Earl Hood

Great response. How can I argue with such relentless logic and facts? Let us hope that in time I do feel like a dope that would be a great outcome but I fear the overwhelming evidence is that I won't be and I will take no pleasure in you looking like a dope. We will all be losers.

I love how denialist always point to conspiracy of scientists and Goverments in search of a grant here or there! If there is a conspiracy on climate change is it thousands of scientists conspiring to alter data and corrupt models with the aid of governments across the world for a few million in grants or perhaps could it be a small group of billionaires, multinational directors and managers who have billions or even trillions at stake if they can't get all their known oil and gas reserves out of the ground. Please see big tobacco tactics for a precedence. They are still peddling their poison in Asia and denying its Heath consequences. Hmmm my guess is that maybe they with limitless money might just be funding the numerous think tanks that don't do any empirical data research, they just cast doubt on the scientific data that is published. Myth I will bank my future with the IPCC reports and the conservative, consensus findings they report on rather than the articles published from the various right wing think tanks funded by multinational company interests. Where is their empirical data research? No they don't do data, they just reinterpret other research and reports to muddy the waters.

DF, what caused you to convert to the true faith? I bet it has done your head in in recent times.

DC if your attitude had been around in the 1930's I think we would all be talking German and following the Melbourne Demons soccer club. How un Churchillian of you! If you believe we face a dire future you must play your part not leave it to others. Let's have it out in the open then, where do you stand on human induced/influenced climate change?

Maurice Newman, is that you?

Wrecker I am not sure about 17 years I thought 1998 was a peak year for global average temperatures? That's 15 or 16 perhaps? 1998 coincided with increasing warming and the top of an El Niño cycle. In statistical terms it would be seen as an outlier in the data set. Since 1998 temperatures have continued to trend higher but at a slower rate of increase than the previous 30 years but increase they do. Ten of the hottest years globally have been since 2000! Temperatures are going nowhere only if you take 1998 as the benchmark. One year in a thousand!! I suggest you go back to school and study some statistical theory. Total Quality Management theory iused in many businesses would instruct you to see 1998 data as an anomaly and tell you to look at the overall trend and global temperatures are on the up Mate! I really find this debate frustrating why are we arguing the obvious, all the scientific data points in one direction, some opinion points in the other but with no empirical data to back it up, no scientific, peer reviewed studies. Just the thoughts of those who chose to deny climate change for whatever reason.

Traja I think you are right about the Baron, he did ask for a transfer but I believed at the time this was because he was coping the brunt for the loss to WC and didnt like it. I believe he played that game with a broken hand. And yes he went on to play in a premiership in 95 and how did that happen? We had belted them by 10 goals the year before in that 94 final but lost again to WC but over there. After that injuries destroyed us yet again, familiar story.

I remember Eisholds chest mark lurching across the goal square. To me he took the ball cleanly inside the square but momentum and a hefty push from a Hawks defender saw him slid off toward the pocket. The umpire then lined him up on acute angle near the point post. He missed it but in my mind he should have been shooting from the goal square where he marked the ball. That would have sealed the match. I remember Harry Beitzel saying the call was correct that you take the mark from where the player finishes. I thought this absurd at the time as I can remember taking sliding chest marks on wet days sliding through the goal line. Did I then have to kick the goal backwards from the out of bounds fence? So much went wrong in the second half that day it is still hard to swallow. But then I was was watching it at the MCG with Derryn Hinch so my memory may be suspect.

Wrecker it would be easier if you could point out a scientific fact! Is there one in Maurice's opinion piece? please point it out. I did mean to describe his opinion piece as a fact free essay. As for leftist sheep, try to get your mind around some of the science on climate change, you may learn something rather than swallowing the vested interest dribble put out by the likes of Maurice who is setting the ground work for the destruction of the Renewable Energy Target. The only mechanism that could deliver our 20% target in emissions by 2020 that we still adhere to for the moment. Not that you would probably give a toss about any of this.

My memory of 92 was that we had dumped Strawbs O'Dwyer and the Baron, Earl Spalding for our loss in the 91 final against WC. We were then short of talls and had to draft in Moose Henwood to cover our KP problems down back. Jimmy probably had a downer after his Brownlow year and we lost Jackovich, Tingay to injury. Bennett and Cuthbertson were spent forces up forward and I think Rodney G got himself suspended for most of the season after belting Wallace. But I may be wrong. I also think Northy was losing his impact on the players. I'm sure I can remember him going ballistic on radio after a loss about Jackovich taking the easy options, I think he had kicked 3 or 4. I am sure the criticism was justified but as a coach you keep it in house unless you think your messages aren't cutting through. I still believe we should have snaffled a premiership between 1990 to 2000. We had some amazing talent in that decade but Shyte training facilities and horrible luck with injuries, eg the Ox, Tingay, Charles, Glenn Lovett the list is long.

I suppose I should start the new year off with something. How about Tony's business advisor Maurice Newman and his latest rant in the Oz about the religious cult of Global Warming? I mean this is scary stuff, the flat earthers are everywhere it seems.

I can sympathise with his rant. My God who would want to be put in his position. And I know I have sat in the boarding lounge at times opposite an obese person or couple and thought please let me not be sitting next to them. So far I have been lucky. However trawling through his blog I do notice he spends a lot of time being outraged by the behaviour of other humans.! Like most of these bloggers.

Dustan Martin perhaps?

Is there any other industry that is so over paid for what it does at all levels from CEO to assistant coach? An industry that is so competitive and churns through staff on an annual basis or poaches seemingly good staff for even better pay but then finds out they are incompetent but has to pay them out anyway. Does anyone work for less than $200K these days? We fans and members are the mugs in so many ways. We cough up our hard earned cash for it to be largely churned though the redundancy pay out machine to see out second rate officials and coaching staff who have never met the fan's KPI s. Who knows In MFC's case CS probably met his targets year after year but they were never our targets! On field success is that important or secondary these days?

Hmmm thank God we were able to unload Sylvia it seems from these posts. Free Agency is a God send for clubs like MFC. Without it we would be stuck with him. Let us all hope that Bernie V is a real bonus for us. Next year we get an opportunity to unload Frawley under FA. Can't wait to see who we get in his place.

Had a pre Christmas dinner catch up with friends last night. Was speaking with a sports journo from the Adelaide Advertiser who mentioned that the Crows were rapt to unload Bernie to MFC and get something for him. They were not going to offer him a contract he reckoned. The Crows had enough of his party boy behaviour apparently. I hope Viney and Roosey did their due diligence interviewing. We don't need a replacement for Sylvia in the night club scene!

I could start a thread on old drinking holes in thev80's; the Burvale, the Whitehorse in Blackburn seeing Whacko Jacko after training on a Thursday night in his white kaftan top at the bar. The Golden Gate on a Saturday arvo then down to the Star to finish off the night. All this was a shock to me when I retired from footy. Never knew people had such fun on Saturday afternoons.

I think you can only have a drink at the Rose and then go home. The Gatwick is more your lodging after you have had a skin full and a place for near do wells I believe and a good place to get taken out shall we say. Never a dull moment at the Gatwick in Fitzroy Street.

My weakness is The grape on all its forms unfortunately, red, white, rose! Not fortified though. Are there other types? if it is in a bottle I am tempted. Although on a hot night you might find me having a beer at The Rose in Fitzroy. Is that place the last of the Aussie pubs still going around as in untrendified and unhipstered so far?

PEFO plus JOEFOO equals MYEFO. A new econometric equation for a nation. That is where I spend three months as treasurer spending or cutting my own tax income like a drunken sailor to the tune of $16 to $20 billion and then get up in front of the press and act as if I am bewildered at the mess I have inherited. Joe is in line for an Oscar at this stage. The pre election economic outlook PEFO was set up by Peter Costello to tell it how it really is. That is how it was Joe as of September. Anything that has changed is yours mate! But I am sure he has got most of the usual suspects totally convinced that he has walked into a budget black hole. Of course this tradition goes way back to Jeff Kennett and Peter Cotello who both claimed crises and believe it or not turned it all around in one budget with little more than taking a baseball bat to the poorest and least powerful in the community.

Good heavens the jury is still evaluating Jimmy. Reasonable start, showed some signs and some areas that needed work. We need more information. Remember this kid was thrown into probably the worst performing, least confident side ever put onto an AFL field. No leadership, no protection, stuff all game plan. He is raw and recovering from surgery with high expectations. Let us see how he goes next year. I believe with some leadership he will surprise. That said I am on record as wanting Wines just in case someone brings it up. I think that would have worked but it is in the past let us get Jimmy up and firing.

But the inference here is that Bailey had control of his own destiny. I believe the reason for the schism in the Football Department at the time stems from Baileys frustration at decisions by Chris C and CS. They sent Junior on his way and Bruce, so our first tier leaders went out the door. Green and co were not the leaders we needed for 2011. . I remember Robbo on SEN saying he was at a function with CS and Don Mclardy a few years ago and debating with Schwab about the recruits MFC should be chasing and he was adamant that CS was obsessed with nimble, fast running outside receivers as the future of footy. This doesn't surprise me at all and explains much of our first round recruiting. We blame Bailey for much of our failings but I doubt he had full control and we know he had SFA resources. In 2010 we were on track playing competitive football. A year later we were in a death spiral with a dysfunctional FD.

Robbie there is a body of opinion that Holden was looking at their options, the new government pulled $500k worth of support and was reviewing any more on going support. With some positive signs GM may have been open to talk about the future. While the door is open there is always hope, once the door shuts that is it. Hockey shut the door. What I find interesting is that the RBA is finally trying to talk the $AUS down after so many years. If the $ drops down to the 80c region suddenly Holdens are viable as an export. And we start to make export income and maintain jobs.

My response to that would be to look at our options if and when there may be some evidence that this might be a likely option in the foreseeable future. Is there any evidence that China is about to move on these countries? Yes there is ample tension with Japan at the moment that needs calm talk and advice, not us taking sides. Robbie this issue is not party political, both sides in my opinion are besotted with the US alliance. From my view point China pays our bills, on the other hand the US pays us nothing, we are always in a trade deficit with them, we help fight their wars. We hang on the idea that they will come to our rescue if we are invaded. It is an old storey based on what? To answer your question, if it were up to me I would be opting for a low profile in all these international problems. Say nothing unless asked. Willing to help in negotiations but not willing to take sides at this stage. If the US and China are building toward conflict we should be working both sides to find a resolution. This seems reasonable to me unless you have some problem with the Bamboo Curtain that must be challenged to avoid Chinese expansion in the future.

Gee we can really pick our CEO's. My brother is a lapsed Demon follower who is a golf tragic. He used to play golf occassionally with a former MFC CEO of a similar era to Ellis at his club in the mid week comp. In the end he refused to play with him because the said CEO had a habit of moving his ball out of a tough lie when he thought no one was looking. I suppose golf is the ultimate test of your integrity. And that value has been in short supply at the MFC in recent years, at all levels. Jimmy and the present regime exempted.