It was a lot different to previous years. No coach in attendance which was odd. There was a video message from Mick, but not the same. A poor showing during the year meant the highlights played were often of games you'd rather forget.

Players didn't hang around at all after and all went home or upstairs to Warnie's club.

Only news on re-signings was Casboult. I didn't hear anything mentioned about Russell or Thornton.

the captain as part of the voting panel?.........now that would be a joke

The way we do it at our football club is that there are 5 sets of votes (on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis) - the coach gets one, the team manager gets one, and then the other 3 goes to a different set of parents of the players on the list each week.

Well it works for our Under 16s, Under 14s, Under 12s, Under 10s.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I know you hate Scotland. And if he did not win you would have claimed you told us so and that the decision not to renew his contract was a mistake?

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

[quote="Mil Hanna"]Scotto wins!! Good work mate....

Final votes:

Scotto 362
Betts 353
Judd 334
McLean 321
Murph 299
Carrots 287
Simmo 229
GIBBS 228
Robbo 205
Kreuz 163


i dont know how to read this but the guys that finished 3-6th (and you could probably include Simmo as well) all missed a number of games for various reasons during the season............and they spaced the next lot ....... does that say anything about the ability of some players to lift when times are a bit tougher...????

Not much to tell really from my point of view.

Was the same format as last year - Whately running us through the 23 rounds which was good I thought, Craig Willis as the MC.

On the screen for a bit of entertainment, they had the 1987 Grand Final highlights on. You can tell it's been a long time between drinks if we're rehashing games from the 80s to entertain the crowd...somewhat depressing really, although I'd say they were trying to appeal to the majority of the crowd who'd be in that age bracket who remember the game fondly. Also made me feel a little more envious of Hawthorn and the Swans who'd wouldn't have to go back all that far. I suppose a premiership victory on the screen is better than showing the 99 prelim again and reminding us it's the only thing we've achieved since 1995.


Kernahan addressed the crowd, paid respect to Brett Ratten for his services much to the delight of the crowd erupting in a big round of applause for Ratts, plugged the membership drive, talked about how we'd love to have 50,000 members. Then played the video message from Malthouse who says he is happy with Carlton's list and there won't be many changes.

Damien Leith was the musical act. Can't say I'm a fan and gasbagged the whole way through his set.

The food was alright, but for $200, so it bloody should be - fairly certain it was the same meals as last year; risotto for the entree, steak for the main and some form of chocolate cake for the dessert.

As Missnaut said, not sure I was a fan of the video highlights. There were a lot of crappy games this season and it was in complete contrast to last year's package where it made me proud as a supporter right until the end to watch, even though 2011 ended on a sour note. Makes you wonder what the hell a club like Melbourne does on its b&f night...wouldn't be too many highlights there, nor interesting and relevant archival flag footage to entertain the crowd with.

As soon as round 4 hit, I was off to the pisser...could not bring myself to watch a lot of those 'highlights' from that round on.

Memory is a bit hazy (drank too much last night), but fairly sure before they started the count they ran through some of the other awards, clubman award, etc.

The service was good all night - when I asked for beers I got them...but as I said with the food, for $200 then so I should get what I want.

It was a good night in all, although I'm not sure I'll go next year. Unless you're a club official or something of the kind I'm not sure why someone would go every year - I think I'll go every second year or every few years...was almost the same as last year and the price rose from $170...to be honest even $170 was a bit too much for the night last year. A killer hangover followed me today and the unlimited beer was a hit to me, but bloody struggled today.

Oh yeah, and some bloke won the best and fairest. Scotland I think his name was.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

It was a year of survival of the fittest... congratulations to Scotland nonetheless.

...but given a few more games, Nek Minit may have got up.

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

Just like Brownlow night, Marc Murphy was once again the real winner

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"I had to eat"

Absolutely shattered today...sooooo many drinks last night.

Went to the after party at 23, all in attendance in fine form, myself included ie.WASTED.

Very hazy but had lengthy chats with McKay, said he spoke to Tippet's manager yesterday morning, "looking at Cloke money at this stage" and said flat out we won't get him. Caddy too expensive also, looking at drafting a midfielder with pick 11.

Russell partying like it was his last day, which it was - told me he was released yesterday. In good spirits about it all, no idea where he's going yet but excited. Had a good laugh with Sugar about the sprint, seemed bemused he got the call up for it. Sticks at his best, F this F that beers beers beers. Scotto even spoke to my Dad (his biggest fan) on the phone on the Gold Coast....top bloke. Matty Lodge a good kid too. No news on Bell, he was around but I forgot to ask.

Staggered out of the after party at 3ish? Very messy and most of the action is best left unmentioned. If Sticks and Jeffy hadn't dragged me into the after party, I wouldn't have spoken to any players this year, a stark contrast to last year where I had photos with almost every player before entrees. Pretty weird vibe and players didn't really mingle at all like last year, leaving many there feeling a bit flat. Figuring it's a bit of an anomaly given the poor year, coach change etc.

Finally back on the GC after a VERY rough day today, looking forward to a sleep in!

No disrespect to Scotland who deserved the B and F but seriously some of our blokes need to pull their finger out ans showed what a shit year the club had.

I also cant believe that MM didnt attend

The club isnt too busy with the trades either

Thank god we have gone cold on Lynch.

would be the worst recruit since Cain Ackland

Myself and most of the people I went with felt the same. The increase was unjustified this year and it's not really worth the money they charge now.

There also needs to be more in the form of entertainment - just playing an old Grand Final and having one song from some bloke isn't really enough.