Elusive Tunbridge

It must have been comforting for the Essendon faithful who attended the club's AGM last night that their players never took any illegal or performance-enhancing drugs -Essendon chairman Paul Little tells members players did not ingest anything illegal.

The meeting was highlighted by the fact that there was hardly a dissenting voice among the crowd which included the man already appointed to coach the club in 2015, Jimmy Hird who once took responsibility for that which now never happened. No mention of $60,000.00 chemist bills for substances which Little apparently now says were never taken by the players or 4,000 injections, many of them administered off-premises and which must have contained placebos. Or the fact that the records of what was taken have mysteriously disappeared which makes one wonder how Little is so certain of his "facts".

I expect Essendon's lawyers (is that you, Tanya?) have coached Mr Little on the important distinction between ingesting and being injected. If you can't have integrity, at least you can have deniability.

At first I thought, "Fantastic!" Then I wondered about half-time breaks, maybe with a boosted sound system...

It's no good having a 1st world forward line with a couple playing at Casey when your midfield is bereft of talent.

It's a bit early to be declaring our midfield to be bereft of talent. At least give Jones, Cross, Toumpas, Tyson, Vince et al. the opportunity to prove they're a bunch of hacks. Then you can trade Fitz, assuming our other forwards are fit as Mallee bulls.

Rest it all you want, but you're the people that want to play up the differences between white and black Australia, and how that should give a certain sector a cop out on not acting in a socially acceptable way. I see a man that needs a good kick up the arse. You see a child that needs to be coddled and have his boo-boos kissed better. You think that because of who he is and where he comes from he isn't a fully rational and reasoning human being. It's as bad as the 19th century attitudes, and just as damaging.

Which certain sector?

Of course it's not about race - it's never about race. But I'd like you to expand your views on chardonnay sippers - I'm as ignorant about them as you seem to be about Aboriginals.

I think we have a pretty good idea of what Clark and Dawes can do - when they are fit. At 22, having played 14 senior games, I suspect there may be a little bit of upside left in Fitzy.

I for one am not getting sucked in by technicalities.

Can't fault your logic.

Total loser.

Not sure if I agree. Depends on whether that's your judgement or your signature.

In Liam's case, I'm afraid it will turn out lethal.

Put pressure on him? I should have such power!

But I would love to see three St Kilda toughs gang-tackle him at the first bounce of the season. Send in the stretchers. Am I asking too much?

Either Hird's missus is a little ignorant of all proceedings or shes despicably arrogant and culpable in full knowledge.

If you were Mrs Hird (not that there's anything wrong with that) wouldn't you insist on knowing what was going on? And wouldn't your public statements be calculated to preserve your comfortable lifestyle?

I for one have rarely seen such a highly ranked junior so out of his depth at AFL level.

Jack Watts in his first year? Hard to forget. I guess "rarely" gives you an out.

"Toumpas plays like a girl" - sounds like a quote from P. K. Black.

From what I've seen of Clisby, he's good at finding space and time, good at making decisions, but not especially quick. IMO, HBF is his natural position, but the club may be interested in trying him out as an outside mid.

Davey involvement?

You suspect? But his chances of ever playing AFL again must be close to zero.

Dimwit will only have himself to blame if he is forced out (though he's not the only one to blame in afl house)

What is the mechanism for forcing his resignation? I assume it would require substantial agreement between the clubs. As an AFL subsidiary, MFC's vote is decided. Essendon, GWS, maybe Gold Coast also in the bag. Can't see where the push would come from.

I'm keen to see if Clisby can take the next step. His progress so far has been good, but this is the year that will show if he has a future.

Fitzy - use him or lose him.

Jakey H to have an impact in the second half of the season.

H O'B's letter to Obama is full of self-important over-compensation, but if pumping your own tires was a capital offence, fan forums would be littered with corpses.

We have aboriginal appreciation round just in the AFL, and pour millions of dollars just in this code alone, into giving aboriginals, as an example the best opportunity they can to be drafted.

Not to mention the money we've wasted on Irishmen. Just too altruistic for our own good.

Don't mind the surname change - makes sense to me. Expecting people to stop calling him Harry seems a little bit affected, though.

You've got a new fan, Roger.

Got my ten-year button. Reminds me of the passage of time. Thanks.

I don't mind him being a party animal, even at the age of 28 (he didn't like learning he's one of the oldest on the list). His interview didn't tell me much, so I'll suspend judgement until the season. Cross, on the other hand, inspires plenty of confidence.

(Probably should have put this on the Vince thread)

Let me ask you a question - do you still stand by this statement...

"Micky O is a legend."

I never made it. You're getting a little punchy.

I certainly implied that he was a dedicated footballer. I also implied that you had made a racist statement. That was about the time you threw up rape as a smokescreen.

Dragging in the issue of rape to cover your tail is unimpressive.

Micky O is a legend...oh please.

Ever heard of innocent people paying their victims...

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2004/s1100551.htm

Standing on shifted ground. But do you still stand by your generalisation about Aboriginal players' dedication? Or did that get a bit hot for you?

I'm not sure height is critical to the role he's likely to play - he won't out mark a tall forward in an even contest, but it doesn't sound like he gets into even contests, being primarily a negater. Up to now he's been a half-time footballer, and it will be interesting to see what happens when he goes full-time.