dpositive

I didnt think he was found not guilty of administering. I thought it was that it could not be found to the comfortable satisfaction that he administered?

Why should he even be fined.??? This is just one of the minor references that can be made based on the fact that the Brownlow Medallist of 2012 indicated he had had many injections of unknown substances. Mitchell can legitimately ask if he is still having them or if he needs to change back to the previous substances if he isn't. This may be just the tip of the iceberg, a slur that can be made to any Australian sportsperson. I am not comfortabley satisfied that this matter should be left under investigated

Is that a look of shock and horror on Goodes face??

I do enjoy LU posts and hope he continues. Amongst the occasional acknowledgement of fault and the usually well supported references to actual decisions and legal position he also provides an insight into the delusional denial arguments. I appreciate his difficulty in acknowledging player responsibility when he has accepted that they were duped. I however place a greater responsibility on them due to the training that they are given by authorities and their status. I have urged WADA to recognise that the whatever it takes attitude and the obvious program that this lead to has resulted in the winner of the Brownlow (who incidentally admitted having substances injected) and other players to undertake performance enhancing practices which were not adequately administered. Their actions although occurring in the demanding confines of a single team tarnish all sports. The defence of no data therefore innocence is not sustainable in this circumstance, the intention was to cheat and they did.

Havent seen the detail yet. Assume someone will have it soon . I will be looking for how they can ban Dank if there are no records and yet EFC is only fined and penalised for not keeping those records?

Essendon facilities at the gateway to Melbourne may be up for grabs if WADA and Workcare make findings that the current club cannot accomodate. AFL forced to establish Tassie bombers while Melbourne helps out by taking the site of the hands at reasonable price. Works for me.

Great report Pennant Hope you are enjoying analysing an improved team and hope you are right that they back up and dont rest on their laurels. I wrote that klast week was the line in the sand moment and i followed with this week they may must not step back and if t6o be denied must be pushed back over the line.

Good Comments C&B Its one of those times that I actually miss TDI training reports as it was always possible to get an assesment from him Hope the new job is going well TDI

Not sure where to place this hope you can I just read Staurday age where there's an article on AFL club sponsorship The article is to highlight Hawthorn and Audi joining. It mentions competitors Mercedes and BMW both of whom have no sponsor arrangement with AFL I hope our marketing ?sponsorship people are all over this given our reputation as the wealthy blue blood elite. I know this is not the truth but "Perception is Reality" I have raised this previously including suggesting we leverage off our ski image and approach Subaru I know they are more interested in cycling but crikey I ride a bike too and Im sure many of our members do to. I have raised with officials at the very few redlegs functions I have attended in the last 3 years and also spoke to Robbo in Canberra about club officers looking at other sports marketing eg Emu ugg boots have a racing car (colours red and blue) as a promotional tool, Jayco are in everything except AFL. As horse racing is no longer covered on TV they may have an opening for some greater coverage. Hopefully you have or know someone with some influence who may be able to pursue some of these ideas

Wrote this yesterday still in the euphoria of the win, to follow my post in the people speak last week Hope it is just as tellingas a prediction As stated in the people speak last week there was a difference in the team that represented Melbourne Football Club this week With an injury list boasting many who would be in the side in normal circumstances the team that pulled on the jumper were well aware of the role of this ground in shaping the recent history of the club and they were determined to make their own. The series of games from Footscray to Collingwood and StKilda had shown that there was no longer a huge gulf between sides that play for and with each other. The only inconsistent ingredient was the result. They knew that "there is now a core of players who recognise that we are capable when playing our best football of matching any side" and were willing to test that resolve against one of the benchmarks of the competition, who had shown they were not going to lose that mantle easily against Port Adelaide the previous week. Wanting to celebrate one of their own champions 300th game was not a reason to be overcome with sentimentality but rather another reason to put the sword to a usually frail opposition. The teams that took the field had more than enough reasons to believe that this was another formality as expressed by the Media before, during and even (in the unfortunate case of Channel 9) after the match. But the Melbourne team had indeed been learning some powerful lessons and taking the lead from their captain reflecting the words of the coaches quoted last week that "We all have to be aware when to handball, when to shepherd, when to kick short or long, when to slow down and when to speed up play, but more importantly we need to do this as a team and not as individuals" said Jones saying these were the recurring comments coming from the players themselves". The players had been a trifle introspective, but realising that in unity there is strength, had become more vocal at training, aware that as they have the support and the skill, needed only the desire to put their body over the ball, and keeping their emphasis on making and creating space by sacrificial acts to ensure their elite play will be rewarded. Now they were to put that belief to the test. There was nowhere better than the cauldron of Simmonds stadium where the intensity would be enhanced by the partisan crowd of overwhelmingly sanguine Cats supporters enthusiastically glorying in a pleasant Sunday afternoon outing. If ever there was to be a "line in the sand" this was the moment Time and again they rallied putting faith in each other to commit to the contest. Sure there were individual feats of glory, moments of almost reckless action. Analysis of the game showed that there were still many basic errors because there was a lack of awareness of their teammates but a louder more cohesive group of players who had survived the rigorous training schedule were determined to exhaust themselves in overcoming the perceived reputation of their team. Even on the bench there was a closer focus on the action, no disengagement as the players applied themselves with purpose to gain and maintain any slight ascendancy. Supporting each other for the glory of the team. For the full 120 minutes these gladiators battled not only the vagaries of our game but the demons that had been resident in the fabric of the club and its supporters. The triumph was as magnificent as it was unexpected. They not only drew the line but advanced from it ensuring they would not be pushed back. In the moment of glory the coach Roos lined the team up to acknowledge Enright, a gesture not lost on those watching but more significant in reminding his own players of the fleeting nature of glory and the harsh reality of the game. In the aftermath as the haze of victory descended the sharpened minds noted that the physical pain was not as noticeable. The team now have a week of reflection and the bye to again rebuild for the next assault. More than ever the competition for places in the team will be fierce and training will represent another battleground to display individual armoury. The coaches will now select a team from the squad that will represent the best mix to meet the west Coast. Those not selected will know that they are part of a juggernaut that needs their commitment and involvement. They must understand that there will be times when they are denied, times when they are pushed back but, the line has been drawn; there may be times that the team will be denied, times when the team will be pushed back, but they will not be pushed back over it.

Chip Le Grand on ABC this morning said they didnt cheat, players signed documents after being lied to, the independent AFL investigation could not be satisfied, it is unlikely that WADA will be able to prove anything Oh Well he has a book to sell I guess!

Appreciate your restraint and while this is not the time for unrestrained joy, that pleasure must be savoured when the ultimate success is achieved it is the time to enjoy the progress. While we all do not have to replicate BBO now is the time to partake of your own singular pleasure before we must again continue our various messages and means of inspirational efforts . Continue!

Well doesn't seem so important now

MFC needs consistent hard-nosed players with a win at all costs attitude, no more "marketing opportunities". How have his marketing features helped us in the last 4 years? The people who don't want to trade Howe are probably the same who ridiculed those who wanted to trade Jamar (and others) when his value was at its peak. He has something, that's why he's a good trade option. You won't get anything for Bail or McKenzie but Howe might get us a decent player in return that will add more value to the team than he does currently. I did say more than the quoted part including that we establish his worth and offer him that. I did not say or release him for that but do agree. However I said his worth will be diminished if he doesnt improve and we will not undertake to develop/improve him if he does not accept the offer. I dont think his value is at its peak and if some other club does want to pay more than we think then yes they can have him and they can develop him.

Yes there is no certainty in any of this. I would prefer he had gone public and I think the assurances from MFC at the time were that he did. If he knows nothing or has been misled that could be a serious matter for both him and those who appointed him as he has at least been involved with an organisation which conducted a "pharmacological experiment". Perhaps it would be best if that involvement or lack of involvement was explained more transparently. If he did know and didnt report to ASADA that is also serious and he will need to take the full repercussions. Was he called by ASADA? He may already have disclosed and been cleared by ASADA. If this is so there should be greater disclosure from him and the club and this may well be subject to continuing case.

Welcome Ultimate I wont be as subtle as Song Formerly Known As, I hope your enthusiasm doesn't fade and you don't let the frustration turn you into a twisted individual as Song suggests. I acknowledge your thoughts and hope you continue to express them despite any total disregard that will happen. In fact Song, like most here, is also a fantastic supporter. All dees supporters are, as we have been been treated to the most amazing football journey with so little ultimate reward. I hope you will appreciate the wealth of experience and knowledge that is displayed in commentary on Dland, and also hope you appreciate the wit and bulltish that is also prevalent, and usually with bullet like speed and rapier sharpness and learn to ignore some of the less than savoury comments. Well I think that leaves an opening for many so enjoy and GO DEES

The Cats will probably treat it a s a training run and so should we. But our training is to hurt our opponents, create pressure and play with intensity for the full 100+ minutes Then leave the field exhausted

Cant we Have Both

sign him up for 5

Perhaps Goodwin has divulged what his involvement was in the program and what it actually constituted and could have taken advantage of penalty diminution?

SOOOO?????? Howe is attractive to other clubs as a marketing device due to his high flying? MFC has so many marketing features that we can afford to let him go and increase an opponents position???? Howe has improved his presence and stats under the new coaching regime and has potential to become a better player and is approaching his prime time. He provides another different forward option to Hogan and has shown versatility in defensive roles and has played soem games on the flank and wings. He needs to be developed further properly and used better, we seem to the coaches that can do that. He will be better in a team which has better playing resources (mids and crumbers) we are building those. He may need to be sat down and have the harsh reality discussion. His potential worth will grow as he improves his output. His worth will improve as the team he is with has success. We are building to that success with the players and support staff we have but we can only offer him an amount commensurate with his output. If he does not accept an offer he will be playing in reserves and his development with Melbourne will cease as he does not want to go on with us. His value to other clubs will be diminished as they see that he has not played to potential has not been developed and will be past his best by the time they retrain him there will also be the added suggestion that he is indeed lazy and not committed to the hard work that is necessary to succeed. I like Howe, I like his potential, I would rather we get it than someone else but he must produce. If the above diminishes his worth to us on the market so be it we must then recruit an alternative with some difficulty but develop and utilise them Its not easy but we know that already.

Thanks for comments The orchard is only a half dozen trees to feed the birds apples nectarines plums. All crop fallen but the trees need urgent attention for shaping. It is a first world problem as they say so no need for slave labour It is a pleasant refuge from the pressures of life and close access to the snow (unfortunately none of that at the moment)

There was a bit of a cold snap and snow making was in full swing with predictions of an early start to the season etc prior to QB weekend THEN the clouds came but no rain, this kept the temperatures up and now its raining Much needed for the farmers and to refill underground aquifers but just washing the little man made snow back to the reservoirs.