PaulRB

What ever happened to Mitch?

Thats good. They carry guns.

That would make it an personal issue between club and player, not the AFL, not the media.

Ironically, it is the AFL's insistence to impose a special rule on players and recreational drugs, and test for them that, creates the results that then tarnishes their brand as inevitably some players get caught. That the AFL only imposes these tests and sanctions on players and does not impose these measures on it's management and staff, highlights that they are not doing it out of care for their employees, but to manipulate and build a "brand of care", when in fact there is none. And that's going to come unstuck every time... It also belittles and overshadows the work done by government and social organisations to find and implement the best practices to address and minimise the damage that can result from taking drugs.

Same could be said for News Corp, the Labor Party, the Victorian Police, etc... The AFL chose to claim a moral position for PR benefits and is now mired in the inevitable mess of vested interest, hypocrisy and grey moral areas, that are well beyond it's scope. The AFL's poor handling of the Essendon doping, and antagonism to the organisation specifically created to handle it, show they are not in it for the integrity but damage control and manipulation of their audience. The AFL should have stuck to it's knitting, running a football competition, and let the social instruments that monitor and moderate the behavious of the rest of the Australian public take care of the social activities of the employees of the clubs.

Do the police, judges, politicians, media personalities get tested for recreational drugs as part of their professional obligations? If its performance enhancing it's relevant to be tested and penalised for it, if it's not performance enhancing it's no ones business but the player themselves...

A bit off topic and opportunistic, ... but are there players at Gold Coast that would be more keen to walk to another club as a result of the issues they are having and the season we're in? And can we play this before our next game vs Gold Coast at the G? https://youtu.be/fdDhV45lYHU

I think VandenBerg is the real deal. His presence, pressure and poise at AFL level after an interrupted pre-season has been amazing. Give him a couple of pre-seasons refining his craft and engine under a good development regime (as opposed to Ainsley!) will have him flourish in a Barlow like way... an great find.

I think he may be good, but only one of his three goals show real class (the snap), with the other two kind of lucky (Jack Watts brain fade and a cheap push in back when he wasn't close to contesting the mark). I though Stretch had a better game, with his solid passing especially to Howe for his two goals, and his shot for goal in the last. I like ANB's moxy though and hope he continues to develop.

Melbourne injury list: round 13 (bye weekend) Sam Frost (toe) 6 weeks Colin Garland (hand) test Jack Grimes (thumb) test Jesse Hogan (hamstring) test Jayden Hunt (jaw) test Dean Kent (hamstring) 4 weeks Ben Newton (concussion) test Cameron Pedersen (wrist) season Christian Petracca (knee) season Christian Salem (hamstring) 3 weeks Jack Trengove (foot) season Aaron vandenBerg (hamstring) 2 weeks

Brayshaw's performance will only inspire and challenge his good mate in Petracca next year! I get the sense Christian is a competitive beast who'll be out to build his reputation.

That's funny given Hogan didn't play...

i think he's a boilerplate solid midfielder, solid in and under and capable of motoring all day. If his body comes good, he'll be in the midfield, and should have similar impact to Vandenburg with better foot skills..

Hey Dazzle will you never post again if Danger comes to the MFC?

If Trenners can come back with full confidence in his body, he's as capable as any of taking it to an elite level with the development coaches and team mates we now have in place. People seem to forget that he was expected to lead both our midfield and our club just a couple of years ago. So a return now with our new midfield and mindset will only allow him to finally flourish.

I think our prime target should be another high-quality mid in the 23-25 age bracket. Like Vince, but with us prepared to part with our first pick (or two) to claim him. I think we have enough young midfield talent being developed and primed to come into the team with Brayshaw, Petracca, ANB, Stretch, Salem, Toumpas, Viney, Tyson, etc... Would love to pick up a midfield version of Gartlett, slick and damaging.

Only 12 teams played this week with the bye. Still a great result.

If Jack and Christian get fit and firing for Round 1 2016, plus another draftee then we're very solid in the middle and flanks. As Sunday showed if your midfield fires then anything is possible in 2016. Trenners deserves the luck of the Gods given his journey to date... Fingers Crossed.

If we are really on the improve and can stabilize in our form shown vs Geelong we should win 5 more with a chance vs Magpies, Kangas and Giants.

Four wins to the Bye with the draw we've had is good. A further half dozen on the way home would not be unreasonable.

I'm disappointed that number 2 draft pick isn't playing...

Agree, but Tyson's struggled to replicate last years form thus far, and Vanders has had a bigger impact this year (thus far).

Is Tyson for VandenBerg an improvement or a loss? Like to see Tyson come back with a bang. Vanders has been really good.

Danny Hughes

Plenty don't.