Lucifers Hero

The AFL website article: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-09/dons-deny-club-reached-out-to-underworld-figure It quotes Lindsay Tanner as saying: "Allegations of ... dealings with Mick Gatto are false. Inappropriate demands and threats made upon Essendon Football Club have been reported to the AFL integrity department and on its advice, Victoria Police have been contacted." Elliot's allegation is reported to be a request for a meeting with Gatto, not 'dealings' as Tanner puts it. Elliot is not alleging a meeting or 'dealings' took place so he may be correct. I could guess what the 'demands and threats' were! Does anyone else get a sense those were made some time ago and the Worksafe claim is a result of no satisfaction from EFC. Wallis and Elliot are disgruntled. It seems most other people walked away with a bit of coin in their pockets but they didn't. A Worksafe claim for stress is their way of getting it. The bombers should have paid them off as well. Popcorn time again!

Someone was certain to spill the beans at some stage. Looks like it is only just starting! Wallis has always played mean not caring who he hurt in the process. Hasn't changed. Just hope our coach is not brought up in the allegations related to staff injecting. The AFL declared him innocent so not a problem but that wouldn't stop media making a fuss if they want to deflect attention. Goodwin is now the most senior ex Ess person still in the AFL so would be an easy target. It would be a terrible distraction for us.

Upping the price like that and there being no General Admissions makes a mockery of what that game is supposed to be about. It was supposed to acknowledge (and at one time, honour) what ANZAC stands for and to give the everyday citizen that goes to the dawn service, has breakfast a chance to then go and watch a game of footy. It is now the preserve of the well heeled and well organised. Lost all its ANZAC meaning at the altar of greed (and drug cheating). I hope our ANZAC Eve game always embodies the ANZAC spirit where anyone can get in and it stays a game for the regular 'Joe'.

Yes, so very familiar. ...and the doctor's records went missing doctor was the only one that knew what was in the bag but knows it was not the illegal stuff no records of purchasing the legal stuff but had bought more than what was needed of the illegal stuff that Wiggins had medical exemptions for in some cases. No explanation as to where the extra illegal stuff went. UKAD had met with 'a degree of resistance' in their investigation no audit trail the doctor works for the team and the governing body It is chapter and verse the EFC story! They learnt the art of obfuscation very well. Can only hope that UKAD has the fortitude of USAD (Lance Armstrong) and ASADA (Essendon) to relentlessly pursue Wiggins and Team Sky.

It seems the EFC apologists cannot win anywhere: McDevitt cleared of lying allegations by the Senate Estimates Committee. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/senate-estimates-committee-clears-ben-mcdevitt-over-false-evidence-claim-20170301-guom9v.html Importantly, he states the requested Senate Inquiry won't change anything: "One plain fact I would make is the obvious point that a Senate inquiry cannot have the effect of setting aside the rulings of either the finding of lawfulness of ASADA's actions by the full bench of the Federal Court, nor of the findings of doping violations against Essendon players by the Court of Arbitration for Sport," he said. "A second plain fact I make is that so far as anti-doping matters can be litigated, either on merit or process, the Essendon matters have been finalised." It is good and important that those facts are on the record in the Senate, which is where the requested Senate Inquiry will be considered. McDevitt is a clever man.

Caroline has her say: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-20170224-gukxno.html These two paragraphs sum it up rather nicely: "The varying degrees of delusion in that bunker occupied by Paul Little, James Hird, Mark Thompson and Danny Corcoran can be summed up by concluding that all were in desperate positions but none – at least in the recording – showed contrition for the damage they had caused and were continuing to create". "Those who allowed this to happen should be so ashamed of themselves that any personal grievances remain red herrings to what they put their players through. And the side issue in the form of a push for a parliamentary inquiry smacks of an attempt to rewrite the key facts of the club's dreadful recent history." She makes very strong links of Bomber to the recording.

I can think of a few things that might make that 'pivotal moment' when the Republican Party will no longer support him. Agree when that moment is is anyone's guess. But for now, the phrase: "give him enough rope and ..." comes to mind.

Sigh, not sure anyone is listening re non-Trump posts, Macca. But I'll take up your invitation! Here is an interesting comment about the worries regarding Trumps state of mind after Thursday's press conference: "President Trump's mental state is like a train that long ago left freewheeling and iconoclastic, has raced through indulgent, chaotic and unnerving, and is now careening past unhinged, unmoored and unglued." http://www.theage.com.au/world/americans-take-an-anxious-journey-to-the-centre-of-donald-trumps-mind-20170219-gugc6j.html The Republicans must be getting very worried with his rants, his inane 'fake news' claims and the smoke screens he constructs. They know how much Trump was/is involved with the Russians and are keeping their powder dry. They will not impeach him until he has gone over the line or over the edge one way or another. When it suits them they will pounce. The White House has become a great stage for the very best of Machiavellian dramas!! If it wasn't all so serious, it would be a great laugh!

Hird had some early lessons in cheating it seems. The AFL should take the 2000 premiership off them, and give it to us

Sean Spicer will be next. He can't get the correct pronunciation of names of Heads of State. His latest faux pas was "Joe" Trudeau and he was reading from a script which said Justin Trudeau, Prime Minster of Canada. Not that hard really! And it seems Trump has it in for him and his ill fitting suits and was most aghast at the parody of Spicer on SNL!! No, Spicer won't last long.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-02-14/keilty-puts-teammates-ahead-of-himself A humble young man. Clearly wanted to be a Demon! “If I had an option between every club, Melbourne would’ve always been number one for me – especially this year with the alignment and being in close quarters with them...It’s probably turned out the best, but I didn’t have much interest [in going to any other clubs] besides Melbourne.” He will repay the faith shown in drafting him. Hope he gets a chance at the seniors at some stage this year.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/jobe-watson-has-returned-his-2012-brownlow-medal-to-the-afl-20170208-gu8g0o.html A bit more info on return of the medal: "The delivery of the medal was handled by McLachlan, Watson and Watson's father Tim". But Gil is still stalling: "...the league CEO added he had "no idea" what the AFL would do with the relinquished Brownlow." There is only one thing to do - Melt it down so that no-one can gain any future commercial value from it. And Gil should demand Essendon take out the 2012 Brownlow medal from Watson's profile on their website!

Last night I said to a friend I would be surprised if many of the 10 banned players returning at Essendon will get senior games, as most of them were not often in the best 22 in 2015. Today I saw this: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-06/no-guarantees-for-returning-bombers-says-worsfold Oh my, how the narrative has changed! A few months ago it was 'we can't wait to get them back' implying back on the park playing senior football. Now its: "...Worsfold said there would be no guarantees given to the group ahead of the home and away season, with no extra loyalty afforded their way for knocking back rival offers to come back to Essendon after their suspensions". I'm surprised to hear Worsfold say that in public. It is such a blatant contrast to the club's adulation of players showing their loyalty by signing up again. Clearly loyalty is a one way street!! We will never know what they were told before signing up or if this is an about face. If the latter well silly players for trusting that club again!

For Robbo: Yes it does matter. The medal is now not just a piece of tin. It is now a real collectors item simply because of the rarity of its 'provenance'. And he is still the official winner on the EFC website. http://www.essendonfc.com.au/player-profile/jobe-watson For them nothing has changed and the AFL is condoning the lie. Its an insult to the history of the Brownlow and to Mitchell and Crotchin. Jobe must give it back and his name expunged from all records not just an asterisk beside his name.

I will barrack for every team that plays Essendon. I would like them to lose as many games as possible so will be going for the Hawks, albeit through gritted teeth! The lesser of two evils so to speak!

Here is Hird snr response to Patrick Smith's articles: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/patrick-smith-ignores-the-truth-in-his-articles-on-my-son-james-hird/news-story/722b0db398c399c6fc82b7dac1ff7cff Nothing worth quoting - it is a rehash of the whole saga from go to whoa. Full of should've, could've, would've. Calling for a Senate enquiry. He didn't mention whether he had been to see his son, James; one doubts that he has - it would have been all over the news if he had. Or he would have made a comment about James's wellbeing/progress somewhere in the article. One would think visiting your son when unwell would be a far better way to support him and his family than a rant. Interesting, that Cronulla (who just happened to win the 2016 premiership) are not joining the band wagon to have a Senate enquiry into ASADA etc. Cronulla are winners; Essendon et al are sore losers - still bellyaching about the umpires decsion.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/01/18/sheedy-hird-should-never-have-coached-without-prior-experience/ I rarely agree with Sheedy but I do this time when he says Hird '...should never have been allowed to coach without having acquired experience as an assistant beforehand.' Shame he said the exact opposite when Hird was appointed. If he had spoken up back then he could have saved everyone a lot of grief! On SEN Sheedy was rewriting history, again!

Fair comments, x. I also applaud Smith for exposing the mistruths, the blaming and the rewriting of history in recent weeks. It irked me that he used the inanimate 'this column' to express 'its' concern rather than the more humane 'I'. So, I would have preferred he said nothing at all about concern rather than make insincere platitudes. His exposure of the mistruths would have been just as powerful without that last line, afterthought. I guess, I feel that anyone who has reached the end of the line, regardless of the enormity of their sins or being the master of their own demise, is deserving of some compassion simply because they are human and in a very dark place. Just my feelings tho'. Not sure how much support Hird will get from his family and friends. He seems to have burnt them off over recent years. He is a lonely man in a dark place; yes of his own making. I for one, wish him well in getting his life back together again.

It looks like a lot of people took Smith to task over that article http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/patrick-smith/column-did-not-trivialise-mental-health-merely-corrected-mistruths/news-story/8bf3e8994292acd11efdb6f3260d85bc A few more truths from Smith: Between Hird’s hospitalisation and (Smith's) Monday’s column, history was rewritten. No one seemed to think this regurgitation of Hird’s fall from grace and good health was inappropriate or could be a hindrance to his recovery. Hird was not bullied but given poor advice and made misjudgments of his own. That is why he is under expert treatment, his life spiralling down a dark hole of his and others’ making. This column again expresses its great concern for Hird and his family. Just as it repeatedly did last Monday. While I agree with the truths, Smith's lack of empathy and compassion is a disappointing position by a senior journalist eg 'This column expresses its great concern..." as the only words of support are rather feeble for Hird or others in a similar situation, even one of their own making.

Now it is Sheedy keeping Hird on the front page: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/essendon-bombers/kevin-sheedy-launches-defence-of-james-hird-says-he-is-loved-20170113-gtqrn4.html His (ex) lawyer, his father and now his mentor - all keeping him in the news. All intent in pointing the finger at the 'drugs saga'/AFL. All profess to care about his welfare and that of his family. Whatever the causes of his illness this has become an incredibly sad saga. His family are the innocent parties and the ones being hurt the most. That his three sons have (apparently) stopped playing aussie rules is really sad. They now play soccer. I would hate for my child to go to school, sport etc and be taunted in a way only kids can. An attempted suicide is terrible enough for a family to deal with, without having it splashed in the news every 5 minutes. All the people who profess to care should just stop and think about the kids before they say anything. Then they should keep quiet.

That is because they accepted responsibility because 'it happened on their watch' even if they didn't know/weren't involved. They did the honourable thing, fell on their sword and resigned. They and their families have moved on without stigma. James did not accept the 'it happened on my watch' principle, disclaimed any responsibility and decided to fight it tooth and nail. That was is right and his choice. And he has paid a heavy price for that choice but it was his choice. He and his family have not moved on.

I doubt it will be while Gil is at the helm...unless Gil starts to worry about the 'bad look' from the AFL being blamed for Hird's ill health. Or some Essendon people in high places (eg Victoria Premier, Victoria Governor) might start leaning on Gil. And as we all know Gil can be quite 'flexible' when it suits him or when his precious image/government funding are at stake.

Ok, the publicity seeker comment was rather tongue-in-cheek. You are quite right I don't know the issues but I was not speculating. In fact, I chose to not quote the comments made about the personal issues by his father. And I stand by the point that if, as a father, Hird snr wanted to protect his son and his family he would say nothing. I see you find the commentary on here in poor taste and if it upsets you so, maybe its best to not open the thread for a while. In the meantime I'm happy to let the moderators delete anything they feel is inappropriate.

Maybe Hird snr also has a narcissistic streak and likes to see his own name in the papers and hear his voice on radio! Re others' comments on James' mental health issues. I don't doubt they are genuine but I do doubt the ASADA saga is the primary cause. There have been enough not so oblique references in the news (even from his father's interview) to indicate the issues are deeply personal. The AFL/ASADA et al are convenient red herrings. That isn't necessarily a bad thing to protect the family but a better way of protecting them is to simply shut up!

yes...and all has gone quiet on the Jobe: give back the medal story. Sam McClure made a valiant attempt but I reckon the AFL shut him down quick smart! The AFL wants Jobe to quietly keep it, so no noise from the media thanks! 'Independent' AFL media = puppets on a string!!