Whispering_Jack

I don't know who advised Watson to speak in this way in public but, if it was planned and calculated (and it surely must have been) then woe betide the AFL and the Essendon Football Club if it's a ploy that misfires. Watson has admitted to taking a substance banned under WADA rules. There seems to me to be no way, on the face of it, that he shouldn't be charged and stood down from playing until a decision is made on his future. The positions of a number of others involved at Essendon have to be looked at as well and the AFL might well be forced to take over the running of a second club. Unless, of course, a deal's been done in the back rooms. And if that's the case then the integrity of our game is in tatters but we already knew that.

I don't know about the "performance related" thing but I believe that one aspect of the way our list management was conducted last year may have had a significant impact on the way the playing group has performed this year. The decision made and announced early that the club would not re-sign players until after the trade period concluded in October would have been looked at adversely by the players. This would have been felt directly by those whose careers were immediately put into limbo for a couple of months (and a number left or had their careers terminated altogether) and indirectly by many of the others in the playing group whose contractual positions were to be determined in the future. Other clubs might conduct things in a similar way but I've never seen it articulated in the way it was done at Melbourne. It was a strange way of going about things but if you think about it, this was tantamount to an open admission that they were treating the playing group as if they were cattle. The direction might have come from the board or from list management but it had to be perceived by the players as ultimately coming from their coach. Even if many of the decisions made were correct and could be justified, it was the manner in which it was handled that IMO later caused things to unravel at the club. This would have been compounded by the long running and on going tanking inquisition during which the notion would have been reinforced. The football department kept saying that they felt that the players were being quarantined from the effects of that trial but in fact, I believe it simply fueled the seeds of doubt in the minds of many in the playing group. That's my theory anyway and "performance based" or not, I believe that notwithstanding the work he's done for the club, Harrington's departure might prove as significant on our playing fortunes from hereon in as those of Schwab, McLardy and Neeld.

Two weeks down the track and there are three new faces in the TAC Cup Future Stars top 10 and Django gets his wish. Luke Dunstan is in it:- 1. GWS TOM BOYD (Eastern Ranges) (1) 2. Melbourne JOSH KELLY (Sandringham Dragons) (2) 3. W Bulldogs MATT SCHARENBERG (South Australia) (5) 4. Brisbane JONATHON MARSH (Western Australia) (7) 5. St. Kilda JAMES AISH (South Australia) (3) 5. St Kilda JONATHON MARSH (Western Australia) (7) 6. North Melbourne LUKE MCDONALD (Oakleigh Chargers F/S) (6) 7. Gold Coast KOBE KOLODJASHNIJ (Tasmania) ( - ) 8. West Coast JACK BILLINGS (Oakleigh Chargers) (4) 9. Carlton LUKE DUNSTAN (South Australia) ( - ) 10. GWS Giants LEWIS TAYLOR (Geelong Falcons) ( - )

Ah ... so that's why they call the ground "Mission Impossible".

The problem is that these things were out in the open 3, 4 and 5 years ago when they first happened but when they came out in the article by Michael Warner we got a rather jaundiced version where only one version of the events was presented. De La Rue is quoted but there's no response and I recall a very clear one was given when he withdrew his sponsorship.And we've already heard two versions of the Mission Foods story. One claims that Mission was introduced by a Melbourne supporter but another says it was a Bulldog supporter who helped get the doggies across the line. Whatever the case, its all stuff that's been widely aired and dissected in the past and many times since. I only ask why has it been conveniently brought up now and by who?

Paul Roos wrote a book?

Yes, definitely Luke Tynan in the Casey best players and not Josh.

The AFL PROSPECTUS top 25 continues with yet another midfield prospect. Nick Bourke (Geelong U18) midfielder 184 cm plays like Stephen Hill Now for the young man who is being touted as #1. Tom Boyd​ (Eastern U18) ​Key Forward ​198 cm plays like Mitch Clark A 196cm ruckman, anyone? Cameron Conlon​ (Notthern U18) Ruck 196cm plays like Patrick Ryder The brother of Adelaide's Brad Crouch Matt Crouch (North Ballarat U18) Midfielder​182 cm p​lays like Simon Black TO BE CONTINUED

Bound for Glory News site has this MID SEASON REVIEW: CASEY SCORPIONS.

And that's what's wrong with the system. A king hit from behind when the player's not expecting it is the act of a low dog and the impact shouldn't affect the outcome. The AFL is right in trying to stamp out negligent and reckless actions against a player's head but there should also be zero tolerance and heavy penalties for cowards who attack when it's not expected by the victim.

The perseverance of football fans in Melbourne was tested to the limits again by the AFL when they scheduled a 4:40 game on a Saturday night in the depths of winter. They might complain about the lack of fans attending MFC matches, yet the same number (28K) turned up as against ladder leaders Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps they should look a little more closer to home as to why numbers are down, or do they have the same diabolical plan as they have perpetrated against Melbourne in store in the coming years for St. Kilda fans? The game itself wasnt much of a spectacle, and with 27 errors to EACH team at ¾ time, this was a fair indication of the quality of player capabilities of both sides. More importantly, neither side seemed capable of capitalizing on those errors to create a decisive advantage. Imagine such consequences if the opponent was Hawthorn, Sydney or Geelong? If it were not for a simply appalling opening by Melbourne, the game would have been far more of a contest, as once again, the players failed to concentrate on the simplest of things and show some genuine commitment until it was all too late. Once that happened the heads dropped and with the exception of Nathan Jones, Tom McDonald and Col Garland, going through the motions was the order of play. A new coach usually foreshadows some sort of revival, and for a time there was evidence of the old Adelaide defensive style being implemented courtesy of Neil Craig. That probably wasnt a bad thing as Melbourne were 42 points down in the first half and heading for another 15 goal shellacking. So if there was something to be gleaned from the game, perhaps this was it. Fans would have been pleased with the performance of Sylvia in the first half, but only saw a return to the half-hearted efforts in the second. Was Shannon Byrnes on the ground at all? He must not have been, given his contribution. Did Jeremy Howe trouble the doorman with his pass this week? Again nothing seen to have any effect for the team or on the game? Dan Nicholson continued his appalling lack of ability with another fluffed chance running into an open goal, bringing his season total to 1 goal 10 behinds from this precise scenario. And can we please have Jake Spencer left at Casey? One single kick for the game and more hit-outs delivered directly to opposition mids than his own is not what a ruckman is meant to do. It was only when McEvoy was subbed off at half time, that he was sighted. The team didnt score a goal in the first half while he rucked, while at least Fitzpatrick was able to direct the ball more to advantage in the limited time he was given. Until we get 18 players on the field who are 100% committed 100% of the time, we will never achieve the style and capabilities of teams like Hawthorn or Geelong. Each and every contest should be critical, but as mentioned previously, Garland, McDonald and Jones are the only ones who demonstrate this. Unfortunately Chris Dawes wasnt able to join this group after being felled behind play in the 3rd quarter, with a St. Kilda player due to front the MRP as a certainty. You can go into a game carrying a couple of players, but we already have first gamers like Clisby ( fine effort for a first up game ) alongside a bevy of first season rookies. When supposedly experienced players shirk their responsibilities we are left with probably a dozen putting in the required effort. Small wonder the results are what they are ... If nothing, this game proved that it wasnt Mark Neeld who was the problem. It is simply the cattle on the paddock. The end of season clean out that he promised is going to happen regardless, and probably with similar numbers to last year. Those who think they can top up their superannuation like others have done in the past at the MFC will be sadly misled. It was a chill wind blowing through the MCG on a wintery Melbourne night, but it will be an even colder wind for those sinners who keep creating a Demon Hell for their long suffering fans in the outer ... Melbourne 3.0.18 5.4.34 7.5.47 10.9.69 St. Kilda 7.2.44 10.3.63 15.6.96 16.8.104 Goals Melbourne Howe Watts 2 Blease Byrne Dawes Fitzpatrick Jones Kent St Kilda Riewoldt 3 Koschitzke Ray 2 Armitage Dempster Dennis-Lane Geary Jones Milera Montagna, Ross, Stanley Best Melbourne Garland McDonald Sylvia Terlich Clisby Jones. St Kilda Montagna Ray Steven Riewoldt Dal Santo Roberton Injuries Melbourne Nil St Kilda McEvoy (concussion) Changes Melbourne Nil St Kilda Sam Fisher replaced by Brodie Murdoch Reports Melbourne Jake Spencer for rough conduct against Ben McEvoy (second quarter) St Kilda Nil Umpires Dalgleish McInerney Ryan Crowd 28,751 at MCG.

Old news and I'm not sure how accurate. I can check and let you know. The Hankook stuff is also ancient history and was well covered when it happened a couple of years ago. I wonder who's stirring the pot by bringing this stuff up now and why are they doing it?

Whatever one might say about the game and the opposition, according to my Footy Live app, this was only the second time this year that we won the Inside 50 count (46-45). Does this reflect poorly on St. Kilda or us for our inability to convert in front of goal or both?

I know the AFL has different categories of contact such as intentional, negligent and reckless but surely in the case of Spencer, they could call it "clumsy" and give him the benefit of the doubt?

Given the number of issues that most supporters at most clubs are divided on, I don't think it's wise to talk about what "the Freo people were telling us" well after the event because it often depends on which Freo people you happen to be talking to at any particular time. The same goes for Peter Jackson. If you listen to Essendon people like the ones I was talking with yesterday then you might not be so effusive about him either. They were not so happy at the way he dealt with the replacement of Kevin Sheedy with Matthew Knights claiming that the appointment nearly destroyed the club. And one of them added that the systems he left at the club weren't changed greatly by his successor who resigned not long ago over the peptides fiasco. I figured these people to be Sheedy loyalists so I'm sure there are other viewpoints about Jackson within the Essendon supporter group. However, that's exactly why I wonder about the wisdom of listening to what people from other clubs allegedly have to say about anyone who moves from one club to another in any capacity. If Brisbane fans listen to what Melbourne people have to say about Brent Moloney what do you think they might be told?

Farren Ray, who we nearly picked up in a trade at the end of last year closing in on 30 possessions.

I thought we were owned by the AFL. Why are the umpires screwing us? Four soft goals from frees. Don't they know what side their bread's buttered on?

I wouldn't worry about that. We're showed a lot more in the second quarter than we have for most of the season. There's some promise there that we haven't seen for a while.

Fisher out of the Saints' side - replaced by Murdoch. Nicholson the sub for MFC.

Tweet by CaseyScorpions "No comment will be made by the club in relation to the news article in today's Age. We will continue to support Kyle throughout this time."

Are you planning on having a holiday mjt?

I respect Parko but he's been in the media for far too long and he's now drinking his own bath water. There have been a few insightful articles in the press concerning the makeup of our list (Emma Quayle's is one that immediately comes to mind) that rebuts what he says. The proof of course, will only come out over the next year or two. I've seen the comparison made with Port Adelaide and how it's progressing this year under Ken Hinkley but the truth is that the two lists are entirely different and I still maintain that if we could gather out forces together and had them all fit and firing at once we wouldn't be that far off the pace with most of the teams outside the top eight. With good recruiting and coaching into 2014 we might even surprise.

Kyle Matthews was once skipper of the Casey Scorpions, a courageous one and a really personable young bloke. Lately, he's been drifting between the periphery of their senior team and its development league (ressies) side and I've been wondering why. This long article provides some insight. Men acquitted for brawl that injured VFL star

We tried to sell ourselves to the Chinese but they wouldn't bite.South China Airways rejected us for a lucrative sports sponsorship last month.

The title to the thread is somewhat of a misnomer in that Flanagan never really went away. This is therefore not a return in that sense but more a return in the form of a better understanding and insight into what's happened both at and to our club. Our failures are due not to one single factor or faction or group within the membership, the playing group or those who run it; many are to blame but the blameworthy are those who always look only back and fail to see what's needed in going forward. Martin Flanagan has nailed it again. He's done so because, unlike the others whose task is to write simply about events, he seeks to understand them.