Deestroy
Norm Smith Medallist
A poster has been on Demonland claiming to have inside knowledge about the Powell situation, and I for one believe his claims. The following is his post which is a must read. I sure hope Powelly stays..... (keep in mind he's talking about members from Demonland in this post and not members from BF)
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I have never before engaged in this sort of practice , but feel I must speak up about some of the gross untruths that have been appearing on this site in reference to Stephen Powell.
At the moment , I am thoroughly disgusted to be a MFC member , I am angry at the club and I am appalled that this site and by most of it's contributors . Some of you appear to be nasty ,ill -informed , unintelligent buffoons , who think nothing of ruthlessly attacking someone without knowing all the facts , and without them having the opportunity to refute your claims.
I have been a friend of the Powell family for over 14 years , a MFC supporter for 23 years and a member for at least most of that time. Stephen is an intelligent , easygoing , well presented young man who comes from a well respected and regarded family.
When Stephen joined Melbourne in late '99 , he was thrilled as were his family , he had high hopes of playing 100 + games for the club and finishing his career there, he was tote as "the new Todd Viney " , tough , hard and oncompromising , a tag he has well and truly lived up to . Like Todd he has become much lovedand respected by the players and thinks of the MFC as his home.
What upsets me , and I know his family , partner and fellow friends are the gross untruths circulating , on sites such as this , and without Stephen's , his families or partners knowledge I feel I must set the record straight. , as he is being wrongly portryaed and persecuted.
Stephen had a stellar 2000 , a year in which for the most part he played with a broken bone in his hand and OP , the later being so bad by 3/4 through the year , that he required a needle every day just to walk around and was restricted to light to training . In the final series , as well as the the Grand Final , Stephen was undoubtably our best player -- he played under extreme circumstances as the club were desperate to have him on the field , such was his influence.
At the end of the season , Stephen underwent a massive operation , which left for 5 months unable to walk more than 10 metres , things were so bad , that his patrner and his family were forced to scale back their work commitments to care for him . Then in April 2001 , his partner was horrifically injured in a car accident , forcing of work for 12 months with severe neck and spinal injures , she was bedridden as was Stephen , who struggled to care for them both , as well as tending to his own recovery
During this period , NOT ONCE did a MFC official visit their home , enquire with the family if they could assist , nor did the club Player Welfare Manager offer any assistance. When it became clear he would not play that year , he offered to take a paycut to assist the club , which I believe they took him up on
On the long road to recovery , Stephen sought out many specialist and alternative treatments , at HIS OWN COST , i believe Danny Corcoran himself has ackowledged publicly that Stephen "cured himself " , this is totally accurate and he has been totally free from OP for the past 12 months.
I find it amusing to have read on your site that stephen's late season fade out is due to the OP re-occuring ----- what rubbish !!!!! Stephen was not fit ALL year due to not doing a pre-seaon , the club felt it important to have him on the field , even if it was for only 15 minutes per quatrer, regardless of his fitness . Stephen would have been just as happy to play 12 games this year , but the club wanted him out there. The club , on review of his year , are also very pleased with his contribution , they know once fit he will be back to year 2000 form.
Another absurb post I have read is that the club were "angered" by his suspensions , if this were the case don't you think they would have fined or dropped him ? He also was never asked to apologize to the playing group , nor was he reprimanded for these indecretions , again another bit of unsubstantiated innuendo that has been levelled at his character !!!!!!
The current situation , as it stands , is that Stephen is not attending training because as an uncontracted player he is also uninsured --- doesn't take a genuis to work out why he is reluctant to risk training . The club totally understand and are fine with it.
In regards to his leaving the club, yes , it is a big possibility ., and NO it is not entirely to do with money.
At the end of the season , Stephen and his mangement were told by Danny Corcoran that the club were focued on YZE and TJ , and that he wasn't a priority at that point . Stephen understood this , their signings were paramount and he realized that they are needed for us to win a flag . So he sat back and waited ........ and waited , until Trade Week was upon him and the club had not contacted him or his manager . He was told that the club very much wanted him to stay , that he wasn't part of their trade plans , and that even if he wanted to , they wouldn't trade him . Trade week went Woey went for salry cap relief and so the club could re- sign the 7 uncontracted player . But with that also came Heffernen , on over $250k per year , and still no sign of a contract for Stephen , that hadn't even asked him what he was wanting , 6 weeks had now passed and other than 2 phone calls , he had had no other contact with the club.
The day before pre-season training he was presented with a contract via a fax , a one year NON NEGIOTABLE contract , that was basically 40% less than his current one , which was , despite reports to the contary on your site , a very modest salary ............ divide Woey's contract by a third and you may have some perspectative .
What the issue is here , is that Stephen feels that the club have deliberately stalled negoiations , and have backed him into a corner and now think they can stand over him They waited until tade week was over , they have compromised and decieved him, and have created a situation where he distrusts them and feels they have dealt with .unfairly , when all along he was fair and considerate to them.
Although the players have chosen to take a paycut , Stephen nor the other uncontracted players will see a cent of that money , due to severe mismangement and buggling , this maony will be instead used to offset cap problems, and in 12 months time when the club has 15 senoirs players out of contract , do you think Stephen is going to feel safe or secure that the club will act honourably after this ? At the momnet they can offer him no stability , security or show him any respect . The club are banking on the fact that all the clubs have finalized their lists and negoiations , and that Stephen will just cop it . Sadly , the reality is that Stephen will probably end up elsewhere, on a little less money , but with someone who will secure him for two years.
I ask you all , would you accept that sort of behavoiur from your employer , or would you also have serious thoughts of leaving ?
So , please think about what you write , check your facts , don't just shoot off at the mouth , because Stephen is the victim of a badly managed club , he is the one who is being compromised and bullyed ------ just get off his back !!!!
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I have never before engaged in this sort of practice , but feel I must speak up about some of the gross untruths that have been appearing on this site in reference to Stephen Powell.
At the moment , I am thoroughly disgusted to be a MFC member , I am angry at the club and I am appalled that this site and by most of it's contributors . Some of you appear to be nasty ,ill -informed , unintelligent buffoons , who think nothing of ruthlessly attacking someone without knowing all the facts , and without them having the opportunity to refute your claims.
I have been a friend of the Powell family for over 14 years , a MFC supporter for 23 years and a member for at least most of that time. Stephen is an intelligent , easygoing , well presented young man who comes from a well respected and regarded family.
When Stephen joined Melbourne in late '99 , he was thrilled as were his family , he had high hopes of playing 100 + games for the club and finishing his career there, he was tote as "the new Todd Viney " , tough , hard and oncompromising , a tag he has well and truly lived up to . Like Todd he has become much lovedand respected by the players and thinks of the MFC as his home.
What upsets me , and I know his family , partner and fellow friends are the gross untruths circulating , on sites such as this , and without Stephen's , his families or partners knowledge I feel I must set the record straight. , as he is being wrongly portryaed and persecuted.
Stephen had a stellar 2000 , a year in which for the most part he played with a broken bone in his hand and OP , the later being so bad by 3/4 through the year , that he required a needle every day just to walk around and was restricted to light to training . In the final series , as well as the the Grand Final , Stephen was undoubtably our best player -- he played under extreme circumstances as the club were desperate to have him on the field , such was his influence.
At the end of the season , Stephen underwent a massive operation , which left for 5 months unable to walk more than 10 metres , things were so bad , that his patrner and his family were forced to scale back their work commitments to care for him . Then in April 2001 , his partner was horrifically injured in a car accident , forcing of work for 12 months with severe neck and spinal injures , she was bedridden as was Stephen , who struggled to care for them both , as well as tending to his own recovery
During this period , NOT ONCE did a MFC official visit their home , enquire with the family if they could assist , nor did the club Player Welfare Manager offer any assistance. When it became clear he would not play that year , he offered to take a paycut to assist the club , which I believe they took him up on
On the long road to recovery , Stephen sought out many specialist and alternative treatments , at HIS OWN COST , i believe Danny Corcoran himself has ackowledged publicly that Stephen "cured himself " , this is totally accurate and he has been totally free from OP for the past 12 months.
I find it amusing to have read on your site that stephen's late season fade out is due to the OP re-occuring ----- what rubbish !!!!! Stephen was not fit ALL year due to not doing a pre-seaon , the club felt it important to have him on the field , even if it was for only 15 minutes per quatrer, regardless of his fitness . Stephen would have been just as happy to play 12 games this year , but the club wanted him out there. The club , on review of his year , are also very pleased with his contribution , they know once fit he will be back to year 2000 form.
Another absurb post I have read is that the club were "angered" by his suspensions , if this were the case don't you think they would have fined or dropped him ? He also was never asked to apologize to the playing group , nor was he reprimanded for these indecretions , again another bit of unsubstantiated innuendo that has been levelled at his character !!!!!!
The current situation , as it stands , is that Stephen is not attending training because as an uncontracted player he is also uninsured --- doesn't take a genuis to work out why he is reluctant to risk training . The club totally understand and are fine with it.
In regards to his leaving the club, yes , it is a big possibility ., and NO it is not entirely to do with money.
At the end of the season , Stephen and his mangement were told by Danny Corcoran that the club were focued on YZE and TJ , and that he wasn't a priority at that point . Stephen understood this , their signings were paramount and he realized that they are needed for us to win a flag . So he sat back and waited ........ and waited , until Trade Week was upon him and the club had not contacted him or his manager . He was told that the club very much wanted him to stay , that he wasn't part of their trade plans , and that even if he wanted to , they wouldn't trade him . Trade week went Woey went for salry cap relief and so the club could re- sign the 7 uncontracted player . But with that also came Heffernen , on over $250k per year , and still no sign of a contract for Stephen , that hadn't even asked him what he was wanting , 6 weeks had now passed and other than 2 phone calls , he had had no other contact with the club.
The day before pre-season training he was presented with a contract via a fax , a one year NON NEGIOTABLE contract , that was basically 40% less than his current one , which was , despite reports to the contary on your site , a very modest salary ............ divide Woey's contract by a third and you may have some perspectative .
What the issue is here , is that Stephen feels that the club have deliberately stalled negoiations , and have backed him into a corner and now think they can stand over him They waited until tade week was over , they have compromised and decieved him, and have created a situation where he distrusts them and feels they have dealt with .unfairly , when all along he was fair and considerate to them.
Although the players have chosen to take a paycut , Stephen nor the other uncontracted players will see a cent of that money , due to severe mismangement and buggling , this maony will be instead used to offset cap problems, and in 12 months time when the club has 15 senoirs players out of contract , do you think Stephen is going to feel safe or secure that the club will act honourably after this ? At the momnet they can offer him no stability , security or show him any respect . The club are banking on the fact that all the clubs have finalized their lists and negoiations , and that Stephen will just cop it . Sadly , the reality is that Stephen will probably end up elsewhere, on a little less money , but with someone who will secure him for two years.
I ask you all , would you accept that sort of behavoiur from your employer , or would you also have serious thoughts of leaving ?
So , please think about what you write , check your facts , don't just shoot off at the mouth , because Stephen is the victim of a badly managed club , he is the one who is being compromised and bullyed ------ just get off his back !!!!
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