pitmaster

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.

Brutal exit for Kate?? Voluntary and clean. Kate had met Smith the week prior to her interview with Whateley. Caro just flies by the seat of her pants. So many terrible stories still to come out? I'm calling it...[censored] and BS artist.

Did not age well... Aged very well. The umps certainly got to work.

Hogan terrific. Buckley impressive for Giants. Tobes having a shocker. Papley starring...sadly. Anyone's game with two quarters to go.

Sadly, no. The demand's on the surface were too great 30+ years ago for us to be allowed to train on it. However, since the current MCC president Fred Oldfield is a keen Demon fan, with Smith at the MFC we would not be disadvantaged at all.

Nooooooo...he strongly endorsed Neeld for our gig. Make what you like of that.

Mark Neeld was highly rated by Mick Malthouse.

It may be nothing more than Trac said something to the effect of "if this club doesn't get its act together soon I'll be out of here". In other words an ultimatum and a declaration of future intent.

After about 10 years as MCC president Steve Smith is more than an ex-player. Eminently qualified if he could be persuaded. Andrew Leoncelli would be another I'd back but Brad Green's place on the board is all about player input and relations. He doesn't have the right stuff for president, and nor does G Lyon. But Smith would be great in maintaining good ties with the MCC as well as bringing playing and administrative experience. He would get instant respect from the media as well, something we lack.

The Bentleigh Club was certainly Joe's doing but Leighoak I think was from the Ridley-Mann administration. I remember it was sort of a consolation prize after we tried to open a club in Fawkner but were refused permission by the gaming authority. Part of the problem was that we could not demonstrate how we would use the Fawkner site for club functions. It was a big setback at the time. But Bentleigh, that's down to Joe and that's proved our big asset base.

I say this meaning no disrespect, you have no clue.

Roffey was ill-advised to do this interview if she had nothing to offer. At a minimum I would have thought she could have asked the footy department if it was appropriate for her to approach Trac directly. Personally, I don't see how it could have hurt. It's remiss of her not to have engaged in the situation. It sounds like the club president is as much an observer as the population of this website. I for one am not impressed.

Really? Please explain because Pies, Blues are non starters and nothing less than Davies-Uniacke and a top five draft pick will do...

I heard it at the time of his appointment to Melbourne from a Collingwood supporting mate (I know, I know) who was very well placed to know that he was jettisoned. Also had it confirmed from friends in the media that the Pies were done with him and that there was a major falling out. So no, not revisionism at all.

Thanks to those who alerted me to the possibility it was in my spam folder. Moved it. I, like a few others here, have met Peter and I can vouch for his passion for the club and his willingness to put his own resources into the place. He is a genuine Demon fan and I cannot understood why the club - the board actually - adopted such a blocking strategy with him. That does not mean I necessarily endorse everything he says, but he is fair dinkum about wanting the best for the club.

Yet the Bulldogs are looked after and LiamJones is available for a final a week after another player was rubbed out for the exact same action.