Joel Smith (MEL) banned for drugs

[Mr Miyagi]

It’s amazing — simply breathtaking — how the media is skirting the massive drug issue and police investigation of players with Melbourne when discussing their slide in form and why players want out. “It’s truly a mystery why players want out, what’s going on? We may never know…” Just say it, you cowardly flogs! It’s an absolute joke.

Although we’d better be careful, Melbourne/AFL will leak a Collingwood scandal to the media the week we play them next.

[qldmagpie67]

It’s amazing — simply breathtaking — how the media is skirting the massive drug issue and police investigation of players with Melbourne when discussing their slide in form and why players want out. “It’s truly a mystery why players want out, what’s going on? We may never know…” Just say it, you cowardly flogs! It’s an absolute joke.

Although we’d better be careful, Melbourne/AFL will leak a Collingwood scandal to the media the week we play them next.

Mate there’s been mail for a long time about the place
It’s a cesspool of poor behaviour and bad choices
Petracca is a decent human like Viney so you wonder if the noise coming out of there is because both has reached there limits of it
I’ve heard the straw that broke the camels back was the treatment of Brayshaw after he retired
They wanted him to accept pennies on the dollar from his contract then when when they where told that was going to fly they offered him a job internally as a substitute for his owed contract and again it didn’t work
The AFLPA have said he’s entitled to every penny of his contract (even though the AFL hasn’t decided yet on how much goes into the cap)
So they basically made his position inside the club untenable so he left
He was very popular among the players and extremely close to both Petracca and Viney.
Melbourne can come out and say Petracca isn’t going anywhere but if push comes to shove they’ll let him go he knows way too much about some of the issues inside the club

[Presti35]

Well they managed to get thru the 2024 season without much fanfare... But it sounds like it's about to really go off. About time too.

[Presti35]

Delisting incoming. (For J Smith)

[Presti35]

Neal-Bullen wanted out and will be one of the first traded next week. Trac wanted out (and maybe still does). Now Oliver wants out. Both Trac and Oliver have seen Melbourne come out and say a trade will not happen. Viney thought about taking up Norths offer but stayed. Theres mummers that Pickett wants out too. If these guys were free agents, you could bet that it'd be bye bye Dees.

Something really stinks at this club. Plus we've already heard about the drug/alcohol issues with players and even coach. And we've heard about the in-fighting amongst players too.

And no one wants to go there. That's what's been forgotten about. Houston and Jake Waterman were both ready to walk in. Both even met with the club and were ready to ask for the trade. But then both pulled out leaving the Dees a bit red faced in the process. And it's sounding like they're not linked to anyone else. I mean could they get players for Oliver/Trac? Could they have gotten first round picks? They should bite the bullet and trade both now while they can.

May is cooked, McDonald is cooked, Brown has retired, Smith is gone, Gus is gone, Hunter is retired, Billings is cooked, Melksham is cooked. Langdon, Lever, and Gawn will all still be good. Van Rooyen looks like he could be a good player, McVee looks ok. Rivers is good. But who else is going to step up for them next year?

Many of their fans have them in the top 4 next year, but I dont see it. I can see some dark times, especially if Oliver/Trac are just not happy. Goodwin may not even see out the year.

[Jezza]

^ I get the impression Melbourne need a refresh both at board and coaching level, similar to what we experienced in 2021.

The club has been subject to too many rumours about players being unhappy and having a poor culture.

[Presti35]

Gary Pert days as CEO are numberd I reckon.

[Presti35]

Well. Thanks for Dan Houston.

They refused to trade Oliver who clearly wants out. They should be moving him on to get some of the problems out of the club. They refuse to trade Trac, which was known weeks ago now. But he also isn't pleased at the club. If they were smart, they move on Oliver and use what they get from that trade to get Houston. He picked that club, he wanted to go there.

Mark them down as a team that could fall far down the ladder.

[qldmagpie67]

Smith gone banned for 4 years being reported
Also facing trafficking charges
Pert stepped down as CEO
This mess is about to go into overdrive
I’m hearing board will be meeting urgently to discuss Goodwin’s future as well
Watch this space for more players to be involved in the Smith saga
Strong mail the police have encrypted texts between Smith and players and he’s cooperating to try to lessen his charges
No wonder Petracca wanted out of this place

[Presti35]

Trac seen training with our boys I heard? Not that he can be obtained now, but will he ask for a move next year?

[Presti35]

Just quickly, how badly have they wanted to be like us, or to get one over us... They are obsessed with us, they hate us, yet they want to be like us.

Taking Jarrah, drafting Weideman 15 spots early just to beat us to it, Gary Pert, Mark Neeld, Leigh Brown, Lumumba, Dawes, exploiting Watts for media attention when he clearly wasnt ready... When they got Roos, he turned the place around. Now it's going back to what it was. They need to get rid of Goodwin now and they should have traded Oliver and any other problematic players they've got.

[Jezza]

^ They did us a favour taking Weideman.

[Presti35]

^ Maybe. But I do think he would have been a better player at a different club. Just like many other Demon draftees in the last 20 years. (Watts, Trengove, etc).