Lucifers Hero

If he is it will be described as a little 'hiccup' - the new preseason malaise! Frost is coming along fine so he can step in. We now have depth! Anyway, round 1 is still 9 weeks away and Tommy has a lot of preseasons under his belt so he can come into the side when cleared to play.

Thanks DS. I must have missed that in the press on the east cost. In some respects I prefer they aren't DFA's. DFA's will hurt EFC but also another club gets a 'free' player and it is probably going to be a top 4 team. This makes the strong clubs, stronger and IMHO is just as bad for the game and any semblance of equalisation. Edit: Heaven forbid that if EFC lose a few good players to DFA the AFL may deem 'unique circumstances' and give them a priority pick or 2. I put nothing past the AFL. I prefer they leave it alone and players who want to go get traded. Clubs can now trade future picks so EFC can get market value for them. But at least it doesn't distort the draft or give other clubs 'free' players.

I'm mot sure if the AFL have announced what will happen re the 12 at eos. As I see it there are several options: 1. AFL allow Delisted FA status and players walk with no compensation to EFC (Can't see the AFL letting this happen.). 2. AFL allow FA status and EFC will get AFL determined compensation (which you can bet the AFL will err on the generous side). 3. AFL do not allow any FA status and players request trades and EFC get picks/players (as determined by the 'market'). I prefer option 3 - the AFL do nothing - it is the fairest to the rest of the comp especially in terms of the draft. Also any club taking an FA/DFA doesn't get a player for free. However, I fear it will be option 2. It is by far the best outcome for EFC. I would be willing to bet EFC will do a deal with the AFL to make this happen. If they lose the likes of Hurley, Hooker, Watson you could easily see them all getting band 1 compo picks. That is a lot of high end round 1 picks. There is no doubt in my mind there is no limit to what the AFL will do to help EFC. It is wrong but as we know the AFL is a law unto itself.

Just goes to show how the journos selective quotes can slant a story. Did Roos sound peeved that CP had injured his toe or is that also the way he was quoted? Thanks for the clarification 'rjay'

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/christian-petracca-injury-melbourne-demons-youngster-could-still-make-early-season-debut/news-story/2d54dd1e8a11921b2a3ae286a0f6f9fb Roos clearly isn't happy with Petracca's toe! “It was a learning thing for him and we were obviously really disappointed in what he did because he was going really well prior to Christmas,” Roos told SEN... his knee was coming along really nicely, but it set him back 4-6 weeks. It sounds like Petracca wasn't following rehab rules to me. Roos goes on to say: “He’ll be playing somewhere in that period ... If he trains really, really well and he starts to play well at whatever level, then he’s certainly entitled to a game...“That’s the process he’ll need to go through in order to do that.” There is a slight hint there that no matter how ready he is he will not be allowed to play in the seniors in rnd 1. A penalty perhaps? He is going to be made to earn that first game and I like that. Its really important that the club sets certain behaviour standards and if it means a player misses a game to do that so be it. Methinks that Petracca owes the coaches and his teammates!

A really frank assessment of where he is at from Jack: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-01-21/camp-one-of-the-best-trengove He is highly motivated to get back and play with the guys and to 'prove a few people wrong'. Says when he joins the main group for training will be a significant day in his recovery. But this comment left me a little uncertain as to whether he will play again: “I figure now that I’m playing on borrowed time, so anything I achieve now is a real bonus,” In another article on our website Jack says: “It’s just a matter of getting comfortable kicking the footy, running around the ground, pushing off the foot and getting tackled. I’ve got to tick them off over the next couple of weeks, but it’s all going to plan at this stage.” Some big things to tick off by the sound of it before he can join the main group for training. I know it is a different injury but I think of Daniel Menzel's comeback rnd 22 last year after 3 years out so it makes me optimistic that Jack can come back as he is still young and time is on his side...borrowed or otherwise. It will be a very emotional day when Jack runs out in the red and blue thru our banner again.

That is why I would like to see one of the strong AFL clubs eg Hawthorn speak up loudly, as Eddie has gone all quiet! Otherwise the AFL will just steam roll their way thru'.

I was wondering why Eddie hasn't come out and vigorously condemned the Kelty statement. Eddie would go ballistic if a penny of AFL money was to go to the Swans! ...then I remembered that Kelty is the Chairman of the Board of David Evans' company of which Eddie is a Board member. So, hard to separate Essendon from the AFL swyl especially when all the other relationships between key players are considered. So with Eddie gone quiet, which AFL Club Chairman is going to speak up for the other 17 16 clubs and lobby strongly for their interests...just to keep everyone 'honest'...yes, I know that is an oxymoron in current circumstances. It needs a strong club to go in to bat...Hawthorn would be a good one to step up to the plate.

Viney claims another victim...sort of "The star midfielder then broke the little finger in his right hand when it connected with teammate Jack Viney's elbow in a training drill in early December." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-01-20/vince-set-to-resume-full-training-after-injury-woes?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Vince's comment about gymnastics was insightful: "Vince said a key benefit of gymnastics was practising the art of falling gracefully to reduce the risk of injury when landing". The preseason footy (and other) skills work must be much more fun than straight fitness work and hopefully it pays off in less turnovers for in season games!

I suspect that any of the 12 that sue EFC are flagging they won't be playing for the bombers when their suspension ends. A fellow on bf has started a thread cleverly called the 'Dirty Dozen'...it asks posters to vote on who they think will stay at EFC. That Jobe is one to 'throw down the gauntlet' is significant as he has been the glue that has kept the 34 unified throughout. Really feel for the guy. He has been a stalwart for three years now seems to have had enough.

Apparently, EFC have offered all 12 players a one year extension to existing contracts. Probably gives the fringe players a chance for another go and ensures the younger ones don't go elsewhere. Yet to see how many take up the offer. But it could backfire if they have list management issues, having to keep players at the end of the year they would otherwise have retired or delisted.

Ahmed Saad also wants to play for the bombers! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ahmed-saad-keen-to-play-for-bombers-brian-lake-rules-it-out-20160113-gm5atf.html Go figure! Surreal if they take him.

He went on to say there was no direction from the club to keep the supplement regime a secret or not to put the supplements on declaration forms for ASADA testing. You have to wonder what the players made of those comments!! I guess he has thrown everyone else under the bus, why not the players! That article and comments are based on a Q&A by the audience after the Holmes interview. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/james-hird-answers-questions-from-the-audience/7096276 One question was about why the 13 players who didn't participate. He waffled before saying 'it was optional'! Hmmmm... Its interesting, during the Holmes interview Hird's body language and eye contact were statuesque like. Both waivered a number of times during the (unscripted) Q&A...he even squirmed a little. The audience asked smarter questions than Holmes did!

spot on dc and as long as the training is not associated with any afl related or associated club ie they cannot coach the little league for example. I also heard kb say that players can for example use Melbourne storm facilities but can't train with the club.

That is what AFLPA appears to be aiming for. However, they will never get their integrity back. I think this is why they are smarting. Bearing in mind the CAS suspension was 2 years, less 1 year (to the date of AFL Tribunal), less 4 months (for provisional suspension served). Net result 11 months. I think the players could accept a guilty verdict and 11 months suspension if they had been given a 1 year (50%) discount for 'no significant fault' (say instead of the 1 year backdating) as it would exonerate them from any fault ie support their 'we were doped and duped' line so they could walk away saying they it wasn't their fault. If that happened they would not have to wear the 'drug cheat' label. Whether AFLPA succeed in any of their 'get around WADA rules' plans is yet to be seen. I suspect WADA will be watching carefully, certainly the 17 still playing AFL and especially the EFC 12.

Yes, a small fortune. I wish I knew what the WADA do's/don'ts were for players under suspension. I think it is something along the lines of not being able to do anything/anywhere associated with or sponsored by the AFL. I have posted earlier that I expect a very early 'out of court settlement' with EFC/AFL to get money to players asap (especially for those with families). I also posted that EFC coterie's might fund a non-afl related training program. The AFL fully funds AFLPA so I doubt it can directly pay for player training etc. So I would imagine the funding would be some combination of these. Only problem for me is that a fair chunk of the 'out of court settlement' would come from the AFL. If it is a court settlement I doubt it would constitute payment by the AFL so probably would not contravene WADA rules. I should emphasize, I am only hypothesing.

I was right on the money! Just heard KB say the AFLPA is considering taking the 34 players to an overseas (high altitude) location to train at a (non AFL) club! No mention was made of a coach but I suspect my prediction of a past AFL/VFL coach being included would happen. My thought is that the AFLPA are being very ingenious...34 players gives them the opportunity to play practice matches which not only keeps the players physically fit it enables them to stay match fit. I have to agree with Patrick Smith response that he finds the AFLPA trying to find every avenue to get around the CAS decision (because they don't like it) as obscene!

Yes, its true. On Jan 1 2015, WADA changed the penalties so that sportspeople would get 4 years instead of 2. Also, they strengthed the 'support staff' provisions so they could go after them (coaches, sports scientists, doctors, adminstrators etc.) more easily. There was some speculation at the time that these changes were, in part, a result of ASADA/WADA not being able to (readily) get to the real culprits at EFC. Edit: https://wada-main-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wadc-2015-draft-version-4.0-significant-changes-to-2009-en.pdf Section 1 covers higher penalties for 'real cheats' - (WADA words not mine) Section 4 covers support staff involved in doping. (Goodwin would have also been caught!! "A new Article 21.2.6, has been added to the Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel, which provides that “Athlete Support Personnel shall not Use or Possess any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method without valid justification.”)

And http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-01-18/hogan-aims-to-build-every-session Extract: Overall, Hogan said his pre-season had been a positive one. “I’m working a lot more on my marking and trying to take it to another level,” he said.“My running and strength is something I’ve been working on and I’ve put on a little bit of weight, so running with that is going to be a little different for me. The way I read this he putting on weight is deliberate. WOW - Jesse taking his marking to another level will be really awesome to see! Opposition backmen: Beware!

A fascinating behind the scenes look at Sunday's training. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-01-18/day-3-diary-build-up-to-big-week Some light and serious extracts: - Elite performance manager Dave Misson brings the group together with a piercing whistle - The positivity around the group is genuinely noticeable. - In the gym, draftee Clayton Oliver digs deep; Jesse Hogan works closely with McCartney in a craft session and Tom Bugg makes the most of each session. - Jim Plunkett, a facilitator from Leading Teams, oversees the session for the next two hours. He says today’s session is all about “standards and behaviours”. “It’s about setting up some really clear standards and behaviours around what it means to be a Melbourne player and put the jumper on and what we want to represent this year,” he says. - Hogan: “Tommy’s a bit of a father figure for us, so we just listen to him and we do most of the cleaning and he does most of the cooking, but it’s been good.” I liked the bit about 'what it means to ...put on the (Melbourne) jumper..' Something we all cry out for in our post-game commentary is for our players to respect and play for our jumper. Will be good to see how this plays out during the year. I hope it means they never drop their heads and never give up.

I don't really know...will edit my post to that affect.

Some well know footy commentators having a go at Hird: Dennis Cometti @DennisCometti7 Unlike Pinocchio, James #Hird's ears appear to grow with each lie #smug #cheapshot 1:54 AM - 18 Jan 2016 Dave Hughes ✔ @DHughesy Surely in this long promised tell all interview we are gonna get more about Stephen Dank than 'he made mistakes.' Surely? #hird #Abc24 Dennis Cometti @DennisCometti7 James #Hird chanelling Richard Kimble. It wasn't me, it was the one armed man #smug #hirdinterview Mark Robinson ✔ @Robbo_heraldsun Qs need asking. 1 Who told the players not tell ASADA about injections. 2 The text messages with Dank about Reid? Why the consent forms? Jon Ralph ✔ @RalphyHeraldSun It's OK Essendon 34 you can play this year because Hirdy only looks at the AFL tribunal finding, not CAS. Brilliant news Jon Ralph ✔ @RalphyHeraldSun Question that Tracey won't ask, but I wonder how hard Hird pushed Dank to testify, did he contact him to help clear the players? Surprised to see Dennis C speak up – he is usually very neutral on issues. Even Robbo and Jon Ralph are decrying Hird’s comments. Will be interesting to hear Patrick Smith and Caroline Wilson when they get back from vacation. Edit: Don't know if the above are the actual twitter for each person. Twits taken from different on-line news articles

Last night I heard Hird say he wanted to help the players by (among other things) helping them train! Really? As if anyone would trust him again. However, it does beg the question of how are the players are going to keep football fit? I think (not sure) but under WADA rules they cannot be involved with any aussie rules competition/club at any level. But it is easy to imagine an EFC coterie member organising for their 12 to train at a new neutral gym near an oval with good fitness staff and recovery facilities under the eye of a retired AFL/VFL coach. Unlikely to be Bomber Thompson but someone like him. In that scenario Bomber (or whoever) could talk to Woosha to get directions and programs for the 12. It will be very difficult for ASADA/WADA to police the rule that players cannot have contact with a club as there are 34 players spread around the country. Hope they are watching the EFC 12 closely tho. EFC have form. I fully expect them to find every way possible to get around all of WADA suspension rules.

From the article: "Claims the AFL sought a pragmatic early solution to the Essendon drama in the first half of 2013 were denied by CEO Gillon McLachlan on Tuesday night's AFL 360. Yet Aurora Andruska, the CEO of the Australian Anti-Doping Authority through the first 15 months of the saga, is on record as saying: "Their [the AFL's] objectives and ASADA's objectives are almost at odds with each other's. They are about protecting their business, protecting their brand." Andruska, it should be pointed out, was specifically lauded by Justice John Middleton of the Federal Court, in September 2014, as a "truthful witness". I can't get behind The Australian's paywall but Chip Le Grand also took up this issue in an article yesterday. He documents how Gil went to Canberra and the 'deal' they wanted. He was quite dismissive of Gil's denials on AFL360 and flippant references to Andruska's notes as 'just bits of paper', even tho they were accepted in court and he knows it! Looks like Gil can also play fast and loose with the truth.

Sadly, it can be assumed the AFL will play the 'insurer of last resort' role in this sad and sorry saga. Some would say that is appropriate as they are 'an employer' and could/would be included in any suit brought by the players. I would actually like to see the players test this in court. They won't - they might lose and anyway everyone just wants it to go away. For mine, I would like to see the AFL fight any claim against it. I am sick of them wasting any more money on EFC while so many other clubs are awash in red ink and struggle to have decent facilities etc. But it won't happen...the broom and carpet are waiting!