Flying Cloud

"Note: Melbourne's 2015 members will be able to attend its three NAB Challenge matches for free." This is a good move. I haven't gone to pre-season games in the past, but think I will make both the Victorian games next year.

And if he doesn't fail you can just use a different username so no one can track these comments back to you.

I think the AFLPA have been woeful in this. Their position is and has always been hopelessly conflicted, but they don't realize it. They have been dragged into the politics of it all and are being bamboozled by high powered publicity seeking legal practitioners when they should be placing the interests and welfare of all AFL players as their priority. This includes the right of all AFL players to compete in an environment free of banned drugs. The AFLPA do have certain responsibilities to the Essendon 34 such as ensuring they receive a fair hearing, and should be outspoken if this is not the case. However the AFLPA cannot possibly know if the Essendon 34 are guilty or not and therefore should limit their support. The AFLPA should not be spokesmen for the Essendon 34, because to do so may ultimately result in the AFLPA being shown to have supported drug cheats to the detriment of the vast majority of their members.

RIP Robbie

If Hird is sacked does he still have the right to appeal, as his relationship to the players is officially gone. He is almost certainly outside of ASADA and AFL control if he is sacked and no longer has a contract.

I do quite like Aussie Rules, and often spend my time watching the ammo's down at the local ground. I love the Demons, but if they were the Tassie Demons, or the St Kilda Demons it wouldn't be the same. Think I would jump on board with the Melbourne United (I still hate the name). I enjoy watching basketball as well. Never liked League or Union, and I think Soccer is a joke. Will probably just watch a bit of the local footy as well, but if the Dees fold or merge etc, then that we be the AFL done for me.

Surely the AFL is pi$$ed with Essendon already. If Essendon sued for damages, I doubt Essendon would get anything more than base payments from the AFL for a very, very long time.

Bit off topic, and I fully agree with Wilson on this, however, while "What Melbourne did ....was disgusting", and yet "Essendon and Hird (are only) damaging to the game." Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-shock--awful-20121102-28ppz.html#ixzz36mtGydbm Edit : Font size - wasn't trying to shout

Have done the same. Turned SEN off and avoiding TV shows with him. Someone rang up SEN a few weeks ago and asked him why he was so biased. Robinson savaged the poor guy and the other SEN crew on at the same just laughed along with him. As to why, who cares. He has lost all credibility and his future as a journalist is surely limited.

100% agree. Imagine, however, Hird standing on the dais on GF day accepting the premiership cup sometime in the next few years. That simply can't be allowed to happen.

The players have also signed up to it, with the assistance of the AFLPA.

I also find the AFLPA's position to be a bit "cute". They have agreed to the AFL's drug code for all of the players. The AFL's code is based on, and integrated with ASADA and WADA codes. The AFLPA are now complaining about the process they have agreed to and want it changed. Either they have changed their mind, or they never read, or understood, it in the first place.

Perhaps it is just too late, or too many beers, but I have had enough of this crap. I think I may write to the MFC proposing they go to the AFL and ask for Essendon to be booted out. Yeah I know it will hurt the TV rights deal, but everything is negotiable, and am sure the AFL and the 17 other clubs will sort something out. It would have to be better than years more of this.

Agree Perhaps the other Victorian clubs should say to Essendon, "You Win! We quit the AFL. Essendon it is all yours." Then they could invite the interstate teams to join a new comp, a sort of super-league, only difference to the current AFL would be no Essendon. Open it up to the TV stations for a new broadcast deal - A one club organisation or the same comp without Essendon Clearly I am exaggerating, but....

Gotta say this is about bringing out the best of people. Compared with the best that can be achieved with pushing/breaking the drug boundaries, or even altitude training! This is what team sport should be about.

From what I have read on McDevitt, he doesn't go off half-cocked. He will have checked with WADA before holding out this olive branch.

Need a "Yes - First time I have checked in" option.

Not the priority at the moment. You can throw big money at a star to top up a potential premiership team where there is a gap. Wait until we are challenging for top 4, then throw some big bucks at a key position player.

I was 18 months. My dad was at the game. He passed away a couple of years ago but was passionate until the end. At least he got to see them win one.

Often said and still believe that if MFC folded I would quit being a passionate AFL supporter. Most probably sign up with the Tigers (basketball). Not saying I would never attend or watch a game of AFL again, just wouldn't be the same.

One thing I have wondered about is the official Doc Reid records. Many players would have seen the Doc for various issues over the year. When ever I see a doctor they ask are you taking anything else, or are you on any medication, and they type it into their computer. So surely somewhere in Doc Reid's computer records for the players there would be some reference to what was taken. If not, why not?

And we won on a Friday night!

I love that this photo is taken on the 'G. Is a good statement. Other clubs may use the MCG as their home ground, but it is our home ground.

Or possibly the merger being considered is the establishment of a new super team, the Essendon Sharks.

Of course it is legit! Two very different topics. Relocation - is a possibility. Tasmania perhaps, North Queensland perhaps. Darwin isn't big enough, Sydney's 2nd team has a long way to go, and Brisbane and Gold Coast are, well.... No one of course would be stupid enough to suggest a Melbourne team relocate to SA or WA. NZ is a long term proposition. NZ. So it is Tasmania (North is the most likely candidate) or North Queensland (!?!?) as the only short/medium term options. Country Victoria at a pinch I suppose, but really.... Merger, is only a possibility if you get four teams down to two, or merge two teams to one, and introduce another team (The AFL is not going to go the TV networks with one team sitting out each week, that is lost revenue). So if you introduce another team, the question become where? (See previous paragraph). If you merge 4 teams in Melbourne down to two you risk not only loosing most of the fans of the two subordinate teams in the two mergers, but a lot of fans of the dominate teams in the merger. You can't expand a competition by destroying support in the heartland. The question that begs to asked here is Why? What is broken? What needs to be fixed?