No Oppo Supporters CAS hands down guilty verdict - Players appealing - Dank shot - no opposition - (cont in pt.2)

[Bunk Moreland]

Pointless argument IMO.

None of you know.

My defence of Hird throughout this whole process is based on the fact we still haven't heard his full story. Hence I haven't been prepared to hang him, as a club legend.

All that happened was the release of some text messages and since then it's been Operation Kill Hird.

A whisper here, a whisper there, with the passing of time and enough repetition, supposition becomes fact.

The AFL took it all behind closed doors with that disgraceful charade last year (which we took part in), and emerged with him gone for 12 months.

He may have deserved that, he may deserve more, he may have not deserved anything.

It defies belief throughout this entire charade that we still haven't heard it all from him.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: he needs to tell his story. I want him in a chair, staring down a camera, and saying "The first time I heard the name Stephen Dank was..." and not ******* getting up until he gets to the present day.

I understand it may have to wait until after the ASADA process is dead. But then, it has to happen. In full. This club will never heal unless and until it does.

I will say, if it doesn't happen, I'll be done with Hird, Essendon and the AFL. Im not going to continue expending loads of time, energy, and thousands of dollars a year, put up with this s**t for two years and maybe more, and be treated like a *in mushroom. I own this footy club, and if I'm not ultimately treated as such, I'm gone.

 

[cymarak]

I own this footy club, and if I'm not ultimately treated as such, I'm gone.

Are you saying your avatar is actually a selfie ?

 

[Xyle01]

I know what you're getting at, but it would be very easy for this sort of stuff to be publicly dismissed (e.g. by Caro, Purple, etc.) as being staged.

Especially if it is staged (or posed / arranged / etc.).

They don't necessarily have to be staged.

They may dismiss it but then it comes down to attacking with frequency. If you release enough images (and propaganda) over a sustained period to indirectly answer them in the media they will have a tough time fighting it with words. That is if the club construct it right. Each picture needs to be considered a message. Marketing is about construction of the message and then PR and Advertising is about the communication of that message.

Don't underestimate the power of images. Think back to 2013, the membership of Essendon was galvanized by images of Hird with the players united in victory celebrating the win in Fremantle.

The club needs to take a pro-active, aggressive and positive approach to it's media. The club has the power to start the beginnings of turning *some* public attention toward the club back to being positive, however the communication from the club has been poor and now we are seeing the results.

 

[rines]

If you want to see what is wrong with the AFL 'brand'.. take a look at the age website.

A young man has just reached the pinnacle of our sport, our highest achievement (individual) and there are 4 articles written about him. Then you have 13 current 'articles' about EFC, EFC saga, some random EFC 'parent', EFC, EFC must die, Hird is the devil etc etc..

That is the problem.. the saga 'sells' and thus the media will just keep printing more and more crap. Truly scary moment? When you realise that NOTHING of any significance has really happened for 5 months.. we are still waiting.. waiting.. waiting..

How about the AFL take the media to task, rip up a few accreditations.. and maybe something will change. I want to read about Brownlows, Premiership chances.. tactics and possible trades (from ALL clubs).. no some random opinion of someone who is one step removed from the club...

 

[Dan Cooper]

Apparently Fitzpatrick has been lobbying the other clubs again behind the scenes with the specific aim of them levering against us again - much as they did just prior to us being fined the $2Mil and Hird being sent on his way.

Standby for another AFL driven move against us.

 

[Xyle01]

If you want to see what is wrong with the AFL 'brand'.. take a look at the age website.

A young man has just reached the pinnacle of our sport, our highest achievement (individual) and there are 4 articles written about him. Then you have 13 current 'articles' about EFC, EFC saga, some random EFC 'parent', EFC, EFC must die, Hird is the devil etc etc..

That is the problem.. the saga 'sells' and thus the media will just keep printing more and more crap. Truly scary moment? When you realise that NOTHING of any significance has really happened for 5 months.. we are still waiting.. waiting.. waiting..

How about the AFL take the media to task, rip up a few accreditations.. and maybe something will change. I want to read about Brownlows, Premiership chances.. tactics and possible trades (from ALL clubs).. no some random opinion of someone who is one step removed from the club...

Very true. However I believe Essendon to date have been very poor in their efforts to protect their own brand.

If Essendon were my client I would be bombarding the public with messages of positivity and strength. The club has been painfully silent at times and too careful at other times.

 

[Zach Package]

Very true. However I believe Essendon to date have been very poor in their efforts to protect their own brand.

If Essendon were my client I would be bombarding the public with messages of positivity and strength. The club has been painfully silent at times and too careful at other times.

#thelukindifference

 

[rines]

Very true. However I believe Essendon to date have been very poor in their efforts to protect their own brand.

If Essendon were my client I would be bombarding the public with messages of positivity and strength. The club has been painfully silent at times and too careful at other times.

I couldn't agree more. Club has mishandled the PR from start to current day.

Need to be running a full time blitz.. more media was needed.. not less.

The problem being that it is futile when 90% of the public don't even want to hear it.. they are just busy being angry and outraged at something they don't even know why..

I reckon the best way to go about it is to continue to be strong.. let the process work through.. continue to make finals.. continue to play well.. and ultimately be vindicated when the truth comes out.

 

[rines]

Apparently Fitzpatrick has been lobbying the other clubs again behind the scenes with the specific aim of them levering against us again - much as they did just prior to us being fined the $2Mil and Hird being sent on his way.

Standby for another AFL driven move against us.

What more can they actually do? Charge us with BTGID again? Like to see them try.

We have been charged, and accepted guilt, for all club based penalties.

I couldn't give a toss what Fitzpatrick and the AFL want.. we shouldn't have given in to the pricks last time.. so I doubt we would be that stupid again.

 

[scottmclaren]

If you want to see what is wrong with the AFL 'brand'.. take a look at the age website.

A young man has just reached the pinnacle of our sport, our highest achievement (individual) and there are 4 articles written about him. Then you have 13 current 'articles' about EFC, EFC saga, some random EFC 'parent', EFC, EFC must die, Hird is the devil etc etc..

That is the problem.. the saga 'sells' and thus the media will just keep printing more and more crap. Truly scary moment? When you realise that NOTHING of any significance has really happened for 5 months.. we are still waiting.. waiting.. waiting..

How about the AFL take the media to task, rip up a few accreditations.. and maybe something will change. I want to read about Brownlows, Premiership chances.. tactics and possible trades (from ALL clubs).. no some random opinion of someone who is one step removed from the club...

crazy for grand final week. Lucky Hird was exiled from the coaches box for last 2 games of the year. Would have really been a circus had he entered it....

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

Melbourne: Well this team will be so glad to have your support you might get a personal visit from Roos. Best part is that you can literally have any seat in the house when you want to go to the game! Also no queues at the Toilet or Pie Stand as there is only around 10,000 people to share watching your team get flogged most weeks. Bonus is getting to listen to Roosy on club nights talk up "Wattsy and Jonesy and Vineeeeey"! Be prepared to acknowledge that your new club hasn't had a stable board for 50 years and is now, by defacto, run directly by AFL House. Also supposedly trying to pay back the fine they received for BRINGING THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE by 'not tanking'.. so at least you will be familiar with the charge and how 'robust' it is at keeping our good game safe from rogue clubs. Good news is that even if your players are linked to doping allegations, you are such a non-entity that no one will bother to write 1000's of stories about it. As always feel free to book in September holidays for the next decade, you won't have anything to worry about.

 

[westking]

And this is where I believe the major problem lies now with the AFL ...Fitzpatrick.
He continues to encourage this disgusting behavior towards our club.

 

[Stopher]

What the club needs to do for the sake of the fans is release images or video showing Hird and Thompson together with the players. These images should be depicted to appear as if they are not posed for but rather taken in a "natural" setting. Obviously we would want the photos to show the players looking happy and comfortable along side their coaches.

Another thing the club should consider doing (following the Grand Final) to attack from a PR angle is do a press release showing the players and support staff standing united together with the headline being "We are innocent and we will prove it".

There has been so much negativity about the club that it needs to fight back with positivity. It needs to employ the careful use of images and words to depict a strong and united club for us to get behind. If the club shows us strength and unity we as supporters are more likely to follow suit.

I have a background in advertising and public relations and one would think the specialists that the club employs would be able to assist the club in mounting a good fightback, but alas I believe the club have failed strongly in this area. Maybe it is time the club looks at engaging a new PR company and additionally a marketing company to start protecting it's own brand and also start working on a plan to further it's brand in the future.

Not exactly what you are saying, I know, but there was the ice-bucket challenge with Hird, Little and Jobe. Bomber wasn't just smiling, he was pissing himself! Everyone seemed fairly jovial then too.

 

[rumply]

. I own this footy club, and if I'm not ultimately treated as such, I'm gone.

I am a campaigner hair away as it is & hadnt really realised until last night.

Sat down to watch the Brownlow once the count had started last night & turned off after 15min, it just all looked fake esp once the new boss campaigner started reeling off names, & for the first time since my teens I doubt I will watch the GF.

Love the game, VFL GF was great but zero enthusiasm for the AFL in any form atm.

 

[DonsRule]

If you want to see what is wrong with the AFL 'brand'.. take a look at the age website.

A young man has just reached the pinnacle of our sport, our highest achievement (individual) and there are 4 articles written about him. Then you have 13 current 'articles' about EFC, EFC saga, some random EFC 'parent', EFC, EFC must die, Hird is the devil etc etc..

That is the problem.. the saga 'sells' and thus the media will just keep printing more and more crap. Truly scary moment? When you realise that NOTHING of any significance has really happened for 5 months.. we are still waiting.. waiting.. waiting..

How about the AFL take the media to task, rip up a few accreditations.. and maybe something will change. I want to read about Brownlows, Premiership chances.. tactics and possible trades (from ALL clubs).. no some random opinion of someone who is one step removed from the club...

The other thing that stood out to me was Gill's presentation ont he image of the game suffering.

I think that is exactly what is wrong with the game/AFL atm. They were worried more about image that real legal rights and wrongs.

 

[cymarak]

Apparently Fitzpatrick has been lobbying the other clubs again behind the scenes with the specific aim of them levering against us again - much as they did just prior to us being fined the $2Mil and Hird being sent on his way.

Standby for another AFL driven move against us.

What would the AFL be hoping to achieve ?

Players to cut deals ?

I would have thought if the AFL is doing any lobbying it should be lobbying ASADA to have a good hard think about whether it really has enough evidence to warrant going to the ADRVP.

 

[Burzum]

Apparently Fitzpatrick has been lobbying the other clubs again behind the scenes with the specific aim of them levering against us again - much as they did just prior to us being fined the $2Mil and Hird being sent on his way.

Standby for another AFL driven move against us.

... for what?

 

[ManWithNoName]

Lot of opposition supporters "liking" posts in this thread...

 

[Dan Cooper]

... for what?

That's anyone's guess? But where there's smoke...

 

[Kong]

Sat down to watch the Brownlow once the count had started last night & turned off after 15min, it just all looked fake esp once the new boss campaigner started reeling off names, & for the first time since my teens I doubt I will watch the GF.

Yeah I had a very similar experience.

I sat there completely disheartened.

I don't know whether it's always been like this and I've just grown up/changed, or whether it has become more farcical each year, but I sat there and saw a bunch of businessmen and prompt readers going through some very rehearsed and forced lines.

I remember watching games of footy, and Brownlow counts, and being amazed at the "magic" of it as a kid. Maybe it's just age, but I feel like that part of me is 99% gone.

I have no love left for this machine.

 

[Burzum]

That's anyone's guess? But where there's smoke...

That'd be smart move by the AFL, further alienate a large portion of supporters.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Are you saying your avatar is actually a selfie ?

He reports to us.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Lot of opposition supporters "liking" posts in this thread...

Obsession.

It's hard when you're constantly at the forefront of everybody's minds.

 

[Duckworth]

Ryder is God Gone is right, there is no point lobbying if there is no purpose behind it.

 

[Dan Cooper]

That'd be smart move by the AFL, further alienate a large portion of supporters.

Smart moves haven't been their long suit throughout this saga. But they are planning on making another dumb move it's best to first ensure the other 17 clubs are on board with it.