I get what Rhino is saying about it being a distraction but at some point we need to make stand as it will have far reaching implications to all our A+ players.

The Collingwood president has been an outspoken critic of the third-party deal and this morning he renewed his attack as the AFL looks closely at other deals involving stars such as Geelong captain Joel Selwood.

McGuire also took a swipe at his fellow presidents for sitting on the fence on the issue.

"It would be handy every now and again if a few other presidents stuck their head up and had a bit of a dip as well," he said.

"Let's talk about what is really going on OK," Eddie McGuire said on Triple M today.

"I'll tell you why, I'm not fighting for a rort I'm fighting for the truth here.

"I'm fighting for equality for clubs and I'm sick to death of an unplaying (sic) field bobbing up every other minute and this stuff on the run.

"Let's sort it out so players can make the money and clubs can compete equally.

"I'm sick to death of looking down the road and seeing Carlton have a $200,000 head start every year for the last five years."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/mick-malthouse-eddie-mcguire-fire-shots-at-afl-over-chris-judd-visy-deal/story-e6frf9jf-1226519464851

!@#$%& off Eddie!

I think you're confusing my comments relating to his commitment to pre-season, you're looking at it from a physical attendance perspective, I'm looking at it as a mental distraction.

Having said that - we're talking about a bloke with a young family and plenty of outside business interests also. How much time left is there for things such as meeting for legal advice, preparing for hearings, etc. I'm sure he'll be thoroughly coached on his eventual contribution to this hearing.

Whether it ends up meaning he misses a training session here and there - is probably unlikely, but not a healthy addition to the work/lifestyle balance, which is an area he's been questioned about previously (remember his form post birth of Oscar?).

Do we believe that the verdict of the AFL's own grievance tribunal is the be all and end all? A negative verdict there is surely not the end of it. Will they, along with the AFLPA challenge it in the courts?

We've seen in recent years, form slumps attributed to Goddard, Cloke, Tippett, Scully and Ablett due to outside pressures relating to their contract. Why not pre-empt this from happening to our captain? Why let him be the poster boy for this mess in the first place?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/mick-malthouse-eddie-mcguire-fire-shots-at-afl-over-chris-judd-visy-deal/story-e6frf9jf-1226519464851

!@#$%& off Eddie!

Judd is entitled to defend his agreement, I think you're jumping at shadows Rhino.

If popular opinion is believed here - the club has known about this for a while now.

It would also indicate why we went from "making a move for" Cloke, Boak, Goddard, Lynch, Tippett, Reimers, Clarke to suddenly being overwhelmed by the contract size of the likes of Davies and Joseph.

Given that this extra chunk of coin hasn't been dealt with in time for us to properly attend to trade week properly, it's arguable it's already gone on far enough.

I assume we won't be able to select Ben Jacobs with our second rounder, and will instead go with a first year player. If that is based on best available, so be it. But if the club is overlooking him on the basis that we can't afford him, then it's a poor reflection on the club for not doing the due dilligence with Judd, if we knew this was going to be a problem.

For a bloke that will earn about 10 mill out of this club by the end of this contract, a show of goodwill amounting to less than 2% of that would have been handy..

So you will forgive 25% of your wage tomorrow for the good of tc would you.

This story sounds like it is about to get a wee bit bigger ... and messier.

The captain mightn't be the only one getting a helping hand from our friends at Visy