Dees2014

Is. It still receives a number of visits from a variety of sports organisations from around the world every year. I believe second only to the AIS. This to some extent is due to Australia's world-wide reputation of being a sporting super-power, but the AFL being the best in this market attracts its share of attention. That will not change.

Whilst agree in general with this post, strong CEOs, as AD undoubtedly is, usually get their way with boards (in the AFL case the Commission, staffed by commissioners). He could have implemented closer scrutiny on Essendon if he had have chosen to. In fact I believe he should have done so. In my experience, good Boards set the benchmarks on strategy and governance, and the CEO is expected to meet those benchmarks. I bet if we examined the governance benchmarks of the AFL Commission, it would be exemplary in terms of best practice. If this is so, the commissioners should be at the very least asking some difficult questions of the CEO. I have met a couple of AFL commissioners in the past, and I got the impression they held AD in almost a God-like status. To be fair to them, he has taken the AFL from being just another football organisation, to being the wealthiest, and most powerful sporting organisation in Australia, and the AFL is now regarded internationally as being world’s best practice in terms of sports management. It is precisely these sorts of situations when all powerful leaders sometimes suffer from hubris. I would be asking if the AFL, and its all powerful CEO, is in this category. The Commission should be giving him an awfully hard time at the moment, and if the Essendon situation ends up as I believe it will i.e. infraction notices sent to a dozen plus players, and writs being served from players on Essendon, the AFL and Hird. This will result in tens of millions of dollars in damages being paid out, and the competition will be compromised for several years resulting in a less than full payment of broadcasting rights. Under those circumstances, then I think there will be a good case for AD to be forced to resign, and probably the Chairman of the Governance sub-committee of the Commission as well. Maybe even Mike Fitzpatrick himself.

I am staggered they did not channel the payments through third parties anyway. There would have been plenty in their coterie groups willing and able to come up with the mill a year. In fact the AFL overnight I notice have said they are comfortable with third party payments. The explanation might be that Tania and James Hird are so full of their own self importance that they refused third party payments in order to stuff it up the AFL (and Essendon). By doing so of course, they may have thrown the AFL and the EFC closer together, and further isolated themselves. The AFL HAVE to act on this now: they are not going to leave Dimetrou out to dry on this. It would not surprise me if it resulted in the EFC renegging on Hird's contract, as apparently even powerful coterie members, previously firmly behind Hird, are seeing how his intransigence is seriously hurting both the Club and the Brand. It may also be related to the fact that they are now beginning to realize that infraction notices are close, and the pronouncement by a leading player manager that they have a class action prepared on behalf of players affected against both Hird and Essendon and ready to go may have caused the power brokers at Essendon to take some reality salts and to shore up their position before all this happens, including severing their relationship with Hird and Tania.

I agree. It is consistent with their arrogant behavior from the beginning: the instigation of the doping in the first place to deliver the "whatever it takes" mantra; Hird's reaction at the first press conference after the EFC self reported the programme to the AFL - his comment "I don't know why I am here, I have done nothing wrong"; then his gross disloyalty to his President, and supposedly great friend, David Evans when he brought him down in order to save his own neck; the sacking of the Evans and AFL appointed PR advisors who were advising Essendon and Hird to come clean and work with the AFL, instead Hird brought in extremely expensive QCs to obstruct and fight ASADA and the AFL every step of the way. They still are, and they still believe they should be able to get around the rules by doing deals. They can't and they won't. ASADA/WADA will get them in the end, but they are clearly determined to do as much collateral damage as they can to somehow "share the blame". Hird is rapidly going from the most respected personality in football. to becoming a name firmly associated with double dealing and dishonesty: a case study on "how to trash a powerful personal brand". It will be the subject of study at business schools around the world for year's.

Rebecca Wilson is hardly an objective observer in these issues. Her partner is the former head of News Limited in Australia, John Hartigan, the same John Hartigan who presided over the Super League fiasco a decade ago, and the same John Hartigan who has directed a consistent anti Dimentriou and anti AFL line in News Limited papers, particularly the Herald-Sun, and a pro EFC and pro Hird one. She is an NRL fanatic, and for her to call for AD's head is disingenuous at the very least.

I'm sure they would love to magically make it go away by doing deals. They can't. They may be able to influence ASADA via putting political pressure on them, but if they go soft on Essendon WADA will step in via the international appeal process and ensure justice is done. As I have written elsewhere in here, after the international congress of WADA in South Africa last month, where the Australian situation with its football codes was discussed at length, the world is now watching. Most countries have the same challenges in enforcing the WADA codes on wealthy local football codes. With Australia being an international sporting superpower and up until quite recently being a "clean skin" as far as enforcement of doping codes was concerned, and with a transparent judicial system, the outcomes of the AFL/NRL cases is seen as an international test case, and potentially a blueprint for other less transparent countries to follow in dealing with these issues. We cannot fail in this, however much certain Canberra based politicians would like us to (judging by their comments on it over the last 6 months), it is simply too important for the international sporting architecture. The good news is WADA will not allow us to drop the ball here. If necessary they will use their international powers to ensure justice is done. Yes he wants his payday, and Essendon are the only entity from where he is likely to get it. He doesn't care if there is collateral damage to the AFL if it suits his case, and neither should he.It seems likely that the AFL/EFC and the Hird cronies back room dealings will be exposedc by this process, and that can only be a good thing .

I'm sure they would love to magically make it go away by doing deals. They can't. They may be able to influence ASADA via putting political pressure on them, but if they go soft on Essendon WADA will step in via the international appeal process and ensure justice is done. As I have written elsewhere in here, after the international congress of WADA in South Africa last month, where the Australian situation with its football codes was discussed at length, the world is now watching. Most countries have the same challenges in enforcing the WADA codes on wealthy local football codes. With Australia being an international sporting superpower and up until quite recently being a "clean skin" as far as enforcement of doping codes was concerned, and with a transparent judicial system, the outcomes of the AFL/NRL cases is seen as an international test case, and potentially a blueprint for other less transparent countries to follow in dealing with these issues. We cannot fail in this, however much certain Canberra based politicians would like us to (judging by their comments on it over the last 6 months), it is simply too important for the international sporting architecture. The good news is WADA will not allow us to drop the ball here. If necessary they will use their international powers to ensure justice is done.

Max King I suspect. He looks like a tall lanky boy, but takes amazing pack marks and kicks with ease 60m spot on. I think the find, and smokey of the draft. But looks like he should still be playing schoolboy footy - albeit at extreme elite level.

Jazza, In spite of what Hird, Little and their posse of blind optimists would like us to believe, Essendon have not taken their punishment - far from it. All that has happened is that they have been sanctioned by the governing body, the AFL, in a construct designed to keep then out of the final series, because if they hadn't their 2013 series would have been rendered meaningless when the ASADA judgements are finally forthcoming. Essendon were only punished for bringing the game into disrepute. The real penalties will occur as a result of players taking banned drugs after the ASADA investigation in completed when 12+ of their senior players are rubbed out for between 2&4 years, which is likely to come down next year or the year after. This will be followed by most of those players suing the EFC and probably the AFL for multimillion dollar law suits which will maybe send EFC to the wall and test the coffers of the AFL itself. The pain has only just begun for Essendon, in spite of what Hird's & Little's PR machine, and their apologists in the Murdoch Press, would like to have us believe. It will not be pretty, and many very senior Essendon and AFL heads will,roll as a result.

I didn't say "better than Sydney" overall - I said we will have a better forward line,(and I hoped our gameplan would be better) which will influence the style of gameplan we play - or at leat I hope it will. I can't imagine such a strategically astute coach as Roos not doing this. Doesn't mean we don't also be excessive about our defensive skills all over the ground - we will not be a north Melbourne, but we will take full advantage of our key strength, our forward line. A vastly improved and competitive midfield will help greatly as well of course

Potentially a stronger, more brilliant forward line than Sydney had too, which will to some extent determine how we play. I expect a very hard at it mid field, fierce at the contested footy, good at clearances, but also some of the bailey style run and spread to get it down to the forward line as quickly as possible with less predicable avenues i.e. chippy around looking for gaps, but also long bombs to use our marking power. There are a lot of strengths which can be woven into a unique demon gameplan - it will not be the same as Sydney IMHO. BETTER HOPEFULLY!

Don't agree at all. It is true ASADA has limited resources and this is an extremely complex investigation covering the AFL and the NRL. Danks was also involved in both codes. The sensible thing to do would be for ASADA to gather all the evidence and then interview Danks. He is the common link. Based on the speed of these sorts of investigation offshore, I would not be at all surprised if we did not see the final findings of ASADA until 2015, and if there is attempted political interference (and from what Brandis has said so far on this it seems the Abbott Government does not have the same appetite to get to the bottom of these issues as the previous administration) then WADA will become involved and if there are in their eyes light penalties handed out then it will go through international arbitration which could take another year. There are no quick fixes here, but I think there are enough safe guards built into the system for the truth to eventually come out and appropriate penalties will be forthcoming. It won't happen tomorrow!

There are other ways around this. For instance they might be getting a wealthy backer of the club to be paying Hird his salary and the cost of his studies. Then they could say they are not paying him. They do NOT need to do it directly, but the reason for the payment are directly linked to his long term connection to the club. This is a technique other clubs have used, particularly the wealthy backers of the Blues. All is often not what it seems I think this is also what is annoying the AFL so much, and I am sure to article in today's Age re Hird allies targeting senior AFL figures in an effort to get rid of them has more than a grain of truth in it. Hird is playing a very dangerous game. In a fight to the death between Hird & EFC, and the AFL and Demitriou'i know who I would back, and it ain't Hird. Good riddance I say.

This is perfectly normal in these sorts of enquIries by local affiliates of WADA world-wide. Local sporting Organisations are always impatient for judgements as they are anxious to get on with playing and progress their sporting commerce. The local affiliates, however, are nearly always under-resourced particularly for enquiries as complex as being conducted into AFL/NRL clubs, and it is made all the more complex when you get the wealthy perpetrators such as Essendon obstructing the process all the way. Hird has an awful lot to answer for, and so does Little for allowing him to get away with it. Never fear, their time is coming, and it is going to be very ugly.

It won't be. It is just a matter of time before justice will be dispensed no matter what the AFL, EFC, Paul Little, or James Hird might do or think. The train has left the station and there is nothing they can do about it. Mark Robinson has shown bias and blind prejudice in this matter, and has brought into question his competence to be a senior journalist with the reading public, and now also apparently within News Ltd itself. Rupert was reportedly less than impressed that Farfax scooped the pool with the major prizes at the Walkleys (sp?) for investigative journalism and sports reporting. There will be consequences for Robinson and his ilk, and rightly so.

The AFL, Essendon, ASC and whatever mover and shaker they like to broker a deal with behind the scenes, and employ 1000 QC's and spin doctors, it will make no difference. You see, this is no longer a domestic australian sporting issue. This has become a matter of principle for WADA. At the recent international WADA conference, they spent almost half a day on the Essendon/AFL/NRL doping issues. The reason for this is that all local WADA affiliates have challenges in enforcing the international WADA codes on local sporting bodies, particularly with local wealthy football (in whatever form it is) codes. Apparently WADA affiliates have a continuing problem because nearly all these codes try and evade their legal and moral responsibilities in the areas of drugs because they are used to doing deals to get out of their responsibilities, and often have strong local political connections. The purpose of the WADA discussion on this was to use the Australian case in the AFL/NRL to lay down the processes for all WADA affiliates to uphold the law in the face of incredible local power, both political and financial. The world is watching this outcome. It has long ago been taken out of the hands of the local powerbrokers, and the federal government. For our international prestige as a transparent, law abiding, and just country we can not afford to squib this, no matter how much some might like us to. Essendon are still stuffed, Paul Little. You know the person who understands this best? Caroline Wilson. I know many will scoff, but CW is a first class investigative journalist, and these sort of situations are meat and drink to pros like her.

I know I said I wouldn't post again, but I can't resist in this instance. There are just too many blind alleys and spin in here. Let me be very, very clear. It does not matter what Little, Demetriou, McLaughlan, Hird, even Wylie do in terms of deals. They can send Hird off in as many all-expenses paid MBA courses they like in France (believe me it is very cosy and privileged - I have done it, and no doubt would appeal very much to Hird’s well developed sense of entitlement), and they can try and do deals, but it will make zero difference to ASADA. Their findings are totally separate from the machinations of the AFL, Federal Government, and Essendon. If ASADA squib it as a result of political pressure (and given Abbott’s track record so far he appears to be very susceptible to outside pressures unfortunately), WADA will simply appeal it and it will be eventually over-ridden. This takes time. It could last until 2015 before definitive penalties are presided over by ASADA/WADA, but it is best that it is done thoroughly to ensure it is bullet-proof and this takes a while (just look at the Armstrong case, or any other major criminal case if it comes to that). When it happens it won’t be pretty and will throw the AFL competition into chaos and make tens of millions of dollars for numerous QCs. But it will happen. That is why so many spin doctors are feeding at the AFL and EFC troughs. They will be expensive, but ultimately will be a complete waste of money. These people are feeding at the ego feet of very powerful men. They are used to doing deals to get themselves out of legal and moral holes. For them, money solves all issues for them. It won’t this time. Nothing will save Essendon or Hird.

I know i have "resigned" from this forum, but reflecting on it i think i owe a further explanation since some here think i am a bit thin skinned and why i was so annoyed by this thread. I confess Ben_Hur, Twas I. Three weeks ago i had a serious operation at PeterMacClinic (incidentally a world class hospital with fantastic caring people). As a result of the drugs i needed to take pre-op i put on 15kgs. Since the op, which at the moment seems successful, through strict dieting and exercising (yes bike riding mainly) i have taken off half that. I currently am losing about 3 kgs a week and in 3-4 weeks i expect to be down to the correct weight for a 6'3" 60 year old which is 95kg. At the moment i am overweight. I should not have ridden to training in my old lycra gear ( but i did not expect the fashion police at an early season training session for christ sake, and which will fit me again in three weeks), but you understand bike riding is a key part of my physical recovery - seeing the Demons prosper is a key part of my mental recovery. This is the last time you will hear from me on this subject. I hope those who were so rude about this, might as a result of my explanation be a bit more nuanced in the future, and think some people might not be as bogan as themselves.

I've just read this post all the way though, and on reflection, I don't think i want to be associated any more with such utter drivel and personal attacks that I have seen on here today. In future, I will post on my own blogs of which there are three, and maybe big footy. For those with whom I have had constructive discussions with on here, i wish you all the best. There are some very insightful and smart posters. The others who seem to think personal attacks about people's appearance are actually relevant to an MFC associated football forum, (an organisation which i have held in the highest regard all my life), you can continue to do your own ignorant and rude things. If you are allowed to, I suspect Demonland will not last very much longer because people who share my views will do the same as i am about to do. I think i can support the MFC more constructively by not being associated with such rubbish any more.

Interesting you should say that about Strauss. He was running repeat 150m sprints with mark jamar today, and looked a very impressive runner. I agree he doesnt always use it on game day. I think with him it is more about intensity and for mine, I don't think he is a very smart footballer - always seems to make silly decisions somehow. I hope he matures out of it because obviously is a player with talent.

I'd make the following comments. All players appeared to be present except Bail and Dawes but recent absentee Max Gawn was there but mostly ran laps but did not appear to be in any undue discomfort. Jamar and Strauss did intermittent sprints. The three new recruits did light work separately to the main group, mostly doing handball work and short kicking. They left early. Blease, Tapscott, Tyson, Mckenzie and Michie continue to be in the rehab group and spent their time doing various types of running: Tapscott, Gawn, Blease doing lap jogging, while the others did a lot of contested sprinting and endurance work quite impressively i might add. When I arrived about at about 10, the main group was doing similar circuit work they did on Friday, although only using two thirds of the ground rather than the whole ground they did on Friday. They did the same long kicking to targets, fast running and receiving handballs and then long kicking to position, although I didn't think it had quite the same intensity as I saw on Friday. It was nevertheless similarly impressive. The skill levels appear to be pretty good for this time of year. After they broke up into smaller groups to do hand-balling and tackling at close quarters, they did another exercise i had not seen in this form before. I would call it an Aussie Rules version of the old British Bulldog we used to play in primary school. That is, two teams of about 12 a side who face each other across an oblong field about 80m long, one group is given the ball at one end of the field,facing the other group at the other. The group with the ball would then run at the other group and try and break the defensive lines via running and handball. the defensive team then tries to stop them via normal tackling and blocking. Once the breakout is achieved, then the ball carrier is required to kick it to the goalsquare about 60 metres downfield. The defensive team then is given a ball and is required to break the lines of the other team in a similar fashion. This went back and forth about a dozen times with Roos taking personal charge of the exercise and occasionally calling everyone together to given instructions about position play, blocking and tackling. His key message seemed to be the importance when the teams changed over for the attacking team to quickly get back into defensive positioning. He was constantly on about this to Jack Watts. Often it was Jack who broke the lines with great skill and delivered the ball to the goal-square with pinpoint accuracy. The message I think Roos was trying to get across to him though was you job is not done, you have to deliver on defensive play as well as attacking. I think i heard him shout at Jack three or four times. "Get back Jack, get back quickly". I didn't hear this message to any other player in such tones, although he might have I was a fair way away. I think we all know that Jack has wonderful skills and excellent natural attacking inclinations, but it is his intensity and willingness to run back defensively which worries a lot of us. If today was any guide i would say Roos is well onto this, and onto this very early in the pre-season. If he can get this right in Jack's game, then i have no doubt Jack will end up an All-Australian next season. This alone has the potential to deliver big time for the MFC. To be fair to Jack, i have not seen him look as fit, as big, as fast or as focused as he does at the moment. I'm quite sure Roos will get the absolute best out of him. I also see a much greater intensity and confidence in the two Jacks, particularly Jack Trengove who seems to have his explosive running back, was taking great high marks, and kicking 50-60 metre goals. Jack Grimes is as committed as ever, and will be a star if he can keep his fitness up. Mitch Clark is training intensively mostly in the main Group. Jesse Hogan participated in the main circuit training, but not the second exercise, instead running repeat 150m sprints with Viney and Michie. Michie is a very impressive runner, winning the five legs i saw from hogan and Viney. JH has great stamina, and surprising speed. He is also a terrific, accurate long kick on the run

Nasher, i know you are a "big wig" on here, but I think these sorts of comments are unworthy of your elevated position. I hope you are happy with your ridicule.

I know what you mean, but having observed these guys over several seasons now, there is a huge difference between what they are doing now and what they did over the last 2-3 years. I know it sounds simplistic, but they really look as thought they mean it now. They looked like they were going through the motions under Neeld, probably because it was a chore, not a means of self and team improvement. I even saw JW, JS, AND LT, cashing packs and looking as though they were enjoying it, even this early in the season. They are very fired up. This group is totally different from last year. You can feel the intensity and commitment. You couldn't help but notice it and admire it. I have never seen it from the MFC before. Maybe you have- but I haven't.

Thanks Robbie. Very helpful. I look forward to those long, raking accurate left foot Davey like passes feeding Clark, hogan, Dawes and Howe. What a sight!

I'm not claiming any expertise -as I said in the post, what is the case for this course. It is not intended as a criticism in any way, simply looking for clarification from the supreme experts on Demonland!