PaulRB

You use righteous assumptions and a simplified black and white moral frameworks to justify your inability to extend basic human sympathy to another human. That's your choice. I think its a poor choice, as most of us on this forum... 1. don't know enough about the situation to pass judgement except from our own biased beliefs, and 2. would probably have done as the 34 players did. Irrespective, Compassion isn't earnt or deserved or warranted by some and not others. It is cultivated and given. I choose to give the players compassion, and forgive and wish them well for the rest of their lives. Sorry if that upsets you.

I think you are confusing compassion with leniency. Compassion - feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

For starters, compassion isn't reserved for the innocent, it can be practiced on those who have done wrong, and are suffering. That said, for those who like to use rules rather than an open heart to direct their compassion, you use the idea that because the code says the players are responsible for everything that enters their bodies, therefore having compassion for their suffering should be withheld, reads like an accountant or computers response to another suffering. Would you or I have acted any different to the Essendon players in believing their club wouldn't expose them to illegal substances and the issues that have resulted? I would have trusted the club. I suspect prior to this fiasco, most players at most clubs would trust the club. The uniformity of the Don's players response highlights that they all trusted the club. And for that trust they have suffered. I've no problem extending compassion to them.

With his boot, and the potential to reignite his passion and talent for the game he has "Vince Mark II" all over him...

Lots of unfounded assumptions that serve to allow you to feel righteous! Bully for you. Try some compassion for some of those involved in this saga who are suffering for the wrongs of others.

Watched Jakes interview on MFC site and wanted to encourage us supporters to fully get behind this young man as he restarts his career at Melbourne. He's a talented mid, half back who should slot straight into our team and add value. He's been put through the meat grinder of the Dons drug fiasco and ensuing hearings. Suffering that he did nothing to cause. And he's our boy now, and I really wish him well. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2015-12-08/china-southern-arrivals-lounge-jake-melksham

It hit me today watching the interview with Jake Melksham on the MFC site how much suffering this sorry saga has caused the players who appear to have been abused by their club or coach or medical team at the EFC. Hearing Jake talk about losing his passion for football, not reading the paper for 3 years, etc... made me feel a lot of compassion for these young men, who just want to play footy and have found themselves hung out to dry. Its sad.

Oh and on Goodwin, any aspiring coach who decided to take a two year apprenticeship under an established successful Coach instead of gambling a clubs future on leaping from assistant to senior coach, has his head on straight, is respectful of the player , the club, the role of senior coach and his own development. These are characteristics which only increase the likelihood of his (and our) success.

If you think of Pandora as the beatifull first woman of Earth (according to Greek Mythology) then you might object less to eating out of her box, unless of course you'd prefer to be buggered... not that there's anything wrong with that.

Just to counter balance the "negative Nancy's", feeding the doubt about Goodwin, Roos' last handover had the recipient (John Longmire) win a flag within two years, in 2012... Just say'n...

We need to WIN AT LEAST 7 before the bye. If we can win consecutive and even get on a roll early on... the confidence will build quick in a young team. First nine games should hold few fears with GWS GIANTS (11th) Essendon (15th) North Melbourne (8th) Collingwood (12th) Richmond (5th) St Kilda (14th) Gold Coast (16th) Western Bulldogs (6th) Brisbane Lions (17th) All winnable.

Demons mid Ben Newton in doubt for Round One after ankle surgery

Interesting watching his interview on MFC site, he describes himself as a big agressive marking forward, and part of me was thinking Mitch Clark...

From AFL site... Best 22. B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland HB: Christian Salem, Lynden Dunn, Jake Melksham C: Angus Brayshaw, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca F: Jeff Garlett, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts Foll: Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Jack Viney Int: Sam Frost, Aaron vandenBerg, Heritier Lumumba, Tom Bugg DEPTH Key-position defenders: Oscar McDonald General defenders: Jack Grimes, Dean Terlich, Josh Wagner* Key-position forwards: Liam Hulett, Cameron Pedersen, Sam Weideman General forwards: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Jayden Hunt, Billy Stretch, Joel Smith* Midfielders: James Harmes*, Matt Jones, Viv Michie*, Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Newton, Clayton Oliver, Jack Trengove, Mitch White*, Rucks: Jake Spencer, Mitchell King, Max King* Melbourne's team is starting to look a lot more promising and secure. The backline is consolidated with Essendon recruit Jake Melksham to add further competitiveness and run and carry away from the contest. Christian Petracca's inclusion should be a major fillip for the Demons after he missed his entire first season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The points of contention start on the bench with Greater Western Sydney recruit Tom Bugg earning a game over line-breakers Ben Kennedy and Billy Stretch. Jack Grimes can count himself unlucky not to be picked, while Jack Trengove's injury history rules him out of the mix. Alex Neal-Bullen, Jay Kennedy-Harris and Clayton Oliver should all push for regular senior appearances in 2016. – Ben Guthrie

I thought you were talking about Number 2!https://youtu.be/EFkIZ-Zf32Y Funny... perhaps too low-brow, never seen a Wanger Opera.

It feels like our recruiters, development team and game plan are aligned for the first time in over a decade. We're picking kids with the attributes that suit our intended game style (contested, physical, defensive both way running) and our development environment is crafting them to their strengths and the game plan.

Killer needs a Rocky-esque training montage where he builds some bulk, attitude and hunger! Bring it on Jack, prove those nasty nay-sayers WRONG! Please...

Jack Watts talent is top 10 in our team, unfortunately his hunger for ball, contest or even winning appears to be in the bottom 10 in our team... Happy to be proven wrong.

There's this kid from central Australia... Liam Jurrah, who looks a likely pick! Ahhh Liam I miss you.

I love the way we are giving slightly older talent that's been held back a chance as they are so driven to succeed. This kid, retarded by injury, looks like he could take Jack Watts spot in the 22 if his hunger translates to the field and the talent is there.

Assuming no injuries to key players (Hogan, Gawn) we appear to have the depth and competition for spots across most lines to rotate players as required and maintain a more consistent level of output in 2016. Agree that 10+ wins should be our base expectation with more wins a distinct possibility. The Roos factor plus talented youthful exuberance could carry us far in 2016... Fingers crossed.

Cassius! Moves like a butterfly, stings like a bee.

It's exciting that our new draftees will have to fight hard to break into the team during the season, rather then being gifted a spot round due to a mediocre list... Agree that Petracca and Melksham (maybe Bugg) would be the only new players in the starting 22, assuming all fit and healthy. Going to be an interesting year, as it feels like all the pieces are at the club now, and just need to start falling into place.

Hits me as a mature young man with ambition and pedigree. Just like with Jack Viney (and Gary Jnr), there's much value in being the son of a player...

Big factor in him going so high is he can play mid and forward well. Taylor mentioned it in his summary and with the interchange caps, mids who can "rest" forward and damage a team are worth more than a pure mid, even if they may be silkier (i.e. as Parish appears to be). So good that we are in a position to develop him properly rather than fast track him as the new saviour for Round 1.