old55

I'd like to point out that even if the AFL have advice from senior counsel that a case against Essendon could be sustained in a Supreme Court action they won't want to go there. AFAIK it is Hird bringing the Supreme Court action, not Essendon Football Club. I imagine that EFC and the AFL are keen to ink a compromise deal but the problem is that deal involves non-negotiable pain for Hird - and EFC is having trouble getting their head around that - trouble I expect they will overcome sooner rather than later. Then it will be Hird v AFL - he'll need a valuation on that Toorak house. I'm guessing the EFC position is Fine + Points and the AFL position is Fine + Points + Picks + Hird and it's Picks that may give - personally I prefer that to Hird getting off.

I notice you didn't offer an alternative. Your long suit is rhetoric, your short suit is action.

There has to be some form of compromise to get a resolution. There's 4 elements to the reported penalty offered to Essendon: Loss of 2013 points Loss of 2013 and 14 picks Fine Hird, Corcoran, Thompson and Reid face charges Altho a Fine is not mentioned in the article it is likely to still be included, so 3 of the 4 elements are intact - points, fine, charges against individuals and there's the added point that Hird immediately steps down. The negotiating point that's removed is the draft picks. It's quite possible that ASADA/WADA will still find that players took banned substances when their investigation is finalised - that hasn't changed either. I can see that flying. What's your alternative? Go to the Supreme Court and have the AFL end up de-registering Essendon? Be specific with your alternative plan of action. I'd like to point out that Melbourne tanked in 2009 despite what the AFL found, everybody knows that, and we got a similar but less severe (points and finals) negotiated penalty - no loss of picks. There's a river of hypocrisy here.

Yes, Bailey won't coach Melbourne to a flag, that's fairly certain.

Agree. That was the best offer going, they should have jumped at it. Robson got out clean "I didn't know anything and should have". Hird couldn't have exited that way because of the txts and the Reid letter - he knew plenty. I think when the ASADA investigation is concluded players will be be suspended. Essendon and Hird could have taken their punishment before it got to this.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-v-afl-live-updates-20130822-2scd0.html#ixzz2cf4drmEG A cursory check of the Essendon Senior list - there's 4 players about to turn 21 in the next 12 months.

Dean Wallis in charge of keeping the injection records - that explains everything ... http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dean-wallis-implicated-over-essendon-drug-records-20130821-2saw3.html?rand=1377062070418

I was simply pointing out that praise for Bailey's game plan in anticipation of a having forward line with Clark, Dawes and Hogan is a bit rich.

If I was Essendon I would send an fully itemised list of all substances injected to players, amounts and dates to Fairfax Media to prove we've done nothing wrong - I'm sure they'd publish it. For privacy reasons the actual players don't need to be named just ... player A: 14/4/2012: Amino Acid XYZ 20 micrograms Or maybe they don't have that information and that's the whole problem? Maybe the players were injected with Strontium-90 laced spider venom - no-one at Essendon knows for sure.

The club has done a lot of things wrong over the years but to state that "Melbourne player mismanagement" was the primary reason for the problems Jurrah has encountered is just totally incorrect. Apparently Schwab is responsible for the troubles in Egypt.

Neeld directly brought Clark and Dawes to the club and under his regime we traded for Hogan.

Let me say first of all - we wont get pick 1 and if we did I wouldn't trade it but taking your overall premise ... Horrible deal for Carlton. Too good for MFC and GWS. Why do GWS want Bellchambers AND Warnock? Drop MFC losing 20 and gaining 29 and Robinson, add MFC losing 38 = 1 and 38 for Adams and Sloane Drop Carlton losing 29 and Warnock = 9, Yarran, Robinson for 1 Drop Essendon losing 14 and gaining 20 = Bellchambers for Yarran Drop GWS gaining 14 and Warnock, add GWS gaining Robinson = Adams and 3 for 9, 38, Robinson and Bellchambers Adelaide deal OK - Sloane for 3

compared with my apathetic wage?

In the Nathan Jones interview on SEN a couple of days ago, in Tim Watson's quick 5 questions "Your favourite Jack at the club?" without hesitation Jones answered "Watts". That's the second strong endorsement of him from a respected team mate. Earlier in the year I heard Jack Grimes talk very genuinely positive of him too, said he's a key to keeping morale high in difficult times.

Carlton wont want Fitzpatrick - they've got too many like him already. They need true KPF and/or KPB (if Henderson plays forward)

Like my Amber Heard, Scarlett Johanssen threesome?

There's a strong rumour that the Trade/Draft Rumour Mill thread has turned into a wishlist thread and there's no actual rumours in it at all ...

if hird gets the arse it will be part of a package of sanctions - the future picture will be clear

Heard this rumour a few weeks ago - it's plausible

His unconceived father-son hasn't agreed to sign with us either.

I must've missed this. Link please?

I'll be astounded if we get PP 1, we might get a mid 1st rounder or end of 1st round pick.

Link to official source please.

we pedants surely

Wow a lot shorter than brother Jamie.