Whispering_Jack

Nominations now being taken for roles in the Hollywood production. I nominate myself as myself and Halle Berry as my wife. I'll be doing my own stunts for every scene.

Well folks, we've reached land and are here on the Gold Coast where conditions are perfect for some r & r after the nerve wracking events of the past week and a half. I suppose you're all wondering about the shenanigans on the banana boat and how it all ended. Well, here's a brief summary: The ship's captain offered us some coffee once they removed our gags and freed us from the ropes that bound us to our chairs. He explained we had been caught up in an Interpol operation against a vicious gang of international terrorists who were using sporting facilities to store weapons for use in their nefarious plan to one day dominate the world. The leader, Al Kyder (aka Vlad the Impaler but a man with several aliases) had been captured alive and taken to the Pentagon for further questioning. His accomplice, the Michelin Man, broke down under interrogation after he was deprived of donuts and Tim Tam biscuits for 17 hours and confessed to everything. The son was released and was last seen wandering around Circular Quay in Sydney just having a look around. "But what about the tape? What happened to that?" "Oh, the tape. Yes, well Vlad did manage to crush it into a thousand pieces but that's not a problem. It contained a compilation of Barry Manilow songs - we managed to switch it back on the ship before Phil grabbed what he thought was the authentic tape. We made copies anyway and returned the original to the MONA Museum." Well, that was a relief. Feeling the throbbing from the lump on the back of my head, I asked, "But why was it necessary to attack us, then tie us up and bring us back to the ship?" "Our men have been training for this operation for a long time. You were wearing the distinctive orange and charcoal livery of Al Kyder's international terrorist franchise. They had to disarm you when capturing the ringleaders. It was only when they brought you back on the ship that we realised your true identity." It turned out that Interpol had been on to Vlad for years. They had vision of him sitting at the MCG during the Jordan McMahon game. The rest of the row was occupied by you know who and his punk son. They had the kid bugged at Hong Kong airport on his way home from the MFC trip to China and knew all about the plot to recruit him to GWS. His fourth placing in the inaugural best and fairest at Blacktown was a signal to the rest of the terrorist group that the attacks would start in four month's time. It was no surprise to learn that a rogue former UN identity had joined the AFL as one of its investigators. We also got the news that the AFL commission would meet on 29 January to exonerate the Demons of all possible charges in the tanking affair and, by way of compensation, the MFC would be awarded the first five picks in the 2013 AFL National Draft. The Giants were to be expelled from the competition at the same meeting (to be immediately replaced by the Tassie Mappers). All would be good in the world again. Things got even better on the last day of the cruise as the ship entered the Brisbane River. Redleg and I (and our respective wives) were sunning ourselves on the deck and drinking banana daiquiris when the ship's purser handed us our envelopes. They were from the Governor-General advising us that on Australia Day, we were to receive our Orders of Australia for services to the country and to sport. For the second time since we embarked on the cruise, Redleg fainted.

With the opening bounce of the season (well ... NAB Cup anyway) just five weeks away, traing is starting to hot up. That little three way NAB Cup opener might be a bit Mickey Mouse for many of us, it does present plenty of players to showcase their wares. Who's going to be ready for the big day?

People wax lyrical about some of our new youngsters in the midfield but I have a feeling that Max will make a big difference to the club once he's fit an firing. (Disclosure: I'm happy to be one of Max's sponsors at the club this year) We know how important it is for clubs to be strong in their ruck divisions which form an integral part of the midfield. Max has in the past shown some glimpses of what he could do once be gets up and running. I was at Casey late last season (v Northern Blues) and was talking with a Carlton supporter and the bloke told me he still remembered Max's game against the same team a year earlier and marveled at his impressive ruck skills. His view was that Max showed something special that day with his ruck tapwork and mobility around the ground. I know I'm biased but it's young players with his attributes of size, flexibility and skills who can make a difference to a team. It's time for a change of fortune for the big fella.

Let's assume that North contacted Melbourne with an offer for Watts and the offer was for a first rounder and a player and that Melbourne rejected the offer. Would that make Denham half right or would it make him wrong? Either way, as a journalist he's a waste of space and when it comes to matters relating to Melbourne, he's irrelevant these days.

Former Eagles player suing AFL, website I've raised the above article for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because of the story itself but secondly, as a reminder to posters of the importance of observing certain standards on any site of this nature. I direct you all to our code of conduct which is pinned at the top of this message board. The code will shortly be undergoing a review, particularly to cover areas where posters carry on their own personal squabbles to the detriment of other people's enjoyment of the site, often with multiple posts that hijack discussion. If you want to keep Demonland going, then please respect this and if you have any doubts, please consult the code of conduct. Thanks.

Posters are reminded to check out the code of conduct and stay on topic please. Thanks.

That's enough for this thread folks. Unfortunately, we have too many posters who prefer to hijack threads and spoil the enjoyment of the site for the majority.

Nor with me if you check my post. It still doesn't justify kicking a bloke when he's suffering the sort of illness he's reported to have.

It's been reported that he's suffering from depression. Do people here know what it's like to be battling such an illness? I'm not justifying what he's done. If you're that tanked you face a heavy fine and lose your licence but please have some sympathy for what the man is going through at the present time. If he is suffering from depression or something similar then he might not be fully in control and he and those around him need support rather than contempt.

Correction: As the great Jack Dyer used to say ... he was a prodigerous kick.

The fighting will be done by the club and its legal advisers and Ray Finkelstein is one of the best. They don't need me but they will have my full support and hopefully that of every MFC supporter who has the club's interests at heart.

They're still fun to watch and I'm grateful that the ABC has seen the light and is screening some of these games (albeit at ridiculous times).

... and was a prodigious kick of the footy!

Waylen Manson disappeared off the face of the earth about a year ago after he failed to gain selection in the AFL National, PSD or Rookie drafts of late 2011. Ironically, he was initially inspired by Liam Jurrah's journey from Yuendumu to the MCG. He was also from a remote desert community who had a http://m.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/10/26/268521_ntsport.html]dream of an AFL career but it didn't work out after the 18 AFL clubs apparently decided it was all too hard to integrate him into city life and AFL football. Well, he's back with NTFL side Waratah and has played two games since returning to Darwin in the new year. He was named in the best players in the first game and kicked four goals last weekend against the Tiwi Bombers in a game that's being replayed on ABC1 at 2.30 tomorrow morning (set your VCRs folks). These games are always good value because they are usually all things that the AFL is not with the constant emphasis on attack making for high scoring results. We know about the issues that saw Matt Rendell forced out of his Adelaide job but, given the far greater emphasis these days on defence and tactical play, I wonder whether this style of play and the difficulties in changing from the more free wheeling style of the NT is also playing a role in the slight statistical decline in numbers of indigenous players being drafted into AFL ranks.

It's actually Ashmore Steak and Seafood but if you're suffering from Bali belly, I'm not sure that Moreton Bay Bugs is necessarily what you need to add to the system. Poor old old dee is already depressed today. Don't add to his woes or anyone else's. I suggest you take my advice and watch that programme I recommended to you on SBS tonight just after 10. It should give most of us a lift. BTW, only four negative posts is light on for depressing news around here, isn't it?

I can think of a number of reasons why you wouldn't want to mount a challenge. You need to be reasonably well heeled, have plenty of time to attend to club business and the inevitable crises that follow AFL clubs around. You need to have no other distractions in life and sometimes no other life at all and then you need to have a thick skin, bullet proof vest and silent telephone number. Nah, forget it.

What makes you think I've changed my feelings about this issue (I haven't)?

Whatever the case, it's my understanding that we're well in front thanks to some great foresight on the part of Joe Gutnick all those years ago. Moreover, I think it's a worthwhile matter to being up at an AGM because there's so much conjecture about the net worth of football clubs these days and the explanations given in accounting reports are often difficult for the layman to decipher. Another thing: I know there are some who regard AGM's with contempt or suspicion but if you have a question that concerns you, I don't see why you can't commit it to writing and present it as a question with notice.

I don't know why people are looking for big conspiracies when all you need is a few mischief makers who hold grudges against certain individuals to spread some malicious gossip or misinformation to the right people or, in the case of media interviews, simply point them in the right direction as far as asking questions to the interviewee is concerned. I don't believe that anyone who supports the club ever intended that it end up in a tanking enquiry of the nature of the one that's evolved to the present day. If there was a motive it was simply to destabilise and embarrass the current board as we saw happen through 2012 and perhaps to prevent the renewal of someone's contract. Who knows with these things?

Did all this happen before or after we offered to on trade the second round pick we would have gotten for Watts to Hawthorn for Buddy and Cyril?

Still in Brisbane trying to work out how to get out of the scrape we're in but I'm hopeful of being able to get out and visit the cheap rent hotel that CS, DM et al stayed at when they snared Mitch Clark. I hear its a bit of a tourist attraction in Brizvegas.

Thanks again for reminding me about that thread. You might also recall that the part about closing the thread arose because a number of posters requested its closure because it was being hijacked by an obnoxious poster who selectively responded to people's posts and did so in an abusive manner. I decided to disqualify myself from the decision to close the thread because I felt it was unfair given we had engaged in the discussion and the other mods decided to keep it going. It's still open and there are a number of posts still waiting your response ... so you're welcome to go ahead.

I know this is being said in hindsight but I was always concerned when he made the decision to go to Adelaide. I understand that it was his call and that he has a large family there who would be well nigh impossible to relocate to Melbourne and that there is a large part of the Yuendumu community living in exile there but I can't help but think he might have been better off being looked after by his mentor Rude Boy whilst remaining in training under an AFL regimen. I hope he gets through this safely and can return to his original task when he first came here four years ago. It ain't going to be easy.

I think you left out this symbol () after your first sentence. I can edit it in if you like. I'm glad you're looking forward to strong leadership because we are going to need it in the aftermath of the rubbish that's been going on for the last 6 months.