Lucifers Hero

Like Roos, Misson sounds very peeved at Petracca's toe injury: '...while Misson admitted that Christian Petracca’s latest setback — a broken toe that will see him sidelined for four weeks — is a frustrating one after 12 months on the sidelines after a knee reconstruction, the club is trying to keep its expectations in check to avoid disappointment. “We were trying really hard ourselves not to get too excited (about Christian returning),” he said.  “We’ll have to cool our heels a little bit.”

Not much sympathy coming from head coach nor head of fitness for Petracca, so can't help but think that he wasn't following instructions.

The Norm Smith Curse re-enters the building!

But then again, I'm not sure he ever left, lay low for a while maybe, lurking to see our spirits rise then jolting us back into the reality of MFCSS!!

A great rap from Roos for Hunt: “Hunty’s really grown – literally. He now has an AFL body and he’s got elite speed, which we’re starting to see at training. He’s come out of his shell a bit with his personality. It’s been hard for him, when you’re not playing and you’ve been out injured for most of the time. Now, he’s back in training and really enjoying it and doing well, so he’s starting to have an impact, which is good.” – Paul Roos

For a while there Hunt was struggling to make an impact even at Casey and some doubted he would get a new contract.  We don't really have players with 'elite speed' and with 'an AFL body' but given Roos comments he will get his chances in 2016.  He provides more competition for the on-baller spots...at 187cm he is one of the taller guys vying for those 10-12 roles.

Looking forward to a really good year from him be it at Casey or the seniors.  Just hope he stays injury free and has a really good run at it.

I guess we always get platitudes in the preseason.  This one is a bit different.  Last year Grimes was dropped because his game was too self-centred.  Jones (captain that is) received a similar talk from Roos.  Both too worried about personal stats.  Both co-caps from 2014 needed to be told by the coach.  Both players improved somewhat in 2015 on the selfless scale.  But improved enough? 

We can all see that teamwork has been diabolical, especially when the going gets tough in games.  Chips down each and every player goes into 'self preservation' mode. 

The coaches are working hard to get a team ethic going.  Hope the players are listening!  We will know soon enough if this 'selfless' message means anything or just more puff.

I'll give BombayA the benefit of the doubt and say he probably meant the lowest point in Essendon's history...coming off a 100++ point thrashing by the saints while ess players couldn't be bothered in their 3rd consecutive 'annus horribilis' season...and we still lost!!!

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

And here's a season preview I found somewhere with some interesting views on where we're going.

Interesting comments about the draw and the teams we play twice - certainly tougher than the teams that finished around our part of the ladder.

Also, I hadn't realised we had 7 interstate games (plus a trip to Geelong).  2 are our home games in NT but usually this results in us having less 'other' interstate trips so overall we travel 5/6 times.  The draw looks tougher now than it did when first released. 

Reading that article makes me temper my prediction for the no of wins in 2016.  But, it may be character building - if we are to play finals in the next few years we need to become a win 'anywhere, anytime, vs anyone' team.

10 minutes ago, Dees2014 said:

It is the attitude here from Goodwin which worries me. Clearly he believes it is ok personally to take performance enhancing drugs, which very much fits into the Hird credo, who has been taking them for years through his long term friendship with Charters.  The question I have is how far does this philosophy go. Both Hird and Goodwin have demonstrated by these actions that they are not unfamiliar with obtaining and using performance enhancing drugs.

Is this the sort of mindset that we want in our coach who we hope will take us into a new golden era. You couldn't imagine highly disciplined and perfectionist coaches like Clarkson or Lyon having such slack and dodgy personal habits and thoughts.

I know people on here do not like me saying this, but why was any of this not uncovered by the MFC in their supposedly extensive due diligence, or worse still, did they simply ignore it?

I don't know why you keep harping on about this and keep criticising the club!  There was nothing to uncover as the ABC article bing181 quotes was in April 2013 and Goodwin was recruited late 2013.  The club knew all there was to know.  Do you really think the club did not grill him on it!  Do you really think they simply ignored the ABC report and other information they gathered. 

Simply, the club made a rational decision on Goodwin, weighing up the risks and making whatever contingency plans were necessary.  We now have smart operators running our club and to pot them is just plain silly...  Anyway, the subject of Goodwin's appointment was done to death on this thread about 25 pages ago! 

BTW, I think you still owe 'binman' answers to his questions.

On 23/12/2015 at 8:31 PM, Six6Six said:

Take 2 : The Truck  ==> http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-KXgjvb 

Pics show he is moving really well on his left leg...great sign as it was his left acl injured last year!

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

probably why only one of the called in players was a current essendon player?

Further to that - only one player called in was a current AFL player, anywhere.

7 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Isn't that the central point of the players' argument? That they didn't take "z"?

I'd hardly expect the players to say they took "z" if they honestly believe they did not. If they know they took "z" and haven't fessed up, that's a very different proposition.

In 2012 the players signed 'consent' forms for some type of Thymosin (lets assume the good one). 

As I mentioned the silence was during 2012 routine drug tests. 

Why did no player tested during 2012 mention the good Thymosin at the time of testing?  They believed it to be legal, knew it was WADA approved and knew they had taken it.  After all it was for the good Thymosin they signed the consent forms. 

28 minutes ago, Chris said:

I think it was around matters where Young had said there is evidence the players took x,y, and z. Here is the evidence, yet during the interviews the players on mass only mentioned x and y, why did none of them mention z when it was clearly given to them. 

The players were called in to explain why they had not mentioned z as the panel found it very disturbing that they had not mentioned it. 

Sounds like instructions were given to players on what to admit to and what to not admit to given they all failed to mention one substance. That is not a good look when uncovered. 

Just a small clarificatoin 'Chris':  I don't think it was during the ASADA interviews for their investigation of the supplements saga (where all players had time to cook up the same story). 

I think it was that the players withheld information at the time of the in season drug testing in 2012 ie while they were taking the supplements.  Players are obliged/reguired to declare any medication/supplements at these routine drug tests.  These tests are done at various intervals/samples so very difficult to collaborate en mass.  As you say they all forgot to mention z which was Thymosin (good or bad).  Looked suspicious! 

I mention the clarification (home you don't mind) as I believe it is a greater condemnation of the players silence as it was before anything had been discovered.  Rhetorical question:  why keep it a secret!!  We will find out in a few weeks!!

2 hours ago, Curry & Beer said:

Don't need to add to the thread title!

Christmas break December 19 - January 3

Probably Mon Jan 4.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-12-22/ill-help-melbourne-any-way-i-can-bugg

A bit more insight there on Bugg.

Some quotes: 

"Bugg said a strong endorsement of Melbourne by former GWS teammates Dom Tyson and Sam Frost helped make his decision a no-brainer."  Good to hear the guys are happy and spreading the word...any other GWS players we want to bring home...

“I’m really competitive and passionate when I play. You can probably see the competitiveness because I get into a few fights – I got into a little fight with Angus Brayshaw in round 23"  We might have to start a 'Thomas Bugg - you made me cry' thread...he looks a good buddy for Viney!

AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick speaks 'glowingly' of outgoing Ess Chairman, Paul Little.  Believe it or not that is what the article says!

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-chairman-mike-fitzpatrick-praises-departed-essendon-chairman-paul-little-20151221-glsoff.html

I find it staggering that Fitzpatrick would endorse anything/anyone at EFC over the last 3/4 years.  I just don't get how the AFL cannot see the damage that has been caused to their code, their 'integrity' and what fools the AFL l look when they come out with endorsements like that.

I would like, just once, for someone at the AFL to come out and strongly condemn the 'pharmacological experiment' (WADA compliant or not) and strongly condemn anyone associated with it. 

2 hours ago, Chris said:

I think both teams should get to keep their captain in the place of their first round pick in the draft. Keeps the identity at the club and nullifies any advantage from doing so. 

Agreed. 

Lets make it keep the Captain and have one pick pre draft...we can't let Taylor Harris play for anyone else. She is also a 'must keep' in my book.

If Melksham is suspended so be it.  The sooner the suspension is served the better and we get it over and done with.  He was a 20 year old kid at the time and probably just 'followed the leader'.  Nonetheless the rules apply to him as well.   

From his recent interview he seems a decent young man and I would hope a year suspension would only make him more motivated to play well and repay the faith to the Dees.    Clearly the club saw him as a long-term investment and not a stop-gap for a year or two.  We will still get many years of football from him.

7 hours ago, Barney Rubble said:

Did anyone get a chance to speak to RDB at the BBQ/ Training.

someone walking past muttered something along the lines of he's losing it.

I am presuming it may have had something to do with his memory.

I'm not sure RDB's state of health is really something for discussion on a forum, except to wish him well.

Respect is the word that comes to mind.

9 hours ago, Elusive Tunbridge said:

Scully would have been well within his rights to refuse to answer, but he was being questioned by a legend of the game, the club president, who was terminally ill.  He shouldn't have lied, but I don't find it hard to understand, or forgive.

Given Jimmy's state of health at the time, I expect he was concerned about the future of the club, and so he asked.  But he shouldn't have.

Scully was invited to Jimmy's home for dinner to discuss his future.  Scully knew he would be asked.  Jimmy had every right to ask it.  If Scully didn't want to answer it he should not have gone to the dinner or should have taken his manager, parent or whoever.  Why is that any different to when someone like Eddie invites a current (eg Cloke) or future player to his home to discuss their future or contract.  It isn't. 

Scully is in the past and I don't care about him but I do care about the aspersions being made of Jim.  Like the rest of us he made mistakes but asking Scully his intentions wasn't one of them.  Scully had been holding out all year, someone had to ask him!

31 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't know what's changed but maybe defamation lawyers have been engaged and The Age has had to be more cautious. As, perhaps, should posters here, too.

Not sure which part of my post was problematic, LDvC so perhaps the moderators can make the call on whether to delete.

On the note of The Age lawyers, I would hope for their sake that their army of lawyers review all articles before they get onto the website.

I notice that the link in the opening post now goes to a somewhat different article and the para's in "quotes" have been removed from the story and it is much 'softer'.  The first article is no longer available on The Age website...ah, the beauty of the internet...unpleasant things just disappear into the ether!

I also notice that the story has not appeared on the AFL website, which occasionally has stories about AFL 'personalities'.

The cynic in me wonders if powerful forces went to work on The Age and the journalist over the last 24 hours to temper the story!!  Like, 'lets bury it as fast as we can!!  Expecially if 'Acquired Learning' sponsors Carlton and we all know which high ranking AFL Commissioner was premiership captain of. 

Yes, I'm cynical but I just don't trust anyone at or connected with the AFL. 

Given comments elsewhere DL's have varied views about 2 of the 3 (Nathan is universally loved).

Whatever one's view I'm glad the Club can welcome back players that have chosen to leave.

Congratulations to Rivers, Col and Nat!

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-12-17/rivers-honoured-to-become-life-member

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-12-17/life-membership-for-country-boy-col

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-12-17/award-will-sink-in-postcareer-jones

32 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

edit is your friend

Thanks Bub

The thread title was meant to be a bit ironic as to how the tables have turned for AD...but I can see the problem. 

Mods by all means change the title...I would but I don't know how...

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm not sure where you $900k to $1m figure comes from (and I'm not disputing it) but memberships gives the club much more than just money. It also provides contact details to direct market for the Demon Shop, to promote attendance at games and to push sponsors' products, too. Additional members surely makes sponsorship more attractive and therefore more valuable, to the club.

The $900k to $1m was in response to a question by 'Its Time' as to how much the extra 5,000 memberships (if we reach 40,000) next year are worth.  I guessed the average would be around $180 to $200 per membership.  I think his question related to additional Membership Revenue.

Yes, when merchandising, crowd size, future flow onto to better fixturing, sponsors etc etc are added it means much, much more to the club but I don't know what the multiplier is to calculate the dollar value.

Demetriou company Acquire Learning accused of unconscionable conduct.

An interesting article: "Former AFL chief Andrew Demetriou's vocational education company Acquire Learning has been charged with unconscionable conduct and false or misleading behaviour after it sold tens of thousands of government-funded courses to vulnerable job-seekers...The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has alleged in action before the Federal Court that the company bought the details of unsuccessful job applicants on websites such as CareerOne, then cold-called them to sell expensive diploma courses."

That reads as AD owning the company but the article says he is Executive Director.  It could be both.  Nonetheless, the 'unconscionable conduct and false or misleading behaviour' happened on his watch so has responsibility and accountability.

(BTW, why is a company listed on the stock exchange in Career One doing 'selling the details of unsuccessful applicants' to anyone.  I thought privacy laws made that illegal in this country).

It must be very strange for AD for the shoe to be on the other foot, so to speak and he being with the party that has behaved badly and is off to the Federal Court.  I always had a bit of time for AD but a lot of people are going to have a field day over this.

The more I think about it the more appalling this situation is.  A company taking advantage of vulnerable people to exploit them and profit from their vulnerability.  Doesn't get much worse than that really.