Slartibartfast

1. Dunn 2. N Jones 3. Grimes 4. Jetta 5. McKenzie 6. McDonald Not an easy task.

Jack you and I differ one whether we tanked, that is well known and not at issue. I was commenting on the way supporters generally will respond to things. Melbourne supporters are much more likely to believe we didn't tank, Essendon supporters are much more likely to think Essendon players didn't take banned drugs. Like you with me, I agree with much of the rest of your post. As for the strength of the penalty I've commented on that at length earlier and my view differs from yours.

Don't be surprised at their attitude, most here still think CC was joking and we didn't tank. It's the same thinking that says Caro is a terrible journo when she comments on MFC (remember we hated her when she was anti Schwab well before the tanking fiasco) but terrific when she comments on EFC. Tribal culture and support is a very strong instinct. I totally agree with Redleg, if I was a player manager, player legal adviser, mentor, trusted friend or parent I'd be telling the player to take the offer and move on. But interestingly the same ethos that got them into this trouble is probably stopping them doing it. I also agree with the penalty. 6 months is a good compromise taking into account the fact the players were duped and also the need to enforce some sort of punishment. My view is that if they don't take the offer they get 2 years and that would be terrible for footy. Little and Hird are two of the most dislikeable humans I know. Finally it's important that Little, Hird, Reid, Little and his Board and Corcoran don't see the inside of a footy club again.

We should have our Own team playing from Punt Road.

No probs. I've been a fan for a while and thought you might have missed some of the articles. Glad to be of assistance.

So many good articles. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/time-to-put-players-club-and-the-game-ahead-of-lengthy-legal-stoush-20140613-zs6zp.html http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/failed-afl-report-says-of-hawthorns-tasmanian-push-20140606-zs08k.html http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/midlevel-afl-clubs-unhappy-with-equalisation-plans-20140603-zrwpt.html http://www.theage.com.au/afl/by/Caroline-Wilson Enjoy.

I can understand why that is done, making the athlete ultimately responsible. But the EFC situation demonstrates to me why the player is not the one in the best position to make the decision. Jackson Merrett and Elliott Kavanagh were Essendon's first two picks in the 2011 ND. They were 18. They walk into a club with Hird as coach, Bomber as assistant and Bruce Reid as a 40 year sports medical practitioner. During the PS they are asked to sign a document and undergo a "supplements" program. Watson's doing it, Fletcher's doing it, Hirdy and the Doc say it's fine and Corcoran, who ran Athletic's Australia and as such was very aware and involved in the drug situation give it the big tick. So they do it. If people can't see they've been duped then I feel for them. Caro's article is spot on. Guilty people are escaping and the players are taking the fall. They should take their 6 months, sue the club and fight to have the instigators of all of this held to account. Very sad for the players.

I agree with your position on this Nutbean. I believe that the players could have reasonably expected to rely on the advice of their doctors and sports scientists. There is no doubt they are guilty under the code M quoted and they will be subject to that code. But is it good code? Did it envisage a situation where in the EFC environment young men were lied to? Like you I don't believe the players knowingly cheated. I strongly suspect they were lied to either directly or indirectly. This process we are now going through is, in chess terms, the opening. When it's done and dusted the players, parents and employees will start looking for remedies against the AFL and the EFC. Those basking in Essendon's situation have no idea. This is bad for football and as such it is bad for us. To think there is no trickle down effect is naive.

Couldn't agree less. It may have happened for someone like Viney had a deal not been done but it wouldn't happen for someone like Stretch. Why would another team risk taking a player they don't want at that pick just so they might force us to take him with an earlier pick? They wouldn't because there is too much risk for them. I doubt other teams would be worried if we picked up Stretch for a "bargain". As for the pick this year I'd be dead against taking a "running HB" or a flanker type. We fell into that trap with Blease, Strauss and Tapscott. Good flanker types at TAC cup level often seem to struggle at AFL level. I want a genuine midfielder or a genuine KP player with our first pick. Leave the flank positions for later picks. It's a pity we didn't keep Bennell, he seems to be developing nicely at WCE and was always the type of player who would take time.

Alternatively "Demonland fascination with Barrett continues"

Hey Joeboy, we're half way through the season. How about a "year to date" three word analysis?

I agree with all of that. The other thing is I reckon that other teams are not taking us lightly now. Carlton thought they could thrash us and left out Waite and Gartlett. Collingwood took us seriously. We are winning back some respect from where it counts - other teams.

This is where I disagree. McKenzie, Michie and Riley are midfield depth. They are not class. Strauss and Clisby are back 6 depth, they are not class. Toumpas, Kent, Salem and JKH are class, they are not depth, they just haven't developed. Undeveloped class like these guys are not depth players. We will not draft players who don't have the potential not to be class and we may look to trade out some lower end depth to speculate on class in the draft.

We won't look for depth, we already have that. We will look for class.

I don't agree. I think the game plan will stay exactly the same but the difference will be that different oppositions will manage it differently. Collingwood are a very good defensive side. We will do better against Essendon because they play a different more free flowing game more in the PA mould. It will be higher scoring all round.

6. N jones 5. L Dunn 4. B Vince 3. J Grimes 2. C Pedersen 1. R Bail Apologies to Frawley and Cross.

Adam you're not doing very well. Craig was never their recruiter and in fact hasn't worked there for over a year. I'm starting to think you don't know much after your Yze blunder and now this.

Jordie's 12 tackles in a half makes a statement. We had 41 last week v PA albeit significantly different conditions. Next best was Riley with 12 in a full game.

Excellent post RPFC. Couldn't agree more.

He lost me when he criticized Addam Maric for claiming he kicked the ball for a goal when he hadn't. Said Maric cheated. Let's forget about players who claim to have touched ball that go through for a goal, staged for free kicks or a hundred other things where they try and put one over the umps. What made it so bad was Maric was just starting to make his way and had an opposition coach publicly call him a cheat. He then put himself ahead of his team with the most unbelievable interview in TFS in August 2011 when Collingwood were just about untouchable. They went down hill for the rest of the season when they realized their coach was more interested in himself than the team. He thinks he's the smartest bloke in every room. His arrogance and disrespect for others is breathtaking. Guess what. i don't like him.

Thanks for the insight. Are you sure Jayden Hunt played? I thought he was injured.

I'll show him some respect when he shows others some respect. Malthouse losing it - what a beautiful thing.

VFL: Qtr time: @CaseyScorpions 2-1-13 trail Collingwood 2-2-14. McKenzie, Riley, Toumpas all playing for the scorps today. Tweeted.

Stats from Casey vs Collingwood at Casey fields: blease 24, Mckenzie 23, Kent 22 and 3 goals, Riley 21 touches and michie 19 #pjvfl#goscorps Retweeted by Melbourne FC Jordie lost 2 possessions in the second half to fail to be Casey's top possession winner.

At half time Mckenzie has 23 touches, Evans 15, Riley 14 and Kent has 12 and 2 goals. #pjvfl @ Casey fields Retweeted by Melbourne FC