Is it just because our club has been hideously mismanaged that we see the administration of the game as so corrupt?

Would we feel differently if we were winning?

Has the handling of Essendons******** drug cheating clouded your judgement of the AFL's overall governance?

The system has never been fair, is it just that we've been at the wrong end of things for so long?

What do your opposition supporter friends think?

Personally I've felt the decisions of the AFL to be very opaque in nature. But they're not a judicial system. It's a businesses, first and foremost.

In conclusion !?@# Essendon*. Thank you.

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!@#$ off Essendon**** Just !@#$ right off. SCUM.

Most corrupt organisation in existence. Quite simple really.
I'm glad the Essendon* drug saga has highlighted this fact to all.

No.

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dane's trolling again

Yeah nah. They're cauliflower

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Can't remember the last time they did us any favours and I've been a Carlton supporter since 1955.

Good to have you posting on here Gillon.

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Congratulations CK95

We don't criticise them enough, the suggestions this week that rules are required to stop clubs resting too many players just adds to this.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I don't think they are corrupt. I just think they are a business and in business you make decisions that are in that businesses best interests. Inconsistent and incomprehensible decisions sure but ultimately in the best interests of the AFL.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

AFL makes rules up as they go along, love under the table deals and it is hilarious that there is an AFL integrity unit - presumably only so dictionaries can use it as an example of an oxymoron

The masters of makey-uppy.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Nup

/thread

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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

Yes, they are criticized unfairly. They should be dragged to the square.

seems most sports fans hate the governing body of their favourite sport.

NRL gets similar reviews, particularly when Gallop was in charge. Now he's head of The FFA he doesn't seem to have as many issues but I'm not sure if that's because soccer doesn't quite have the profile yet.

I watch a lot of US sport and the governing body of the NFL seems to get the same hatred as the AFL and for similar reasons .

The AFL get a lot of criticism that's justified but there's also a lot of journos and talking heads that beat up every incident or decision into a crisis. I put a lot of it down to the media outlets needing to create drama to sell advertising.

They are pretty shit though.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

During the Walsh and ratten tragedies all people could talk about was "coming together as an industry". While I'm glad they showed their respect it was plain to see that they regard themselves as a business rather than a game.

The world is a business, that's why it's rooted.

My pet hate also.
Set solid coherent rules in place but don't just flower make it up and pull rabbits out of your arse when you feel like it.
The AFL has corporate ADHD

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

This.

It's not so much the corruption per se. Most sporting administrations around the world are corrupt. It's to be expected. My gripe with the AFL is their constant meddling and manipulation of the rules, the fixture, financial handouts, salary caps, priority picks, free agent compo, making secret deals with clubs, etc. They can't put rules in place and take a back seat and let the clubs duke it out on an even footing. They can't help themselves. They have to constantly meddle. They have to tear down the strong and mollycoddle the weak.

The AFL are past-masters of the "divide and conquer" method of leadership.

Clubs strive for years, even decades to win a premiership and then the AFL just gift-wrap success to the NSW and Queensland clubs because it fattens the TV broadcast rights. Those northern franchises only exist to provide extra television ratings fodder for AFL fans in the southern states. Fans of the traditional Victorian clubs will watch the other Vic clubs irrespective of where they are on the ladder, but nobody cares about the Lions, Suns, Swans or Giants unless they're one of the finals contenders with marquee stars like Gazza, Buddy, Plugger - but their "success" comes at the expense of Victorian clubs.

The AFL have acted unbelievably arrogantly towards the fans of the lifeblood clubs of this competition. They just assume we will keep buying our club memberships and turning up to the MCG or Etihad Stadium in droves, no matter what shit they pull. It's the same arrogance they show towards Tasmanians. It's also the same arrogance Channel 7 show towards the hardcore footy fan with their "entertainment" based commentary drivel. We're a captive market. It doesn't matter what they do because they've got us hooked. They're trying to broaden their audience and increase revenues.

But we're the ones who are footing the bill and keeping this game afloat...

F&%&&^&* a$$holes

This is a pretty good post. 10 years ago I had no problem with the Swans getting a bit on the side to help the game's development. I saw the logic in it. It is extremely sad that an English game of football (rugby league) and one that is highly repetitive -tackle, tackle, tackle, tackle, tackle and kick...(and also a game with limited moments of skill - i mean how hard is it to throw a ball half a metre?) out-rates the Australian game of football on tv.


This wouldn't happen in the States or in the UK(an English game (rugby league) outrating an American game (NFL) in the USA for example), but our market is weird.

Yet my beliefs have changed. The Carlton brand has been so debased and made to look so substandard that the club is no longer even really relevant. It is a plaything for GWS and other clubs to thrash.

With Essendon*, Carlton and Collingwood likely to be out of the finals for a while...it will be interesting to see how that impacts on the AFL's revenue. While Rome burns, Nero fiddled.

@#$%&! no!!!