Mal Michael Talking about nominating for the PSD!

[xplo]

Mal's manager was contacted this morning on SEN and failed to rule out him nominating. Word is that Essendon have come to him with a two year deal that he's keen on.

Bowers spoke to KB later and said yes, they had heard this, and were not happy. They had contacted Vlad and Adrian to point out the potentially prejudicial impact on the draft system.

Brisbane reminded 'other clubs' that they would use any and all means at their disposal to protect the interests of the Brisbane Lions Football Club.

Bowers also said that he'd talked at length with Mal about a possible trade to a Melbourne club, and Mal was adamant that he was retiring and that no trade could happen.

Bowers also raised the question of whether Thorton could have retired from Carlton before signing up fresh with Hawthorn?

Surely neither Mal nor Essendon couldn't entertain doing this?

 

[campbell]

Why is Bowers talking at length to any player about anything.He is the CEO not the Football Manager.His role is admin related, not anything in the football arena.We should have Gubby dealing and speaking about these things, he is our Footy Manager.



Very messy all around.We all new Mal was unhappy for whatever reasons, but...

 

[dlanod]

In my workplace there's a heirarchy of managers. My immediate manager, then the team manager, then the CEO-equivalent. While my immediate manager (aka the player manager) is the person who I talk to most frequently there's nothing stopping the CEO-equivalent talking to me should he so wish.
The player manager should be the first point of contact but by no means should they be the only point of contact, especially in a case where the whole club wants to retain the person in question. Believing otherwise is completely unrealistic.

 

[campbell]

We were told when lethal came on board that Football was his department, and no interference would be tolerated.Its worked just fine until now.They were the stipulations, why change now.

The reason for that, was in 1998, thats where we as a club crumbled bigtime.Too much interference from administrators.

 

[xplo]

Why is Bowers talking at length to any player about anything.He is the CEO not the Football Manager.His role is admin related, not anything in the football arena. We should have Gubby dealing and speaking about these things, he is our Footy Manager.



Very messy all around.We all new Mal was unhappy for whatever reasons, but...

He's the CEO, not the gimp. We don't keep him in a box with a ball in his mouth. If Mal is requesting his own release from a contract he willingly signed, it is 110% appropriate that he explain his position to the CEO of the company.

 

[campbell]

CEO of OUR Club in the past 8 years has had absolutely nothing to do with contracts.Thats Lethal and Gubby , as it should be.

We are not a normal business.

 

[xplo]

CEO of OUR Club in the past 8 years has had absolutely nothing to do with contracts.Thats Lethal and Gubby , as it should be.

We are not a normal business.

I can not fathom..... can't even BEGIN to fathom how you can take this situation and run with a 'It wuz Bowers wat dun it' line.

This isn't a football department matter. Mal wanted to walk away from a legally binding contract. If Brisbane wanted to hold him to it, we could have dragged his butt into court for breach of contract. The CEO is acting on behalf the company in signing away it's ability to sue by agreeing to Mal's request.

If this turns out to be correct, then Mal Michael looks to have acted in very poor faith.

 

[Grimreepah]

Bowers spoke to KB later and said yes, they had heard this, and were not happy. They had contacted Vlad and Adrian to point out the potentially prejudicial impact on the draft system.

It would probably be the first time that a contracted player has moved to another club without being traded.

 

[still chasing amy]

Sorry guys. Finally we have someone who can play on Brown


http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=4945

 

[Grimreepah]

Sorry guys. Finally we have someone who can play on Brown


http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=4945

Well that is disappointing.

What if Carlton take him?

 

[campbell]

Well that is disappointing.

What if Carlton take him?

I thought Carlton had already said who they were taking?Not sure though.

Messy.I wish he was still happy and with us.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

CEO of OUR Club in the past 8 years has had absolutely nothing to do with contracts.Thats Lethal and Gubby , as it should be.

We are not a normal business.

You're assuming that Bowers overstepped his boundaries. If a valued employee wants to leave a business, his immediate supervisor(s) and/or manager would talk to them first to try and work things out. Then possibly higher levels of management will also try to resolve the situation.

Let's try and discuss the topic without it degenerating into another "campbell-flames-the-management-then'everyone-flames'campbell" thread...

If Mal tries to to go Essendon, the AFL should deregister him. This would basically go in the face of what the contract and draft systems we have in place. He was under contract - if Essendon wanted him they should have traded for him. I've got the upmost respect for Mal's charity work, and I wished we could have come to some mutual agreement that would allow him to play, but this isn't on.

It's not going to happen Essendon. Live with it. Well, it shouldn't anyway.

 

[Grimreepah]

I thought Carlton had already said who they were taking?Not sure though.

Who's to say they can't change their minds.

I wish he was still happy and with us.

We all do, but these things happen. It doesn't change my opinion that the Lions shouldn't have compromised their training schedule for him.

 

[xplo]

Let's try and discuss the topic without it degenerating into another "campbell-flames-the-management-then'everyone-flames'campbell" thread...

If it ain't busted...

 

[campbell]

It looks like Mal has already signed with Essendon.As the AFL have to sign off ON ALL new contracts, it looks like its above board.

We should have moved heaven and earth to keep him at our club.He is our best ever FB.He was miserable this season for whatever reasons, surely we could have sorted something out.Up until this season has has given his heart to our club.

 

[Monster]

I don't know how the AFL can allow this, it would set a precedent for any other player who wants to leave. For example, can you imagin another club offering Sherman a $400k a year 3 year deal while only halfway through the contract we just gave him - he could just retire and join the other club.

Anyone defending Mal and saying he was stuck in a contract he didn't want anymore so this scenario should be allowed. Well tough for him, he signed the contract knowing it would go for another year and we should presue legal action. We've missed out on trade picks and deserve some remuneration.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

It looks like Mal has already signed with Essendon.As the AFL have to sign off ON ALL new contracts, it looks like its above board.

We should have moved heaven and earth to keep him at our club.He is our best ever FB.He was miserable this season for whatever reasons, surely we could have sorted something out.Up until this season has has given his heart to our club.

The link from the Essendon website syas he's agreed to a deal. Doens't mean the AFL have registered the contract.

Just think of the legal minefield this open. Say Luke Power decides 3 years into his 5-year deal he'd prefer to be back in Mlebourne (Hypothetical only). He "retires", citing a lack of committment, then signs with Carlton who have 1st pick in the PSD. Do you think that's fair?

 

[campbell]

I didn't say it was fair. I want him at our club, no other club.I want him fit happy and wearing the maroon.blue and gold.

 

[roostersgal4eva]

Let's try and discuss the topic without it degenerating into another "campbell-flames-the-management-then'everyone-flames'campbell" thread...

too late - i guess its a force of habbit

FWIW I dont believe he has overstepped the mark if its a universal opinion of the club

 

[POBT]

The link from the Essendon website syas he's agreed to a deal. Doens't mean the AFL have registered the contract.

Just think of the legal minefield this open. Say Luke Power decides 3 years into his 5-year deal he'd prefer to be back in Mlebourne (Hypothetical only). He "retires", citing a lack of committment, then signs with Carlton who have 1st pick in the PSD. Do you think that's fair?

Unfortunately, it is on the AFL website now which suggests to me that they are prepared to let it go through. This is about the most disappointing thing to have happened to the club this year. Leaving aside what it says about Mal's relationship with the club, it is incredibly disappointing that one of our players who got to experience the sort of highs very few get to have in footy, would so obviously do the dirty on the club, us as fans and his teammates. I think back at how I wished him all the best and how I felt supportive of his decision to "move on with the next phase of his life". Now I feel deceived and betrayed. Clearly it says something about the club - no problems in admitting that although I'm sure some will read a whole lot more into it than others. But I just hope Mal recognises how he has let down the people who have barracked for him. From the limited info available so far, it seems like an incredibly underhanded and disloyal action. I have never wished ill on one of our former players but I am not far away with him.

 

[Grimreepah]

It shouldn't be up to us to complain. The AFL make the rules and set the precedents and are responsible for fair dealings, including the exchange of players between clubs.

It is neither here nor there for Brisbane now. Mal won't be playing for them either way. But Demetriou has to make sure the integrity of the AFL is maintained and that he doesn't make the AFL vulnerable in the future.

 

[*Danni*]

Unfortunately, it is on the AFL website now which suggests to me that they are prepared to let it go through.

Just on that, keep in mind there are contracted writers that put stories up on the site themselves. Hell I used to be able to hit a few keys and put a story up on the AFL site. Unless it is a media release from the AFL then it hasn't been put there directly by the AFL.

 

[POBT]

Just on that, keep in mind there are contracted writers that put stories up on the site themselves. Hell I used to be able to hit a few keys and put a story up on the AFL site. Unless it is a media release from the AFL then it hasn't been put there directly by the AFL.

Cheers - I realised that it is not the AFL mouthpiece but I didn't think that they would allow something to be published that was so controversial without it being vetted first.

I believe that the AFL needs to reach a position in the next 24 hours. I'm not sure they can allow Essendon to enter the ND without making a determination on whether they will register a contract with Mal. Essendon's ND strategy may depend on whether they utlilise the PSD and, further, who they will take. If Essendon enter the ND on the assumption that Mal will be a bomber, and then the AFL refuses to register Mal's contract, then that opens up a whole different kettle of fish - making this even uglier than it already is.

 

[beatnik]

sorry, i am a bit confused

is this in any way 'confirmed' or just an 'it is believed' story?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

sorry, i am a bit confused

is this in any way 'confirmed' or just an 'it is believed' story?

Confirmed he has agreed to a deal, but no contract signed.