen. In an even race next year in FA we'd be likely to lose. Our advantage this year is that we have the assets to satisfy Adelaide so that he could make his move a year earlier.

I couldn't say, what I do know is he is frustrated with how adelaide have handled the senior players and now he has pretty much been forced to defend himself in the media and the board in which he is frustrated at. What I do know is Bernie Vince and Simon Goodwin have spoken at length to him and Aiden Riley has mentioned how good the relationship between the players and coaches are at melbourne. That's pretty much all I can say. From pats mouth on Friday was "sounds pretty good". My advice to him was to think about what the city has to offer in the way of live music and shopping. Like I said in my last post, I reckon it is better than even money. Maybe 65/35 for him coming to the Dees.

There's a lot of emotion floating around this thread and clearly, many are hurt by the fact that Clark is seeking to play the rest of his career elsewhere. I must admit that when I first heard the news, I wasn't particularly impressed but I really believe we should follow the dictum of our coach on this and not look back. If the club acted with emotion on this particular issue, then it would be taking its eyes off the ball, earn a poor reputation on the important issue of player welfare which should always be paramount at a club and possibly miss out on future opportunities. I'm sure that if Clark is definitely and finally out of the equation, then Roosy is already looking at what we as a club will get in to replace him. You only have to look at what ego and emotions are doing to the Essendon Football Club at the moment. Little and Hird continue to ramble on about the players but their actions are all about themselves. They've shafted their players and in doing so are bringing down the entire club. Always act with your head, not your heart.

From the perspective of someone with anxiety and depression issues I feel absolutely sick to the core. Sick about Clark's actions, sick about the fact that this has been allowed to happen under Roos and co's noses thanks to that bastion of morality Eddie and sick about the fact that Buckley has been allowed to comment on the ambitions and health of a player who IS CONTRACTED TO ANOTHER FOOTBALL CLUB. Very few things give me greater satisfaction than Nathan Buckley walking out on a side to go to one who would lose twice on GF day under his pathetic leadership to that very team. The fact that his footy club has gone down the shitter thanks to his behemoth ego makes it all the better.

And a simply awesome player.

What has Vlad done? He didn't inject players. He didn't run a drug regime At worst he tried to warn Ess that a hail of shite was about to come down. And Ess are trying to blame him for their mess? Preposterous. Like everything Ess have done since being outed, it is a complete and utter distraction and totally irrelevant to the main issue - one that the footy world is waiting for Ess to address and take responsibility as they said they would do on day 1. Why anyone believes otherwise is beyond me. And keep reminding yourself if need be - how would the world respond if we replaced 'Essendon' with the Chinese swim team. Everyone would be screaming blue murder. The narrative is all about how the players were duped but frankly, aside from a few of the young recruits, I have zero sympathy. They go through around 25 hours of training a year on drugs. They are taught to ask questions and take responsibility. That they didn't seem to is frankly unbelievable for the most part.

That isn't a quote, it's an inference from the author of the article. The actual quote says this, which is much less black and white (in fact I'd say it's particularly vague): “I love the city, I love the Club and I love playing there,” Dangerfield said. “And that’s all that needs to be said.” And it's not being pedantic. The words people use are important. As soon as the author of an article (or forum post) leave out the actual quote, it goes from "out of the horse's mouth" to "hearsay". And funnily enough, you haven't given us the radio quote either.

There is a formula. Age and amount and length of contract are the criteria. On that basis Chip is band one, end of story. If not band one, take it to Court.

See this is where people get it wrong in this case Wallace.. It has nothing to do with who's the better player out of franklin and Frawley, obviously franklins worth more than pick 19 or whatever it was and better player than Frawley but the impact of Frawley leaving us compared to buddy leaving hawthorn is much greater, hawks have made another grand final without buddy. I'd argue that us losing Frawley is a lot greater lose then hawthorn losing buddy. There's more too it the who's the better player...

Having watched Mrs Jolly on TV recently, I'm surprised Darren (or Dazza as she calls him), didn't ask for a trade to get away from her. Sorry, totally off topic but those two are the definition of self rightious cry babies!

Thanks for that ringing endorsement of the immediately preceeding post

Yes, it does.

He's in Perth, so it was before midnight when he posted there. Must be today then. Make with the F5 hitting, pantaloons!

What is really depressing is reading posts where posters are wishing physical harm on someone. That is just pathetic. I would venture to say that not one poster on here, including GNF, knows the whole truth about this situation. We seem to have a lynch mob mentality on here over this issue. How about people grow up and stop their own disgusting behaviour and let the issue play out to its conclusion. Then we might get an inside into the truth.

As much as I enjoy seeing Essendon, Hird and Little get flogged, and would love to see them stuck on the bottom of the ladder and broke for a few years, I can't disconnect that from the players who have been completely and utterly screwed over here. Maybe fatherhood has done something to me but I always find myself looking at it through the eyes of a parent, and if it were one of my sons at the footy club I'd be furious beyond belief at the contempt in which these egomaniacs are treating their players with. They got completely pilloried in the court and they're still continuing with their denial tactics, while the future of a large group of their players are still at risk. The latest player comments show just how brainwashed these blokes have been by the EFC.

Change of environment. Sounds legit. Pause, not. Could've stuck to photography if he wanted a real change. Not a return to the same sport, just half a punt down the street as others have said. But I can't believe people have wished injury upon him. I wanted to be the first.

Having depression doesn't give you the right to be immoral. Change of environment my arse he's moving a couple of hundred metres and still doing exactly the same job. IMO the club makes a stand and either trades him to the highest bidder or sends him to the draft.

OK....not quite the premiership we want at Demonland but good to see Dunny & Maxxy supporting their old mate Juice Newton. For those outside SA, Norwood beat the black & white filth. Port had19 AFL listed players and Norwood had nil.

But that's only when I'm wearing Sex Panther by Odeon, which is not all the time.

You would have been one of those people saying Roos had said definitively he wasn't coming to Melbourne, where the truth was he'd never said such a thing. Journalists can imply whatever they want. I was quoted in an industry publication recently and my words were completely taken out of context and used to build an entirely separate argument. You can manipulate words in almost any manner. Therefore, you need clear cut quotes.

and Roos, Goodwin, Vince, Viney Snr and Riley

The blank cheque we have allegedly handed him would be a good starting point.

Dangerfield wasn't actually quoted as saying he is not leaving.

I'm convinced that our coach isn't that interested in having him on our list. The last thing we need is a fragile ego with a suspect body in our forward line, we're better off getting whatever we can for him and developing a strong and robust team

I like it when posters respond to their own posts especially with info like this. We await your info Chookie.

[censored] off you parasitic worm. I empathize with the other posters here who have given their two cents. Without getting into details, I know what depression entails and what it does to people. Put simply, it's a [censored] of a condition. For Mitch to pull this over us though... gives an absolutely deplorable impression to the cause of mental illness and giving society a better understanding of how debilitating it can be. To retire under the guise of a clinical depression illness then miraculously "recover" from said depression (that's insulting alone), but refuse to return to the club that supported you above and beyond their duty of care... it just stinks. Absolutely appalling behavior and I have no qualms whatsoever in speaking my mind about this. Especially when others, genuinely suffering from clinical illnesses, find themselves in financially poor and insufferable positions. Mitch is a millionaire for crying out loud, and he's disgruntled with us because our salary offer was insignificant for his manager's commission threshold.

The very wise and knowledgable Leigh Matthews once said that Collingwood will get more out of Ben Hudson than Melbourne will from Mitch Clark and we all laughed at him. Guess who's laughing now?

He doesn't have to play AFL. It's not like he can't pursue his love of photography, and play footy with his mates anywhere, and be happy. He is using this need for 'change' of environment to get to his footy club of choice. It is BS.

Port Adelaide's rise over the last three years has been impressive to watch. It gives me great hope that with the right coach in place who connects with his players at an emotional level like Hinkley has and Roosy has started we can look ahead with real hope. At a CEO level, there's no doubting that Jackson has been spectacular for the MFC in the short time he's been in control although it would be very reasonable to say Keith Thomas' efforts at the Power should be be reflected on in the same light. But from a strategic POV, Kochie has been the real maestro and I believe the key in engaging the supporters and whipping up frenzies with simple ideas like "Never Tear Us Apart" as their unofficial anthem. Let's face it, McGuire has done the same at the Pies and done it well. As much as Glen Bartlett seems like a nice bloke, from what I've seen of his public appearances and talking up the MFC, I'm not convinced he's got the drive, charisma and leadership to devise and champion a strategy like Koch and McGuire can. Is this because they're celebrity's? If so, then I believe our next step is to identify a similar person in that industry and capitalise on our current upwards trend like Port Adelaide have shown and led the way before us. I know many people don't believe a President needs to be frequently seen as promoting the club but Koch and McGuire and their respective clubs say otherwise.

Final score: Norwood 12.10.82 to Port Adelaide 11.12.78 Two in a row to the Redlegs. I never thought the day would come when Juice Newton would play in a premiership team wearing the red and blue.

Paul Ahern of Calder would go nicely. He has a bit of that X Factor, he runs, finds the ball well and is a good kick. De Goey is a hard working player whose a footballer. They're both mid first rounders and I don't think either of them is what you would call a midfielder at the moment but a couple of seasons under Roos and they could easily be A Graders.

How's this for a hypothesis: - While at the fancy management course in France Hird made some good contacts, hedged his bets - maybe lined up potential job offers. He does have international standing/contacts in his pre-coaching, sports consulting life. - Middleton's decision makes it almost impossible for him to survive the 'Hird Must Go' groundswell that is on the way. - Has the opportunity to stay here for GF week and host/calm sponsors and other key stakeholders. Not here. - Should be here for trade week, list management etc Unlikely to be here for its start. - Knows it would be difficult to work in Australia for a while (not to mention possible ridicule/tough times for his kids at school) Could it be that he has gone to the US to follow up his France based contacts. Then - Take a job overseas and maybe move his family there. Realistically, few outside OZ or sport would have heard of our EFC/ASADA drama - After GF, resign as coach on the premise that he wants to re-establish his consulting/business practice... (for which EFC have so handsomely trained him) ...you know the too good to refuse offer type. - Avoids the firestorm of the ASADA fallout. Leaves it for others to clean up the mess (probably without compunction!) - Can maintain his self-delusion that he did nothing wrong and it has all been a conspiracy. Warning: Hypothesis is entirely of my own creation! No truth to it whatsoever! Maybe I have been reading too many mystery novels! Nonetheless, any takers for this hypothesis?

or they believed they were going to get away with it.

I was referring to those who want him physically harmed. Those who want blood. I can honestly say that if he has done the wrong thing by us and leaves, I would not be unhappy if the Pies get no value from him, but I don't wish him to break his leg or get run over by a bus.

There is a lot of emotion about this 'Jack' and I appreciate that wiser heads at the club will do what's best. The issue I really have is Clark using depression as a tool to get what he wants. His actions are making a mockery of others that are suffering.

Oh and the board directors. They are toast. They are legally liable for what went on at the club and will now be on the hook for all the damning evidence, poor governance, failing Director's duties, duty of care to players, duty of care to the club, failing to act in the best interests etc etc. And I am still waiting for Worksafe Victoria to say something. If I did that to my employees I would be in jail. WTF are they waiting for??

We all know full well that the Roos philosophy is about trading early draft picks and are mostly happy about the 2013 outcome although the final results won't really be apparent for some time yet. Assuming Frawley goes and we get pick 3 then there's a strong possibility that we would do the same again. However, it goes without saying the deal would have to be right. If the Saints take Petracca then Brayshaw and McCartin provide us with a good start to our list improvement based on some of the advice I've received from some sound judges.

See ya Mitch break a leg .

Which is why we should refuse to deal with them, tell him to try his luck in the draft and take him at PSD#2 then let him sit at Casey for the year if he wants to sook about it.

Good to see that a priority pick you know a reward for failure a la Roughie got them over the line with six opportunistic goals. I mean God forbid if we got such unwarranted draft assistance. It would pollute the culture.

Why should a finals season be based on equality of chances? That make the home and away season irrelevant. The best teams should always be on the front row of the grid.

Cream always rises to the top no matter what system you have in place. Getting top 4 is a big prize because of the advantages that come with it and it and teams fight hard for it during the home and away so it keeps the competition honest. The system is fine

To see Hunt and Harmes make their senior debuts next year and look like they have what it takes. Trengove and Toumpas to come back after a full pre-season and show the world why they were taken so high in the draft. 20 Games from Hogan. To pull another deal like the one for Tyson during trade week (I'd like to get either Shiel or Treloar out of GWS). Petracca or Brayshaw at pick 2, in that order of preference.

Just send him to the draft. MFC needs to make a stand. Compensation from Pies will be terrible anyway!

And plenty of others like Sloane, Rockliff, Shuey etc.This is what I find so absolutely frustrating and so hard to deal with, if forum people can pick better players with their limited resources and time, why was our recruiting bloke so absolutely pathetic and incompetent. Every team has its champions and stars, even Nathan Jones, our best, couldn't make the AA 40 player squad. No rising star, no AA squad member, no MVP vote getter, no member of the under 22 team, 38 wins in 8 years. Single handedly this bloke destroyed us and now we are trying to rebuild and thank God with a new structure. Looking at Sydney and how good they are, the only thing that gives me hope is Roos. He was there. He started it. He brought in Longmire. He traded for players. He was the architect. Along with PJ we have the right people and that gives me hope they will turn this place around. Last for those people on here who are too proud to receive some special assistance if we manage to fluke some, have a look at the Hawks and Swans they got it and weren't too proud to take it and look where they are. Incidentally the best player last night and probably second best in the game was a PP. funny that isn't it. Before anyone tries to shoot me down, I agree a PP won't win us a flag but it will help if we use it correctly to IMPROVE us at least to some small degree. Go Roos and PJ and give me a club to be be proud to support again, it has been too long.