Leaderboard

WADA wants Essendon case heard in Switzerland First the Blues buy a hovercraft, now Jimmy's lawyers have to go to Switzerland! This is entertainment.

At Club functions where the players are required to attend, there is often an embarrassing period at the start where the players are chatting together, and the guests are reticent to join in their conversation. The players were fairly subdued, talking together in groups, probably relishing the rare opportunity to have a club-approved stubble. Obviously they were far from jubilant, but they weren't moping around looking like there'd been a death in the family. I was talking to a few friends when "H" came over and introduced himself. He told us how happy he is at Melbourne , ( though he wished we were going better!), and how impressed he was with the atmosphere, and back up facilities at our Club. He said how he fervently hoped to be able to one day share with his new young team mates success like he enjoyed at Collingwood.He was in the leadership group for 6 years at Coll., and really loves that part of his duties at Melbourne. He told us in a sincere and respectful way how much he appreciated the support of the Melbourne fans, despite recent lack of success.I took it to mean all Demon fans, but I guess he was particularly referring to this group, at such a major fundraiser. Everything he said suggested to me that here was a fine "leader of men". There is a real aura about him. I guess he was just following orders and mixing in with the fans, but he did it brilliantly.

Not one to dance on graves. But currently shopping for a new pair of winkle pickers as we speak.

Update: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/wada-wants-essendon-case-heard-in-switzerland-20150519-gh5ath.html Confirmation of intention to go to Switzerland. Some extracts from the article: ...It has also been interpreted as a provocative move by WADA to seek to move the matters as far as possible from the AFL environment.... ...Lawyers for the 34 current and former Essendon players will strongly object to the request... ...The question arises from the WADA application as to whether there is more power in the Swiss jurisdiction for witnesses to be compelled to testify... The last point will allow Charter, Aliva etc to be called without the influence of the EFC friends with bags of money getting to them. The vice is tightening. For the first time I feel confident Hird and Co will go down!!

Many supporters said preseason that we'd be 0-7 due to our unfavourable draw. It shouldn't be overly surprising that we've struggled off the back of playing the best 3 teams 3 weeks in a row. Just as the absence of Wines has seemingly had a significant impact on Port, I reckon Viney's absence has been telling. I know some won't agree, but we don't have the depth to adequately replace a hard nosed contested ball winner who tackles to hurt. Brereton made a salient point yesterday; we're still learning a game plan that's more focussed on scoring. Against a kicking team like Hawthorn we were opened up like a sardine can whenever we made a skill error. We haven't been punished like that previously. I would like to see more freedom to take the game on, but not at the expense of defence and I recognise it will take a while to not sacrifice one for the other. Stay the course. Things will turn. And when they do it will have some meat behind it.

Sorry Hardtack ..but.what shlt.... if you re dumb enough to bet on an animal that can change its spots at any given time then more fool you. What has it come to when we are supposedly to be protecting gamblers ffs. A team is entitled to structure itself and play how it bloody well likes. Its not there for the punter. Football doesnt exist for the betting. Explains whats so wrong about so much...the reasons for things have just got so skewed.

You are kidding if you think that. They lost their Coach, Captain and CEO and the club was in turmoil. Everyone had them pencilled in for botton 2. Its a great comparison. Stop making excuses. What stands out for them is they have desire, attitude and passion. Its shameful that we don't have it.

hird came out on saturday and blamed the media in general for misrepresenting the truth and saying certain journalists had it in for him and were venomous lets see now who hird/essendon have blamed and attacked strongly for their predicament 1] the afl 2] the government 3] asada 4] the court 5] wada 6] the media i just wonder who is left to blame? oh that's right....maybe themselves?

'rp', I know you are looking at Dawes as a role player and for his value to our structure but I think his form is not good enough for him to hold a spot for that reason alone. Maybe Peders will take that role, not a great choice at the moment and I would much rather see Frost running around. At least he can catch someone and the stay caught.

The MFC has assembled a coaching and development group as good as any going around in the AFL. The problem continues to be obvious....inferior players on the list who get games because our list has no depth and is basically loaded up with B grade AFL players. I challenge any coach in the AFL to do better with this inferior list. I think our latest recruiting has been good with the new guys, but we still have about 10 players who are being gifted AFL money and games.

This thread is ridiculous. Give the kid a chance

Ok this is not a thread to say we should have picked Beveridge over Roos but in light of the extraordinary tactics of the Bulldogs I think there are fair questions to ask of our coaching staff. For those that didn't see it the Bulldogs nearly pulled off an incredible victory over Freo by conceding the ruck dual. Freo won the hitouts 69 to 13. They used Goodes and others as a ruck and loaded their fwd line with talls and effectively played a loose man in defence. It was very unconventional thinking. And it nearly won them the game as they were level with a few minutes to go. Which brings me to Roos and the Melbourne coaching staff. Melbourne were never going to be able to play the way they wanted to against a team like Hawthorn. They are tough, well drilled and play a team zone game (‘Our back six are there to protect the goals’). We were well below our best 22 and coming off two bruising encounters with the Swans and Freo. We have been smashed by Hawthorn on the previous 11 occasions. Mitchell, Roughead and Hale in particular kill us (as do Lewis and Hodge when they rare playing). So what did we do that was different. How did we go about playing against a team that performs like this? What did we do to plan for what was predictable at the outset. Did we plan to smash Mitchell? Did we plan to double team Roughhead? Did we do any planning at all? Nup. What we got was same old same old. I could have written the script a month ago and been bang on. We must be the easiest team in the league to play against – even Carlton and GC are as inept as us. Not only do we do the same stuff week in week out but we have no leaders other than Jones and TMac who can stand up and win their position against their opponent. We don’t do the basics right - like have a tall on the back line to kill a ball that comes in for goal – or man up when the opposition has the ball, or hit targets from 20m away, or run and spread when we have the ball. How about we even stick a few tackles? FFs we are second to the ball often enough. Tackling is all about intent and desire. Yes there is technique but it’s largely the first two. Brayshaw has it in spades and he is a six gamer. Words can’t describe how disillusioned I am with this football club. They are spineless and heartless. My kids have given up (‘why would you want to follow that bunch of losers Dad’) and I don’t blame them. I would too if I could. But I don’t have to watch the crap they dish up every week and I won’t be for some time. They can come back to me when they have won two or heaven forbid three in a row and have some semblance of personal pride and our club isn’t the laughing stock of the competition. What would Luke Hodge do with Jack Watts? What would Joel Selwood do with Jeremy Howe? Why do our players think it is acceptable to play 5m away from their man when we don’t have the ball? Why can’t they ‘zone’ like every other team zones. There are so many questions because we are so inept. Basic questions that go to the heart of simple football. Keep the ball from the opposition and give it to one of your own players. Where is the simple pride in performance? Where is the desire to beat your opponent? Where is the desire to take frustrations out by driving your opponents head into the turf when you tackle him? So what re the coaching staff doing? Telling their players to 'forget it' and 'we won't learn anything from reviewing that'. Really?? Why is it that Luke Beveridge and even Alan Richardson can get their teams playing exciting inspiring football? Who picked that at teh start of the season?? Why can’t Melbourneplay like that? Is it because we as supporters don’t demand it? Is it because the administration of the club doesn’t demand it? Is it because of the lack of on-field leadership at the club? Is it because the coaches are stuck in a time warp. The coaching staff need a serious rocket up their collective backsides. They need to challenge each every play to do one task. Beat their man. They are being shown up by two rookie coaches. Big time. I don’t what the answers are but I know what I see every week. I can’t take this team stuffing up my weekends any more. I have better things to do in life. Things that are actually enjoyable.

Obviously they know that Tird likes travelling toEurope,,,

I liked the bit about wada nominating a belgian senior counsel as their cas adjudicator. He wont know or care dot 1 about the sport of afl. Also it speaks volumes that wada want to get it as far away from the afl is possible. Combine that with asadas lack of willingness to appeal via the afl and its pretty safe to say the afl arent thought of very highly. Pretty much the rules were written on the assumption that one day there would be a cheating player/club and their governing body would try to protect them. Which is why the 3 parties get to nominate adjudicators and why it is an international body. Ess* are screwed.

Mr Hird would be upset as he was just one day left to appeal otherwise he would have gotten away with it. WADA could not have pick a more appropriate day to lodge an appeal.

Then they will determine "comfortable satisfaction" in German, French and Italian. I understand Switzerland is tri-lingual. The German will be barked out. The French will be mumbled out and the Italian will be with hand gestures.

I rate ANB as a prospect but for christ sake keep the kid at casey, we're 7 games in and already going away from making players earn their spot

I was advised to remove myself from the diet. It gave me a tendency to try and drag girls back to my room by the hair. So i've gone back to using a club.

I can only see a spot for Dawes if helps takes the pressure off Hogan. Do you think he has done that this year ? I have been an unabashed member of the Chris Dawes fan club - I love what he does off the ball - his second efforts, he desire to chase and tackle, block and shepherd. Unfortunately that is not enough - you also need to get the ball and kick a few goals as a forward - he is not doing that. [Pederson] brought more to the table on Saturday than Dawes has for the year,

First round pick + Howe, Matt Jones, Bail, Spencer, Watts, Toumpas, Fitzpatrick, Dawes, Mckenzie, Terlich, ??? reckon that will get it done.......

Bottom line people we just don't have the cattle yet..... We have a mix of experienced top up players who are @ best b+ players with young talent who are just not ready yet yo match it..... When you look @ teams like Haw, swans , freo & cats... All their coaches went thru a phase of turning over & strengthening lists & building the right culture & developing players for success .. This took more than 2 seasons & we're not coming back from an absolute basket case! As frustrated we all are we cant expect Roos & co to fix immediately.. This list will change again in 2016 & I dare say Roos mat not be our next Finals coach rather a foundation builder! I hear people say Roos hearts not in ...FFS why would he stake his reputation??? I'm sure he could've earned a good coin in the media & other football areas...

I would not be at all surprised if the idea of walking away from the game hasn't crossed jacks mind, maybe going to an interstate team with less media attention would be the best thing for the kid, i know his efforts aren't great at times but what he cops is just beyond ridiculous.

I saw it and decided not to post it because I have had enough of the media just finding new ways of writing negative sh.. about Jack. They use/abuse Jack to create headlines. Then DL goes into another anti-Jack frenzie. So I repost my post a few minutes ago from another DL thread: I was not happy how Roos portrayed Jack 'dropping himself' as it just turned up the heat especially from past coaches. Unheard of, they cried!! More negative Jack headlines resulted. Last night on footy shows it was really good to hear Wayne Carey, Luke Darcy and Garry Lyon speak in strong support of Jack 'dropping' himself. They said players are human, they should be cut some slack or untold psychological damage could occur. Furthermore they said: - If physically injured players are given time to recover with understanding and without fan-fare. - If emotionally challenged they should also be given time to recover with understanding and without fan-fare. In any other environment the frenzied media 'headline' grabbing criticism and berating would be considered abuse. I hope the Carey and Lyon comments are followed by the media to be more considered in their comments on players, not just Jack. Not suggesting a 'kid-glove' treatment - just everyday respect being shown when criticising. If the mainstream media changes its approach to Jack, hopefully it will rub off on the rest of the football public at games, on social media etc. Then we might get to see the real Jack! So if DL's are going to post here can they show some respect and consideration toward Jack as Carey, Darcy and Lyon have.

Wow. Aren't we entitled to effort? That's the major point in this thread. Not where players are in their development but how can we after all this time go out and not put in, not do the basics? BASIC FOOTBALL. The basics take endeavour, desire, effort and intent. Tackling, shepherding, running to space, picking up your man, getting back to the goal line to kill a ball through the goals (this alone has cost us 3 goals in two weeks) Why don't we have these basics and why don't we have the desire, intent, effort etc. I get we don't hav eth skill of a lot of sides but what I am talking about isn't skill based. Its mental. And we are failing badly. Thats the only sense of entitlement I have. What are you talking about?

We're still two off seasons away from having a semblance of an AFL list to rival where the Bulldogs are at now. Sadly I think almost everyone from pre-Roos will need to be turned over, delisted or retired before his tenure ends.

Absolutely no chance.

sorry OD. Tanking / list management etc is just that . The prioritising of the development of the team as a whole against the weight of a particular outcome of a game or games which to the club have no meaningful relevance other than to trial and blood players with a view to going forward. This type of managing had been utilised by just about everyone. What happened was it suited someone else to have us scapegoated. This is light years away in difference to a systemic program of injecting illegal drugs ( who's harm is UNKNOWN ) for the distinct purpose of gaining an unfair and sustained advantage, cheating.List management is just that..organising your assets as you see fit. Why not. It's your team . Taking drugs is taking drugs. They even have LAWS against that !!

Neeld was sacked after Round 11. We were so bad then that we virtually celebrated Richmond beating us by 'only' 34 points as a win. A couple of poor performances and some are now saying Roos has performed no better than Neeld. GTFO.

I'd like Zac Smith, Charlie Dixon, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar. Thanks very much. Sincerely, Adam.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. He's my favourite non-MFC player. I don't make a habit of liking opposition players, but given he plays for a soulless franchise club, that makes it easier. Oh and the fact that he supported Melbourne as a kid, still has links to the club and most importantly, is a gun with pace, strength, neat disposal and ball-winning ability. I'd say we would have certainly been in his ear at the end of last year. I couldn't give a stuff about Zak Jones. Prestia is a classy, quick midfield who is the Vice Captain of his club, in only his early 20s. Bring him home, Redlegs.

Myth Busters After many hour of intensive research down at the local, I had proven beyond any reasonable doubt that anyone can type the word "Thymomodulin" into a spreadsheet without actually have the substance in their possession. Next week we will be investigating how a factory that only produces Thymosin beta-4 in China can turn this substance into Thymomodulin.

Was this antiRoos sentiment going around following the Gold Coast or Richmond wins? Or has it only sprung up after we play the three best teams in the league?

Really puts losing games of footy in perspective

I was there as well. Lumumba spoke with great passion about the club. He clearly loves the club and wants to do well for the players who have been through the hard times. He made a point of singling out a few players including Garland. Lumumba wears his heart on his sleeve which is not everyones cup of tea but he clearly cares about his team mates. I was very impressed.

I saw it and he was definitely not adversely reacting to Garland's position... he saw that Garland was distressed over what had happened (I think he had gifted them a goal) and he was encouraging Garland to put it behind him and get on with the game (in a very positive and caring way). Great leadership and something that I would think Garland appreciated.

Glad I dropped myself

He's 27 years old, and since he was a teenager he's been told better times, indeed, 'glorious' times, were just around the corner. He's borne the brunt of the club's failures for year after year, often being the defender who has to cover a mismatched opponent because we didn't have the right players available, and facing down who knows how many 100pt losses that could hardly be his fault but which he was always 'on camera' for. His only direct colleague in his role throughout that time has left, to go to the very same opponent that was smashing him that day. His other mates through that time are either sinking to the end of their careers in the VFL or have gone to other clubs. His closest mentors throughout his career are dead. He was one of our best on the day, one of the few who actually didn't drop his head. I'm fine with him being visibly upset at making a clanger (or even moreso, having a clanger kind of imposed upon him by circumstance). Honestly, I think I'd be even happier to see Garland celebrating a win in a final than I would be for Nathan Jones.

Every footy supporter's forum in the land has a thread similar to this one - though many are more hardline, we've been quite restrained.

So........a guy that contributes nothing to the team except for injuring key players when trying to do the spectacular + an unknown quantity + an even lesser unknown quantity. Or in simpler terms, a nothing + a pick hoping to find a very good player + a lesser pick........for a very very good player. Where do i sign (or more importantly, where does Prestia sign!)

Its called fluf

Clutching at straws here. Need to get our own guys playing good footy first before worrying about bringing in players which have been developed by other teams. Will be a repeat of Tyson, great first year off the back off GWS development. Now slowly fading as he is MFC'd.

Lane's article raised a point that has hardly been mentioned before in this whole sordid tale. The rights of EssUndone's opponents to be able to fairly compete against possibly enhanced opposition. The Bummer fans cry "unfair". Did they cry "unfair" when Oz swimmers couldn't keep up with their Chinese competitors. I bet they did. When our gymnasts fell short of those from the Soviet Bloc?? I bet they did.

Even though I think jnrmac's initial post was very good and well reasoned, I hate this thread. We are extremely fortunate to have Paul Roos at this club. He is an excellent coach. In fact, he's even more than that.

First of all let me be clear I am not having a go at SWYL, but I've wanted to post on this tanking theory for some time. I've always believed this theory about us tanking and the impact on the club culture was bogus and simply an opportunity to retrospectively fit a cause to an effect and ironically Roos has been the greatest proponent of this theory from his 'On the Couch' days. If my memory serves me well, it all started with Maclean making his statement in 2012 and then Roosy took up the running with his claim that it created the culture which afflicted the club in 2012. The facts are 2009 was the year of the so-called tanking. However in 2010 we inflicted Roos' greatest loss after which he declared Melbourne "the team of the next decade". So one year after the tanking he declares us the team of the future. Until the Geelong debacle in 2011 no-one claimed there was an institutional problem at the club. So suddenly when the team couldn't win in 2012 it was caused by tanking - BS! As I said at the beginning, I have been really disappointed that Roos has never been picked up on these facts. Similarly the guff in the media about no one ever having heard of a player asking to be dropped, (in reference to Watts). It happened 4 weeks ago when Goodes asked to be dropped to the Swans reserves.

I am much the same, Essendon may be the biggest drug cheats in the game but they still come to play. We are the biggest softcocks in the history of the game. Which is more shameful?

Really happy for Luke. He's a lovely bloke. I've still got his MFC player suit from when he used to play for the Dees. I hope his team has an off week this coming round though. I've long wanted an MFC coach to be unconventional and tactically progressive. Clarkson was brilliant at this when he first started coaching and Luke seems to have a similar eye for the unconventional. Another ex-Melbourne person doing well at another club. It's frustrating, isn't it? You only have to look at Hawthorn's coaching staff. It's an old MFC boys reunion. I think from Roos' perspective, given it was always going to be a three year deal and nothing else, is there any point in implementing any particularly new strategies if you're not going to be there to oversee them in four years time? I hope though, as 'Sir Paul Roos' says, Roos is simply laying the foundations that Goodwin can then run with once PR hands over the mantle.

Just in response to the comparison between neeld and Roos In neelds year and a half in charge we won 6 games 5 against expansion sides who were easy beats Lost more than 10 games of 30 odd by 80 points or more Since Roos took over we have won 6 games, with only 2 80 point or more losses, beaten Richmond twice, the crows over there, the Suns, bombers and Carlton as well as seriously pushed the undefeated crows this year, port twice last year, the doggies twice last year and others So the improvement is there, and the comparison is ridiculous and a knee jerk response to a disappointing loss

I find your analysis deceiving. From the 50 from drafts you mentioned came Riewoldt, Hodge, Judd, Goddard, McVeigh, Cooney, Deledio, Roughead, Griffen, Franklin, Murphy, Thomas, Kennedy (WCE), Pendlebury, Gibbs, Boak, Cotchin, Naitanui, Hill, Hartlett, Hurley, Martin, Cunnington, D.Swallow, Bennell. So that is 25 players whop would safely make a big difference to our team and probably at least 15 who would be our best player and close to 10 who are genuine superstars of the competition. Beyond that you are left with Koschitzke, Didak, Ball, Brennan, Walker, Sylvia, McLean, Hansen, Leuenberger, Kreuzer, Masten, Scully, Day, Gaff, Polec. All of whom would walk into our side and be top 5/10 players at their peak and a couple could easily be in the upper echelon above. Leaves us with Polec, X.Clake, Tambling, Ellis, Watts, Ray, Trengove, Morabito, Livingston, McDougall, Walsh, Gumbleton, Morton and Grant. Trengove, X.Clarke, Morabito and Gumbleton have had their careers destroyed by injury. Ellis, Ray, Watts have been useful contributors. Leaves you with Walsh, Morton, Grant, McDougall and Livingston who weren't good enough for AFL and effectively busts. I think Demon fans have a right to expect quality from a top 5 pick. -

As normal members of this site letting emotion get the better of them. Logic not emotion is required. Don't underestimate how far back we have come from. It was always going to take some time. We have improved out of sight in the last year and 7 rounds. However, we still have no depth and once we start having to pick players further down our list we are still terrible. With continued good recruiting and the maturing of our list our depth and best 22 will continue to improve and improve dramatically. I can remember far worse losses that Saturday, some of them in years we even made the finals, one of them in a year we made a GF. It will be a bumpy road, but at least we are on the road. Mishaps like Saturday have to be expected along the way.

Is there some contract where the most exciting new talent we have has to injure themselves for a season? Our rehab room is always the most talented in the comp. Fkn over it. I am going to speak to the voodoo man and get all this negative shyte switched to Hawthorn for a few decades.