Mal Michael & Essendon

[CaptainDangerfield]

I wonder if the spineless AFL And Demie will do anything about this farce. I have lost all respect for Michael. I hate it when players abandon their club when the chips are down, especially after all the success Brisbane allowed him.

Bombers defiant
4:29:21 PM Fri 24 November, 2006
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au

Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers has vowed to take "any action possible" to prevent Mal Michael from becoming an Essendon player after the former Lions' full-back joined the Bombers on Friday, just six weeks after announcing his retirement.

Bowers told Sportal that Michael's actions had the potential to create "absolute anarchy" with the Lions immediately putting in an official complaint to the AFL.

"I think everyone in the AFL system should be concerned about this," he said.

"It has the potential to totally destroy the fabric of the AFL draft system."

In a major shock the Bombers announced on Friday they would claim Michael at selection two in the December 12 NAB AFL pre-season draft - leaving the Kangaroos with the first live pick after Carlton had previously announced it would select ex St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland with the first pick.

The AFL announced late on Friday it would investigate the Lions' complaint with football operations manager Adrian Anderson refusing to comment other than to say "the investigation would be completed within weeks."

Michael, who is still only 29, has signed a two year contract and will commence training with Essendon in mid-December after previously rejecting the chance to play out the last year on his Brisbane contract in 2007.

The Lions then agreed to terminate his contract but the Bombers maintained on Friday they have done nothing wrong in signing Michael because Brisbane did not insert a clause in Michael's official release preventing him from playing for another club.

"If the deed of release which was negotiated didn’t look after the club's best interests then that is not my problem," Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said.

Jackson said Brisbane would have had legitimate grounds for complaint had they paid all or part of Michael's contract for 2007 but even Bowers admitted this was not the case.

"When someone retires and they are getting no (financial) consideration for it, it's a bit rich to then go and say you can't earn a livelihood somewhere else," Jackson said.

"All that has happened is the guy (Michael) has changed his mind (about retiring)."

Michael announced his retirement from Brisbane on October 5, following months of speculation, after initially wanting to play on with a reduced training load - a move rejected by Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.

Amongst the reasons he cited for his "retirement" was a desire to spend more time pursuing other interests in his native Papua New Guinea.

“I’m just ready for the next phase of my life,” Michael said at the time.

However just six weeks later and Michael has now committed to playing for Essendon for the next two years, saying he made no secret of his desire to return to Melbourne.

"I was probably more sick of Brisbane the city than sick of football," Michael said in explaining his about face.

"I wanted to come home (to Melbourne where he began his career with Collingwood) 12 months ago, I did my six years in Brisbane and thought I was a good employee for the club."

Michael said he did not agree to a trade back to Victoria during trade week (despite strong interest from Hawthorn) because he didn't think he would have the time to commit to football.

But he said Essendon's training schedule suited his desire to pursue outside interests far better than Brisbane's.

And he claimed that watching this year's thrilling grand final between Sydney and West Coast also re-ignited his desire to play again, even thought he announced his retirement from Brisbane the week after.

However Michael was adamant he has done nothing wrong.

"If Brisbane had paid out my (2007) contract out then fair enough I shouldn't be allowed to play but we should also realise that with me leaving, they also kept a few players that might have gone elsewhere (due to salary cap pressures)."

"People come out of retirement all the time to work - my Dad did it and he didn't get a press conference."

However if Brisbane have their way, Michael will never play for Essendon or any other club.

"We only agreed to terminate the remaining year on his contract because he said he wanted to retire," Bowers said.

"We will be saying to the AFL that Mal Michael should be excluded from participating in any draft (until after the 2007 season when his Brisbane contract expires) and that they should refuse his re-registration with Essendon or any club."

Bowers said if Michael was allowed to play for Essendon after having walked away from his contract with Brisbane by announcing his retirement then it would set a precedent for any player to do exactly the same thing in future seasons.

However Essendon is confident it will be given permission by the AFL to register Michael, with Jackson adamant the Bombers had in no way tampered with the draft.

"Think through it logically - how on earth could Essendon induce Mal Michael to retire on October 4 with the idea of getting him in the pre-season draft when Carlton had the number one draft pick (which it used on Ackland) at that time."

"We made contact with Mal for the first time on November 2, through his manager Michael Quinlan, when we asked whether he would re-consider his retirement because we knew he was coming to Melbourne."

Jackson said that he also checked with AFL investigator Ken Wood as to whether the Bombers could secure Michael and had been given the go-ahead.

"If there are any other issues to do with this agreement between Essendon and Mal Michael then Essendon is not aware of it and as far as I'm aware the AFL is not aware of it."

 

[maccas_no1]

This could get very ugly, be interesting to see how this pans out as if the AFL handle it the wrong way then it could open up problems with disgruntled players in the future.

 

[Mad Dog]

Abolish the PSD - simple.

it comprimises the rest of the process.

 

[swanfan]

Abolish the PSD - simple.

it comprimises the rest of the process.

Would you call what has occured, tampering, Mad Dog ?

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Would you call what has occured, tampering, Mad Dog ?

Yes.......Probably the most blatant example of draft tampering. He should at the very least have to sit out 2007 before being allowed to play for essendon in 08.

 

[Mad Dog]

Would you call what has occured, tampering, Mad Dog ?

definately.

if it was above board - you would have witnessed Essendon chasing Michael since his retirement publically through the media.

The fact that we heard nothing of it until he had an Essendon jumper on suggests to me it was well orchestrated and top secret.

Whether this was the plan prior to his retirement - or whether it all started afterwards......the point still remains that it was kept quiet - and therefore by implication, both Michael and Essendon knew what they were doing was underhanded.

 

[Macca19]

They could have worked out a trade. Instead he shafted the club. Pretty low.

 

[Eggzoi]

While I'd agree with the tampering comment I disagree that Essendon had anything much to do with it. When Mal left Brisbane Carlton still had the first pick in the PSD, I don't see how on earth Essendon could have orchestrated this plan without some Ackland recruiting mole inside Carlton. Although a mole working for another team would actually explain the recruiting of Ackland to Carlton.
What Mal did was low and I hope the AFL kicks his ass for it, Essendon however have just capalitised on the situation methinks and I'd expect the Crows to do the same.

 

[maccas_no1]

Would you call what has occured, tampering, Mad Dog ?

Of course it is he has been signed as a 'free agent' didnt goto Essendon via a trade or the draft which is the only way players move from club to club in the AFL.

 

[GoSarge]

While I'd agree with the tampering comment I disagree that Essendon had anything much to do with it. When Mal left Brisbane Carlton still had the first pick in the PSD, I don't see how on earth Essendon could have orchestrated this plan without some Ackland recruiting mole inside Carlton. Although a mole working for another team would actually explain the recruiting of Ackland to Carlton.
What Mal did was low and I hope the AFL kicks his ass for it, Essendon however have just capalitised on the situation methinks and I'd expect the Crows to do the same.

It's Essendon. Nothing will happen.

p.s. - Has anyone heard the rumour, that Bryce Gibbs is retiring after 2007 ?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Always had great respect and admiration for Mal Michael as a player and the work he does off-field but he has lost my respect with this stunt. Very low act but what the hell do you expect when you have Sheedy involved. He is a master of low balling and below the belt hits.

I don't think there is anything that AFL can do now for this particular case. There is nothing in the rules and regulations that prevents Michael and Essendon doing what they have done and it will be impossible to prove that its draft tampering.

However, I fully expect AFL to change the rules so that this sort of thing can't happen again. I would expect AFL would introduce a rule where a player can't return to footy for at least 12 months after retiring.

Essendon won't even get a warning here let alone any punishment because its just impossible to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they have tempered with the draft.

 

[Eggzoi]

Could someone please explain to me how Essendon are at fault? When Michael retired the first pick in the PSD was Carlton, who had not yet committed to Ackland. Carlton would have been stupid not to select him if he was there. How were Essendon to know that Carlton were going to commit to Ackland? There is no way that Essendon could have orchestrated this, they simply benefited from it.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Could someone please explain to me how Essendon are at fault? When Michael retired the first pick in the PSD was Carlton, who had not yet committed to Ackland. Carlton would have been stupid not to select him if he was there. How were Essendon to know that Carlton were going to commit to Ackland? There is no way that Essendon could have orchestrated this, they simply benefited from it.

And are you really naive enough to think that there is not a line of communication between the clubs when it comes to PSD?!

So how did Jade Rawling end up at the Bulldogs again when Carlton had the first pick in the PSD?

 

[kirky]

AFL could refuse to accept Michael's player registration for 2007 season.

 

[Eggzoi]

And are you really naive enough to think that there is not a line of communication between the clubs when it comes to PSD?!

So how did Jade Rawling end up at the Bulldogs again when Carlton had the first pick in the PSD?

And do you think that Carlton will reveal all their plans to Essendon so they can get a great FB? Why would Carlton do it? There is NOTHING in it for them. Jade Rawlings ended up a Bulldog because Nick Stevens ended up a Blue.

 

[- PC -]

Could someone please explain to me how Essendon are at fault? When Michael retired the first pick in the PSD was Carlton, who had not yet committed to Ackland. Carlton would have been stupid not to select him if he was there. How were Essendon to know that Carlton were going to commit to Ackland? There is no way that Essendon could have orchestrated this, they simply benefited from it.

Which is why it was kept quiet.

Carlton blundered ahead and signed Ackland and Essendon had free rein

The other issue is Carlton also didnt have a level playing field. Mal Michael V Cain Ackland? Now maybe Carlton would not have gone for Mal anyway...but they didnt have the opportunity to find out

 

[Eggzoi]

Which is why it was kept quiet.

Carlton blundered ahead and signed Ackland and Essendon had free rein

The other issue is Carlton also didnt have a level playing field. Mal Michael V Cain Ackland? Now maybe Carlton would not have gone for Mal anyway...but they didnt have the opportunity to find out

So Essendon knew that Carlton was going to sign a player before the draft? Something that to my knowledge has never been done before? So Essendon said to Mal, "hey, quit your club and we'll assume that Carlton will sign a player before the PSD then you can come and play for us!"

Carlton don't have the level playing field because they signed a player before the draft, not Essendon's fault.

 

[- PC -]

So Essendon knew that Carlton was going to sign a player before the draft? .

No. My point was that Michaels did not ''walk out'' on Brisbane and place himself in the PSD. He retired. That effectively sent a message to all clubs he was off limits. Carlton then went for Ackland.

If Michaels had walked out then Carlton may have changed their mind...or not.

 

[macca23]

The important thing to remember here is that Mal Michael was under contract to Brisbane and still had another year to serve of it.

Brisbane only revoked his contract and delisted him because he said he'd had enough and wanted to retire.

To me there is only one clear cut solution as the rules currently are. The AFL must rule that if Mal Michael is going to play on in 2007, then that is a change of mind and as Brisbane revoked the contract in good faith, the contract should become valid again and Mal Michael must play with Brisbane in 2007 as he is a contracted player The logic to this is that the contract was only terminated CONDITIONAL on Michael retiring. Alternatively his registration should not be accepted for 2007.

To avoid a repetition of this type of fiasco occurring again, the AFL should introduce a rule that if a player retires while under contract, he cannot enter the draft or PSD in the same year.

Alternatively if a player retires out of contract, then he should be limited only to nomination for the PSD, a right all players out of contract currently have. I think he should be excluded from the national draft because as he has denied his club an opportunity to arrange a trade, so should he be limited in his alternatives.

If Michael is allowed to play for Essendon and/or no legislation is passed to ensure that it can't hapen again, the integrity of the whole competition is threatened.

 

[Eggzoi]

No. My point was that Michaels did not ''walk out'' on Brisbane and place himself in the PSD. He retired. That effectively sent a message to all clubs he was off limits. Carlton then went for Ackland.

If Michaels had walked out then Carlton may have changed their mind...or not.

But how were Essendon to know that Carlton would sign someone? I fail to see any evidence that Essendon have done anything wrong.
Mal on the other hand, is a jackass.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

No. My point was that Michaels did not ''walk out'' on Brisbane and place himself in the PSD. He retired. That effectively sent a message to all clubs he was off limits. Carlton then went for Ackland.

If Michaels had walked out then Carlton may have changed their mind...or not.

Great point PC.

 

[roostersgal4eva]

But how were Essendon to know that Carlton would sign someone? I fail to see any evidence that Essendon have done anything wrong.
Mal on the other hand, is a jackass.

Egg - Carlton had publicly stated and let the AFL know officially they would sign Ackland before Mal 'unretired' himself and signed for Essendon

yes we let him go from his contract but only as we acted in good faith in believing he wanted to retire

You cant be that naive to think Essendon didn't talk to him beforehand as you cant change your mind on retiring that quickly

And he has the audacity to claim he took a pay cut as an ambassadorial role

 

[Eggzoi]

I wouldn't argue for a second that Mal is being a jackass, he should be punished. I don't see ANY evidence that Essendon had anything to do with Mal leaving the Lions though.
Did they talk to him before Carlton signed Ackland? Possibly, that's Carltons fault for not talking to him. I'd expect every team in the AFL to have a chat to a player that retired with a few good years left in them.

 

[GoSarge]

I wouldn't argue for a second that Mal is being a jackass, he should be punished. I don't see ANY evidence that Essendon had anything to do with Mal leaving the Lions though.
Did they talk to him before Carlton signed Ackland? Possibly, that's Carltons fault for not talking to him. I'd expect every team in the AFL to have a chat to a player that retired with a few good years left in them.

Coincidence that Essendon have made public their intentions AFTER Carlton have signed Ackland ? The reality is, Essendon probably knew about Mal long ago, and waited, hoping that Carlton did exactly that - sign someone.

 

[Eggzoi]

Coincidence that Essendon have made public their intentions AFTER Carlton have signed Ackland ? The reality is, Essendon probably knew about Mal long ago, and waited, hoping that Carlton did exactly that - sign someone.

So they talked to him before Ackland signed? So?