Dr. Gonzo

Who cares about the other clubs. This "pat on the back" mentality is what leads to decades of mediocrity.

We didn't finish top 4. The season doesn't end after round 22. It's been a successful few years relative to the 57 that came before but when you're talking highly successful you're talking Geelong 2007-2011, Hawks 2012-2015, Richmond 2017-2020. Those are highly successful periods.

Cliff notes for those of us who can't access?

I seriously can't believe we are back here again. It feels like the Schwab days all over again.

I replied via email to say I supported an independent review but did not want to click a link in an unsolicited email. I got a response back saying they completely understood and would add my name to the "yes" vote.

"Highly successful"? You're having a laugh. We were successful in 2021, since then it's been underachievement before finishing 5th last this year.

Depends on what it finds and who may be held accountable.

Did we? 1- play finals each year 2020-23 and win a flag. We didn't play finals in 2020, we did win a flag. I'd give it a pass but technically a fail. 2- $4m profit over 4 years - did we achieve this? Eliminate debt. $30m+ of income producing assets. I'm not sure about any of this so not sure if it's a pass or fail. 3- have a culture that inspires excellence and attracts new talent. Pretty wishy washy though you can argue our culture has gone backwards and have struggled to attract new talent since the flag. I give this a fail though it is subjective. 4- 75k+ members, 50k+ average home crowds. Fail. 5- home base. Fail. That's at least 3 fails out of 5 for me and possibly fails on all 5 (again not sure on point 2).

What would ANB have done if the Crows weren't interested either?

Combine this with the Collingwood players concerned about him when he came back onto the field while allegedly our skipper was having a crack at him (not sure what for, making an error, not going hard enough?) you can start to see why he'd be thinking my own teammates care more about the game than my wellbeing while the Collingwood players seem genuinely concerned. Being isolated from the club while processing the trauma wouldn't help with those thoughts either.

As big a work as the Montreal Screwjob? Hopefully they don't work themselves into a shoot.

Petracca has said it was his decision to return to the field after he was hurt, and backed his care from the Melbourne doctors. However, according to several teammates, he believes he was not contacted enough in the fortnight following the collision. Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, who suffered a similar – albeit nowhere near as serious – spleen injury in the previous season, reached out to offer the name of the specialist he saw during his rehabilitation. Moore, who is a friend of Petracca’s, also checked in on him. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

I am a Jets fan, at least Cowboys make playoffs!!

One of the first things Peter Jackson did when he came to Melbourne was to put an end to the leaks. Seems we're just reverting to type now but who the hell is doing it? I can't imagine it being anyone in the FD and I would've thought the board are all united behind Roffey but perhaps not. It's disgraceful that after less than a decade of behaving like a proper footy club and achieving some success the facade has worn off and we have reverted back to the rabble we were before PJ and Roos saved us.

If this was raised in the exit meeting, it stands to reason someone in that meeting has let it be known to the media. Either we have the dumbest club officials going around or it came from Kozzie. Hmm on second thoughts maybe we have media embedded in our exit meetings, would explain a hell of a lot.

Yeah, what's happened in the last week to change that I wonder? 🤔

My issue is the things that were left to fester for years which allowed it to get to that stage. Not the way they reacted to it once it blew up.

Sorry when I said "the way we've managed this" I was talking about the environment that's been created at the club and the issues which have been left to fester (particularly those which came to a head last off season) for a number of years. I wasn't talking about the current Petracca situation specifically. I agree that the club has done OK with how they're managing this extremely difficult falling out with their star player, I don't think it's been perfect but it hasn't been terrible either. My bad for not being clear on what I was talking about.

More likely he would have to re-negotiate a new contract on less dollars of he is adamant he wants to leave.

In 12 months time though?

Indirectly, supporters refusing to hold the club accountable let's it get to that stage. I've been guilty of this so I'm not saying I'm exempt. I'm not saying we are solely or even largely to blame, of course the clubs leaders are those who are most accountable but if the supporters let the behaviour slide and have a "my club, right or wrong" view then the environment can become toxic because there is no accountability. Either we want a member run club or we want a franchise operated by the AFL. Which is it?

Of course not, but if you think the way we've managed this has been acceptable then you've got rocks in your head. Also mental health issues wasn't what I was referring to.

By ceating the environment where that sort of behaviour was tolerated in the first place.

Issues have been swept u der the carpet for a long time but the situation has become untenable with the tumble down the ladder and the Petracca situation. Heads must roll. Pert must go. I am more ambivalent on Roffey, the main reason being I don't really know what she does so difficult to say whether it's good or not. She must live or die by the home base issue, members are owed an update on this if we get nothing tangible in the next few months she should go. I have been a supporter but I think Goodwin needs to share a big part of the blame too. We may need a wholesale cleanout, the place is collapsing in on itself.