SaberFang

Absolutely tragic news. I only just woke up to read the text on my phone and didn't actually believe it was true. I laid in bed for about 10 minutes in a state of sadness and shock. Absolutely tragic and senseless loss, a horrible situation for everyone in his family and at his club. Not sure what the AFL is waiting for though. The Sunday game needs to be cancelled immediately.

The ultimate copout: retiring right before a 2 year ban. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. He only won the Brownlow in the year he was on the juice. Zero sympathy for drug cheats.

Selwood got suspended a few years back for bumping his brother after he was on his hands and knees after a collision. Tonight was even worse, Parker had a medico with him inspecting his knee. If the AFL have any sense, they'll give Broadbent at least a fortnight. Moronic. I guess the delicious irony is that Broadbent's stupid act threw Sydney into beast mode after the stadium replay sent the crowd into a booing frenzy. The players wouldn't have missed it either.

Can't wait to see these three back in the side. Best 22 by a long shot.

It's amazing how much holding the man off the ball is happening in this game without any umpire intervention. In any Carlton game you merely need to touch a player with your pinky finger and the umpire will pull a free kick out of their ass.

Wish we'd faced Adelaide later in the season, too. I reckon the honeymoon period for them is well and truly over. Luck of the draw though, whether or not you face a team in a form slump. Our loss to Port was ultimately our own fault though.

Classy start to the round. Parker does a corky and is getting help from the Swans medico, before Broadbent comes along, looks down at Luke's leg (which Parker's inspecting and explaining to the medico), then proceeds to start bumping him in the hip over and over again while play resumes. Disgusting and pathetic behaviour that deserves a minimum 2 week sanction, IMHO. It's certainly fired up the Swans, because from scores level they've kicked truly four times in a row and Port have fallen in a heap.

I wouldn't be targetting the troubled kids if my life depended on it. Go after the straight arrow players who are undoubtedly fed up with their club's shithouse culture. Prestia would have to be at the top of the list right now. Is he contracted for next year ala O'Meara?

Oh dear... I guess Robbo's gotten his revenge on Bennell for that incident last last year.

FWIW, isn't Jaeger part of the "God squad" with Ablett? He doesn't strike me as a disloyal type, but if he's looking at property in Melbourne with a girlfriend living down here, plus the turmoil up there... who knows.

Oh, in that case, we'll just take Hogan MKII.

Well it must be common knowledge by now just how the two Pies players ended up getting clenbuterol in their system. What do you expect from them when their senior players like Swan have Saturday night escapades basically laughed off by the boys club?

Interestingly enough, I'm well informed he's having an extended period of time in Melbourne at the moment. Recovery related I wonder? Or...

I'm inclined to think if Roos starts making out-of-the-blue compliments about Howe's form then he's most likely gone, especially if he isn't even pressed about him specifically by a journo. Roos worked in the media and knows exactly what he's doing to get a player's trade value up. The way he played the Frawley situation last year was undoubtedly to ensure best compensation possible.

I hope someone at the club was watching Healy's breakdown of their web defence on Fox the other night.

Noticed that subtle comment as well and wasn't surprised Robbo didn't pick up on it. His idea of commentary is the grammatical equivalent of hitting someone with a sledgehammer.

The most laughable thing about this entire story has been the "outrage" over the mere idea that an AFL player might have taken an illegal drug. Surely in this day and age, the public aren't so naive as to believe the AFL line that they're unaware of players taking drugs. It is rife and certainly not just at the Gold Coast. The AFL withheld the results of their most recent illicit drugs policy statistics for a reason. Hearing that about Hodge wouldn't surprise me, but I'd hope those days are behind him.

Can't imagine the pressure that'll be on us to beat the flogs if the Saints get over them next week. If we only get one more win for this year, I'd want it to be against the drug cheats. Starting to enjoy Bucks on 360. He doesn't just waffle on with political mouthwash the way Roosy sometimes does; he calls a spade a spade.

My last comment about Howe looking lazy was before the Geelong game. His work in that game was exemplary and the role he played contributed enormously to our win. He just needs to get consistent at delivering that every week.

Surely we'll target an underpaid Sydney player? How on earth they're fitting all their players in AND giving Buddy $1M, Tippett $900k and Hannebery $800k is beyond me. The players they locked up on $300-$400k right before Buddy arrived would be fuming.

My understanding is that the players of faith frown upon the boys who prefer the party lifestyle. I expect it's been blown out of proportion (these things usually are) as you wouldn't think the two are incongruous these days, but in the pressure cooker of a team not performing and under pressure, I imagine finger pointing is well underway. Ablett alone is a fascinating case study. Brilliant player but certainly not a leader of men. He is incapable of dragging teammates with him in the way that other brilliant captains like Hodge do. Not to mention the bizarre axing of McKenna which now raises even more questions nearly a year down the track. Was Ablett leading the charge to dump him because Bluey didn't want to upset the party culture that was forming? Does Ablett have a holier-than-thou attitude in general? I assume his teammates respect him but we don't hear much from other players. Bizarre, the whole thing.

Yep, and the way the party squad are being singled out and sanctioned wouldn't be helping the situation.

The AFL seem even more concerned about this small gesture than the fact an illegal, systematic drugs program occurred at the bloody club. Pathetic stuff as usual by the AFL. Their desperate transparency in protecting ONE club for their abhorrent actions will ultimately be their undoing.

Apparently there's a huge split between the "God squad" and the "party squad." Almost irreparably so. I imagine Rocket wouldn't be helping the situation, at all.

I'd imagine that remaining time on contract is one of the first talking points by management when a player receives a season ending injury; it would dictate the recovery plan Misson implements. If he's specifically talked about the plan to get Pedo back into pre-season and ready for next year, he wouldn't be saying it without consulting with Mahoney and Roos. Either way, I'd be staggered beyond belief if he's let go. He provides more than Dawes (for starters, he can actually mark).