pitmaster

OK I want to withdraw this earlier post of mine, but only in the sense that I am accusing the club of weasel words and taking lessons from John Howard. It may well have been an honest statement given the Friday April 19 revelation about Bates. John Howard remains the master of weasel words and I should not have doubted the old fella for a minute. Dank is clearly the leaker because ONLY HE would have access to all his texts: the ones that implicate Essendon and the ones that implicated Melbourne/Bates, and secondly because ONLY HE stands to gain from the content of the Melbourne messages all of which point to a legal supplements program. ergo, ipso facto and all the rest.

This thread has been derailed by the usual rants about what's happened over the last 50 years - as though the failure of Dennis Jones' coaching has anything to do with now FGS - and personal abuse. Such a shame because the real significance of yesterday's statement is that the club evidently did not know that Bates was conducting a relationship with Dank. For me, the key factoid in the statement is that the club says Bates was interviewed three times. That is code for persistent false denials. The club is saying he had ample opportunity to reveal the extent of the relationship and chose to hide it. Yesterday I heard Essendon supporters gleefully saying we'd taken the heat off them. I DON'T THINK SO. They are in the frame for banned substances and a club wide program. We are in the frame for misleading the AFL, but on the face of it even that does not stand up since the club has been misled by one individual. Our previous club doctor is working match days at Richmond after 20+ years with us and being made a life member. I wonder if he'll return. In the meantime, how about less histrionics about how Tiger Ridley's coaching continues to drag down the club old dee, and focus on the issue here which might well work out ok for us.

That Dank is the leaker is beyond dispute, but not the point. The point is the club's first statement was nothing more or less than weasel words designed to wriggle around the truth. John Howard could not have drafted anything better. It is a classic case of a partial truth designed to create an entirely false impression.

Agree with most of this but how about I nominate Nicholson, who does not use it well enough. Evans has dash and looks promising, Nicho has had more chances but shown less. Magner gives genuine grunt which our centre clearances show we lack. We're just not getting enough of the ball at the centre contests and Magner for one gives 100 per cent in there.

Well it must be true then

I've said elsewhere it was telling on Saturday that while leading late in the first and second quarters we went in a goal and a half behind at 1/4 time and 1/2 time. In other words we cannot run out entire quarters against mature sides like West Coast. We looked good, played some intense footy, crafted some positive forward moves but we appear to lack the fitness to run out entire quarters. I'll put my faith in Neeld for a while longer. I was flattened in the pre season when he said we were still 12 months away from decent fitness and strength levels but I am prepared to see him through. I just want evident improvement this year and serious gains next year.

Nothing wrong with breaking out with 8 days between games. Let em go for it. God people here are so precious "as a paid up member..." you have a right to go to the games. You don't get to dictate behaviour

Daniher's side had been under performing under a lazy bum whom some on this site want to bring back to the club FCS.

This is nonsense talk about changing coaches. Also stupid is all the ranting about Neeld's rat(censored) recruiting. He was quite clear that Rodan and Byrnes were brought in for the professionalism they could bring to training. That's right, training. They could show the kids the standards you need to achieve to be competitive. And they'll play a few games into the bargain. That's it. They aren't supposed to be match winners. We'll have a better idea of Neeld's thinking when Dawes is out there, Dunny is back and the ruck situation is sorted - probably means when Spencer or Gawn is promoted. Right now we have to stay staunch.

Combined.

At least there is stuff to discuss this week that is not entirely doom and gloom. Evans showed us some dash. M Jones and Terlich add something (and don't go bagging Terlich's decision making just yet since his work is mostly under pressure). Sylvia was good, Tapscott better, N Jones admirable as always, Clark effective although cheated by lousy umpiring, Viney not only strong but willing to hit blokes for the sake of it - just wish he upended the little cheat Hams - and the entire group had a crack for more than a half of football (I'm counting the final quarter here). Our pressure in the first term and willingness to hunt in numbers was a vast improvement. While plenty went wrong in the third, including some appalling umpiring, the key for me was the way in both the first and second quarters we lead by more than a goal with five minutes to go only for WC to score twice before the quarter ended. It seems fitness is coming in to play and while we have heard plenty of talk about this from Misson and Neeld, those two fadeouts yesterday said it more clearly than ever. This is something we can fix in time. I now have some hope of a win next week but our mental fragility - lack of real confidence or whatever you call it - could be our biggest hurdle.

Absolutely the umpiring was crook in that quarter. What was most worrying was that it helped WC get off to a flying start in the second half and our blokes quickly dropped their heads. Annoyingly, the incompetent who paid that free to Kennedy after he threw Garland aside, was the same drongo who refused to reward Clark when he was mauled. I know it did not change the four points, but it changed the extent of the loss for us, and hurt us when confidence was being built.

No thanks to her. It's the investigative team that put this out. Caro's just done her usual and called on someone to be sacked. Who said schadenfreud is bad?

Eugene Arocca is absolutely worth a look and left message to that effect with the club today. He was overlooked for Gary Pert at Collingwood, but North Melbourne people speak very highly of him. Very capable, all that. Fell out with Brayshaw apparently, which I regard as another example of his suitability.

Rubbish examples. Pike was dismissed for very good reasons that are probably defamatory should I explain here.

That was his brief, to change the culture. I suspect he came on a bit strong but I would rather that than molly coddling fragile egos.

While it goes unrecognised on this site, you are a true Melbourne person with an enduring emotional tie to the club that gave you your start in football. Better than most, you understand what makes this club distinctive. All football clubs are alike, but some have elements that set them apart, and you have grasped and articulated this where others could not. Some years ago the AFL ceo said Melbourne stood for nothing, but on Sunday when asked if the club needed help that same ceo pointed out the club's status as the oldest and the founding club of the game. That is the result of your work, Cameron. Sure, the blazers might look somewhat twee but the Harold Ball story that lies behind them and that inspired their reintroduction is a uniquely Australian one, and rich in meaning. Ditto the crest. That is part of your work and flawed though you might be - unlike your critics who, of course are paragons of virtue - you did much to right this club. Goodbye and good luck.

CW's attacks on Schwab was as dependable as sunrise. Anything she says about the playing list is worthless, however, her comments about the AFL gunning for him may well be accurate.

Horse [censored]. Twelve months ago decisions were made to create a new football department. Six months ago another round of moves were made. They need to be given time. Hawthorn stank but stayed staunch. Geelong wavered but opted not to panic. Richmond plugged away and are making progress. Saturday showed our midfield is cruelling us. That won't be rebuilt by throwing out an administration. People will not come to an organisation that does not offer trust. You're not listening RR but I sense that you're a blockhead with an agenda.

Just another way of beating us up with no answers offered. RR you are the personification of wilful negativity.

Get real. He is a bloke who sees his career in this sport. Take a breath. There. Now take another one.

One. You like quoting numbers. One final series, on the back of Northey's work...and then he ran down the club. Lazy. Self satisfied AND NEVER COACHED AGAIN.

I reckon you're behind the times. Compensation is set to be scrapped for free agent moves.

That's OK. You're allowed to be wrong about me. What you think, if that's the right word, about me is not really important.

You really are a self important one, aren,t you? You don't even know what a personal attack is. Reread my message to you without prejudice and you, even you, will see there is nothing of a PERSONAL nature there. It is a statement of principle. And yes, I have done my pro bono work for the club, for years. And what is your response? You call me a simpleton and then complain about a personal attack. Tell ya what: tell your story. I reckon we know what it's worth already.