Ted Lasso

Does Jobe keep the Brownlow? Absolutely not! the brownlow is awarded to the fairest and best player of each season, why should Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin who both played fairly in the 2012 miss out on the opportunity to be awarded one of the most prestigious individual honours in the game when the current holder of the 2012 medal is now a convicted drug cheat in the very same year he won it? I've heard Essendon supporters argue that the AFL tribunal found them not guilty so why should he lose an AFL award, i say to the same people, had they been found guilty they would have appealed the decision and if it were then overturned they wouldn't be complaining about the system, this attitude is that of a sooky child who has thrown his toys out of the cot because he didn't get his own way. the other argument i've heard is that if Jobe has to give his medal back so do Ben Cousins and Dane Swan, this is even more laughable, clearly not understanding the difference between recreational drugs and performance enhancing drugs, and not understanding there is totally different set of rules for each. three strikes policy is in place for a reason. there is absolutely no good reason i have ever heard to allow Jobe to keep his brownlow, he cheated and is yet to take responsibility for it in any real way, and neither are any of the players, lets remember that in 30 odd approaches from ASADA not one of these players ever declared any of these injections. I have very little sympathy for the players in this situation as i believe they're the real cause for this situation, people can argue that dank bought the injections into the club, and the club culture is to trust your doctors ect, but ultimately it's the players decision if they accept the injections and it's the players decision to keep correct records incase ASADA come knocking. i've said it a few times on here, every single AFL player is 100% responsible for every substance that enters their body, they're responsible for keeping records to prove they haven't cheated, i know players who write down the serial numbers on bottles for their records, there is absolutely no excuse for 34 professional athletes to fail to do this really simple part of being a professional athlete. so there is no way Jobe can keep his brownlow, if he does it would be the darkest day in AFL history as it would signal the end of all integrity in the game, you can't be the best and FAIREST player in the league and a drug cheat in the very same year.

LOL!! EFC supporters arguing that because the AFL tribunal didn't find them guilty Jobe has to keep his brownlow!!

Maybe they should take it up with Dank?

It's not, but the AFL seem to be behaving like petulant children unwilling to accept the decision so anything is possible to spite WADA/ASADA giving them pick 1 in itself is a joke

No logically way he can keep the medal, The Brownlow is awarded to the FAIREST and best player in 2012, the same year Jobe now has been found guilty of cheating. it's disgusting that there is even a conversation about this. The AFL needs to realise they can't play both sides, by looking after EFC the way they have they're making themselves looks corrupt as all hell very publicly and losing favour with the other 17 clubs who didn't cheat.

I wonder if Dunn and our third roudner (46) for the Lions pick 30 might be a go?

similar role to Matty Boyd or Corey Enright, backline general who uses the ball well, reads it well and sets up our attacks from the back half. he's a bloody good defender but capable of doing real damage the other way as well

Hibberd will be a great get for two reasons, 1. he's exactly what we need off half back, elite skills, elite decision making, great one on one and experienced. 2. he'll enable Salem and Hunt to spend more time on the wing where they can really do some damage.

He does seem like the sort of bloke who as "Mach5" would say, has a pretty good relationship with himself, so maybe he is keen on the Melbourne footy bubble and being in the papers every 5 seconds

I don't buy the they didn't really try and retain him stuff, they definitely wanted to keep him but they had to pay massive overs for Hurley and Hooker to keep them (both are on Hogan level money ) and someone was always likely to be squeezed out, our offer to Hibberd made that an easy choice for them

Surely pick 26 is more than enough to get this over the line? given his age, he's had a year out of the AFL system and all the other factors around this that's more than fair

Would Tim Smith be on our radar as well?

And those are two massive errors that have cost the players a year and smashed their reputations as players and people within the footy world.

I've said it before the players are 100% responsible for what they put in their bodies, and responsible for keeping records which they have failed to do, if 1 player could produce records suggesting they didn't cheat, the balance of probabilities would shift drastically and i suspect they wouldn't have missed a year, your opinions of the agencies involved is irrelevant, the players are 100% culpable because they failed to do something very simple, and or didn't ask questions around what they were taking to be able to keep these sorts of records.

at the end of the day Jake has been labeled a drug cheat because he is a professional athlete who took some substances and he cannot prove what they were, he is 100% responsible for what goes into his body, he didn't ask questions of the right people or make enough noise and he's bought this on himself. there are people who give talks about this stuff before players even get drafted, there is no excuse, regardless of political agendas or how badly run people think ASADA might be, you're responsible for what you take, if you can't prove it you wear whatever comes your way. having said that Jakes ban is over and i look forward to seeing him in the red and blue in 2017

I had a chat with Jack Trengove in about Febuary this year and he definitely described it as a very tough time, you just want to be part of it especially with how exciting it is at our club right now, but i still think that is much much better than being out of the club and AFL system totally for 12 months, it might take Melksham a little bit longer to get back into it, again not saying it 100% will but i would understand if it did.

The big difference being that a year out within an AFL club means a rehab program within the four walls of the club with day to day coaching by some of the best fitness staff around, he's missed that for the better part of 12 months, while i'm sure Mission has given him his program ect it's definitely not going to be the same as actually working with him every day. Time will tell, i was against the recruitment of Melksham at the time and still very unsure it was the right move, especially given what we gave up but time will tell.

It's a whole different challenge but we clearly recruited Jake with the idea in mind that he'd play off half back and essentially play the role Jayden Hunt is playing, now with Hibberd likely coming on board, Salem mostly playing that role and Hunt playing great footy we have to re-think where he's going to play. I personally think he has the attributes to be a pressure forward, he's quick, creative and a good tackler and i really think that high half forward role is one he could really do well, but obviously it'll be interesting. I personally have my concerns about all these Essendon guys, not only have they had a year off, they've had a year off the AFL system totally and it's not something that they will move forward from overnight, very difficult to replicate the AFL enviornment and everything training wise, so the transition back into the side may take a little longer than some are expecting

It's a prediction, they will ask for our 2017 first rounder, we will offer our second rounder, it on it's own won't get the deal done because it's Essendon and we'll cough up a little more coz Goodwin absolutely loves Hibberd It may not happen, and it's not what i'd do but it's what i think will happen.

Predicting the trade to be #27, #45 for Michael Hibberd, #55 an early second rounder and a 10 pick upgrade should get it over the line.

not disputing the idea that we are more attractive with more wins, simply stating that it's not a clear rule for every side,

Essendon won 3 @60% and Richmond won 8 @80% and i reckon most would much rather go to the Bombers

Last thing they'll want is a very public reminder about what they did given all the positive press they have somehow been given recently, i reckon they should take pick 27 and run to be honest.

27 & 45 for Hibberd and 55? solid second round pick and a good upgrade for their third rounder

The bombers need to realise he's been out of the AFL system for 12 months, there is no way of knowing how long it will take these players to re-adjust to that lifestyle, and training and if they'll be able to deliver right away, i have no doubt these players will be a long way below their best. personally think pick 27 is a little generous if anything.