binman

Anyone know if there is replay somewhere?

Though ones got a dodgy knee and the other a dodgy foot. She might have done us a favour

Just read it. Incredible. Warner has shredded what was left of his reputation. Even if true - no particularly if true - surely you have to back up a statement like 'The maximum two-year ban will not be imposed because of the unique circumstances surrounding the two-year investigation.' But no he adds nothing to that sentence, not a single explanatory justification or note. He also says that 'The players have been provisionally suspended since infraction notices were issued on November 13. Any bans would be backdated to that date.'My understanding is that whilst that is likely is not a certainty, its up to the tribunal He goes on to say 'A six-month ban would sideline players to May 13, missing the first six rounds of the season. But ASADA could push for a one-year ban.' Could push for a one year ban? Apart from the fact that the tense is wrong in that sentence (the AFL and ASADA have made their cases as to penalties i think) on what grounds would they be pushing for 12 months. By the rules 12 months is a minimum sentence - and then only if the tribunal accepts the duped defense and halves the automatic 2 year ban. The only way it could be less under the rules is a discount for a guilty plea and/or significant cooperation and those horses have well and truly bolted. The article ends with a list of the bombers first six matches, implying missing six matches is the most they'll cop. Pathetic. Do the Hun editors really think such rubbish will influence an independent tribunal? Or is the game to set up the faux angst the Hun will almost certainly foment with 1-2 year penalty? Wind up the poor delusional bombers fans and play into the conspiracy EFC as victims narrative. Pathetic. The Hun should be called out. Or at least not be able to call themselves a news paper.

I always loved this logo. Not sure why. He does look like a Derek. Derek the accountant

Yep good call. It was will also be their mechanism to land on a suspension that does not trigger appeals from ASADA or the players

Yep good call. It was will also be their mechanism to land on a suspension that does not trigger appeals from ASADA or the players

I guess that means they should review their current strategy of having membership sales at all games and should most definetly not bother having them for sale at the Family Day on Sunday

Hopefully they have a permit for the gazebo they set up

Exactly the same....but different

It was normal training day that started at an abnormal time (to allow people to come at watch it). So not a normal training day then.

For crimes against the public service

You're not afraid of hyperbole are you.

I don't understand where the sweetheart deal is in my hypothesized scenario. The penalty i set out is in line with the WADA penelaites. The only wrinkle is whether WADA would accept the duped argument and halve the penalty. The backdating ASADA have already said is a possible (ie to the time of issuing of notices in November last year). The EFC losing 17 of its (best) players for a full season is huge so it would satisfy WADA and ASADA i would expect (but not the Hird media club). The players will be furious but will accept it to get it over and done with. Besides you have previously said you agree with my guess on the outcome

Dees2014 i think your predictions are way too doomsday. Ess won't fold. Won't happen. There won't be any appeals. There may be legal action from players but it will be settled out of court. But as you say we will see. I do agree that the likely penalties are 2 years, which will be halved to 12 months under the being duped clause. By end of March they will already have served 5 months (except for Fletcher and Watson - silly boys), meaning they will have seven months to go, which will wipe out this season but mean they are right to resume at beginning of next pre season. The AFL will allow the use of top players. No more than 17 will be required (and possibly as few as 13-15 if they run with a reduced list) so whilst they will not be competitive they will still field a side. And be back to full strength for 2016.

TDI,I'm guessing your last job was in the public service not the private sector. I hope PJ is a more attuned to basic market pricipals

That may be true (ie questioble returns). But it certainly isn't for merch. One employee to sell both to the true believers

Where does the quote from PJ come from? Makes things worse not better? A permit? Ooh big problem. $1000 only for set up? And that's a problem? Six memberships and some goodwill? Please

As the Fonz would say - Exactamundo. And the Admin should have made it a priority given such a move would have been a perfect way of operationalsihing key planks of their brand new Strategic Plan

TDI i understand what you are saying. You may well be right that by not having merch or membership sales they were trying to keep costs down. But i hope you are wrong because that is plain stupid. Such short term, black and white thinking has no place in a sophisticated business looking to grow its membership and become sustainable into the future. For heavens sake they have made a public goal of getting to 35, 000 members by round one. How much do you think the advertising costs are for this push? And they miss this opportunity to sell memberships because it might cost some overtime pay? Please. Yesterday was another opportunity lost to sell more membership. The more memberships they sell the more money there is for the FD. Simple.

Good on the person from the club who made the effort to let Demonland (and facebook) know the reason for the mix up with times and offer their sincere apologies. Good work. But i reckon the coms department should not wear this alone. As many have noted the timing issue (which was the focus of the apology) was only one element of the problem. The lack of merch, membership sales, organised activities and a properly resourced BBQ or in fact 2 or 3 BBQs (which should not have been left to the Demon Army - the club should have made it happen, ensured there was enough food etc, set up more than one bbq and gave any money raised to the Army) were also big problems. As was upon realisng they had a problem not making sure there was some activity or club spokesperson to let people at the ground know what was happening or as has been suggested organising some activities (eg kick to kick) to engage the fans that were there. The admin should accept their share of responsibility, including PJ. Down play it all you like but this is a stuff up. As i noted in the thread about the intra club game PJ trumpeted the new Strategic Plan and highlighted two key planks were reengaging with fans and increasing membership. Using the clubs stated goals as a reference point this is yet another fail in terms of yet another missed opportunity to engage with fans and increase membership. Put simply the admin (not the comms) should have made it work and allocated the appropriate resources. They didn't and instead allow their comms team to cop it. TDI with all due respect if the reason they didn't at a minimum have a merch tent and membership sales (not to mention something as basic as a jumping castle) is the associated hassle and cost then this admin isn't as great as some believe as that sort of short term thinking is amateursville . Sell 100 memberships and that is covered. And that is only the short term. The club needs young members to survive let alone thrive. Opportunities such as this to engage with young fans and potential life long fans and members should be fully embraced and properly resourced, particularly if is one of their strategic objectives. A poster on this thread noted that Richmond had a similar problem with mucking up advertised training times. His argument was that tiges fans didn't go off like those here on DL. Perhaps that's true, who knows, but it is instructive that his example was Richmond. A club like Melbourne that has struggled to get its act together off field and has been largely crap on field for best part of 2 decades. Does any one really think the Hawks (who now have the most members of any Victorian club - inconceivable 15 years ago and achieved on the back of brilliant fan engagement strategies) or the Pies would have, one stuffed things up so badly or two not maximised such as opportunity to engage with fans and increase their membership numbers?

Hallowed Crown won like a true winner - dug deep and came again. Love horses like that. I hope you're right about the Sydney carnival being sorted - Australian racing needs a strong Sydney Autumn. Their challenge will be to keep the prize money at the levels they were last year and are this year. No small feat. The funny thing about the clash of the Guineas races is that they moved Super Saturday to next weekend (which the guineas was always part of) rather than keeping it this weekend and moving the Guineas (which could have been say three weeks back to allow horses to race in both), It is ridiculous the lack of collaboration in Oz racing. The whole TVN palaver being just one example.

Just completed my form. hard work to do properly for two meetings, Melbourne and Flemington. Tough in both states but some good betting races. . In the guineas in Melbourne i like Fontein Ruby and the Guineas in Sydney (how stupid is having the races clash!) i like Hallowed Crown. Will need to look at prices tomorrow morning to work out best bets

Good point. His leadership qualities were also questioned. Not any more. Few players move club and have their reputation enhanced. He is one

Please no danger to the dees talk. i'll be too tempted to use a picture of him as my avatar

Good points well made BoB. I'm on drugs but they don't seem to be enhancing my performance. But surely you of all people could find some passion for one element of this story: the media spin, agendas and use of journos as mouthpieces. Fascinating stuff