just a heads up

Denying the James Macdonald story. Not even chasing him as an assistant.

"We have some other things happening"

Jacobs is the only one who has asked to be traded.
Walker is testing the water
Grigg - we are "reasonably close" with his contract negotiattions.
Setanta and thornton contracted - "we'll see what happens"

We have spoken to Barker

Brennan - likely GC bound
Thursfield/Tambling- not on our radar
Not interested in M Warnock "At this stage"

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T E A M

Sammy Jacobs the only one who has said he wants out.
Walker testing waters but happy to come back and play.
Grigg hopefully close to re-signing.
Thornton & o'Hailpin still contracted.
Barker have met and talked but nothing will be resolved until next week given everyone's away.
Brennan will probably end up at the Gold Coast.
Tambling and Thursfield - no movement there from us.
Mathew Warnock - no interest at this stage.

Draft week next week so can't play your cards too early. But not the greatest liar. I wouldn't have thought there'd be any reason for Tom Petroro to lie.

Thought he was pretty clear on McDonald but not so much on Grigg, Thornton or Setanta.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Maybe so Doc, but after that interview I severly doubt James McDonald will be running around for us next year.

I do agree though that he wasn't all that convincing on a number of other players such as Warnock and Thornton.

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The glass is neither half full nor half empty. Rather the glass is twice as big than required.

Swan categorically said that a 34 year old isn't what we're looking for. Why would he lie? I wouldn't have thought there be an abundance of clubs chasing Mcdonald. Is he playing a poker face?

With regard to mcDonald, It sounds like Swann or someone asked about his intentions but not much else.

With regard to Grigg, it sounds to me that carlton is one of a couple of deals he's looking at and the club are hopeful. I am probably less so given the whole "power of attorney" deal. If he wanted to commit to Carlton he would have done it by now. I'd like Judd and Murph to call him and pester him to stay.

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So who's lying? No reason for Tom Petroro to lie. If they've made an inquiry as to where J Mac's head is with retirement and would he consider a one year deal with the possibility of a coaching role after that, then I don't think that would hurt anyone. I dare say this is what has happened, but Greg Swann enjoys playing funny buggers...we're just going to have to be patient with this one.

Firstly, I wasn't at all convinced about the substance of anything he said. He was using all the weasel words "At this stage", "I haven't spoken to anyone" (but others may have...)...

Regarding McDonald, I am concerned that Ratts or one of the coaching staff has spoken to him but Swann either didn't know about it or disagrees with it and he came on to SEN to declare this perhaps as a public challenge/rebuke to Ratts.

He sounded reasonably convincing when talking about a likely outcome with Grigg "contractually" (more weasel leanguage...) but out of the interview my take out was:

Anything may happen. We are speaking to several players at Carlton and outside and we'll only find out about the outcomes in draft week. Until then, I can talk for hours and say nothing.

I found him very unconvincing in relation to Grigg, the word he used was "hopeful" in relation to getting him signed.

I didn't hear the interview but 'hopeful' sounds different from what was reportedly said at the B&F 'will be announced in a few days'.

Brock has confirmed on his Twitter page that we are into McDonald as a development coach, not as a player

This I can handle

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I'm sure the club are thrilled with Brock giving updates about the club on Twitter.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Cheers Brock!

Maybe he forgot to say 'shhhh don't tell anyone'

Excellent use of the medium. Might have even gone something like this...

Swann: Shit that interview with KB wasn't very convincing...
Ratts: Hmmm...what do we do?
Coutts: Hey, apparently there's this thing called Twitter...some of the players communicate on it
Ratts: Who are they communicating with?
Coutts: Not sure...
Swann: How's it work?
Coutts: Fair suck of the sauce bottle Swanny, I'm Communications Manager, not Bill Gates!
@Chooka_86: G'day fellas
All: G'day Brock...hey mate - what's Twitter?

He has to do something for his $$

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"I had to eat"

Does it go faster than twelve?

Anyway...

http://twitter.com/#!/chooka_86/statuses/25938263980

Thank @#$%&! for that!

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