titan_uranus

No doubt for mine: Stefan Martin. Watts I had faith in. Martin I can't say the same.

From the presser: Eddie's face was as red as the red on this website. Maxwell seems honest enough: he did what he usually does, and I suspect what most players usually do, and talked about the game with his family. He didn't expect, and seemingly had no reason to expect, the family members to go and bet, and so it's hard to really say he did too much wrong, hence the lack of a suspension. Shaw is simply a numbskull. He was at the TAB. His mate said 'I'm gonna put $10 on Maxy, you want in?'. And he said 'sure' and handed over $10. What an absolute idiot. Those who think there's something in the fact that Shaw gets back for finals should note that he's banned from both AFL and VFL. Come the finals, he'll have been out of the game for 8 weeks. He'll be lacking match fitness, conditioning, and game touch. You only need to look as far as Alan Didak to see how losing your game touch can affect your performance. With Collingwood's depth, he's facing an uphill battle to play again this year IMO.

Shaw cops 14 weeks, six suspended, for betting on an AFL game using inside information. Sounds fair enough to me, given the size of the bets ($20). Maybe a few more of the weeks should be active rather than suspended. Maxwell cops just a fine. Seems like he didn't know the information was being used to lay bets. Again, the fine is $10,000 so to me that's fair enough. Shaw is an idiot, pure and simple.

I never said, or implied, that you weren't entitled to your view. Pray tell, what view do I hold of you?

Wow. Well at least he wasn't dropped for Bate. MacDonald maybe not fit enough, as he's not even an emergency. Tapscott in and Bennell out was expected, but I didn't think Maric would replace Blease. Oh well.

Why? Many/most of us would like a decision now. But it's not Scully's job to put us, or even the club, first, when signing a contract. It's his job to care for himself first.

Scully's primary objective is to take care of himself. You shouldn't begrudge him for doing that, and if that means delaying signing anything until the end of the season then so be it. It's not his job to look after the club. Sure, it would be nice if he signed now and that was that, but he is looking after himself first and foremost, as he (and every other player) has the right to do.

Blease better be out because of injury. That sounds somewhat sadistic but I'd be disappointed if we dropped him after one game, where I thought he actually did OK. I'd be absolutely livid if Bate replaces him.

Oh dear me, some people are so foolish. OK, let's look at what we know. Not what people like David Schwarz and Eddie McGuire have said, but what has emerged over the last couple of days. GWS has offered $5 million over 5 years. We have offered $3 million over 5 years. Someone did the after-tax calculation and comes out at something like $200,000 more per year for five years, so $1 million. The HUN reports today that we have the option of using Judd-style third-party payments from business and other Victorian parties who want to see Scully stay at the MFC. In addition, we know that we have the history, the culture, the friendships, the city, the future and the people at the club. I really fail to see how the facts point towards Scully leaving being a certainty. To me, the more likely outcome is he stays. We're not that far behind on salary, we can help bridge the gap with third party payments, and we have the 'soft factors' in our favour.

Wrong. Right. Agree.

If he was taken by GWS I can see him starting in their Round 1 side.

No, fair point. However, there are plenty on this site who rate Maric. I don't, which most people know. I really want to say I see as bright an AFL future for TMac as I do for Bennell. But I don't. Close, though. I agree, he isn't going to make it here, unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the year (e.g. huge amount of injuries, consistently dominant performances at Casey, neither of which are probable). But I maintain that he can make it at AFL level and if he gets another chance I would not be surprised if he does in fact make it.

Did Nicoski get injured? Don't think so, so the impact can't have been that strong. I know what you're saying, but if Ottens was a repeat offender he'd be getting 2 weeks, which is fair enough for a strike which wasn't that strong. I know it was off the ball and intentional, but it didn't look terribly forceful to me. I guess I'd prefer to see him out for 2 weeks than 1, but I understand the reasoning for guilty pleas, we don't need cases like these going to the tribunal. And I also agree with the discount for good behaviour, especially for someone who's been in the system as long as Ottens with no suspensions. Can't use the Trengove case as a comparator; that was an appallingly bad decision that is just so far removed from what most people consider appropriate.

This just proves so many idiots wrong. He hasn't signed a thing. He won't sign anything till the end of the year. I'm increasingly confident that he'll stay. The difference in salary is considerable but not insurmountable. We just need to do a half-decent job selling the club and we'll be right.

3 weeks. Ottens has been playing for 12 years and has never been suspended. Worst thing he's done is copped a fine for melee. So he deservedly gets a discount for good behaviour. Then if he pleas guilty he reduces it to one week. 3 weeks is appropriate. It was classified as intentional (correct), high contact (correct) and medium impact (correct). Stop complaining.

I have always, and still do, see an AFL player in TMac. Might be too late for him to make something at Melbourne, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was rookie-listed by another club and make a career somewhere else. I'll be totally honest and say I see more in TMac than I do in Maric. Go ahead.

If we lose to Port all hell will break loose. Here and at the club. It's not hyperbole. Port is total rubbish, clearly the worst side in the league (yes, worse than Gold Coast). They have no heart, no spirit, no class, no skill and no structure. If we put in the effort we ought to, we'll win by plenty. At least, we should.

Bennell has to go. I'm happy to drop Morton too. Blease stays, give him a full game and see how he goes. Tapscott and MacDonald come in. Seems pretty simple to me.

Sounds like a cracking game...

If I could pick anyone it would be Roos. But I don't think he wants to coach again. If we show signs of maybe picking up some consistency, maybe making finals, or beating one of the top 4 in that four week stretch we have, Bailey will be there next year though.

I really do hate this argument (if you can call it an argument). Such an illogical, ill-thought, ridiculous, and inconsequential thing to care about.

He isn't a great leader. We know that. Neither is Green. Nor Davey. Nor Rivers. Nor Jamar. So he's not the only one.

Do you hear yourself? I'm sure Matthew Warnock has at one time or another delivered a laserpoint pass. I could too if given lots of chances (well, maybe not). Point is, Maric was drafted, and is still touted, as being and exceptional kick. Occasionally looking like an exceptional kick does not cut it. If his kicking is his 'one weapon' he won't make it.

Hahahahahahahahaha.

As has been said, for someone of his height, given he isn't quick, he needs to have much more of a work rate and physical presence. He hasn't shown that at AFL level yet. Moreover, there is a widely held misconception that he is a good kick. He is not. Not at AFL level, anyway. It's just not there. If he wants to cement an AFL spot, then if/when he gets back in he needs to work harder, for longer. That means running out four quarters, chasing, tackling, making space, blocking etc. The kind of things he probably does at VFL level, but for some reason or another, doesn't show at AFL level.