Heehee..............























MEL-vey.............!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

If it wasn't for TC. I wouldn't have known what Fatprick has written.

I like most Australians don't read the Australian; admittedly, I stopped our subscription in protest.

So, the Age and the HS are not driving a similar story. Why? Of course, primarily, it's really not a big story; it's subliminally an off field footy related story written in the off season (how off is that?). It's because footy journos are concentrating on the real BIG footy stories: Gold Coast (change of the AFL competition structure with a 17th team), and AFL drug policy (discussed worldwide including parliament), Nathan Ablett's shock walk out (and its relvance to is father's book and his previous actions involving another family's dead daughter)...

I don't hear or read of international bodies, or members of parliament, discusing Pratt's Presidency, let alone being discussed in any of Australia's highest circulating papers.

It's not a big deal.

True Blue Brad wrote



See the two points made above; there's the programme.

Melvey, stick to the footy. Politics is a mugs game, and you've got yourself stuck on the other side of the fence; it's non footy related.

Why?

Fatprick has stirred you up. Fatprick's opinion is valued by you. It's obvious Fatprick hasn't got the kudos or talent to write a "FOOTY" story during the quiet offesason. You've ben sucked in.

When the ball is bounced in 2008....Dwayne will be commentating about Judd and footy issues the public want to hear. The Pratt rubbishing will be over. What Fatprick will be doing, I don't care. I guess I'll stumble across it on TC.

What I do know though, is come 2008, Fatrprick's non footy reports (nonsense) will die in the distance and be lost in the mountain of media generated to feed the insatiable appetitie of the footy the public who want to consume footy facts....stats, votes, tactics, strategies, reports, injuries....on field stuff....failure or finals and flags.

Get on the Pratt led Carlton resurgence and enjoy it; it's a much better option for all Carltonians.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Nah, you're wrong. He'll be spending the whole game going on about how Bryce Gibbs should be playing for the Crows.

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camelboy wrote



Yeah, you're right; that's a given.

Nevertheless, he wont have time to rubbish Pratt; time will be against him. There's only 100% of time to deliver 100% drivel...and fortunately there is no 110% of time available for him to focus his boring life on the extra 10% on Pratt.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

While I don't agree with Melvey I will say this...

in the end, as long as he is a member, then he is the sort of person who is very much entitled to a view on this. You see, this is where Fatprick and Dwayne Russell really and truly get up my nose. The suitability of Richard Pratt for the position of Carlton Football Club President is not a decision for Fatprick or Dwayne Russell... it is a decision for Melvey, Synbad, Camelboy, Mjonc, Bondiblue... and whichever other members are out there. Last year there were 35,000+ of us, and to my mind, we are the only ones who are entitled to an opinion in determining the suitability of this man to hold office. Fatprick is not running his columns as a means of informing, rather he is running opinion pieces. Until he becomes a member of the Carlton Football Club, then his opinion counts for nought.

The answer is to ignore him. Everyone who debates him on radio is merely giving him the opportunity to keep the issue on the boil. Although Carlton fans might agree with the criticisms of Smith, an overwhelming number of fans of the other 15 clubs will back Smith. It's a partisan issue.

It's obvious that Fatprick is hardly an idealogical warrior anyway. He writes for Rupert Murdoch's paper. If anyone has managed to parlay market power into commercial benefit, it's Murdoch. The fact that Murdoch hasn't broken laws to do it is no distinction at all. After all, he used his influence to change laws to allow him to do that. Scribes who are committed to diversity of opinion in the media are unlikely to work for Murdoch.

As for Pratt, he might be a bastard, but he's our bastard. When it was evident that the salary cap penalties were crippling us and were far too harsh, the AFL and the other 15 clubs blocked any attempt to moderate them. As far as I'm concerned, this outcry about what's good for the competition rings a bit hollow now. Just as the other clubs preferred to look to their sectional interests during our dark days, we should do the same now. The AFL should be told to keep its nose out of our business, and to ready itself for savage litigation if it doesn't.

The AFL can have its Code of Conduct. As with many industries in which such schemes come into existence, there can be a grandfather clause - one that excludes its application to any current officials for past acts. Then everyone's happy. Except Fatprick.

I feel sick that we've devoted 7 pages to that little prick. Just forget him.

On the other issue (of Pratt being asked to step down).........rubish. Just can't happen.

If The AFL voted that Pratt is unfit because of something he did WAY before he even got to the club, then surely we must dig up the past on everybody............am i wrong?

Should we dig up the past on what certain West Coast players did 3 seasons ago? Or a certain Magpie star did just last season? Or the Richmond kid 4 years ago? Pffft...... bullshit!

I wouldn't worry about it.............. The AFL (as much as i hate them) would probably have more respect towards Pratt than they would Smith. Not to mention the fact that the AFL NEED Pratt far more than they will ever need smith.

On the 'gambling license' issue. If they do see Pratt as unfit in charcter to hold such a licence then there are ways around this. I do believe Swann has already brought forward that issue.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

melvey, I think you have personal issues with Dick Pratt, which is fine. But in my opinion it's pretty silly to hold the opinion that the club would have been/will be better off without him.

12 months ago our board was comparing us with Fitzroy; we had smorgo and malouf, clearly one of the most ill-equipped duo's to ever have had control of an AFL club.

Today... barely 12 months later, and we're well on the way back. An incredible achievement, 99.9% due to Richard Pratt.

But his job isn't done yet. After what he's done for us (and please don't go on about him 'ripping me off'... I get ripped off every single day by any number of businesses - flights, fuel, supermarkets, etc, etc...) I suppose you no longer fly or buy petrol or shop in supermarkets in protest? No, didn't think so)... after what he's done for us, we OWE RP the honour of at least seeing out his initial 2 years. He's given our club that much, we owe him that.

After family, the CFC is the thing that matters most to me, and Pratt has resurrected my club. He'll always have me on-side, no matter what indiscretions he has on his books.

To want him gone is to not really care about the future of our club, in my opinion.

I appreciate everything Richard has done for my club. Like everyone else on here i was just as frustrated with the state the club was in. I absolutely hated the fact that we were the laughing stock of the world and he has turned that around and i along with everyone else are grateful for it.

My reason being why i think Dick should stand down is that I feel the club needs to stand on its own. Yeah he can still be involved and pulling the punches from the side but, this club needs to set its self free and when there are media commentators discussing day in day out this matter its got to have some effect.

Greg Swan is a fine operator, some say the best. Wouldn't it be fantastic to have Dick step aside and Fahour step in and rid the club of its so called 'Pratt life line'.

The club needs to fight, win games and stand on its own.

Richard Pratt has put in the hard yards and deserves to be a part of the club during its rise back to the top.

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

Winston Churchill

Yeah melvey, because Hyundai were really concerned about all this when they sign on recently weren't they?

They only people concerned about the pathetic rantings spewed out by established haters of CFC such as Smith and Russell are Chicken Littles like yourself, and opposition supporters. They, like Smith, Russell etc are seeing the resurgence of this great club and are annoyed that the days of kicking Carlton when it was down are rapidly drawing to a close. You almost can't blame them for trying to sneak in a last shot or two before the bell rings.

Well it's too late boys, we might not be back yet, but nothing will stop us being there. They can manufacture every scandal or piece of negativity they like, it won't stop CFC reaching the summit again.

Melvey, I can't recall seeing one positive post from you, ever. CFC is about to embark on a road which is going to feature the sweetest ride in the history of the club - after all, we've never fallen so low and started with less. I really hope you stop worrying about non-issues and start enjoying the ride.

"stand on its own"

"set itself free"

wtf???

What sane individual or organisation would ditch a leader and benefactor of such magnitude, simply for the purposes of 'standing on its own'? Especially a short 12 months after nearly flatlining?

Fahour will be on board soon, and its a logical progression, but wouldn't it be stupid not to give Fahour 12 months or so on the board to get the lay of the land before expecting him to take the reigns?

You're not thinking logically about this melvey. Not at all.

Oh, and Dick is ONE OF US. He's Carlton. Won an U19's B&F... followed the club his whole life... gave plenty over the years... had a stand named after him... Having Dick at the helm doesn't mean the club isn't 'standing on its own'. Not at all.

Anyone else find it sad that this thread is 7 pages long, and the 'thank you Pratt' thread is only 2?

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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

Assault is a criminal offence the last I heard. Whether YOU like it or not what Pratt did wasn't. You got ripped off ~ $35 over 4 years because prices got a little inflated, half of which went to VISY the other half to AMCOR. It's real "serious", AMCOR, just as big players in this price fixing, got immunity, hence got off scott-free!!! Mate, get a grip.

Melvey

I have just read the previous 3 pages & have quoted 1 of your many posts in its entirety and parts of others.

Might I suggest you be very careful - you clearly do not know what you are talking about & I suggest you are getting pretty damn close to libellous action with your statements above - inluding the bit that I've highlighted.

It is obvious that you have an agenda & that you run it pretty hard on here. I reckon you get away with more than most trolls would be allowed to, however, that is for others to decide.

Despite this, if you have a real issue with Dick Pratt might I suggest you attend the AGM tonight and see how far your views get you.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

Melvey - this town aint big enough for 2 libellous posters so one of us has got to go.
















I wasn't referring to me either.

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

Winston Churchill

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

sue me.

please, how hard is it to understand.... the man ripped us off when he has billions. All this crap about market share and what not is rubbish. He has the market.

Me suing you is not what you ought to be worried about - but I don't suspect you would even understand that.

As to statements about market share, what's your point, I have never mentioned market share?

Go back and play with your Collingwood friends or put up at tonight's AGM.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.