Lucifers Hero

The important people in this (the Brayshaw family) have forgiven. I found the conversation between Mark Brayshaw and Gaff's dad (who rang to apologise) quite moving. Both fathers and families have shown great understanding and are role models for others who find themselves in very difficult circumstances with their children. If the Brayshaws can move on surely the rest of us can be equally forgiving - even if some with elephant like memories never forget.

I too feel for Gaff for a number of reasons: He is genuinely heartbroken for the incident. He knows what it is like to be the victim. 2 years ago he was on the receiving end of a Jonas elbow to his head. It was in a marking contest but Gaff had no idea it was coming. Jonas got 6 weeks. Some argued it should have been 8. He now has 8 months to sweat it out before taking the field again and have a chance to redeem his reputation. Players play to participate in finals and hopefully win a premiership. Missing 2 to 4 finals is a bigger penalty than 8 home and away games. On DL we are especially emotional over this incdent because Andy is Gus' little bro and most are keenly interested in getting Gaff to our club. Any other two players from other clubs and I doubt it would have anywhere near as much attention. Gaff at the Dees? I think he fits the Goodwin type player of tough, competitive and humble. The way he has conducted himself in the aftermath of a very sad episode says a lot about his character. Edit: Thanks @MSFebeyfor adding the video of the Jonas/Gaff incident in post below. Gaff was out cold before he hit the ground and stayed there for a very long time. A player does not easily forget the damage a hit to the head can do. Gaff's remorse is especially compelling in the circumstances.

It was Ross Lyon that gave Gaff the 4 coaches votes!! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-07/theres-no-winners-here-lyon-on-gaff-ban Lyon was clearly emotional in his press conf but didn't let that affect his judgement. Second best on the ground, he said so he got the 4 votes. Simpson on the other hand didn't give him a single vote - didn't rate Gaff's game/performance.

Again, that is true. I was referring to Gaff's reaction (none too happy with Simmo) and how it might affect his decision to stay or go.

Gaff's lawyers 'Great Gaffe' - Grace just said: "My submission is you should impose a penalty at the lower end of the range, which commences at three years... I mean three weeks." OOps, that is a serious freudian slip!!

That may be true but it probably won't endear Simmo to Gaff. So I was using it as an example to add to Mach5's hint that the way WCE have handled this would make Gaff more likely to leave.

Funny you should say that - At the hearing Gaff said "I felt sick ... i was shattered. I never intended for this to happen. It was a time on the bench where you gather your thoughts and I was heartbroken. The coach talked to me and tried to keep me focussed on the rest of the game. I was rattled. I said to him 'mate I'm rattled'. No compassion from Simmo for Brayshaw or Gaff which proabably wouldn't sit well with the Gaff camp either. Eagles had the game won, there was no need for Simmo to 're-focus' him.

I didn't have the same take of Gus' comments, tbh. But Gus was very strong on the penalty. Gus said: "I will be very upset if he gets less than 7 weeks, very upset." @ about the 10.00 minute mark of the podcast. Gus is clearly and rightly not happy. Edit: Gus also said that his brother, Andrew did not play golf with Gaff last week...

My reading is that 'High' means where a player is hit ie above the shoulders. Whereas Low/Medium/Severe refers to extent of damage. So Bugg was Intentional/High/Medium. Gaff is charged with Intentional/High/Severe; a more serious offence. We know there are two rules when it comes to suspensions, one for the 'stars and one for everyone else. I agree less than 8 weeks is wrong on so many levels. Edit: you are correct No 10. The severity rating is Low/Medium/High/Severe. Bugg was rated as 'High'. My bad. We are on the same page thinking Gaff offence was worse than Bugg's so should get a higher penalty.

Given that Bugg got 6 weeks (reduced from 7 for pleading guilty) for "intentional, medium impact" and Gaff is charged with the more serious "intentional, severe impact" Gaff must get more than 6/7 weeks or it makes a mockery of the whole system. As WCE are set to challenge and if Gaff is found guilty as charged he should not be given any penalty discount. The Bugg discount was for pleading guilty not for showing remorse (which he did in spades), nor for a good MRP record. The AFL is carrying on about the 'Look of the Game'. It doesn't look too good when a kid goes off the field with his face punched in. If they really care about the 'look' and the impact of the Gaff incident on junior football then they cannot allow a reduced penalty. If the penalty is less than 8 weeks the AFL should appeal.

Wouldn't it be ironic (or poetic justice) if Andy's older brother Hamish debuts for Eagles to replace Gaff!

After the horrid picture of the aftermath it is good to see a smile on the young fella (taken while he was in the ambulance). Courage runs deep in the Brayshaw family.

Bugg actually got a lot more than 6 weeks - he has played only 3 games since and it seems he is unlikely to play for us again. Maybe the Mills incident dented his confidence. Maybe the club's NDH policy has sidelined him. Gaff is a much better player than Bugg so not sure if mfc would apply the same NDH policy. I would like to think we are consistent. Given last year's delist/trade decisions and this year's (non) selection decisions there is every indication mfc still values the NDH policy. Notwithstanding how distressing this is for everyone involved, I doubt if it would affect the club's decision on Gaff. It seems more of an aberration than a character flaw.

And 2 years after McCartney left they became a rabble again in 2017. Still are. Not necessarily the coaches - Club culture, I reckon. Coaches come and go. Culture just hangs around. Along the way there was a two year hiatus when they managed to fluke a premiership.

It is now the 'Clarkson' free after he complained to Gil over a morning coffee. Might add Hawks were/are one of the worst offenders. Sometimes umpires pay it sometimes they don't. Remember the first rule of umpiring: If it is a 50/50 call penalise Melbourne!!

Sydney has a novel solution to a training base - put the oval in the middle of the Randwick Race Course!!! "... the facility will also be used by the Swans NEAFL side, its academy as well as for junior participation". https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-field-to-be-built-in-middle-of-royal-randwick-20180709-p4zqbi.html The article doesn't say it, I would think the training oval will have the same dimensions as the MCG. An MCG sized training oval seems to be the solution for i/state teams and teams to whom the MCG isn't their Home ground. Its no mean feat to find create a training oval in the middle of inner Sydney. Good on them for being innovative.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-06/comment-blues-roos-and-saints-should-shift-focus-to-class-of-2019-mids " If the 26-year-old re-signs with the Eagles – or if he enters free agency and signs with the Demons..." Its part of a wider story on the bottom teams chasing a 'big fish'.

Very, very damning of the anti-ageing doctor at the heart of this saga. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/essendon-saga-doctor-acted-at-highest-end-of-unprofessional-conduct-20180705-p4zpry.html VCAT found “... Dr Willcourt’s conduct to be at the ‘highest end’ of unprofessional conduct,”. Yet, the penalty was just $7,000! And VCAT rejected the Medical Board's bid "... to force Dr Willcourt to undertake education and be required to practice under supervision." Should have been banned!! Instrumental in damaging the lives of 34 young men.

Absolute gold! Gave me a big LOL!

Other journos have written the same stuff so not sure why folks here are gunning for Caro. I'll reserve judgement on the content. At least we know the 5th candidate: Sam Graham - the AFL's candidate it seems. Looks to have a decent CV. One thing in the article that makes me uneasy is if Bartlett is "...determined to take a more active and vocal role in running the club." On my experience that sure ain't a President's nor a Board's job. A Board's role is to set strategy and policies and to establish corporate governance processes to make sure strategies and policies happen and to know when they don't happen. But if a Board has the right people in place it should trust them (CEO etc) to run the organisation; that is their job. The President and the Board getting overly involved in management and football matters is exactly what went wrong at Collingwood. I really hope Caro has it wrong about Bartlett's intentions.

Various organisations would be aware of options. Any one of them could have leaked it. You might have missed it CBD, Bartlett commented on the report in his interview last week. "...the Demons' plan to build a new training base and headquarters, with an area next to the MCG and Yarra Park being considered..."We're really keen and have been working with the AFL and state government to look at all options in that area," Bartlett said...We're working really hard behind the scenes … and making sure we set up the club for the next 30 to 50 years..."It's early days, but it's exciting as well." Hope that fills in the gaps. There are various options out there. My view is nothing will happen at least till after the next election so commentary by the club or others won't mean much.

I hadn't picked on posts saying the lack of a Home Facility is the major reason we can't beat top sides. It looks like faulty logic... ...we all know there are lots of reasons we struggle to beat teams around us on the ladder.

Maybe, maybe not. I would propose that if we had had the facilities of some other clubs and the attractions of other clubs then there is every chance we would be in a better position on and off the field. At some stage we need to give our club a solid future foundation and a facility like Yarra Park/Jolimont rail is the way to go. Making it happen isn't distracting anyone from their day job.

There are many benefits beyond marketing and branding: It is ineffective to have management in two separate locations (MCG and AAMI) which are themselves shared with other sports. Time wasting and inefficient communications result. More time wasting with FD staff to transport training gear to/from AAMI to Gosch's paddock Have decent player recovery, meeting room and training facilities to compete with Vic clubs to attract FA's and OOC players. Train on an MCG sized oval. It is no coincidence clubs have built or are building such training ovals at their facilities. Avoid being totally left behind by AFL clubs - look at Ess, Coll, and the future Hawthorn facilities. Bulldogs have upgraded Western Oval and have new grounds in Ballarat. Carlton will get mega $$ for Princes Park, Geelong has and will do more at Kardinia Park. StKilda is doing same at Moorabbin and North are now fund raising to upgrade Arden St. We don't even have a patch of dirt to dream of such things. In fact, even when we have a new facility in X years we still won't have what Vic clubs have now or are now building. Opportunity to consolidate our revenue base for decades into the future. Potentially easier access for fans to buy merchandise Club rooms to display our fine history and memorabilia. Some of these will directly affect our footballing abilities. Others will help the club's identity and standing in the AFL community. There is no real benefit to supporters nor should that be a motivator to mfc. For mine, walking past the Yellow and Black to get to the G will be a little bit more bearable if I know there is a mini Red and Blue version of it on the other side of Yarra Park.

Tom Morris has 'leaked' quite a few things from mfc in recent months and he was dropped from hosting the club podcast. But in this case I doubt it was a leak. I think the club would be happy to have this out there to counterbalance the negative commentary around Pert's appointment. With all the staff involved, the meeting would not have stayed quiet for long. A good move by the club to get everyone together. And, Pert's comments about not coming in to change what Jackson, Roos and Mahoney have achieved would go some way towards soothing worried staff. I like that the club had the staff 'meet and greet' prior to any press conference. It would also be reassuring to staff that Jackson will see out his contract.