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I'm still too upset about the death of Patrick Swayze to take all this in properly.

Seriously, what? I'm a "lefty" and I think the bloke's a peanut. I don't see anyone in this thread even remotely suggesting this is a racial debate. And yes, your post probably should be deleted, if only to prevent an epidemic of migraines from violent facepalms!

As a rule we need to stop trading for Collingwood players.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-11-23/melbourne-register-third-consecutive-profit Financial results extracts: Revenue grew by $3m up from $44.5, due to membership, sponsorship and gate takings. Membership grew to record levels: 39,255 Strong home game attendances, which saw over 330,000 people attend our home games – an increase of 72,000 Football Department spend grew by $635k during 2016 Our overall debt position reduced by $561k in 2016, with debt reduction since 2013 totaling $2.7m. The Club received an additional $528k in AFL funding in 2016 I am rapt with this result. Especially when compared to some of the 'power' or 'successful' clubs who are making losses or just tiny profits. For example it staggers me that Richmond with 70,000+ members (double the number of mfc) can't make a profit! We are a very well run club and in 3.5 years Jackson has seriously turned us around. Soon the AFL will not be able to ignore us and will have to start giving us some decent venue, prime FTA time slots and large Vic teams as home ground opponents. That we have been able to turn the financial around with all the 'fixture' disadvantages is nothing short of a miracle! Great work by PJ and co!

If we are interpreting his case correctly... it is genuinely laughable. He's claiming a grand conspiracy between the club and medicos against him to keep him under a certain amount of games..? I have been a defender of his, even in his time at Collingwood, but this is making a mockery of player welfare. A sad end to a career.

Dawes was always full of quality and had plenty of character and team spirit, his body just let him down.

Wow, just wow. I have defended this guy many times, but no more. We have been extremely sensitive to his well being with his concussions, not to mention his other....traits, and he decides he's going to sue us because he knows he's not in our best 22 next year and will fail to gain his trigger clause. For someone that has claimed honour, integrity, and moral high ground in the past this guy really has some nerve. Fight this [censored] Melbourne, Gus and Viney would be happy to stand up and tell the world about our cautious concussion management.

His over-inflated ego was always going to cause trouble. Hope the club play hard ball with him because he has given us SFA.

Agree...another simply stellar result. PJ has completely turned this club around off the field. And his influence has done much the same on-field. It is still small steps, but a similar increase in sponsorship, gate receipts, and membership next year would just about wipe out any remaining debt. With the exciting list we now have, there is every reason to believe the supporters are returning. We have 5000 more members today than at the same time last year!

I blame the Dalai Lama

At least that is a good side to it.

From all the reports, the Demons have managed this well. Their care has not been negligent and there has not been a lack of care. So a disappointing position by the player. However, one thing that has got a lot worse in this world is the blame game. More and more people want to blame others for their misfortune and profit from it. It is a sad feature of our society today. However, I agree with many on this thread that the player would have struggled to get a game this year and at best was good depth. His disposal and brain fades and contested footy would not have cut the mustard. A recruitment fail.

So the evolution is complete. Simple Harry O'Brian has finally transmogrified into The Prince of Darkness!

The gist is the article is that he's claiming the club kept him on the sidelines longer than necessary for his concussions, which prevented him from playing enough games to trigger the fourth year on his contract. Next year would be his third year, but he is now in a position where he can't play enough games to reach the trigger. Further muddying his rather strange claim is the indication that he is going to retire, meaning that he wouldn't be in a position to claim his fourth year anyway. I guess he could claim that he wouldn't be retiring if that extra year was still available? So, we have a number of players, including a former Demon, who are involved in legal action against the AFL because they weren't protected from head injuries. We now have a player who wants to sue his club because he thinks that their efforts to prevent him suffering long-term brain injury were excessive and have harmed him financially. I really hope he winds up with nothing.

At least he's brought most of us together on one issue.

I think the MFC have been very patient and will not do anything precipitous. They have played the long game now for months why rush at this stage. IMO they have given him nothing to base case against them. They are going to be paying him some money so why rush now. In the past I would have worried about the way the MFC might have handled this problem. In 2016 I have way more confidence in PJ and the management. They say Patience is a virtue and in this case it is IMO very true.

The club gave him the all clear during the year & H said "no i am not ready" something is not adding up. There is more to this

The one from the Castle

If it was MFC games that triggered the fourth year, the club could just as easily have played him at Casey rather than conspire w doctors to leave him on the sidelines. The whole claim is totally bizarre. I've given him the benefit of the doubt at various times, but if there's an ounce truth to this then there can be no more defending him and I'll be pretty happy to see the back of him.

When you read the headline it is implied that Melbourne were negligent in looking after his safety. To read that he is allegedly upset that they were being too cautious is laughable.

"Don't worry. That guy with the scooter is always asking questions. He's harmless."

Gotta love Bernie. Putting H in his place but in a professional way and letting the media know what the story really is.

I think if you don't know the full story, then its a bit rich to take the moral high ground. The problem is to many people think what happened with the Billy thing was a criminal offence, when in actual fact it was just a personal issue that was played out publicly. But we all have the right to judge i guess, just lets keep the battles with mental health out of it, its very real and it has been ongoing for a while.

I can confirm that James Hird will not be involved with SEN, either in the Morning show with Garry, or calling on a Friday night. Just an FYI. And also, people having a crack at Garry's "Mental Health" issues should just have a think about it.. keep the thoughts to yourself, feel free to lambast him for decisions made in the past, but i think its in very poor taste to question someones illness. Thats all.

neil mitchell's comment - "goodbye"

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it's usually a duck, and this guy gave Daffy a run for his money

So if he floats he is a very small rock or ..... a witch?

Well, He's parted ways with his manager. MFC have approached the AFLPA so resolve "something" He hasn't been seen at training for who knows how long Nobody saw him get any sort of head knock He's not near the best 22 He has a performance based contract He's always been "different" There is clearly some sort of serious issue. I'd be very surprised if the core of the report was wrong. The idea that concussion is the (only) issue is naive. Sadly I think he has a mental health issue. The dots were very easy to join together a long time ago but many here refused to accept that. Edit: And if the story isn't correct then the club would deny it very quickly. If we haven't seen something by lunchtime you can take it to the bank.

Hmm not many defending this peanut now.

I like this, and not just due to the strong legal position it puts us in. That the club is an industry leader in this particular issue is something to really be proud of

Some wild speculation on my part here, but what if by the time the MFC said he was ready, he knew he would be unable to break into the 22 because of Hunt? Much easier to reconcile 'ongoing concussion issues' with 'not good enough any more' with his giant ego.

A young man with delusions of grandeur who in the end will simply be remembered as a nob.

Just like that eh Saty? I'll get right onto it. Should knock out my first corporate success in no time!

Seriously ? What has this got to do with left or right or race ? Poor behavior crosses all spectrums and from my reading he is behaving poorly.

Evidently still suffering the effects...

Amazing too that in an age where a lax approach to concussion both here and overseas has come under increasing scrutiny, H decides to take action against a club being extra cautious in the interests of his long term health.

I'm actually very happy to be rid of him

Shows Dawes’ quality more than Lumumba’s lack of it if you ask me.

If anyone runs to support this recalcitrant on this forum I will seriously 'throw up!

In the middle of all the concussion stuff didn't Heritier miss a game or two because he was grieving the death of Mohammed Ali? If that's the case and missing those games contributes to his inability to get a fourth season then perhaps he should join the Estate of the Late Mohammed Ali as a co-Defendant? He could even throw Donald Trump in as well because we know the President-elect is anxious to settle all litigation he's involved in before the inauguration.

H has always been about H: his beliefs, his values, the high brow B&F speech declaring himself 'The Prince' at the pies etc etc. A bit full of himself, is H! Hate to say it but it is a complete replica of Mitch Clarke: Injured, takes time out, depression (from Roos' comment that H was in a 'better head space'), take a break from the club, 'can't' come back so wants a payout. They must have the same hymn book!!

bye bye Harry Mumbo Jumbo !! fair dinkum what a strange bloke he is.. Thought he actually had some flair and verve on the paddock, just turns out he's another @#%$ !! Very disappointing. Dont let the door hit you on the way out mate ... might get a headache after all !!

Exactly. Whats stopping him from playing and having an awesome year next year and earning another contract as opposed to having it 'triggered'. Just get on with it.

Hopefully we can break the membership record again be in the hunt for finals to get the crowds up and make an even bigger profit. Would be good to wipe the debt out altogether. The football department might save a few dollars without Roos wage bill.

Age article makes no sense. How can he sue us for preventing him from triggering a 4th year on his contract while at the same time sueing us for not taking care with management of concussion? Clearly he has played his last game. Let's pay him out before the draft to free up another spot for a late pick ( or to elevate Mitch White - and create a rookie spot) Hate to say it - but looks like Buckley got it right when he pushed him out the door. High maintenance player plus ... He's certainly confused The Age!

Imagine being mentored by PJ! the man is a business stud!! I would love to spend a year by his side learning how he does things. Just an amazingly successful guy.

Jordan Lewis does not run around a track. The track revolves around Jordan Lewis. And Jordan cannot be held responsible for his actions if the track does not revolve at a suitable pace....

His contract had an auto trigger for a fourth year if he played enough games. He can no longer reach that trigger as he didn't play enough last year. He is claiming the club held him back on purpose so he couldn't reach the trigger this year. He says he felt fine but the docs wouldn't let him play. Don't really care what it costs, he now must be gone as his claims are a nonsense.

Waggers has put on some size too I predict him to hold down a spot in the 22 ps. how the F do they run 3:15 min Ks? doesnt seem possible. I work in Parkville so I just did 2 laps of prinny park at lucnh today - no need to divulge my lap times. *a-hem *cough*

3km time trials should basically be used as individual benchmark for the players. To suggest that ANB will make it because of a top 3 finish ignores the reality. Being a great runner doesn't make you a great footballer - just look back at some of past players who were great in the 3km time trial but fairly average footballers . What it does show is that ANB is in the best shape he has ever been in since his arrival and that gives him the best chance of making an impression.