SaberFang

Laughable and completely unsurprising. Surely nobody actually expected the AFL would come up with a meaningful outcome here? Great timing, too. They delayed long enough to miss this year's draft, and announced close enough to Christmas that nobody will even notice.

Thank Christ we don't have more of these "not-normal-stereotype" players. The ones who decide it's a great idea to drag our club's medical department, and their professional integrity, through the mud. I must have missed the part where Nev Jetta or Gus Brayshaw threatened to sue the club over the club's treatment of their concussions. I do remember Bernie Vince having some choice words on H's commitment to the club though; maybe you could ask him?

Unfortunately though, we can't have good things because someone always comes in and exploits it, forcing it to be changed.

Likewise, got no issue with the money being paid, but Gil has rapidly been found out as a spineless, silver-spoon [censored] since taking over the head position. At least Vlad was transparently shameless, Gil's disgusting backroom deal-making makes Trump look Lincoln-esque.

The whole thing makes me sick. The entire narrative that News Corp have attempted to form around the Essendon players is disgusting and hypocritical beyond belief.

He can rub his hands for whatever he wants if he plays like he did at Hawthorn!

I've no doubt it was a very short conversation with his lawyer.

So Jobe's refusing to give back the actual medal? Makes his pathetic pontificating about how much he was a man of honour and intergrity even more vomit-worthy, if he cut one of Gil's famous deals to keep the medal in exchange for a PR statement. And makes the AFL even more pathetic. To echo the above, I'd give this corrupt corporation (barely consider it a sport anymore) away were it not for the Dees.

Love Lewis rubbing his hands with glee at the end. So much to love about such a short video.

I was just thinking how good a run we've had with injuries. Thankfully these ones sound pretty minor. We've had more than our fair share of season ending nightmares over the years, so the footy gods owe us a good run at it.

Great report Hell Bent. Thanks so much for the insight. Sucks to hear about all those injuries, but I'm sure you're not jinxing it! And yep, Crossy is a machine; great role model for the youth.

Just thought I'd start off the thread with a huge thanks to DeeSpencer for heading down and reporting back. Unfortunate to hear the injury news to start off. Poor JKH, can't catch a break.

What an epic trilogy of training reports from @Deespicable, @DeeSpencer & @Stevienic23. Thanks to all 3 of you for the brilliant write-ups.

Three dead ones at that.

Lucky he still had time for a selfie! All the best Colin, get better soon.

Exactly, it's a bit like how Cotchin racks up 30+ completely ineffective disposals every week. They interpret that data as "elite" for disposals, but they are nothing more than a hollow number because Cotchin, like many in Richmond's outfit, achieve absolutely nothing except fluffed up numbers.

There's something clearly wrong with whatever formulas they're using to reach their rankings if Richmond and Collingwood's midfields are considered two of the best in the league. I mean, Jesus... RICHMOND? Their midfield is horrific.

What's the point of doping to win an Olympic medal? Wouldn't that be the most hollow victory imaginable? It's like using warp pipes to beat Super Mario Bros.

Possibly the dumbest article I've ever read, or extremely misleading at a minimum. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/collingwoods-midfield-ranked-the-best-in-the-afl-for-2017-demons-the-worst/news-story/0454702aa6527ac5461a7cabca9192bf

This is great insight into some behind the scenes intel on the team. Thanks so much DD, fantastic to read a little scoop on Clarry's progress and the reason he's in rehab. Certainly answers a few questions at last.

Yep, disappointing to hear young Clarry came back out of shape and with poor fitness. He needs to be better than that if he wants to prolong his career. The club including that line in their own press release is definitely an intentional clip to Clarry from the coaches -- lift your game.

Players must really hate the idea of going to China! But yeah, there's definitely cultural problems at Port with everything you hear going on. There was clearly something to the Boak/Hartlett rumours, especially when they tried to trade the latter out. Great news for 17 other clubs vying for Wines' signature at the end of the year. Might be an opportune time for the Vineys to invite the Wines over for Christmas.

The amazing coincidences just keep on coming. I never realised how much luck AFL players seem to have when it comes to breaking the law, as if they're constantly being informed on loopholes to weasel out of trouble. In any event, shouldn't he be done for fleeing the scene of a crime? Would've thought police have long-since closed loopholes relating to this tactic by making the minimum sentence for fleeing a crime as bad as the maximum sentence allowable for drink driving (like Charlie Curnow copping a 4 year driving suspension for refusing a breath test)?

Yet he conveniently reappeared just after the expiry of the legal time window police are allowed to take a blood alcohol sample from a suspect. Stunning coincidence, that one.

"A few drinks," seriously? At an 8 hour party starting at 11am immediately after training? Yeah, his teammates must have been really sober when they let Impey stumble out front with his car keys blind drunk. As for comparing this to a few players attending a teammate's media launch party? What codswallop. What does seems increasingly obvious is that Monfries is neither particularly bright nor dedicated to resurrecting his AFL career. Party-boy behaviour like this is an indictment on him after his last few years in the wilderness. The party – one of several Monfries has recently hosted after a one-year suspension over the Essendon supplements scandal – began on Saturday morning. As the day wore on, the drinks flowed, music blared and the conversation became increasingly louder. “It was loud but that is not surprising given the noise that has come from there recently.” Micki Telfer, 31, described hearing a “lot of noise” from the gathering. “It was definitely getting raucous. It started about 11am and continued until about 7pm. A distressed Monfries was seen on the street inspecting his car with an unidentified friend, who is said to have told a young female neighbour to “get back inside”. Monfries, who turns 30 in January, was reluctant to explain what happened, ordering The Advertiser away from his property. Some of Monfries’ neighbours had called police over loud music late at night. One neighbour said he was “absolutely sick of it, as we all live close together. I have called the cops a few times before,” he said. “There have been loads of parties.” Another neighbour said there had been frequent gatherings at Monfries’ home in the football off-season.