John Crow Batty

Though the AFL must share some of the blame for their policing of the drug culture they are no different to every other sporting organisation. Money talks and conflict of interest is everywhere aside from the difficult practical task of effective policing of drugs in sport. Sporting bodies can never be trusted to do the right thing and the AFL is no different. It is a difficult almost insurmountable problem with the cheats having the tactical advantage and always one jump ahead of the authorities who may be complicit or not. I am quite confident similar undetected outrages have occured at other clubs but at least now a reluctant line in the sand has been drawn thanks to the dogged work of ASADA. But calling Hird a scapegoat is like calling Hitler a scapegoat for the excesses of the Third Reich.

I don't think injecting players with saline or vitamins makes them overnight muscle bound running robots nor causes the plague of soft tissue injuries many later suffered.

Worth revisiting this video too.

How about Bomber? The three of them were also together at Geelong where witchcraft may have happened.

By all the reports it appears the AFL warned Hird personally and not the club itself. They knew who was calling the shots out at Windy Hill.

How can you believe he is the scapegoat when just about everyone else in positions of responsibility at Essendon were sacked or resigned swiftly? It took untill the bitter end and millions of dollars in his pocket to get Hird out of the club. It was he who was in communications the most with Dank. He was the chief architect of the whole project. The perception that some hold that he is a scapegoat is a sign that the Team Hird propaganda narrative has worked to some extent. He may be unlucky in that he got caught out while others at recently successful clubs may have got away scott free with their own programs.

Well the Herald Sun was Hird's biggest media supporter along with Fox throughout the saga and still are. Make of that what you will. I got the impression the request for privacy had more to do with the media horde camped outside the Hird home.

After Tania's request for family privacy most people and including the media were ready to respect the family wishes but it appears Hird apologists have taken the opportunity to retake the high moral ground. Tania who was once head cheerleader has been quiet for over a year. It appears she wants nothing more of the media circus. HIrd's lawyer and Nathan Buckley's comments were not necessary and inflamitory and according to 3AW it was Hird senior who called them to vent.

Despite the call for privacy Mr Hird senior could not resist rehashing all the old gripes. Is that helping his son? The media have now joined ASADA and the AFL as bad guys relentlessly pursuing the Hird's. Once upon a time the Hird's always courted publicity when it suited them. The Hird mansion is perhaps the most photographed and filmed footballers house ever even before the doping saga. James Hird was never shy in keeping his wife and kids out of the limelight. The public image of the Hird family was that of perfection. I cannot ever recal seeing any other footballers home in the media and not often do other footballers parade their families in front of the media with such regularity. In the days when it was self serving for him, doorstop interviews happened frequently and the more journalists hanging around the better. During the eye of the storm of the doping saga there were frequent most likely planned door stop interviews by Tania usually when picking up or dropping the kids at school time to give her regular shrill blasts against the AFL and ASADA. Sadly as with all megalomaniacs who think they are perfect and invincible, their strategy when fighting losing battles is to fight harder and keep upping the ante because they believe they can't lose and before they know it they have destroyed themselves and those close to them.

After Grimes hurt his foot and missed most of 2011 he was never the same player. His development was stalled and frustrating to watch afterwards.

Good pick up and great to have another player who can kick the ball.

You are right, forgot about that. I don't think he did much. A symptom of the stagnating Sheedy era.

Essendon offloaded him to us so that we could pay his super payment. Did nothing whilst here, only fit for retirement.

Apparently there may be a rift between Fyfe and Ballantyne. Given the other rumours it may be best for all if Fyfe moves on. Hayden Ballantyne fuels "fresh start" rumours, denies rift with Nathan Fyfe

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks for their orders. The man says, "A hamburger, fries, and a coke," and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?" "I'll have the same," says the ostrich. A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $9.40 please," and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment. The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "A hamburger, fries, and a coke." The ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change. This becomes routine until, the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress. "No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato, and salad, says he man "Same," says the ostrich. Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, "That will be $32.62." Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table. The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?" "Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there." "That's brilliant!" says the waitress... "Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!" "That's right. Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," says the man. The waitress asks, "But, sir, what's with the ostrich?" The man sighs, pauses, and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say."

Perhaps the response was something like "don't call us, we'll call you"

Put those four back in may not make any difference other than raises the average age.

Given that it would take a kings ransom and more to get him, Fyfe better be a 100% if he were on the market and we were interested. Been there before with Kelvin Templeton. A champion dudded by injury and we got lumped with him at great cost.

I would stay away looking at Fyfe until he demonstrates he is a 100% fit. Odd comment from Lyon and frankly dodgy. Long term injured stars are in no position to cherry pick for success.

Nasher gets to watch a Melbourne win live.

Check Eberts bowel motions.

That is just WOW!

And the tacklers arm slipping up over the shoulder/neck should be deemed as incidental and insignificant contact as happens like over 100 times in every game usually in packs.

The most complete game I have seen him play. Played well to his opponents weaknesses.

Looks like someone stuck a red hot poker up his arse.