An Essendon supporter’s perspective on 2016

Well said young man, I agree with you! But the game has major problems, how can ASADA, WADA and the Senile Old men of CAS have anything to do with our game? And what about the surface at the Docklands, more injuries again today. You cannot expect otherwise if you play on CONCRETE. That takes me to the appalling state of the Umpires. Why do they FAVOUR the top sides and Forget free kicks simply because your side is down the ladder. It is as stupid as the umpires.

Col, yes the WADA decision has been made but exactly the same arguments were made about the possibilities of Ryder and Carlisle being made delisted free agents -- it didn't happen for them and it won't happen for Hurley. This could only happen through the courts and the one thing that everyone should have learned over the last several years is that court processes take forever when in this case everything has to be settled before the draft period is finished.

Aransan, the difference with Ryder and Carlisle is that they left Essendon before the WADA decision to suspend the players so at that stage they could not claim breach of contract.

Col, we have heard all this before with Ryder and Carlisle and the breach of contract business didn't work for them. This is pure bluff and wishful thinking on the part of clubs who haven't taken the trouble to develop their own talent. The bluff won't work with Essendon.

If Essendon want to play hard ball and hurly tries to leave as un restricted free agent I can tell you Essendon would win easy why the cas ruling banned them on signed consent forms and they are responsible for what goes into there body short answer Essendon would say yes we supposedly did wrong but the buck stops with the player who is responsible for what enters the body which several players who are playing this year ie Dempsey Bagley zakka did not participate hurly has some fault there fore he would be denied so if he leaves it will only be by a suitable trade end of story.....

Aransan, apparently Hurley can leave Essendon as a delisted free agent due to a breach of contract. I am sure that Essendon would challenge that if he went that way. I would hope that if Hurley wants to leave he would not go down that path but ensure that Essendon were compensated. I would hope that clubs are not trying to sway Hurley to go down the free agency path in the hope they pick him up for nothing. I personally believe that he will stay at Essendon.

I don't know why certain clubs believe they can pick up Hurley for nothing jb, he is on a contract and St. Kilda had to give up pick 5 for Carlisle who was out of contract. Hurley was originally a pick 5 and Essendon has put a lot of development into him so the asking price by Essendon would be pretty high. Hurley has been very well treated by Essendon but if he has any doubts about remaining then he should best go but he is not any form of a free agent which means that he would have to pick a club that can satisfy Essendon with a deal. Amazing how clubs neglect to develop their own key position players and then try and poach someone elses -- Ryder, Carlisle, Hooker and now Hurley. We should be aware that some agents can get into the heads of their charges and cause discontent, and some players are unaware that they are being manipulated. An agent benefits by having their players change clubs for more money.

Hey Dougie, either your mates aren't too bright or you have stretched the truth because by my reckoning over the past 20 years the lunches should be 10 all with you going ahead by one this year.?

good contribution Michael. Woosa has been such a stabilising influence this year he has proved to be an inspired appointment. As we look forward to next season we have confidence that our years in the wilderness are over. Surely we are able to look forward to significant improvement in our performances in 2017 but we need to give our returning players a year to adapt back to AFL footy. As much as I would love to see Hurley return I am not so sure that his failure to do so would be the catastrophe everyone says it would be. If we continue to build over the next three years then surely no player is indispensable.

And I bet they still tell you that the best beers they have ever tasted were the one's you bought them in 1995.?

It flusters them Col. And they've had to buy me lunch for most of the past 20 years for finishing lower on the ladder ?

Funny Dougie because my friends who are non-Carlton supporters don't mock me. The majority of contributors to this site don't mock Carlton supporters but indulge in sensible debate. I wonder what your Carlton mates think of you when you mock them.

And that's exactly why non-Carlton supporters continue to mock Carlton supporters, Col.

You can come up with as many bulls*#t stories as you want Dougie. Fact is there is no evidence to suggest the 1995 cup is tainted and if you go to Ikon Park it sits in a very impressive display with 15 mates. I will take hate and 16 premierships over pity and 1 everyday of the week.

Ahhh, that explains your generosity of spirit towards Carlton supporters, Paul D. Some of my good mates are arrogant Carlton supporters and despite 20 years of club mediocrity, their arrogance hasn't subsided. I love stirring them up. In 1995 I lost a bet with one of them who declared they would not lose another game, with 7 rounds plus finals still to go. I had to buy him a slab, but I bought two, because I figured that was one heck of an impressive bet to win. I didn't realise then, that the b*stards had cheated! I've never been called a crusty old grognard before, but I'll take it in my stride. ?

I’ll admit it, I’m staggeringly naïve when it comes to VFL history, particularly anything before about 1999 – just no lived experience of it whatsoever, before my time when I was interested in Aussie Rules. It is rather funny to hear stories from the crusty old grognards who lived that era and who obviously still get plenty of nourishment from chewing those old bones – and that is a pretty funny story PD. I guess I have no strong views on Carlton because my entire experience of this club is an absolute basket case who have been a failure for 20 years – but I wasn’t around to experience what was no doubt some pretty full-on arrogance in the decades prior to 1995!

Heehee. Everyone knows it Col. ? Kouta attended a local footy function a couple of weeks ago and had to endure the whole drunken room chanting "tainted" when he was introduced as a 1995 premiership player. He didn't deny it and expressed how much he and other teammates were filthy at SOS for revealing the salary cap cheating. Col & Paul D, I'm not denying it - I have no love for Carlton and their pigs arse history. ?

Haha, I must admit, that is a classic example Col.

PD please point me to any reference that Carlton breached the Salary Cap in 1995. If you have any proof I am sure the AFL would be grateful to receive it. The only club to have been found guilty of salary cap beaches in a premiership year is Essendon. The club was punished accordingly and as you said years of mediocrity has followed. As a Footscray/Western Bulldogs supporter, who would know better how that felt. I told you Paul they are still out there.

Good contribution Ben. Most commenting here have already supported your basic thrust and for EFC most will treat how they've handled 2016 as a legitimate "move on" from the past. IMO the memories of what happened and the vitriol that will probably go with it should be reserved for the Club's (then) board, management and Coaching leadership from this point fwd, not the players still at Essendon or elsewhere. BTW - in this context I believe the choice of coach (Woosha) will prove to be inspired, might take 5 years, but if the Club sticks with him much is possible.