monoccular

Is your glass half empty, RS? Can be a lot more than half full this time I reckon - unless of course we keep draining it in celebration, not sorrow.

Have ASADA / WADA definitely signed off on this? It is worth remembering that these bodies have a ?2Y ban for avoiding / hiding from tests.

Does this mean, when I was at school, though I worshiped The Norm, and watched him every Saturday afternoon in his gabardine raincoat on the bench coaching the most successful team over any decade in VFL/AFL history, but never met him, I made good despite this failing?

Smith, at this stage, is a totally unproven even if wishful, entity. Hogan, VDB and CP5, sure, but hows about giving the Smiths a chance to show something before putting too high expectations upon them

Of course unless it is clearly stated as illegal by the AFL then it must be OK. They would never leave anything unclear: hell, how could one justify Gil's salary if one left any stone unturned? He is paid handsomely to run an honest, clearly and cleanly run ship.

Sounds like having Kevin Rudd starring in a documentary about himself. A pair of useless narcissists if there ever was one. No insight in either case.

No way. Tried at the local butcher who said that all available supplies had been ordered by a G McLachlan, AFL House. PS That also included futures, and also frozen packs just in case.

I would certainly be hugely in favor of penalizing any player who deliberately drives himself head down into a pack or an opponent. Sometime tragedy will strike and there will be another Neil Sachke (?sp) case of quadriplegia if this is encouraged by rewarding with a free kick. More than just "play on" it should be a free. Against. I still await a definition of "third man up" in the context of an errant bounce or throw in. No doubt something will be made up on the run.

You miss the point. WADAS ASADA and thereby as signatories AFL rules make hiding from a drug test as serious an offence as failing one. AFL have chosen to ignore this.

I did not think that you were new to AFL, but maybe you have had concussions yourself and have lost short and long term memory. Anyone with normal memory would not be surprised in any way that the AFL are making up rules and variations thereof on the run: it is their modus operandi But this below sums up everything that to me is wrong about H being involved in a team sport, or any team activity for that matter - he seems nearly as self focused, self centered and narcissistic as Kevin Rudd. A DOCUMENTARY about Heritier Lumumba will detail his struggle for identity and controversial football career. The Herald Sun can reveal the former Melbourne and Collingwood premiership defender has been the subject of a 52-minute documentary called Becoming Lumumba. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/retired-afl-premiership-player-heritier-lumumba-is-the-subject-of-a-new-documentary/news-story/58ea9e4a9ef6c9cd0db19d55ba1d827e

Great idea - discourages cheating and may actually also reduce the risk of neck injury by the player going head down into a pack or into an opponent's midriff. Wont hold my breath however waiting to see how the umpires (and MRP for that matter) "interpret" it.

Brings new meaning to the expression "he has grown in stature". But back to topic, do we necessarily always need a "third tall forward"? And indeed, what is a third tall forward? Someone who can run and grab a decent mark, even if not a pack mark? Vanders, Petracca could certainly fill the latter definition.

I think many of us were not exactly well disposed towards H well before he actually confirmed he was leaving - leaving his club in the lurch is hardly designed to endear one to those whose club's fortunes are dependent on list critical management decisions, and further whose hard earned goes in any way towards funding an egotistical show pony's retirement plans.

Whilst I agree with the general concept, and it will certainly advantage Gawnius Maximus and therefore us, have they actually defined "third man up"? What is supposed to happen with a misdirected / short boundary throw in, or an errant bounce that doesn't go anywhere near either of the designated ruck men? Are the rest of the players supposed to just stand and wait for it to hit the deck? Can they go for it then? Do they have to await the umpire's call? Presumably they will make another rule change on the run to (attempt to) address this. Typical AFL reactionary rules on the run stuff.

What a disgrace, on his narcissistic part, that he was too selfish and thoughtless to sort this out before list lodgement. Had he done so in a timely manner, and not lead us all on, he may have left with at least a modicum of a respectable legacy: now all that will be remembered will be his screwing over the club.

Yes. Probably.

One would hope so but doesn't look likely Dawes never stopped trying. Big difference.

Many thanks for your reports one and all Maybe I have missed, but has Jesse's set shot routine and execution improved? Has he got rid of the stutter? How about his distance?

Just a simple question, WJ Why not?

Or at his solicitor, or looking for a new one.

The thread title needs to be rephrased Lachie Whitfield: under-investigation The AFL have totally missed any opportunity to even pretend that they are even-handed and committed to WADA and ASADA, and penalizing breaches of their agreed rules Obfscation, lies, back room deals, cover ups....... So typical of AFL standards.

Interesting some of the names there. Andrew Dimitriou, Shaun Smith, North Melbourne. Young Viney for the Dees. Memories. I must say my favorite win over them was the PF in 87. Massive win, very wet, first finals win (first game even) in an eternity.

Has there been a crossed thread here? This is a Chris Dawes thread, a boy from Brighton, Vic. Nothing to do with Downer, Payne, Helpman.

I think it puts a new perspective for those who were portraying him as some sort of parasite or selfish "list clogger". HE was far from satisfied with what he was able to give. Pity because at his best and fittest he could have been quite valuable going forward at this time in our list / team development.

It won't be until well after 18 - GW$ will obviously be in great need of several priority picks if they don't win the GF, but only one or two if they do. And of course poor old hard done by EssUndone will deserve some too.