Lucifers Hero

Do you mean like the AFL punishing us for 'not-tanking', ie list management, that everyone else did within the rules the AFL were responsible for!!

Has Gil lost the plot...yesterdays' fiasco with Port/Ess and now this with Syd!! Getting a bit worried about Gil...he can't seem to take an independent position on anything can he?

Wikipedia: 'Collingwood selected ten players on its list who were "untouchable", and the Bears could take any two players outside this list, as well as the Collingwood Magpies' first round draft pick, in exchange for Buckley." So, Pick 12 and 2 ordinary players!! For Beams, Lions should get their top 10 'untouchables' together, present it to Collingwood and let them take 2 outside the top 10...same as the Buckley deal!!

Gee. the doggies senior list has been decimated: Going: Griffen Cooney Jones Gone Higgins Playing VFL: Minson Retired: Giansiracusa Hardly anyone left over 25: Boyd, Murphy, Lonergan (when he arrives) and they are 30+ While I don't like the doggies (nor any other team for that matter) I don't wish them the dark place they are heading for.

Probably 2 1st round picks. The stumbling blocks seem to be Ess want a player (not pick) and no Port player wishes to go to Ess. The latter is a bit of a ploy by Port as they could trade a player to another club for a round 1 pick and pass it to Ess with pick 17. Hypothetically, Robbie Gray to STK, Melb, Bulldogs etc for their 1st pick. Not suggesting this example is the right one but there may be various Port players that might go to StK, Dees, Bulldogs or any other club with a top 10 pick. Port then gives that pick + 17 to Ess. Port should pay a fair price in picks or players.

If its any consolation I would have the same reaction to any 'deal' outside the rules, regardless of the club involved. Hope EFC gets what Paddy is worth from Port. The stumbling blocks seem to be Ess want a player (not pick) and no Port player wishes to go to Ess. Port could trade a player to another club for a round 1 pick and pass it to Ess with pick 17. Hypothetically, Robbie Gray to STK, Melb, Bulldogs etc for their 1st pick. Not suggesting this example is the right one but there may be various players that might go to StK, Dees, Bulldogs or any other club with a top 10 pick. Port then gives that pick + 17 to Ess. Port should pay a fair price in picks or players.

Ess should get fair reward for Ryder but it should come from Port not the 'general draft'. And you are right that Port is a major beneficiary and that a major driver for the AFL is to keep it out of the courts. The 'challenge' at this point would be the issue would go before AFL 'trade grievance tribunal' or whatever it is called, not to the courts in the judicial system. The AFL could hear the grievance and order Port to trade for what Ryder is worth - find picks or give players. This would keep it out of the courts, so I would prefer the AFL grievance process run its course before 'bending' FA rules. To your specific question: As Ess have had 2 years of 1st round draft bans the AFL can see Ess losing players from either short-term bans or players leaving/refusing to go there and it seems to me it is giving them a 'helping' hand. Perhaps 'scam' is a bit strong but any 'deal' outside the established rules/processes without proper consultation with stakeholders, should not go unchallenged. You have put your points fairly and with a noticeably sad heart for the predicament your club finds itself. I feel for you guys and your players and hope the club sorts itself our sooner rather than later. Cheers.

Why is the AFL community mute on this, this morning! Nothing extra today in newspaper websites or news reels and I'm not hearing any 'Eddie gone nuts' quotes. Clubs can't just let this go unchallenged, even if they do want to keep it out of court! Someone must speak up for goodness sake! The silence is deafening!

It seems under this deal Port must give pick 17 to Ess, OTHERWISE Port would get Ryder for FREE! But FA rules say the receiving Club does get FA player for free! Does this mean AFL is going to rewrite FA rules so that receiving club 'pays' for the FA ie gives up a pick - something I and others on DL have been arguing for some time! To maintain the integrity of FA (if that is the basis of the Ryder 'rort/deal') then the AFL should stick to FA rules: ie Ryder is an FA; Ess get level 1 compo pick, Port gets Ryder for free. If AFL wants to make Port 'pay' then pick 17 should be returned to the draft and that pick voided!!!!!!! As I said in an earlier post this is just a scam to get Ess back into the 1st round of the draft and give them an extra late 1st round pick. ie they get a pp without even asking for one!!

Not of same ability but a good Mitch type replacement. Help protect Hogan for a while up forward like Mitch was supposed to. Unless we have an eye on a ruckman in next years trade Grimley might be a good get. Comes from a good 'system' successful environment to.

I hope the footy world goes nuts today! Clubs were consulted and twice rejected our pp request. They may complain about our Frawley pick 3 but at least it was within the rules. BUT THIS RORT: No club is consulted! A new rule was invented on a whim! Clubs should go nuts just on the lack of consultation!!!! This is simply a backdoor way to get Essendon back into round 1 of the draft. Just watch the pp's that Essendon get in the next few years! Oh a mess of their own making we say...unlike our treatment the AFL will ignore the hue and cry and give them pp's (unlike us). This new rort is disgusting. Pity the poor kids that get drafted into this mess.

We may be in for a few surprises: - there has been no talk about getting a ruckman. Roos must be confident Jamar, Gawn, Spencer and Fitzy can do the job next year to win games. Maybe a ruckman is on next years shopping list. - from all the team being tradeable, we are hearing nothing of any players being traded out. Could mean there are no leaks but it could also mean no-one will traded anything/one valuable for them. Its all a bit too quiet on the trade 'out' front. Can't help think there will be some left-field trades involving the above!

"...Stary is one of Australia’s most prominent criminal lawyers who has previously defended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and former underworld kingpin Carl Williams..." I guess if Essendon is paying the bill, why not get the best! More money drain on EFC coffers! Sound like they are ready to deal with ASADA. It would put a real spanner in the works for Hird, if Crameri settles with ASADA before Hird's appeal. The horse will surely have bolted. This must be more worrying to Hird camp than anything so far.

Does that mean Mitch will feel right at home!

Apparently, Jaksch has refused to even talk to Ess so no matter what they offer GWS (nor probably his parents) will let him go there if he point blank refuses. Not sure if he is contracted, if not he has the option of the PSD and get picked up by StK with their first pick. So GWS will see him thru to a safe club.

Troll?????

If we take Garlett not only would the due diligence be thorough but there would also be performance/behaviour contract clauses to help manager 'issues' - good risk management! As PR has a NDH policy if Garlett makes it to us all bases will be covered!

EFC Board have squibbed it on Hird...weak as... Gobsmacked!!

According to Mahoney we are waiting to hear what Geelong will offer and he emphasized that Mitch is a very good player. Given we have been 'waiting' for 3 days and turned down the players offered, my take is Geelong haven't offered enough. I just hope we keep some of the spoils (if a 2nd and 3rd rnd pick) for ourselves rather than give all for Lumumba. Happy to have Lumumba but Mitch is a match winner and we could do with an extra pick to help trade out a player we don't want to keep.

Adrian Dodo...!

Other than the players who haven't 'performed'/don't have it/don't get it (Blease, Strauss etc) the first players Roos will trade are those who in his words 'can't let go of the past' and who 'expect to lose games' ie those that are really scarred by the past. If we can't trade them they will be 'depth' players next year or until their contracts expire. Only the club really knows who the 'deeply scarred' players are and we shouldn't be at all surprised by who will be traded.

Hmm, they may talk with him (his manager) but he will spurn all comers, as did his #2 predecessor and stay to become as loved a club champion as Robbie F was.

Not a surprise...our backline will be rather crowded with Lumumba, Frost and perhaps Merrett.

Sweet Dee will be very happy!!! The 'little ironman' got thru to the 3rd round!!

The sad thing is that not only has he trashed his own name he has also trashed that of his grandfather Alan, and EFC icon. The latter could be the only reason EFC have hung on to James this far. Maybe he is rolling the dice to go after his nemesis Andy D. If he wins the appeal he can sue the hell out of the AFL and ASADA. Given he has spent millions he probably figures a few more $100K to appeal, is a small 'investment'. Yep, me thinks Andy is the one he wants!! Andy will have the last laugh!!