michaelwyres.com » Essendon

Double Standard Saints

mwyres — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:09:53 +0000

In what is likely – (unfortunately) – to turn into one of those messy “nobody wins” situation, two players from AFL club St Kilda have been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl – who also claims she is pregnant as a result of the relationship(s).

I have no intention of delving into this case in any particular detail, however I did find a statement made today in relation to the matter by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon to be interesting:

“We’re not into naming players … once it’s concluded, we will make a statement.”

Not into naming players? Even though St Kilda was more than happy to drop Andrew Lovett into the mire in a very public fashion in regards to an as-yet unproven rape allegation?

I have no love for Andrew Lovett – (as an Essendon supporter, I was more than happy to see him leave the club) – but when the rape allegation against him was made, the Saints dropped him in the shit immediately, and completely suspended him from the club. Yet in relation to this latest scandal, they won’t name names, and they certainly haven’t suspended anyone.

It is true that if the players involved today are shown to truly be involved with this schoolgirl, they may not have done anything illegal – but this doesn’t mean that they haven’t done something illegal either, so if the club was consistent, they should be naming and suspending the players until the matter is resolved. Just as they did Andrew Lovett, who is also yet to be shown to be guilty.

Double standard much?

UPDATE 7:39pm: Seems that the players have been cleared, but I believe the point remains that St Kilda treated what for all they knew at the time were very similarly serious cases in a completely different manner.

Kennett Has Convenient Memory

mwyres — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:24:14 +0000

Well, Jeff Kennett is flapping his gums once again, and is displaying his carefully convenient memory – especially when it comes to the defection of former Hawthorn CEO Ian Robson to Essendon.

In today’s media, Kennett states that:

Ian came to me at the beginning of the year last year and said that he and his wife had decided they’d like to renew their contract at Hawthorn, but if the top job in the AFL or Cricket Australia came up, he’d like to pursue it with my support.

Yet today, with the Hawks reeling with only a single win so far for the season, he has a slightly different “memory” in effect!

Ian has completed five years at Hawthorn and had indicated at the beginning of the year that he was looking at other employment opportunities. So that this decision is not unexpected.

So what is it Jeff – did he tell you he wanted to stay at Hawthorn, or that he didn’t want to stay at Hawthorn? He certainly didn’t end up at the AFL or Cricket Australia! You even claimed today that you weren’t going to renew his contract anyway.

So what’s the problem?

Sounds to me like Jeff is back to his political roots – the headlines are bad – (bad performance by the Hawks) – so lets change the subject?

Footy fans are not that stupid Jeff!

Scoreboard!

mwyres — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:42:19 +0000

Three words – “Essendon defeated Carlton”.

Kyle Reimers even had a chance to point out the condition of the scoreboard to Dennis Armfield, who felt it was a good idea to give Reimers a mouthful, even after kicking the match sealing goal!

James Hird Rises to the Challenge

mwyres — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:39:46 +0000

History channel time again, and a flashback to AFL Round 3, 2004. After publicly slamming the performance of a particular umpire in the media the previous week, superstar James Hird was under the spotlight from all corners of the football world. But champions know how to respond, and in an astoundingly intense game of football, James singlehandedly lifted the Bombers to victory. We might have won without him, but he made sure that we did. That was the value of Hird.

Once again, I was there that night. I was right behind the flight of his winning final goal. Delirium followed, and I still get chills watching this footage. Awesome.

From the Vault: New Essendon “Mayor”

mwyres — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:11:33 +0000

Although pretty corny (really), here’s another classic snippet I’ve recovered out of my old video collection.

On the Wednesday evening after the 1993 AFL Premiership win, here is captain Mark Thompson becoming the “Mayor of Essendon” for the day.

Also included is some great footage of the boys lining up for the official team portrait. Great stuff.

Thermonuclear Explosion!

mwyres — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:19:48 +0000

Great. Geelong won the AFL Grand Final on the weekend. Kudos. Congratulations, and well done. As an Essendon supporter – and having seen my team win four times in my lifetime – I know the joy the fans are feeling right now. Celebrate, absolutely.

However, the “media” in this town just never seem to have any perspective – look at the current front page of the Geelong Advertiser website. Every story in the “news” section relates to the football club and their win in some way. The only exception is a story about cyclist Cadel Evans, but then again, you need to realise he’s from the Geelong area, so managed to squeeze in.

Honestly, there could be a massive thermonuclear detonation in the middle of this town, and it wouldn’t make the front page.

Please, Geelong fans, enjoy it for a couple of weeks, then get on with life – and take those bloody flags off your cars. You look like tools.

Pot Calling Kettle Black

mwyres — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:42:39 +0000

So Hawthorn’s Campbell Brown thinks Matthew Lloyd is a “sniper” hey? As ridiculous and contradictory as he made himself sound in comparing Saturday’s incident with that of teammate Lance Franklin the week before – an almost identical incident – and refusing to concede that they were similar, perhaps Campbell should look in his own backyard.

Here’s a summary of his tribunal history since joining the game:

2004 – Round 3 – Strike Brett Montgomery (PTA) – 1 match suspension
2004 – Round 11 – Involved in Melee – Accepted $4000 fine
2004 – Round 11 – Striking Jason Winderlich (ESS) – 4 match suspension
2004 – Round 11 – Wrestling Dean Rioli (ESS) – $1200 fine
2005 – Round 20 – Striking Matthew Lloyd (ESS) – 4 match suspension (early plea)
2007 – NAB Cup – Striking Lynden Dunn (FRE) – 2 match suspension (early plea)
2008 – NAB Cup – Striking Matthew Kruezer – 2 match suspension (early plea)

Who is the thug Campbell? You or Lloyd?

Zaharakis!

mwyres — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:33:30 +0000

I have no voice. I got soaking wet. Do you think I care? Nope!

Two weeks ago we defeated Carlton – yesterday, we defeated Collingwood. That’s a pretty satisfying year already. David Zaharakis kicks the winning goal with 4 seconds left on the clock. Nice.

EDIT: 9 May 2009:

Just took a capture from the Ten / ONE HD broadcast – circling myself in the crowd – almost two weeks later, and I’m still excited about this game!

Again? Oh dear…

mwyres — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:06:42 +0000

Essendon have one mission during an season – beat Carlton. Once again, last Saturday, they did just that.

I need to say nothing more than: “Superb!”

Farewell To Top Bombers

mwyres — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:22:53 +0000

This Sunday, the Essendon Football Club will farewell two of the finest servants of the club – Jason Johnson, and the inspirational Adam Ramanauskas.

Ramanauskas joined the club in 1999, by way of selection 12 in the 1998 National Draft. On paper, 133 games doesn’t seem like a massive achievement, but after two cancer scares and a full knee reconstruction since 2003, to be even on a top-level football field is a mammoth achievement.

Adam was a member of the glorious 2000 premiership side, as was Jason Johnson, who also announced his retirement today.

After 183 games – with injury severely hampering his 2008 season – Johnson, like Ramanauskas, has decided to leave the game on his own terms. Fans will always remember him as the engine room of Essendon’s amazing 69-point turnaround against the Kangaroos in Round 16, 2001.

I will be there on Sunday to see them play their final games – and I don’t mind admitting, there will probably be a tear or two in my eyes.