Crowley wants to talk to banned Bombers

I wouldn't get carried away. Rosco didn't think he was up to a Preliminary Final despite having the perfect tag job for him. He was training the house down then as well.

Lol, very good

I haven't worked for anyone since I was in my teens. I've employed well over a thousand people in my working life. I know a little bit about leadership but nice try. Woosha has forgotten more about leadership than you will probably ever know, no offence intended.

I think he's value too, people dismiss him because he's not stylish, but he's one of the fittest players in the competition, and with the reduced interchanges will be invaluable for Essendon this season given the number of kids with a small tank they'll be fielding. Looking forward to when the Bombers play Freo already! I have nothing but contempt for anyone who continues to tar a player as a drug cheat after they've done their time, anyone who does that and cheered any of Warney's wickets post-2003 is a massive hypocrite.

Yes...I don't think that's the reason. I think they got him because he's value. The "Disney" reasoning (I'd claim it is more French RomCom) is, however, more plausible than the moral depravity, Colombian drug lord conspiracy stuff that others throw around.

I'm not quite sure it's as Disney an ending as your words suggest - overlooks for starters that it was Essendon that shot them full of the gear in the first place. Crowley fashioned his own noose. But certainly it will be important for the club to rebuild trust with the players - will be interesting to see how many of the suspended Bombers continue on with Essendon after the year off.

Hilarious. Apparently giving someone a fair go and forgiving them once they've completed their sentence is socialism now. Apologies for not being vindictive enough to hold down a job at Pumping Dougie Enterprises Pty Ltd.

Leadership...good leadership...involves reintegrating those that have been excluded. Why would you "take it" otherwise. You seem to be describing leadership in a despotic, intolerant world. I can't see that your "lol" is appropriate.

I take it none of you guys have held very senior roles and had to consider the wider implications of leadership within an organisation. You socialist bullies. LOL.

We do disregard them, don't we? There wouldn't be a moral Australian anywhere that would endorse the comments of Andy or Dougie on this topic. Yes, Dougie, your comments today have descended to Andyl12's level.

It is an excellent statement of solidarity with their suspended boys who now are able to sign as free agents next year. It is saying, we'll take you back...we believe in you. Crowls could well be a symbollic recruit.

Why would you demand "constructive flak" when all you say is destructive?

Since when dose that galah write anything intelligent Rick?

Er ... Ok Ajax. If you feel inclined to stick to your muddled interpretations, then so be it. Your sentiment however, is honourable.

Me too Paul. It's a sad world that we live in at times.

Well i think you have pre-judged him - you keep insinuating that he may have taken it to mask something more sinister. There is no evidence of that yet you continue to pre-judge him nonetheless. That's precisely what Cam wrote about. The media have done it too. I take it on face value - he was banned for a pain killer and he's done his time. I don't have a lot of time for people who try to read more into it and damage Crowley's reputation further without one iota of evidence to support their claims. Who cares what people think - their opinions come out of the gutter. Innocent until proven guilty. Imagine for a second that you were Crowley's father and you had read and heard some of the things that have been said.

I’m so sick of the social media justices in this country – Crowley isn’t still taking drugs, so I don’t see what the fuss is about. Anyone still whinging about Crowley’s suspension in the context of the Bombers recruiting him is a holier-than-thou prig who can safely be disregarded.

Tell you what, if further clubs decide that Essendon's approach is a really great idea (who doesn't enjoy a 12 month holiday) then I owe you a coke. Franko's suggestion is a cynical aside, suggesting a typical baseless conspiracy theory and deserved no response at all.

Jax, Cam's article was about pre-judging players without the facts and the resulting media hysteria. I largely agree with his piece and was not on the band-wagon calling for Martin's head. Crowley has already been judged and found guilty. So your point is invalid. But you've also misinterpreted my comments. I don't have any issue with Crowley playing again this season for an AFL club. I just think it was dumb of Essendon, given their unique recent history, to recruit him. They finally parted ways with Hird and Paul Little, which creates an important perception of 'a fresh start', etc. Then they recruit a bloke convicted of drug cheating. He might have just taken a pain killer and nothing else. But then again, he might not have. If there was any evidence, it was concealed (by the pain killer), which is the reason for the conviction. He's served his penance, but Essendon need to demonstrate a drug-free culture and shed its past. Good luck to Crowley though.

"Harsh to compare Crowley to terrorists, I know, but I’m just wondering if we should view his desires with the same suspicion." Please read your statement back 100 times andy12 before responding if you wish to do so. Apart from being completely inappropriate, it makes absolutely no sense. You have basically said: should 'we' as a society question whether Crowley has some more sinister motive behind playing AFL again for the EFC and then DIRECTLY linked it to a terrorist organisation in ISIS! You have been reported.