TeamPlayedFine39

I just don't get it. How do some people not see that: a) Dank is a nutcase and was given too much freedom without sufficient checks. This is an acknowledged fact by all sides but seems to get lost when some are looking to point fingers of blame. b) He gave the players banned substances. You can argue all you want about what the players knew, but Dank sourced it, purchased it, imported it- with the intention of using it. c) The AFL had no motivation to see Essendon found guilty. d) The AFL had no motivation for the ordeal to drag on for years. e) The 'saga' spread over 2 governments and 4 prime ministers- it was apolitical. f) The only body to clear the players was the AFL tribunal. Every other legal and sporting/anti-doping body found they had done wrong. Most Essendon people don't want this dragged up again- the people who do refuse to acknowledge any wrongdoing by the club at all- even having Dank running amok. We can laugh at them from afar but I don't want Melksham and Hibberd focusing on anything other than football for the Dees.

Personally, I thought he had a huge amount of talent and could have been an outstanding AFL footballer... if he wanted to be. Four coaches and two clubs couldn't bring that desire out from within him.

At least those two make it onto the field - I was very keen on Freeman while most were praying Scharenberg would slide to us. A lot of talent in this draft, but also a bit of a minefield.

Hoping not to derail the thread, but my understanding was that Roos said that Melbourne would not have taken Kelly with pick 2 if we had of retained it... weren't we looking at Billings??

It is usually regarded as a win/win trade and I tend to agree with it. It satisfied a need for both clubs at the time in that Melbourne was trying to introduce as much quality to the list as possible, while GWS was reducing their list and concentrating on moving picks down the draft order to maximise their efficiency. Both teams could have blitzed this deal however with GWS passing on Bontempelli (pick 4) while Melbourne could have collected Cripps (pick 13). It is what it is, and if Salem can reach his potential, we've done very, very well.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but is it now all over..?

He's been so brave.

Generally curious; what's the politics involved here? This case has spanned 2 state governments, 2 federal governments, 4 Prime Ministers, 2 AFL CEOs, an Australian court appeal, a National anti-doping body, an international anti-doping body and an international court of appeal. It does see like everyone outside of the AFL that has come into contact with this case has found Essendon to be at fault. To my understanding, the only body in the world that has sided with Essendon has been the AFL tribunal.

To those who know Hibberd better than I... will we be looking for him to play as a third tall/intercept marker or as a mid-small defender off halfback? To which role is he better suited??

Yeah - no compensation for a DFA. What it does do is remove any strings from another club wanting to pick him up for free - it helps the player out.

Three guys that tried their hearts out for the club. No surprises with Terlich and even Grimes; am a little surprised that Jones went as he seemed to be in the selectors top 26 or so players for most of the year. This is, I suppose, the price you pay for an improving list; you lose some guys who gave their all during some very tough years.

You're absolutely right, but gee... Still hurts.

I mentioned over the page that he had a kid this year, so presumably he's been getting thrown up on, slapped in the face, screamed at, eye gouged, pooed on, praying and being deprived of sleep, rest and any semblance of peace.

True - in fact we've looked at our best when Jesse gets on his bike and roams round the ground, rather than planting himself 20m out trying to kick a bag and save the day.

It's really hard to say if he'd be rookied - as an outsider looking in. It's been so long since we've been able to have a good look at him playing. He has some real strengths, but also some significant deficiencies that he needs to have been working on. Unfortunately, he hasn't been working through these as he's been injured so often. Hopefully he can snag a few matches for Casey at the end of the year. ***** Just checked the contract thread - looks like he's signed on til the end of '17. Good on him - hopefully can get a game or two at the end of the year and hit the preseason at full tilt.****

He's had a kid this year so hopefully he's looking at this as a year of Paternity Leave and enjoying every moment of it.

In addition... If Roos believed he was going he'd fattening Hogan up for a trade by trotting out the lines like: 'He's the best young player in the league...' 'A required player...' 'Very special, once in a generation talent...'

Agreed. He said when he was appointed that he wasn't going to be a president in the spotlight. Everyone thing appears to be running efficiently and harmoniously under his charge.

Agreed, it all a ruse to get the price up and add a year. If he's asking for four and they're offering 2... it'll be three. If they're offering 300,000 and he's asking for 500,000, surprise, surprise! Happens every year.

Agreed. Even bigfooty of all places wasn't discussing it last night while Demonland burned. We seem to be the only ones freaking out about this.

Of course he's going to say it's not about the money- who, in their right mind, would say to the media: 'My next contract is gonna all be about the money.' The media line that every player has given for the past month is 'the MFC is a great place to be.' That's the current PR focus of the club.

Hogan being allowed to visit home occasionally is often cited as one of the reasons he and his family are very happy with the MFC.

Bernie wanted to reject the trade and stay at the Crows until he spoke to the Coach and list manager. Was told that no matter how well he played in 2014, he wouldn't be offered a contract at Adelaide for 2015.

Bernie was thrown.