rumpole

So you're suggesting that if Scully goes but is concerned at the level of compensation that Melbourne is going to get, he can say ... "I'm prepared to sign with GWS but only if GWS sees to it that Melbourne gets proper compensation and not the unfair deal the AFL is offering"?

I love my local suburban newspaper but must say I was caught by surprise with this story about Caseys drubbing at the hands of Port Melbourne in the qualifying final - VFL: Undermanned Casey Scorpions thrashed This was the part that got me: "The Scorpions were missing a large chunk of the team that impressively thrashed the Northern Bullants the previous week, with several regular VFL players being called up for Melbourne's trip to Perth to play West Coast." Huh! I thought we played over at Subiaco or whatever they call it these days back in April.

Now let me see. That leaves them with Sheedy, Choko Williams, Phil Davis and ...

Notwithstanding all of the criticism of Cameron Schwab which has incidentally been all based on rumour and innuendo, I reckon he's doing a great job as the CEO.

I would be dead set against holding a seat vacant for Malthouse during 2012. The season would end up shyte like 2011 and it would be start from square 1 again. We need to sort out the coaching appointment and get rid of those who aren't pulling together for the common good. We have to put 2011 behind us asap and get on with life.

If that happens and the club receives two compensatory draft picks then my guess is that no more than one (if any) would be uses in this year's shallow and compromised draft.

Much will depend on Austin's attitude and commitment to returning in 2012 and beyond and to the position a new coach takes on him. I can see the possibility of him being delisted with a view to him being picked on the rookie list if he really wants to remain at the club and make a renewed tilt at remaining an AFL footballer.

The lack of a strong key position forward has been an issue at the MFC for years and has been constantly swept under the carpet since Dean Bailey became coach and David Neitz was forced to retire soon after. This controversy has been well documented on Demonland from time to time over the past years and was ignored by the coach who developed a style of play which made the key positions redundant. One of the things I'm going to enjoy watching for under a new coaching regime will be a change of approach to our forward set up, the lack of which has IMO caused to the collapse of the team in the last half of 2011.

Did you wake up wet?

Thankfully, we're not $15m in the red like one AFL club is according to my mail.

The article says the dinner is on tonight.

You've actually pointed out an important benefit from the early change of coach. Players who perceived their cards were marked under Bailey now get their chance to play without inhibition. If they come out of their shells and perform at their best, careers might be saved. Having said that, it's a big jump from playing out in the sticks and bullying some kid from Sandringham to playing at Etkhad against players destined for finals in the AFL.

Ah yes ... the innuendos and lies spread. Germany's propaganda minister during the war was Joseph Goebbels. His policy was that if you repeat a lie often enough the ordinary punter would believe it. There have been lots of unsubstantiated stories about CS. Now it's the $80k desk. Next week it's going to be the fact that he kept a dozen concubines holed up in an office near the Long Room. I agree with this People get a grip. These stories are becoming more and more ridiculous!!!

Sorry but that line from Caroline Wilson simply beggars belief. It serves her argument well but doesn't hold water on a number of levels. If the Age sports reading public accept this then they believe in the tooth fairy and Father Christmas (sorry kiddies). What an absolute disgraceful piece of reporting from someone so senior in their newspaper! Shameful.

The Jay Clark piece of scuttlebutt mixed with conjecture comes from one of the HUN's lesser journalistic lights and demonstrates that there's a dirty little game being played out here. Fancy dredging up the departure from a young developing club of Junior, a 34 year old veteran, and Bruce, only a few years younger, who has had five games with Hawthorn this year thanks to injury? Whatever you might think about whether this pair should or should not have remained at the MFC in 2011, the decision to retain players considered to be past their use by date is a matter of club policy that is as far out of the thinking of most youngsters as Rooty Hill. Would it play a part in a 20 year old's decision making as to his playing future? Please, give me a break!

Hmmm, conflicts of interest, compensation issues ... very, very interesting. I can see this panning out in some learned legal counsel's chambers or a courtroom if things go a certain way.

I sincerely hope our Board doesn't have the same negative attitude as you have on this. Every case is different and WJ has put a strong case as to why losing someone like Scully at such an early stage of his career would warrant more compensation than for someone at the end of his career. Pick 15 or 16 is not adequate compensation for the #1 pick.

WJ, you make too much sense. I would give Davey the job on either Betts or Garlett. If he's tagging then he can't be tagged. Agree with Gawn, Howe & Morton.

We need a strong key forward badly.

It's virtually irrelevant who you put into the forward line if the team continues to play the way it's been going lately. We move the ball so inefficiently and poorly out of defence that we make the forward line almost irrelevant. We need a new direction in coaching. That's all.

Well said.

Somebody should ask Eddie McGuire about Murphy. He knows exactly who's signed contracts with GWS this week.

Tomorrow's lead article in the HUN is about why the Bombers missed out on drafting Ryan Schoenmakers.

Bill Barham, Paul Goss and the Cockatoo- Collins twins. There's a few dud brothers right there!

Bloody Collingwood. One more goal and we would have moved ahead of Essendon on the ladder! Now we have to sweat it out and beat the Eagles by more than Essendon beats Gold Coast in Round 6 !