Lucifers Hero

Maybe hold back comments until you hear it.

The post I was responding to was Trac's family 'clearly not being interested'. I was referrinng to her lack of contact with his family when he was in icu., not meaning she should have contacted him directly at that time. I can see how it could have been read differently,

What! How did you draw that conclusion. The impression I got she didn't try, even when he was in ICU. It doesn't take long to say: We are concerned is their anything we can do. It didn't sound like anyone else extended that thought either at the time it really mattered ie in the aftermath of the injury.

Managers saying a player is happy and going nowhere is the equivalent of a Board saying a coach has their full support ...

Well done for giving a balanced view.

All fair points. I would expect some fallout over a Vice Captain leaving his home state and club while contracted. imv it is the last point that is causing the angst in our world ie the last straw after a very disappointing year both on and off the field. And it highlights the lack of club leadership in managing the 'turbulence' over the past year.

Tom Barrass: a born and bred WA player 3 years to run on his contract a premiership player the club's Vice Captain has requested a trade across the country to Victoria. Tom Barrass will be traded to Hawthorn. No known trauma, no homesickness. He just pulls up stumps and there is barely a sound. I would have thought his trade is just as big news and just as big a 'betrayal' of club and fans as the potential Petracca trade... I'll let posters reflect on how that has been managed compared to our apparent club and players trashing each other. And please spare me the finger pointing that goes only one way.

A lot is made of Petracca asking for a 7 year deal. It was a typical 5-7 year contract for our better players: Salem, Brayshaw, Viney, Oliver. They were all signed coming into FA and were related to terms ($/years) other clubs would offer. I don't recall anyone holding a gun to Lamb's or Richardson's heads to sign any of those deals. Realistically all hell would have broken loose if any of them went elsewhere as FA's and we received an AFL comp pick in the mid to high teens. I get people are frustrated with the current uncertainty but some circumspection when hyperbole is generated by the unthinking, click bait motivated media, would be handy on here. I'm not saying he doesn't have an obligation to fulfill his contract just that the 7 years wasn't unusual for us or the industry for those players.

With all our own dramas, this event has gone unrecognised. changes-that-helped-greater-western-sydney-giants-star-jesse-hogan-finally-realise-his-potential Rapt for Jesse after a checkered career to date. Great reward for his hard work. Still one of my favourite players. He (and captain Toby) are the only reasons the finals hold any interest. Hope Jesse adds a 🥇 to the Coleman and holds up 🏆

My reference to 'people at the club' included players ... they might be peeved at Petracca but why are they going to the media... imv people at the club and people for Petracca are feeding this fiasco. The sooner it gets taken behind closed doors and everyone shuts up the better.

All that may be correct. . But who is going to be the 'bigger person' and try and sort it out rather than beat each other over the head in the media. I see only the club can initiate that. To some extent I wonder if it suits the club to have this horrible side show as it detracts from the other issues at the club. While not specific the club has said there are issues. Christian could end up being the fall guy in more ways than one. tbh, I'm shattered at what is happening to Christian, to our beloved club, to us supporters. As I've said the only way I see an end to the public agony is to get a mediator. I wonder what happened to that 'Leading Teams' that worked with PJ in the early days. Then one of that team stayed as PJ's direct advisor. (Note it wasn't the same team the Crows used.) I've tried hard to not play the blame game, consider both sides and seek a path to a resolution one way or the other; a futile quest. Anyway, I'm out.

I guess we will never know where all the leaks are coming from. The club has acknowledged there are issues among which are player complaints. What I think the club is responsible for is allowing things to get to the point where the club is divided. I don't know who is advising the club on its comms but as you say it is very messy and imv sometimes inconsistent. I didn't like the hard line on 'contracted'. imv the club just has to get this to a negotiating table and get it out of the media as best as one can.

Understand your views. In my experience stuff doesn't get to this level of messiness if there is goodwill by both parties and both parties are invested in a solution. My underlying point still stands: it is time to stop the bickering and get a mediator. And I don't have confidence in those at the club to do this.

Thank you. stand corrected.

It seems to me people at the club are also feeding the media. eg That it was uncomfortable having Petracca at the club function last Sat night. Players are angry at Petracca and want him out ... Petracca asked to be traded at the exit interview. I assume the only the attendees were Petracca, Goodwin and maybe Richardson. That to me doesn't look like a club that wants to mend a relationship. Both parties are trying to discredit each other. Both parties are damaging the club. Its getting ugly and will become a very messy divorce. The sooner they both stop feeding the media the better. imv its time to bring in a neutral mediator and get the differences on the table and talk them out. I don't have confidence that anyone at the club knows how to do such mediating.

I was referring to the the rules allowing a reduction in the sanction rather than would we be successful. Would we have a case on down grading from 'severe'? I wold say so: he bounced straight up and played on, no trainer even went to him. Very different than when someone is knocked out cold and has to helped from the ground. imv the latter is 'severe'. I reckon there is a Kozzie 'tax' in the MRO's 'severe' grading.

I was going to give that a 💗until I saw the Hawks part ... sorry.

As it would be an appeal for the MRO sanction (rather than a Tribunal sanction) there is a bit more room eg if the classification is reduced from 'severe impact' to something lower (high, medium or low) then the penalty would come down accordingly.

Thanks for that info. I hope he was referring to the 24 to 28 yo which I agree is our weak spot. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the interview so I don't have the context of his comment. Unless there is something wrong with my arithmetic, replacing the older players departing with some in that key demographic group is making us younger which doesn't fit his comment ...

What a guy! I choked up reading that. I still think of him as 'Our Jesse'.💞

Hmmm, not convinced. Of the names mentioned only ANB has been best 22 this year. Losing those older players might make us younger but they haven't really helped our performance this year. If anything their presence has meant we lacked depth (younger) players elsewhere. Anyway, will nervously wait and see what happens.

100% agree. 😼 We lose older/experienced players like ANB, BB and probably Tommo this year so adding players in the critical 25-27 age group will make us younger!! It seems like he is targetting players around 30yo!!🤷‍♀️

Not sure where to put this. Somewhere I read that Richardson said 'we need to get older not younger.' That doesn't compute: we have the 3rd oldest list and the 2nd most experienced list. And, we won the premiership with one of the youngest and least experienced lists. He (and TL) doesn't have a good track record of player trades since taking over as GM, FD 3 years ago so his comment makes me nervous. Very nervous! I hope Richardson doesn't turn us into a 'dad's army'!

Jesse 😊 Reckon there is still some ❤️and 💙in his heart.

It seems many want Petracca to make a statement to protect the club/its brand and for our recruiting. Considerations: The mfc brand has been trashed for a year with the some player indiscretions and other reports during the year on our supposedly 'poor culture'. Our slide down the ladder wouldn’t be helping our recruiting. With the exception of one reasonable year from Hunter we have not been able to recruit a single best 22 player for 3 years. Reasons why? Houston’s ‘change of mind’ has been blamed on Petracca. As others have said it is probably to ‘save face’ because we won’t pay Port’s asking price of two 1st round picks. I may be wrong but I haven't read that we were prepared to pay that price. A Petracca statement may appease mfc fans but I doubt it will get the muck raking media off mfc’s back nor convince a potential recruit to join mfc.