loyallion
Norm Smith Medallist
- Sep 22, 2005
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Just thought you guys should read this for yourself I got it off the afl site.
Lions fume as Micheal joins Bombers.
Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers has vowed to take "any action possible" to prevent Mal Michael from becoming an Essendon player after the former Lions' full-back joined the Bombers on Friday just six weeks after announcing his AFL retirement.
Bowers told Sportal that Michael's actions had the potential to create "absolute anarchy."
"I think everyone in the AFL system should be concerned about this," he said.
"It has the potential to totally destroy the fabric of the AFL draft system."
In a major shock the Bombers announced on Friday they would claim Michael at selection two in the December 12 NAB AFL pre-season draft - leaving the Kangaroos with the first live pick after Carlton had previously announced it would select ex St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland with the first pick.
Michael, who is still only 29, has signed a two year contract and will commence training with Essendon in mid-December after previously rejecting the chance to play out the last remaining year on his Brisbane contract in 2007.
He will hold a press conference later this afternoon to speak about his change of heart.
Michael announced his retirement from Brisbane on October 5, following months of speculation, after initially wanting to play on with a reduced training load - a move rejected by Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.
Amongst the reasons he cited for his "retirement" was a desire to spend more time pursuing other interests in his native Papua New Guinea.
“I’m just ready for the next phase of my life,” Michael said at the time.
"I will definitely miss my teammates and being part of a team organisation but, at the end of the day, it is time to move on."
However just six weeks later and Michael has now committed to playing for Essendon for the next two years after the Lions allowed his contract for 2007 to lapse on the basis he had retired.
"We believe he has a lot of football still left in him and his move back to Melbourne has caused him to re-think his retirement," Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said in announcing Michael's signing on Friday.
Sheedy said Michael, a 201 game veteran and a triple premiership player with Brisbane, would be a huge addition for the Bombers.
"We think he can be a very important player for us for at least the next couple of years," Sheedy said.
"He will provide us with some real strength and experience in defence while we continue to develop some of our younger players for key defensive roles."
"Physically he is in very good condition and the time away has freshened him up mentally."
The recruitment of Michael, a proven full-back, could also finally allow Sheedy to play his champion defender Dustin Fletcher in a more attacking role.
However if Brisbane have their way, Michael will never play for Essendon or any other club.
"We only agreed to terminate the remaining year on his contract because he said he wanted to retire," Bowers said.
"We will be saying to the AFL that Mal Michael should be excluded from participating in any draft until (after his original Brisbane contract expires at the end of) 2007 and that they should refuse his re-registration with Essendon or any club."
Bowers said if Michael was allowed to play for Essendon after having walked away from his contract with Brisbane by announcing his retirement then it would set a precedent for any player to do exactly the same thing in future seasons.
I personally agree with what the Lions are doing about this and I hope that this whole Mal micheal thing does not happen your thoughts?.
Lions fume as Micheal joins Bombers.
Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers has vowed to take "any action possible" to prevent Mal Michael from becoming an Essendon player after the former Lions' full-back joined the Bombers on Friday just six weeks after announcing his AFL retirement.
Bowers told Sportal that Michael's actions had the potential to create "absolute anarchy."
"I think everyone in the AFL system should be concerned about this," he said.
"It has the potential to totally destroy the fabric of the AFL draft system."
In a major shock the Bombers announced on Friday they would claim Michael at selection two in the December 12 NAB AFL pre-season draft - leaving the Kangaroos with the first live pick after Carlton had previously announced it would select ex St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland with the first pick.
Michael, who is still only 29, has signed a two year contract and will commence training with Essendon in mid-December after previously rejecting the chance to play out the last remaining year on his Brisbane contract in 2007.
He will hold a press conference later this afternoon to speak about his change of heart.
Michael announced his retirement from Brisbane on October 5, following months of speculation, after initially wanting to play on with a reduced training load - a move rejected by Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.
Amongst the reasons he cited for his "retirement" was a desire to spend more time pursuing other interests in his native Papua New Guinea.
“I’m just ready for the next phase of my life,” Michael said at the time.
"I will definitely miss my teammates and being part of a team organisation but, at the end of the day, it is time to move on."
However just six weeks later and Michael has now committed to playing for Essendon for the next two years after the Lions allowed his contract for 2007 to lapse on the basis he had retired.
"We believe he has a lot of football still left in him and his move back to Melbourne has caused him to re-think his retirement," Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said in announcing Michael's signing on Friday.
Sheedy said Michael, a 201 game veteran and a triple premiership player with Brisbane, would be a huge addition for the Bombers.
"We think he can be a very important player for us for at least the next couple of years," Sheedy said.
"He will provide us with some real strength and experience in defence while we continue to develop some of our younger players for key defensive roles."
"Physically he is in very good condition and the time away has freshened him up mentally."
The recruitment of Michael, a proven full-back, could also finally allow Sheedy to play his champion defender Dustin Fletcher in a more attacking role.
However if Brisbane have their way, Michael will never play for Essendon or any other club.
"We only agreed to terminate the remaining year on his contract because he said he wanted to retire," Bowers said.
"We will be saying to the AFL that Mal Michael should be excluded from participating in any draft until (after his original Brisbane contract expires at the end of) 2007 and that they should refuse his re-registration with Essendon or any club."
Bowers said if Michael was allowed to play for Essendon after having walked away from his contract with Brisbane by announcing his retirement then it would set a precedent for any player to do exactly the same thing in future seasons.
I personally agree with what the Lions are doing about this and I hope that this whole Mal micheal thing does not happen your thoughts?.
