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ffs you drop in hoping to read about trades and all you get is the same petty bickering from the same culprit/s. Give it a goddamn rest. Anyone have any trade whispers? Please? Anyone?

Watson has been found by the Court of Arbitration in Sport to have used a performance enhancing drug during the season in which he won his Brownlow. How is it possible for him to keep it?

The fact that the AFL is asking Mitchell and Cotchin to put their views on the awarding of the Brownlow shows us the extent to which the AFL has lost the plot. They have conducted themselves appallingly from start to finish.

The guy is 33, has just won his 5th B & F and they ask him to give up being a one club player and help them out by playing with WC for a year or 2. Clearly they won't get much for him from WC, other than salary cap space. I think this is the sort of thing that will spread the cracks in Hawthorn's culture. It's a terrible thing to do to Mitchell and deprives him of being a one club player and playing more games for his club, not to mention uprooting the family.

Gloria threw up on the bus Monday?

Scene: AFL house, Tuesday night. CEO's office. Gil McLaughlin: Sh!t. Peter Gordon told me they'd get off! Mark Evans: You didn't believe him surely? GM: I know ... but he spoke so well. Pronounces his words so beautifully. There's something about a man in a horsehair wig that makes me go all shivery ... um, anyway, he swore they'd be fine. ME: Yeah, but it doesn't change anything. They're still cooked. But we'll have to get on to Jobe now. GM: There's a bit of a problem there actually. ME: The media? Oh, the players association. GM: No. Jobe. I already told him he could keep it. ME: What'd you do that for!?! GM: Oh, I met with him and some of his boys back when we were running the tribunal against them*. Told them to sit tight and everything would work out for them including the Brownlow. ME: Isn't that a bit ... out of order? GM: Hey. I'm Gil McLaughlin, pal. Brother of Hamish. (pause) There's only one way out of this. ME: Robbo? GM: Yes. Bring me the Fatphone. * = this part really happened!

I'm a lawyer OD. Everything I type is true. Er ... well pretty much everything. ?

Law graduate Chris Kaias responds to some of Robbo's "arguments" on Twitter - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CufL2mkUIAA5j7i.jpg:large

The Swiss Court has ruled in the case of the Essendon 34 - Essendon players' final appeal fails Swiss court dismisses Essendon 34's appeal against doping bans The Court said that the players accepted the CAS decision that the hearing before it was de novo. They did not challenge the de novo hearing when they should have done but in any event such a challenge would have failed. In essence, the appeal was a waste of time but perhaps that was exactly its purpose from an Essendon perspective. Another nine months have passed, the players concerned served out their suspensions and the Bombers have emerged without further penalty and a greatly enhanced draft position with the AFL deciding that the club should incur no further penalty other than the three year old governance punishment. I find that incomprehensible. No penalty for creating an environment for drug cheating and no consideration given for the fact that the team's lowly ladder position had something to do with it going through the season without a dozen of their best players as a result, giving them the #1 draft pick next month. I have a problem with Jobe Watson retaining his Brownlow Medal given the outcome of the doping case. Given that the AFL has acted in such a kindly manner to the Bombers and the way it has dealt with other important issues, I would not be surprised to see the AFL wriggling out of making a decision to take away the Brownlow.

I'm not sure what is up with you and your hawthorn love affair but i think he is quite right. Hawks will wallow for at least 2-3 years. Probably not as cellar dwellars but definitely mid range. And you might just want to pull your head in a bit mate, your tone is totally unnecessary and your constant carping at people with different opinions to you gets really tiresome.

SAM'S BROWNLOW OR NOT? Manager Peter Lenton: Sam was given the opportunity to present to the AFL why he should get the Brownlow (if Jobe stripped), but he didn't want to do that. why the hell should Mitchell have to present a case, he's the highest vote getter of 2012 that isn't guilty of using Performance enhancing drugs, the fact he hasn't got it around his neck already is embarrassing, the AFL is just digging a deeper and deeper hole. Rory Sloane could have missed a brownlow this year for a 2 second brain fade that barely left a bruise but Jobe can potentially keep his despite being found guilty of cheating.

Weideman re-signs

For those who have read the book "Red Fox" this situation is remarkably similar to the Ron Barassi defection to Carlton. Smith was happy to let Ron go to Carlton as coach, learn the trade and then come back and take over from him. Sadly the club sacked Smith, recanted but never recovered and here we are 52 years later still waiting for the next flag. Ron wanted to go Smith gave his blessing and MFC was aging and then about to slide. Recent Hawks trading from other clubs and not redeveloping may well be there downfall. Bruest has already said how shocked he was that he was being offered. None of their core players want to leave but the hierarchy clearly see some as expendable. A different era now, but the similarities are there. The Smith plan failed, Barassi did eventually return to MFC but for years he refused to contemplate the club until those who sacked his father figure were gone. To get him back the MFC split from MCC which was only re-aligned in recent times when our very future was threatened. Actually i wouldn't be unhappy if the Hawks don't win a flag in the next 50 years

Does Jobe keep the Brownlow? Absolutely not! the brownlow is awarded to the fairest and best player of each season, why should Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin who both played fairly in the 2012 miss out on the opportunity to be awarded one of the most prestigious individual honours in the game when the current holder of the 2012 medal is now a convicted drug cheat in the very same year he won it? I've heard Essendon supporters argue that the AFL tribunal found them not guilty so why should he lose an AFL award, i say to the same people, had they been found guilty they would have appealed the decision and if it were then overturned they wouldn't be complaining about the system, this attitude is that of a sooky child who has thrown his toys out of the cot because he didn't get his own way. the other argument i've heard is that if Jobe has to give his medal back so do Ben Cousins and Dane Swan, this is even more laughable, clearly not understanding the difference between recreational drugs and performance enhancing drugs, and not understanding there is totally different set of rules for each. three strikes policy is in place for a reason. there is absolutely no good reason i have ever heard to allow Jobe to keep his brownlow, he cheated and is yet to take responsibility for it in any real way, and neither are any of the players, lets remember that in 30 odd approaches from ASADA not one of these players ever declared any of these injections. I have very little sympathy for the players in this situation as i believe they're the real cause for this situation, people can argue that dank bought the injections into the club, and the club culture is to trust your doctors ect, but ultimately it's the players decision if they accept the injections and it's the players decision to keep correct records incase ASADA come knocking. i've said it a few times on here, every single AFL player is 100% responsible for every substance that enters their body, they're responsible for keeping records to prove they haven't cheated, i know players who write down the serial numbers on bottles for their records, there is absolutely no excuse for 34 professional athletes to fail to do this really simple part of being a professional athlete. so there is no way Jobe can keep his brownlow, if he does it would be the darkest day in AFL history as it would signal the end of all integrity in the game, you can't be the best and FAIREST player in the league and a drug cheat in the very same year.

It's a genius move and will be a win-win for all involved. This is why Clarkson is the best in the business.

This is the sort of post i come here for. I love trade rumours haha

You have to love this time of year when the one thing that you can affirm is the fact that telling lies is the second language of the AFL. Take the conversation here about whether or not Sam Mitchell is being pushed out of the Hawthorn team. There seem to be two opposite views and then you listen to the interviews and almost come to the conclusion that Sam was not only happy to go but that he was the instigator of the decision. Then this tweet from NAB Trade Radio quoting his manager Peter Lenton:- "I think Sam himself was a bit blindsided by it, but understood it as well." ?

One also has to understand that some people are without shame. Society consists of the cheaters and the cheated. More often than not, cheaters are without shame. That's why they are cheaters. From beginning to finish, the EFC and its acolytes have had no shame.

Sorry guys, for all the EFC conspiracy theories if we were in the same position and if there were no absolute stand out at number one I would expect us to trade out for 2 picks in the top 10. It's only good management.

Yep, he isn't banned. And let's face it, given the lack of action so far in trade week, now is as good a time as any to log off for a bit. For me, the best thing that's going to happen this off-season has already happened, and that's Jesse. His signature is enough good news to last me the summer.

So you want someone just because you want a trade done? Good reason.

Then again ... I thought it was not possible for the AFL to give Brisbane a priority pick after the way it treated two consecutive applications by Melbourne in 2013 & 2014.

So sick of hearing about Hawthorn

The amount of posting some people do on this forum during a working day is incredible. Unemployed? Sickies? Bludgers?

There isn't a checklist of questions with regards to substance declarations. Any and all substances administered in the last 7 days are required to be declared. " Athletes must declare any substance used in the last seven days including any substances for which they have a current and valid Therapeutic Use Exemption. Not declaring use may affect results management and have adverse consequences for the athlete. " Black and white.

Not sure anyone cares pf.

For those who are interested Whispering Jack has opened this thread in the Women's League Forum: So, follow our new draftees over there. Our high picks are 8 and 9. A thoughtful touch by Pederson. He tweeted: It's been a long time coming! All the best to everyone that gets drafted in @aflwomens draft exciting times ahead

I don't believe that for a minute. It would be highly negligent not to have considered that a possibility.

you have to feel sorry for the afl. they have only had all of this year to decide on the brownlow if the appeal against cas was not successful (as widely expected) and now they need just another month to just have a meeting. running a footy comp is such hard work and people expect too much of them

And there it is. That's the golden rule in the AFL. Not rule of law, not precedent, not even common sense... but what is good for us in the next 24 hours. Drug cheats, FA, PP's, fixtures, MRP etc etc etc ad vomit. Thank god for the MFC, coz otherwise I'd walk away.

How on earth can Sydney put 5 years into this guy who becomes a gun inside midefielder, then not get a top pick in return. I cannot believe how lucky Hawthorn go at topping up their list. They just never seem to have to develop their own like other clubs.

Geez that's a bargain for Mitchell. Getting fair sick of these constant finals clubs just being able to get away with the minimum currency for guns like that. Compare it to Richmond who will have to give up pick 6 for Prestia, who is about on par with Mitchell (if not worse).

If true, then my god this club has issues. They spent the farm to get Aish across from the Lions. Why trade him after one year? Especially considering Aish has done very little to increase his value over the last 12 months.

Oh, whoops, all 34 of us forgot to mention that stuff 30 times. What a coincidence! But we were duped, no seriously.

You mean, exactly like the AFL setting up an "AFL Tribunal" to rig the outcome of their own kangaroo court and ensure all the players got off, purely because they were looking out for their own commercial interests? As for Slobbo? The half-drunk, compromised, biased Essendon mouthpiece, fed his "exclusives" by Essendon's media unit and instructed by the upper echelon of Limited News (whose senior partners are Essendon ticket holders) to defend the club no matter the stupidity of his arguments? Well, who can defend the indefensible? There's only one person being 'deluded' here.

Its too funny. That [censored] the trade whisper is going to announce who he is at the end of the trade period and is giving a clue a day. His account is train wreck funny. I can't look away. Would not surprise me at all if it is Ricky Nixon. The account has all the hallmarks of a delusional, narcissistic 50 odd year old man who is no longer relevant and is desperate to be. Once was a warrior.

Maybe it's just as simple as Hawthorn saving money by having Tom use Sam's locker and re-using the artwork. Seriously, this is a smart move by S Mitchell. He has maybe one or two years left as a player but 20-30 years ahead of him as a coach. If you take the emotion out of it, getting a role as an assistant coach at a club which is not the one you have played the rest of your career at enhances the learning and will make him a better coaching prospect. Whether or not it was his idea, the outcome would not be dissimilar to Steve Johnson going to the Giants.

Maybe now Dank will come out with evidence he claims he has that will support the players.

I can't imagine Hawks (nor Adam Simpson) dragging Mitchell thru some shoddy horse-trading. People need to understand Hawks do not operate like 'greedy' clubs like Coll, Ess or poorly managed clubs. Hawks are very very professional. Hawks need: the list spot (none of their players will go to GCS) the salary cap space and a nothing pick to take their 3 minimum draftees as they will use all their other picks to get Mitchell (who want picks, not players) He is so highly respected they would let him walk for a nothing pick to get him where he wants to go.

They are drug cheats. Fact.

Yes but my post wouldn't have had the same effect..

If you listened to the interview with Mitchell on SEN, your comments couldn't be further from the truth. Clearly Mitchell has a strong relationship with both Clarkson and Simpson, and the idea was raised 12 months ago. Mitchell is up to level 3 of his coaching certificate, and it's clearly his long term goal. Unlike Buckley, Hird and Voss, he would think it best to cut his teeth with assistant coaching at another club. Mitchell also explained that the timing was perfect as his kids are about to start school. You could actually feel the excitement in his voice about the opportunity at WCE, but he equally said he'd be happy to stay at Hawthorn. This isn't a James McDonald type scenario.

Have we ever heard a better trade period interview? No spinning horse [censored].

He said he has spoken to WC about coaching after footy a couple of years ago and has told Hawthorn. He and Clarko have had a chat and of he is going to go and coach over there he might want to go and maybe play a year or two first its up to him . The wife is happy to go now as the kids will be starting school next year so saves uprooting them later , the last thing this does is spread cracks in their culture if anything it shows they look after their people.

Its worth listening to the interview. He had been thinking about it for a while and only discussed it with non-ball people. Didn't think that Hodge was even aware of it yet. Coaching appeals to him. Would only consider 1 or 2 clubs and the pull of working with Simpson was a big factor for him. Sounded to be as much of his doing. Highly mature and dignified man and interview. As I said above I wish he was coming to us - he is exactly what we need at our stage of development. Edit: he said it is a win for Hawthorn, WCE and the Mitchell family.

Bit sad that a 4 time premiership player, soon to be brownlow medallist and former captain is getting squeezed out to fit in 2 players that won't take them to a flag...

The fact no one from Essendon has sued Dank should tell you all you need to know.

Next stop : European court of human rights.

361: serious problems with the system. The drug cheats gain astounding advantage. In comparison when we were punished, poorly managed and at the bottom of the ladder (no different to Dons today) our early picks were lost to the development teams GC & GWS. It sends me insaine!