Lucifers Hero

Significantly, that report says 'urine samples' in 2012 confirmed players were injected with TB4'. It also says players did not get 'no significant fault' discount because they signed consent forms!! To repeat what I noted in an earlier post - there is no room at all now, for EFC to try and argue 'but the players did nothing wrong' or the equally banal 'they were duped'. CAS has slammed the door shut on anyone else in the world trying a similar program. A very good thing for clean sport.

"The players did not qualify for cooperation, either, which can reduce sentences by a further six months" http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cas-verdict-essendon-players-to-miss-season-2016-20160107-gm18nq.html#ixzz3wyMwj4O9 Looks like CAS bought none of the hype: no allowance for cooperation, no allowance for 'no or reduced fault'. A very, very strong condemnation of the players. Effectively saying they were fully complicit. No watering down, no opportunity for EFC to draw any sort of 'but the players are innocent' hype.

He won't be for long bb...big drinking session coming up for Robbo, I suspect!

Looks like a 2 year suspension, backdated to the SCN's in November 2014. Justice has been done. That is all the sporting world ever asked for.

GUILTY!! Its official. To miss the season!!

I read that twit (timed @ 6.40 am), bb and thought EFC know the result and is preparing their members for a guilty verdict and nasty suspensions. They would be fine tuning their press release atmo. The longer the delay in announcement the more likely: 'guilty'. Conclusion: they are GAWN!

I guess that refers to the 'nominated' rookie rule which is connected to the movement of players to the veterans list. Not sure but I think this has been changed and now a rookie promotion is for a LTIL or after the bye. Would be good to have some clarity if anyone knows.

I found the round one side comment by Roos surprising. He may have forgotten that Mitchie is a Rookie. But that is unlike Roos especially as it could give false hope to Mitchie. So I wonder who he plans to 'drop' from the seniors side or put on the LTIL. Current potential candidates: Melksham, Trengove, Frost, Petracca

Yes, the Richmond win was especially emotional for him. And who can forget his elation when he jumped into Neeld's arms after we snatched a win from EFC a year or two ago (he played FF that day and kicked a few). He is by all accounts a quiet man but he wears his heart on his sleeve. Always a fan of his but my love for him went up after the Grand Final and he was asked what it was like to watch Frawley win a premiership. I don't recall his exact words but it was something like: '...if the premiership isn't with Melbourne it won't mean anything to me...' Hope we get it before he hangs up his boots.

Its tragic that the last game to feature on the list was 8 years ago!! The only thing that really appealed about the article is this pic Neiter saying to Hird: '...yeah Mr Arrogant Smarty Pants...come and get me...I'll wipe that smirk off your face!!

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!!!

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.

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

Christmas break December 19 - January 3 Probably Mon Jan 4.

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.

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!

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

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...