pitmaster

1. But it weakens Melbourne's position. 2: Oliver does not need to know. 3: True, but that the meeting was on was known well before it took place. It was actually announced in the morning prior. I can't say for sure it was Geelong's doing, but it is entirely plausible because they stood to benefit.

Age 29 and with 53 games to his name. Bloody hell. We really must have thought we could reform this character. Now he is effectively a swap with ANB so it looks even worse.

If there was a hammer emoji I'd have used it because this comment totally nails it. Well said. Oh, look what I found: 🔨

Leaking does not always happen as a matter of dysfunction. It is also done strategically. For a clue, always ask who stands to gain from this? Further, who knows the details, in this case the meeting place? Answers below: Geelong FC and Geelong FC

And to repeat my take on it fwiw, I reckon Geelong let Oliver's visit become public knowledge in order to embarrass Melbourne. Consequently MFC could have been seen as having to rid itself of a "cultural issue" whatever the price, the emphasis being "whatever the price" because they knew they had nothing to match his true value. Sneaky as, and all the heat comes back on Melbourne as a basket case while Geelong are seen as squeaky clean. I think I might just go watch the 2021 prelim now as my compensation.

No it wasn't directly connected although considering Japan's run through south-east Asia you could say it's all connected. Harold Ball was murdered along with three other medics who were trying to reach a battle group before the fall of Singapore, but were intercepted by some Japanese. I believe he was decapitated. All MFC major trophies including also Sid Anderson, Bluey Truscott, Ron Barassi Snr are tributes to players who lost their lives as servicemen during WW2.

Are you guys for real? Harold Ball was an Australian Army medic, 33-game premiership ruckman, executed on a beach in the Pacific by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Morris says Melbourne are saying one thing publicly (he's ours) and something else privately. Gleeson is essentially saying the same thing when he reports sources saying Pert has been asking about for takers. There is a uniformity about these reports that I think is disturbing and if it is Pert at the root of it then he can buzz off. Footy Department is not his territory. Those criticisms of Pert from Collingwood are starting to resonate. Happy for him to go now and bring back Josh Mahoney from the Bombers to be the CEO footy people wanted originally.

I wish someone had a record of his predictions' success rate. That might wipe that smirk of his face. The smirk I think, reflects his awareness that he gets away with a lot of rubbish in his job.

Much as I hate to cite him, M Lloyd pegged Grundy very nicely on the Nine Footy Show for being shoved aside by Fort who then set up a goal. In fact, Lloyd was kind because it happened more than once. If he was the Swans' best it is an indictment on the rest of them.

Must disagree. In the second term, when the contest was decided, he allowed repeated Lions walk away wins at centre bounces. His grappling tactics failed when it counted.

Of all Chris Scott's teams I think the one I liked the best was the 2021 model. Ha ha! Ho ho! Hee hee!.

It does not help that the site is in the electorate of Caulfield, consistently Liberal and currently held by David Southwick. Although his margin is just a tad over 2%, after four terms of Labor there is no way he is losing it, or the Allen Government thinks it can snatch it. Amazing though, when Labor has thrown money at other clubs it would baulk at ours. Might need to take up Caro Wilson's suggestion and install Terri Bracks on the board!

I hope Skuit didn't wait up for this. Really just more of the same. It's "build time" I want to hear about: ie how long will it take once the project starts turning over dirt.

Smart girl.

Good. They are welcome to bugger off and to stop diluting the Melbourne factor. Ring-ins and JC Latelys should be subordinate to Dees fans.

and lawn bowls, shooting, tennis...

That is simply not plausible. It makes sense that she would not attend the announcement now that she is no longer on the Board, although given how recent her departure was it is equally possible that she would be welcome for appearances' sake. But to suggest she was told not to attend while she remained president of the club, and was seemingly to remain so for the indefinite future defies logic. The Whateley interview brought her undone, but prior to that she was evidently manoeuvring to add Steve Smith to the board with a view to him succeeding her as president. Had the interview not taken place she would still be president. To announce a major club initiative with the president absent is crazy and as I said above, your post beggars belief.

As the Hawks fan who writes themongrelpunt website pointed out, Mitchell is hardly one to complain since he was the one who made an injecting gesture to Essendon players post match during their drugs inquiry.

BS. It could happen to Collingwood.

Spot on. Umpires 8 and 11 rubbish.

And Speed's remarks amounted to, as I said, a slap on the wrist. No biggie in the scheme of things. Indeed, all the to-ing and fro-ing could have been settled much earlier had the club moved its concessions months before they did.

Did not hear this as a takeaway at all. I heard a disinterested and accurate account of the background, including a clear report of the board's concession that on many points it was in the wrong, as claimed by Lawrence. There was a slight wrist slap when Speed indicated Lawrence should have quit when he was ahead, but not anything like what you suggest.

Very good interview. He is clearly well versed in the situation and hopefully Whateley actually listened to his guest because it would sure change his coverage of our club. Most importantly Speed stresses that the reviews are not public material. They are meant to be confidential and not a media picnic.

Further to my earlier comments about Caro's ill-informed rant, she is either irresponsibly or deliberately ignorant of the facts. It really is quite poor the way the rest of the panel sit there wide-eyed and slack jawed as though she is saying anything revelatory and informative. For one thing, Caro tries to make it sinister that CP was first taken to the Epworth (the closest hospital to the G). And it is certainly not the fault of the MFC or the hospital that the initial scan did not reveal the extent of CP's injuries. We all know, because we have been paying attention, that it took two scans and then and only then a dash to the trauma unit at the Alfred. Now Michael Warner is having a go today, and describing MFC as a, and I quote, "****show". He is such a wordsmith isn't he, this trained journalist, such a wordsmith...Clive James must be spinning in his grave with envy. And on the SAME PAGE as Warner, Jon Ralph reports this: "Melbourne's treatment of CP's injury...was given a tick of approval by multiple reviews conducted by the AFL and the AFL Doctors' Association, despite his anger at the club's treatment of his incident. "The reviews found that while it was regrettable Petracca had been put back on the ground, the actual processes put in place by Melbourne's doctors had not been flawed. (my emphasis) "The Demons used the AFL's emergency physician at the MCG for a second opinion with the review finding initial consultation in hospital was unable to diagnose his spleen concern. "AFL Doctors' Association boss, and Gold Coast club doctor Barry Rigby is also an intensive care doctor. "We have looked at Christian's circumstances closely and done a constructive critique on what did nor did not happen. Hindsight is a wonderful gift...but there was an adequate assessment done. The decision in retrospect (to return him to the ground) was the wrong one, but we don't want to criticise the process." Now that is dealing with facts and findings in contrast to Caro who is all shadow and innuendo. And as for those gormless co panellists, they have no idea.