Lucifers Hero

@whatwhat say whatis saying there is other evidence out there. Unless the AFL gags mainstream media that evidence of other occasions will get out. Anyway, as I said a few days ago I feel sorry for Smith; it could be any of our players going through this. I wish him well. Seems a decent guy.

Maybe this week but the bye rounds aren't over yet! If we lose today, with the bye next week and Cats and Blues likely to win round 14 there will be 5 teams on 10 wins when the byes are over! And heaven forbid, the Cats on top as they play the Eagles next week and will show no mercy to get a big % boost. Then the top 4 spots are going to be a bun fight. We need to win today!

Well he is a fool for lying about it. And the club is culpable if they knowingly let him do so. They are risking his well being. Unless the AFL activates its media ban of reporting events of players with mental health issues those instances will spread like wildfire. He is 20 and with all the trauma of the last few days he needs protecting from the spin doctors around him. Hope he has a decent manager as not sure he can rely on his club and the AFL to give him unbiased advice.

It would be beyond stupid for him to go so full on 'it was a once off' if it wasn't true. Their would be social media out there of other occasions. If it wasn't a once off best he just didn't say anything than risk being branded as a 'liar' spinner of the truth.

If AFL bad boy behaviour that hits the headlines is the tip of the iceberg the Bulldogs must bat very deep. Headlines: Libba found under the influence of drugs in the city some years ago Stringer behaviour leading to his trade Tom Boyd, Zaine Cordy fight in 2018 2020 Hunter crashing his car and aided after the event by Bailey Smith and Billy Gowers Smith in a brawl on the GC last Oct. Smith outing for drug use It is no wonder Dunkley wanted a trade in 2020 for what he thought was unprofessional off field behaviour at the club. Add those with mental health issues: Travis Cloak, Tom Boyd, Bailey Smith and players taking 'personal' leave ranging from 2 weeks to 6 weeks and one wonders what is going on at the kennel. All clubs have bad boy events with players. Either the Bulldogs have a lot more than most or they aren't very good at keeping things in house.

I was on the flip side ie being asked for money. In March I was in the city and instead of giving money I suggested I buy the person the food they wanted - we were outside the Macro store in Flinders St. She took up the offer buying biscuits, drinks and lollies. My good Samaritan deed was rewarded the next day when I saw Gus and his partner Danielle having coffee in Desgrave St. I broke all my rules about not approaching well known people but couldn't resist congratulating Gus for the team's great win the previous night; the night we unfurled our flag. Then last Sunday, walking into the Hampton St supermarket a girl asked me for $5 to buy food. Again I invited her into the store to choose what she wanted and I would pay for it. She exceeded the $5 by a fair margin but I let it go. Of course I expect nothing in return but it would be nice if the karma fairy brought us a demon win today.

Depends which club he chooses as that is the club we need to deal with. There is a big difference in what Freo and WCE can offer. Freo has mainly players as currency, WCE have mainly draft picks to offer. But I reckon he is staying.

Various car parks around the city have on-line pre-booked car parking. For street parking best bet is the area east of Church street and walk 20 minutes.

Someone needs to take him aside and have a good talk with him. He would do well to take a leaf out of Matt Rowell's book when he went as #1 to the GC: head down, work hard, earn respect, roll with the punches.

Glen Archer played a big role in their downfall. He micro managed the list cull, football department overhaul including the signing of Shaw and Noble, hiring/firing assistant coaches. Buckley gave Archer free reign to be a defacto CEO/Football Manager. Now they have lost their whole recruiting, list management group. It will be a long road out of the wilderness. It isn't a club for a newbie coach. They need Peter Jackson and today's Roos equivalent; a 3 year senior coach who has the standing and gravitas to wear the media blowtorch while a coach-in-waiting settles in, builds the list and a decent game plan put in place. In other words the Demon blueprint with different actors.

I did say not in June and July. More next year. fine - play them in March, April, May and August when its a bit warmer. Or if the AFL want JUne and July Thursday night games with crowds schedule them in Qld, Syd or Perth. If Melb played Brisbane at the Gabba in a few weeks rather than at the G they would probably get over 40,000. It isn't rocket science. It is just dumb to have Thursday night games in Melb, in winter especially vs i/state sides. And a novel idea: play them at Marvel where there is a roof to offer some protection from the elements.

The AFL know Thursday night is a fizzer for attendances: “It was a soft number but it was Thursday night, it was a few thousand below forecast, and it was cold, and all of the above,” McLachlan said. -small-afl-crowds-mclachlan How dumb to schedule a Thrusday night game during a bye week and only 1 game today. I suspect we won't see many Thursday night games in June and July next year. Reckon we will get a bigger Thursday night crowd than Richond vs Port when we play Brisbane as their Fitzroy supporters will come out like the old South fans did - they get only a few chances to see their teams play in Victoria.

His 2022 form doesn't matter one iota when it comes to his contract. Its about standards, behaviours, character, teamwork, role etc. The AFL world has seen enough to know he is a star who will have occasional form lapses just like every other player in the game.

tbf that was when he caught covid. We don't know how severe it was and it may be a slow recovery for him. Hopefully the 9 days without a game help recharge the batteries not only for him but all the players that were ill with covid or whatever it was that swept through the club 3 weeks ago.

That is the message being put out there: "Bailey Smith entered the AFL as a cleanskin. He has told associates he had never touched illicit drugs until October of last year, in the period following the grand final". "Those around him say that this period of post-season excess was an aberration - a window of poor choices - and that he has since rebalanced his life..." smith-tackles-poor-choices-head-on-with-illicit-substance-confession In the video floating around yesterday he didn't look like a novice. More recently, his reaction a month ago, to a coll supporter pointing to his nose suggests Bailey knows about using substances.

The 'fix' is on its way: Bailey is young, he made a mistake, he needs support, ipso facto sanctions aren't the right option. Rinse. Repeat. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2022-bailey-smith-white-powder-photo-western-bulldogs-investigation-news-updates/news-story/a9573fc0707d3aba543d146ee2fe4ea5 The AFL acknowledged Smith’s statement on Saturday afternoon and said it would interview him “in the coming days”. The AFL Players’ Association said it would support Smith during this time and was “confident the Western Bulldogs will do likewise”. “Bailey is a young man who has made a mistake, but importantly has owned that mistake and, even more importantly, has put steps in place to learn from it and grow as a person as a result of it,” the AFLPA statement read. “The AFL environment is high pressure and high profile and Bailey has previously shared his battles with mental health. “When issues such as this arise, there are typically two alternative approaches people think should be taken. “Condemn, sanction and shame the player involved or support, educate and try to use the issue as an opportunity for growth.” imv the AFLPA is saying Smith should not be sanctioned. Don't expect to see anymore discussion in the media. Case closed. tbh I feel sorry for him to be going through this. It could easily be one of our youngsters. My frustration is at WB, the AFL and now the AFLPA. They should apply the rules consistently and Bailey being 20 doesn't excuse him. I can see the case building against May; he is nearly 30 he should know better. I hope the AFLPA use their negotiating skills with the AFL on his behalf.

By playing the 'mental health' card over and over again in the Statements, with AFL blessing, they have shut down media discussion of Smith's drug use. Other cases of out of season drug use have had 2 -5 weeks suspension and Bailey should get similar. To be served after his 2 weeks suspension for a head expires.

Opinion or intel?

Joel Smith shown as an emergency yet the injury list shows 4 - 6 weeks. If he is ok to be an emergency wouldn't he be better off playing a few quarters to be ready for the seniors if need?

I also thought that, then wondered if he went to the dentist before that training session

"Sources familiar with Smith’s situation have confirmed to The Age that the photograph was taken late last year, at a time when Smith had taken a mental health break from pre-season training". Smith will be making a statement on Saturday regarding the images. ...the club is attempting to gather precise details about the photograph and what was in the bag before deciding on what action to take" bulldogs-investigating-social-media-photo-allegedly-showing-star-bailey-smith-with-bag-of-white-powder Imagine if they suspend him for 2 matches to be served concurrently with his 2 match suspension for head butting!😒

Maybe Tom Morris asked himself: is it time to upset Bevo again. Morris would know the skeletons hiding in every club's closets.

I recall a few years ago Caroline Wilson said the AFL bans commentators from media reports where it might affect a player's mental health. iirc it was when Jack Stevens was hospitalised after being stabbed. She said the media hold back a lot of stories because of the AFL edict. Watch this Bailey Sniff Smith episode disappear down the same rabbit warren. The very same rabbit warren his alleged assault on someone on the GC last year went, after the alleged victim was transported to hospital, police investigated but no charges and the bulldog's did their usual 'nothing to see here' report.

It might help explain the brain fades and need for special leave. Btw, Lachie Hunter is ready to come back from 'personal' leave after a convenient 6 week break... The bulldogs are quite adept at using smoke screens and finding nothing after their own investigations. Maybe Tom Morris got too close to the truth of what happens at the kennel...