Lucifers Hero

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!!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/james-hird-taken-to-hospital-with-major-health-scare/news-story/d3510ef3cd113de4b1928e08aaaee9b4 Quote: But Channel Seven said Hird was taken to Cabrini Hospital at “10.07pm last night after an intentional poisoning overdose”. The substance wasn’t revealed. It’s believed Hird left the hospital earlier today and is receiving care elsewhere. I have zero respect for Hird and abhor what he did but I don't wish him any ill, after all he has children, family and friends who have been and are seriously affected by the trauma he has and is going thru. If that quote is correct Hird is clearly not a well man. I think this is a time to put grievances aside.

Not really - its done when Jobe gives back the medal.

Mitchell actually said he had not spoken to Jobe. There is more evidence to support my proposition than the 'possibilities' presented in that post.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/trent-cotchins-show-of-respect-to-jobe-watson-before-2012-brownlow-medal-handover/news-story/efa34588fe750031ee718abcbe3503b6 An interesting piece of intrigue: "...as the AFL still refused to say where Watson’s medal was and whether he had given it back". That has a hollow ring of truth - if it was given back they would say so, right? Probably part of the 'deal', something like - no problem, Jobe, yeah just tell the media you will give it back but tuck Charlie away in a bottom draw for a while and keep it quiet. Set up right there for some future amnesty and 'return' of the medal to 'poor Jobe'...probably to coincide with his intro to he "Hall of Shame Fame". The AFL are truly a disgrace. Many of us have said it on DL, if it wasn't for the love of the Dees I would give AFL away.

Cotchin and Mitchell are now the official 2012 Brownlow medalists. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/sam-mitchell-and-trent-cotchin-get-2012-brownlow-medals-20161213-gt9u65.html Interesting that Crotchin contacted Jobe: "I've reached out to Jobe. I thought that was the right thing to do," Mitchell on the hand: 'Mitchell was even briefer when asked if he was thinking of Watson..."No, I'm going to leave that," Mitchell said'. Its pretty clear what Mitchell thinks! His silence backs up his syringe in the arm 'mime' of a few years ago. Good on him for not giving credence to the 'poor Jobe' charade that seems to have infected most in the wider AFL world. Edit: Sam McClure is making a strong case for Jobe to actually hand back the medal http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/sam-mitchell-and-trent-cotchin-have-their-2012-brownlow-medals-jobe-its-time-to-hand-yours-back-20161214-gtb3pr.html Quotes: The AFL doesn't have it. Essendon say they don't want to know where it is. Watson himself is telling people he's unsure of its exact location. In fact, the AFL is adamant that the location of the medal is of no interest to it. So Jobe keeps his medal after all. Rather insulting to Crotchin and Mitchell.

Really? Care to reference? I've seen articles about Heppell taking over when Jobe hangs up his boots but not next year...could have missed them.

An interesting picture from this article: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dyson-heppell-renovated-rejuvenated-and-ready-to-captain-essendon-20161124-gsx1vl.html On the captaincy: "I feel I'm ready," he says." Call me cynical but it cannot be a coincidence that Heppell is standing in front of Jobe's locker - a message for Jobe - time to move on pal...!! Sure the photographer set it up but Heppell would have known exactly where he was and the significance of it. Combined with Worsfold's commetns about Jobe doubting his passion, it looks like Jobe is being eased out, none too subtly either. No wonder Jobe is disillusioned. That club would have imploded without him. Deserves to keep the captaincy.

Short and 'sweet' from ASADA: "...This man {Dank} should not be allowed near any athlete, anywhere in the world, ever," McDevitt said. Here, Here!! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-throws-out-stephen-dank-appeal-after-noshow-20161128-gsz99f.html

Lots of articles this morning about Jobe losing his passion to play after 'losing' his brownlow. An odd reaction if he voluntarily surrendered it. Of course here on Demonland we figure the AFL backed him into a corner, with promises of hero type headlines and some future sweeteners. Bitter taste in Jobe's mouth one would think. Maybe being back at Bomberland and in the thick of it again brought back the reality of playing for that dodgy club again... Bitter taste in Jobe's mouth one would think. Whatever, it was he is clearly disillusioned and probably won't play again! Of course the millions he gets as EFC settlement may have something to do with it. He would be asking himself - why put himself thru the grueling work and probably not even make finals in his likely last season. He can go and live in the Big Apple for a while and come back to take up those AFL sweeteners. Crikey, if the culprit, Hird is being lined up for media work imagine the offers coming the way of Hero Jobe.

Correct. Which is why the only plausible reason Dank has to call Cox as a witness is to discredit CAS. Whether he gets past first base is another matter. Yes, I also said it and Cox are irrelevant to Dank's ban.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/stephen-dank-to-be-questioned-in-open-court-over-doping-allegations/news-story/39bcb88f6f7aaff12c28d879bf96fd59 The appeal for his life time ban will be held in open court and is effectively a 'de novo' hearing. Interestingly: "The first witness in Dank’s appeal is expected to be Dr James Cox, a biochemist from the University of Utah who provided scientific analysis for the World Anti-Doping Agency in its case against the Essendon players argued last November before the Court of Arbitration for Sport" Not sure why that is relevant as Dank's life time ban was imposed before the CAS hearing took place. It looks more like a Dank ploy to discredit CAS! And the AFL thought the saga was over! It seems the 'Fat Lady' has an encore!

They are just paving the way for him to be admitted to the Hall of Fame after he retires. After all he is such a good bloke and he saved them the trouble of stripping him of it... The AFL has not accepted he cheated. They would would say they did not ban him, nor take away the medal - its those nasty CAS people (and their stupid forfeiture rules) who have no idea about AFL and how things work down here. AFL would point to the AFL Tribunal findings exonerating the players therefore according to their logic, on matters to which CAS has no jurisdiction, they apply their Tribunal findings: Innocent!!. The AFL - a law unto themselves!

A great decision! No way could Watson stay as the notional winner, with or without an asterisk!! The integrity of the Brownlow 'Best and Fairest' has been restored.

In an article last week Chip Le Grand wrote that in the evidence Jobe gave CAS he said his injections ceased in May (later changed to maybe early July). It is interesting that Jobe received 26 of his 30 votes in the first 13 rounds of the 2012 season. Of the last 9 rounds (ie after the injections stopped) he polled only 4 votes in just 2 games!! Now, I have no idea what Dank gave him or whether Jobe knew what he was getting but it sure looks odd that once the injections stopped his form fell off the cliff. So yes, the 2012 voting looks tarnished and removing Jobe's votes (as they would any other suspended, ineligible player in any other year) does not and should not deny Cotchin and Mitchell their right to the medal. The AFL fear giving them the medal as to do so it effectively accepts Jobe's suspension was as a drug cheat; that he won it unfairly. It enables them to maintain some pretense about legal necessities and window dressing ie some anonymous, international body 'forced' him to give it back, we didn't strip him of it, we did not suspend him etc. Until they award it to Mitchell and Crotchin - Watson will remain the notional winner. That cannot stand in the record books.

I think Newton's fate was sealed before we got Lewis but don't want to update info until these things are said by the club (Ditto Dawes, rookies etc) I was simply answering your question about pick 84 and the number of vacancies we may have.

All those interpretations are correct. Re pick 84 - Newton's future is also in the balance and would can give us another list spot to fill - then we can use #84 at the draft... Another general comment: I am keeping the 2016 Contract thread upto date with all changes re demons. People should look at it before positing scenarios.