Earl Hood

Agree. I never thought Balme was a dud coach. I am sure I can remember some weeks when we were so undermanned circa 1996/97 that we had to play both Cockatoo Collins kids because there was no one else on the list fit. We had a list full of X factor players who we could not get on the park together. And if I remember correctly in 1997 we got TJ at number one and picked up Leoncelli as well as two McDonalds and Robbo in the first ever rookie draft. We made a killing that year. Picking up White in 98 would have set us up no matter who was coach.And then we had Joe Gutnick and the salary cap punishments a year later! Oh. well.

I will take pick 19 but gee is this equalisation? They have just come back from their intense study tour into equalisation to the USA and all I have heard from the fat cat Presidents who got the invite is that it should not include priority picks, draft assistance of any type or monetary help. So it is a very subtle and sophisticated formula for success that we are yet to hear of.i wonder what it includes? Maybe condolences that "we feel your pain but trust us things will get better, you have had injuries and you have some good recruits, stick with it and accept your position as a second tier side to be reamed each season as required. We will take the points, the percentage and any kids you have developed in the meantime.

Gee I thought you were referring to 4to6 who played for us and last heard of playing for Balwyn in the EFL!

Hey Redleg it was you who pointed out to me about AD's exact words in his claim that of the 17 clubs that are not Melbourne, those that have contacted the AFL have said no thanks. I assumed that meant 17 clubs you said no and pointed out that it was only those clubs that had contacted the AFL. So do we have a 17 club mutiny or don't we? How many clubs contacted the AFL I wonder, no one has asked Andrew. The media originally interpreted AD comment as 17 clubs were against the PP and then Damian Barrett reported that there was a mutiny brewing and we have just moved on from there. This morning in the Hun it was 17 clubs would be livid if we got draft assistance. This whole idea is running off AD original comments, I believe. But it is working against our cause. . I think the whole thing is a beat up started by AD and the media have since just run with it. However this is exactly what AD wants so as to influence the Commision members who Also read the newspapers but hopefully for our sake do not believe there is a mutiny brewing. Why the hell would there be? All17 clubs have taken it in turns to give us an absolute belting and were happy to take the points and percentage but now are incensed should we get some help. Give me a break. And if GWS has complained all 17 clubs who are not GWS should be absolutely staggered.

I'm not sure that was a big loss for us.

You can add Kevin Dyson as well.

If only we had given Neeld more time to get in more tall timber. Clark, Dawes, Hogan added to Watts, Fitzy and Howe who plays tall and the resting ruckman; are we tall enough yet?

Hmmm I just re-read Caro's article I stand by my comments. She is writing on behalf of the AFL in my opinion. The charges have been dropped but of course as a result the Doctor's case has not been heard in full so there is still scope to throw some mud about what he should have done. The AFL pulled out of the case because it had jackshyte real evidence on the Doc. Yes in hindsight we should all be heroes but most people are human and have to operate within organisations, hierarchies, cultures and so on. The Doc seems to have put his concerns in writing expecting they would be taken seriously. I suspect they were not and those involved worked around him once they knew of his concerned. It then took six months to a year for others to realise there was a problem.

Lacked a sense of urgency when he played with us. Not sure he was really interested at all, going through the motions I thought and gee we could have used a real goer in those years when we were actually competitive.

Gee I just read Caro's article and saw as nothing more than an AFL sponsored pay back at Reid. He may be culpable but as usual the AFL had stuff all real evidence that would stand up under the intense scrutiny of a court. As usual Vlad didn't like it and has called in their favours from Caro to do the dirt file on the Doctor. Caro owes them for all the leaks from the AFL, e.g. the MFC not tanking case, you know the ashen faces and meetings in the vault that all came straight out of AFL HQ. Caro lives off the scraps thrown out from the AFL and here again she is just a pen for hire. Zero integrity In my mind. Just check Vlad's agenda as you read her articles to understand where she is coming from.

Do we really know how good or bad Bails was? In 2010 we looked to be headed in the right direction and he was coaching with next to no resources and had clowns doing the recruiting. The wheels fell off the next year and since we have come to understand the full extent of the dysfunctionalty of those above him. He took the fall with grace, the others have all since been given the kybosch. I suspect that he is competent enough to fill the role at EFC.

I think I can answer my own question. I was trying to work out AD strange use of words as in "of the 17 clubs that are not Melbourne,"...,those that have contacted me have said no thanks! He has actually been very cunning here, I think. Everyone has jumped on the key words 17 other clubs and no thanks and assumed all clubs have written to the AFL vehemently opposed to the idea of a PP for us.It was initially reported this way and Damien Barrat jumped in with idea of a revolt by all clubs if the Commission finds in our favour. This a classic case of the CEO using his position to influence the Commissions thinking. How many clubs actually wrote to him, it may be only one but the media has run off looking for a revolution that is not brewing. AD can't tell the Commission what to do but he is trying to persuade them to his wish that we do not get a PP.

Not sure I can agree due to Andrew Dimwits public and very poorly worded response about 17 other clubs saying no, even though Redleg has pointed out that he actually said something less categoric. What is he up to? He is part of the Commission that will consider our application. Is he lobbying the rest of the Commission? He would know the secret formula and that we surely qualify but it is still a discretionary decision by the Commission and so the decision can be influenced.

And we aren't paying now for our actions? How much more self flagellation do you want? Me I have had a gut full this year, no AFL team has ever trawled lower depths of ineptitude than we did this year. I'll take any help we can get.

Not surprised, aren't you sailing a prawn trawler up north somewhere these days? Where would you find the time?

Redleg I am confused 17 said no, doesn't that include the Hypocrites?

We have Roos, check. We have Allison, forward coach, check. But we need an Einstein of a midfield coach. Who is it going to be? That is one of our biggest selections for next season.

By the way has that 800 page MFC "tanking" investigation of hearsay evidence from disgruntled former employees ever seen the light of day outside AD and Gilligan's offices?

Sorry I have been away and haven't read all the posts but has anyone noted that AD said all 17 other clubs said no to a pp for us? That means GWS and Suns protested!!! I mean does the word HYPOCRITES come to mind. They have already gone past us and continue to pick up extra priority picks, bloated salary caps and exclusive zones. I mean really!

Or it reflects the same attitude many people have to the long term unemployed; they are lazy, incompetent and want to be unemployed so we should not be rewarding their indolence with higher benefits. I think the MFC being on AFL welfare is viewed with similar contempt, we don't deserve help because it is all our own fault. It's about outcomes, not who deserves what, we need help on the field and off it if the competition is going to start to equalise. The level of our ineptitude on the field has never been seen before at AFL level. Good heavens GWS and the Suns have gone past us but continue to get multiple first round picks via the earlier mini drafts as well continuing exclusive zones. Hypocritically 2 of the clubs complaining are GWS and the Suns. That said listening to Andrew D this week, I think we will get jackshyte draft assistance this year.

In comparison to the last two seasons what is our definition of "breakout"? If some players suddenly start winning contested balls, breaking away at speed and spotting up a forward lace out. That would be breakout. So it could be half the side! If we manage to set up correctly and consistently execute the point kick outs to our advantage that would be breakout to me as well.

It seems to be part of joining MFC you lose 10 metres of pace, it is a given. Trengove and Sylvia come to mind. And I should include Watts. He tested well at the draft camp but I am yet to see him put on the after burners at any time if it means getting to a contest.

Yes good point there may be some rich pickings in WA for coaches and perhaps some WAFL or WC players. I should never doubt Roosey.

Yes that is exactly where Hogan sits, potential but has not played a game yet. Not sure I agree with this hype. Not sure too many coaches would be flying over the continent to see a player we already have signed, who is going nowhere for 2 years and who is yet to play a senior game. I reckon if I was Roos I have a lot on and I will catch up with Jesse face to face when he is back training. Happy to check in by phone or Skype in the meantime. But then I am old school.

Going by Andrew D's comments on SEN I don't think we will be getting much draft help at all. He reports that the 17 other clubs say NO and AD went on to talk about the importance getting the management structure right and the rest follows it seems. Yes this important but don't tell me we have a bunch of elite midfielders playing dead because the management structures weren't set up right. We need on field help and yes we have made a mess of things but we have now moved all the incompetence on and have people from top to bottom who hopefully have some idea of running a professional organisation. I would like to know what equalisation looks like. The club presidents just back from their US study seem to be ruling out draft assistance and money. What else is there? Free agency is working the other way to unequalise the competition. Maybe their idea of equalisation is just more condolences that things will get better, while they raid our best kids every trade period.