monoccular

Because the AFL continue to bend over backwards to gloss over this sordid episode, and to reward to cheating administration and staff at EssUndone. ANZAC Day continues, as do their pre time fixed-tures. I even heard today somewhere that they were talking of "compensating" the banned players! FCS talk about mixed messages.

stuie. Well said. A watershed moment. I doubt that players will blindly follow ever again what even blind Freddie would have seen as something questionable at the very least. ASADA and WADA have resources available for all (professional at least) sportsmen should they have any concerns. They chose, albeit under peer and staff pressure, to take the risk and were caught out.

Until I read the bit about answering "no" to specific questions regarding the use of supplements from ASADA at routine testing, I did have some small amount of sympathy for the players concerned, but not now. Sure they were lied to by their club about what they were given and re the legality of that, but they are drilled regularly on the use of any substances and know they will be asked questions by ASADA - I am just disappointed that the top echelons at the club seem to have escaped any WADA / CAS sanction. Maybe it wasn't in their remit.

One could wonder though just how much mental scarring there will / could be. Certainly returning to play with full commitment at the club that "did this to you" (though not lessening their own responsibility as they were complicit themselves) would be extremely difficult. Hopefully the change of scenery will help him through. He could well use the year out for some psychological training to help him with the burden of being widely sledged as a drug cheat as well of course as getting himself superfit for day 1 of the next preseason, and avoiding back yard basketball. I hope his new club offers him this support although I guess it can't do so officially.

Show some optimism and think 2016 finals :-))

Looking at the video again (and again and again.....) I can't help thinking that the nanny state MRP may in future deem that as a sling tackle, It would be a very sad day for the game were that to happen though. ^^ and Robbo - he was caught red handed, with plenty of prior opportunity, and went around before he (may have) handball it.

I agree, it would be incredibly unlikely: however it would be a delicious irony were he to do so and kick a bag in a match winning performance. He and JW are very different players.

Song.....what a fantastic analogy. Looks like a sequence from David Attenborough.

Speaking of gravity, perhaps the true gravity of the situation regarding #6 playing future will become apparent if Sam W makes any decent progress in 2016.

Looking forward to seeing him out there in the R&B sometime maybe mid to late 2016, if he has done enough at Casey and if the coaching panel / match committee feel he is good and ready (and I can't see why he might not be). Looks a tough bugger. It may be hard for the team to adapt though to a second tall forward whose remit is not to "bring the ball to ground" :-(

I am not expecting Clayton or Sam to drag us out of the mire, but I would've hoping that they would be putting themselves forward for at least a few games as the 2016 season progresses, especially Oliver No That would be unfair pressure on him (along the lines of JW QB debut) and would also mean that some who got us there missed out Smith and Cardwell reincarnate???

I guess in a Sam Weideman thread, it is about Sam.

LIKE.. Unlike many posters here who are convinced that they know more.

Must have been in another thread where there was discussion re leg speed vs thought and execution speed. I would far prefer a quick thinking quick executing player than one with leg speed who can't deliver or panics. Diesel Williams or Sam Blease anyone?

Dedication, hard work, country boy - Tom McDonald-like focus?

Look forward and enjoy - we are essentially a new club now. And who knows how Matty Bate would have gone with decent coaching and development. (Nobody will ever know of course.)

He should and will play when he is ready. It is strange to say he shouldn't play next season - he could be burning it up at Casey, and looks to be a decent build already. I trust our management, now.

Couldn't agree more but I am sure, depending on how things pan out, there will be quite a few here just waiting for an opportunity to say "told you so".

Highlight packages generally promote the attacking attributes.

Agree

That is just amazing. Was it a one sided game? Was his opponent a weed?

Would be even better if he was part of our quadruple flag team preferably with the fourth being over Collingwood. It could be an interesting turn of the wheel were the great RDB to present him with his jumper!!

This was I think a snide reference to Jordie McK - the dedication, work ethic, ability to get every ounce from himself, and courage would also be well worthwhile transferring to any player.

So, ollsik, is this your final bid?

Maybe rephrasing an earlier question, but - what and when was Weiideman's operation? - was the recent "testing" an assessment undertaken by an independent specialist arranged by MFC? If, as I understand the answer to the second question is 'yes' then no surprises that out new club has not leaked. We will know on draft day - if the assessment is one with a good prognosis I suspect that he will be selected with our second pick; if not so good then he won't, and I suspect that he could slip a long way.