Lions fume as Micheal joins Bombers!!!!

[JLC]

No conspiracy lol - but his name was offered up in trade week.

Super draft so Essendon dont want to give up any picks to get 3 time premiership player

the rest is history.

jlc

 

[POBT]

I just heard the comments by Michael himself on radio saying he did sign papers agreeing to be an ambassador for the Lions but as far as he knows they haven't 'lodged' those papers.

This is interesting. I wonder what an 'ambassador' is supposed to do? Lodged papers with whom? If it's an agreement with the Lions in relation to terms of his retirement/contract dissolution do they have to be lodged with anyone? I thought only the financial details were pertinent to the AFL in relation to the 2006 Salary Cap and then the papers delisting him along with the lodgement of the list on 31 October. I've never heard of other conditional papers having to be lodged.

I wonder what this is about?

That actually made me laugh. His first act as an ambassador is to sign with another club

 

[Druid]

oh dear, are you braindead? Maybe because Carlton wouldn't release him from his contract?? Fairly bleedingly obvious I would have thought

Half of Essendon's squad retires, delisted and then agrees to new terms elsewhere.

Is the Mal Michael situation okay now?

 

[jim boy]

I dont think they will. What it will do is ensure that in the future clubs realeasing players from contracts will stipulate that yes you can retire but you wont be playing footy for another AFL club for the length of the contract being voided.

Spot-on, unless the Lions can show evidence that Michael deliberately misled the Lions, then there is no breach of contract.

The AFL would be crazy to step in because
A) The lions basically have themselves to blame by not including a restraint of trade caveat
B) there is no breach of contract and
C) any court action could risk the whole restraint of trade practices of the AFL becoming unravelled.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Half of Essendon's squad retires, delisted and then agrees to new terms elsewhere.

Is the Mal Michael situation okay now?

that "scenario" has already been raised in a far more intelligent way in other threads. Have a look and check out my response to that. I can't be bothered answering such a stupid comment.

 

[AngelEyes]

So Essendon and Mal Michael conspired to get Brisbane to agree to end his contract, despite Carlton at the time having the first pick in the PSD? A player retiring does not end their association with football forever: Wayne Carey, Tim Watson, Paul Salmon, Tony Lockett – all retired stars who had a change of heart. For Michael it just happened sooner than these other cases.

The only question is whether Brisbane still have some sort of legal right to Michael's football services, or to deny them to another party. But by agreeing, mutually, to end his playing contract with the Lions, not only did they free themselves of the burden of his salary, but they also waived any rights they had over the player.

Were Brisbane worried about Michael joining another team, they should have put a clause in the termination agreement saying as much. This could theoretically happen to any retired player, even those under contract. Brisbane could get Essendon back by getting Dean Rioli, despite the fact he had a year left on his deal with Essendon, and Essendon couldn't do a thing to stop it.

The word from Michael and Essendon is clear, there was no conspiracy. Michael Bowers has not hinted at draft tampering, merely that the player should be forced to sit out for the year. The AFL have already signed off on this, as they do all contracts, so it seems they're satisfied. The media aren't carrying stories of draft tampering, the merest hint of which would send them into a frenzy.

Yet you suggest there is piles of circumstantial evidence, and that the conspiracy is clear. Where is this proof? Or is this just the rantings of a clueless, ten cent expert?

The difference to the players abovementioned is that they weren't in contract when they decided to return. Mal would have been contracted to Brisbane. Seeing that is the issue here, those players are not relevant at all.

I don't believe Brisbane's question will be whether they want him back. I think it is clear that they will not want him back. The issue is do Brisbane desverve some form of compensation? Brisbane getting back Essendon by taking Rioli is a pointless suggestion.

Mal Michael was contracted and was released from his contract on the premise he would retire. Just because something is not written in a contract it does not mean that it is not part of the contract. Effectively, it could be said that Brisbane and Michael had a second contract to cancel the first contract if Michael retired. Just because it is not written doesn't mean much.

Just because Essendon and Michael say there is no conspiracy doesn't mean much. Its like Channel 9 et al arguing we had no conspiracy against Channel 7. Just because they say it doesn't mean much. Its alot more complex. I don't know where I have stated that this is draft tampering. I have suggested breach of contract.

Players can only have an agreement to sign prior to the PSD. Not have actually signed so that is crap to start. Secondly, did Michael offer his services to Brisbane? or just go simply to Essendon? The word coming out so far is that Michael in any comeback was not going to Brisbane. Is this significant? Yes. It says Michael didn't want to be at Brisbane. He was happy to play but not at Brisbane. He retired and then magically appeared straight away within a month. It all adds up.

This things are all circumstancial but we are going to be in a Civil Court not a criminal one. Is it more likely than not Michael and/or Essendon breached contract? I would be leaning towards yes at the moment. Check yourself before you call me a ten cent expert.

 

[Longy413]

Half of Essendon's squad retires, delisted and then agrees to new terms elsewhere.

Is the Mal Michael situation okay now?

Half of your squad is out of contract every year anyway. So they can walk, it can potentially happen to every club, every year.

Part of being a good footy club is creating an environment where players want to come, play and stay.

You just put faith in your club and its culture that it never happens.

 

[dave_27]

Feel that hatred for Essendon.

The jealousy is back.

Love it.

 

[POBT]

Spot-on, unless the Lions can show evidence that Michael deliberately misled the Lions, then there is no breach of contract.

It doesn't need to be deliberate. s52 of the Trade Practices Act operates regardless of intent. I'm not saying it necessarily extends to a situation where someone simply changes their mind a month or two down the track but "deliberate" is the wrong word to use.

 

[Black Panther]

The Lions agreed to terminate Michael's contract, but Brisbane did not insert a clause in Michael's official release preventing him from playing for another club.

You ********ed up Mr. Bowers, look in the mirror if you want to blame somebody

 

[Darealrath]

Feel that hatred for Essendon.

The jealousy is back.

Love it.

We grow stronger by the second.

 

[jcraw1]

The indications aka Essendon and Mal's mouth suggest this isnt the case. Thats not indications in general that suggest that Essendon did no wrong.

Its not an outlandish statement. The pieces fit together very well to suggest that this may have happened. There is alot of circumstancial eveidence to suggest they did entice him to break contract.

You can talk rubbish like you are suggesting I am but the remaining part is a reasonable person could make the conclusion that Essendon have enticed Mal to break contract with the Lions. The next question can it be shown more likely than not by people in the know that Essendon did entice Mal to break contract. There are alot of issues which still will have to be resolved and its far from over.

There are some extremely strong grounds for legal challanges to this. Even the notion that there may have been a contract, whether verbal or written, with Brisbane that Mal had to retire. No one here knows the exact events and so it would ludicrous for you to exclude this avenue when its likely the Lions will argue it.

Hmm... So, Essendon spoke to Mal Michael, asked him to retire knowing that Brisbane would release him from his contract and decline to impose any conditions about joining any other team? That's all pretty convenient, and maybe Essendon should be awarded additional picks for being able to predict the future. After all, one would think that any legal person would cover bases like coming back and joining another team should they really want the player, and surely Brisbane's legal team would have been involved in any paperwork to sever ties with Michael.

Don't be bitter, because while possible I think it's improbable that this could have been conspired ahead of time. There is too much reliance on Brisbane doing something unlikely with the paperwork, which they did.

 

[FuManchu]

We grow stronger by the second.

thats right, 14th looms large next season

 

[jules101]

Correct

CORRECT????????????? You have no clue if you think that can happen.
Lions released Michael. Carlton are not going to release Gibbs in 2 years time. Gibbs can just refuse to sign with Carlton he doesnt have to pretend to retire.

 

[AngelEyes]

Hmm... So, Essendon spoke to Mal Michael, asked him to retire knowing that Brisbane would release him from his contract and decline to impose any conditions about joining any other team? That's all pretty convenient, and maybe Essendon should be awarded additional picks for being able to predict the future. After all, one would think that any legal person would cover bases like coming back and joining another team should they really want the player, and surely Brisbane's legal team would have been involved in any paperwork to sever ties with Michael.

Don't be bitter, because while possible I think it's improbable that this could have been conspired ahead of time. There is too much reliance on Brisbane doing something unlikely with the paperwork, which they did.

FWIW I don't barrack for Brisbane. I actually prefer Essendon over Brisbane. Its funny how everything that gets said that doesn't agree with Essendon is hate for that club. Look at what I actually said rather than just blame it on hate.

I think there is a certain amount of trust that goes on in AFL. I have no doubt that every person who retires from now on will have this clause in their contract. I think the Lions trusted he was going to retire.

I think you are being presumptious that there were no conditions on his contract. Verbal considerations can form part of a written contract. Michael verbally said he was going to retire and thats why he wanted to be released. He has been released for no other reason than to respect the players wish to retire. I believe that retirement is in essence part of his contract with Brisbane.

I think it could have been comprehened. It obviously was comprehened for it to happen. Most clubs would release any player who was of Michael's stature at Brisbane if they said they were sick of football and wanted to retire. Sadly, Michael has set a precedent that will end up in a court room. There is no bitterness here, just a neutral point of view that doesn't agree that Essendon and/or Michael is innocent of all charges relating to breach of contract.

 

[Black Panther]

According to Peter Rohde, Port Adelaide inserted a rider in Stuart Dew's release stating he couldn't play for any other AFL club in 2007. Brisbane didn't with Michael

Bowers = Incompetent buffoon

 

[Big Scottknowsall]

Okay. Maybe I'm just taking the high moral ground here. I think it is pretty shabby the way Michael has gone about this, especially with the wonderful career he had with Brisbane. Maybe Brisbane were niave in thinking a great club legend would stab them in the back in such a way. Brisbane would have every right to feel bitter about this.

And perhaps Mal Maichael, a great club legend, could feel bitter about his club not supporting him and allowing him some freedom to explore other interests.

It was all Gary O'Donell's doing. He spoke to Mal, asked him if he's interested in a return, Mal said no as I have other interests. GO then said Essendon are still interested.....

Personally, I feel a bit ordinary that this has happened....but at the moment, the club is the only one to have there say....they could have looked after Mal...As Aker has been quotyed as saying, Brissy don't look after their players at all....

 

[JLC]

And perhaps Mal Maichael, a great club legend, could feel bitter about his club not supporting him and allowing him some freedom to explore other interests.

It was all Gary O'Donell's doing. He spoke to Mal, asked him if he's interested in a return, Mal said no as I have other interests. GO then said Essendon are still interested.....

Personally, I feel a bit ordinary that this has happened....but at the moment, the club is the only one to have there say....they could have looked after Mal...As Aker has been quotyed as saying, Brissy don't look after their players at all....

Yeah Poor Mal - He did the same thing at Collingwood. He is a dog of the highest order.

No one held a gun to his head asking him to sign a two year contract. Whats the bet had the Lions offered him only a one year deal he would have kicked up a fuss.

I assume he will only be training along the same lines as he was requesting to do so had he stayed with the Lions.

jlc

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

oh dear, are you braindead? Maybe because Carlton wouldn't release him from his contract?? Fairly bleedingly obvious I would have thought

Why wouldn't we release him if we believe he wouldn't play anymore? If we believed he didn't enjoy footy anymore and his heart wasn't in it? We would have a spot on our list taken up, has his wage under our salary cap but he wouldn't play. All a contract does is prevent a player playing for someone else. It doesn't really force them to take the field and try.

This circumvents contracts in a big way and sets a ridiculous precedent.

 

[ClintEastwood]

Are the Dons just trying it on, or do they have a trick or two up their legal sleeve?

 

[loyallion]

You know what let the bummers have Mal Micheal they seem to think with him in the side its gonna increase thier chances of getting into the finals. This time next year they will be kicking thier selves because he isnt as good as what ppl think he is. He will never get the treatment or the publicity that he got at Brisbane at Essendon and Aker wont either they were treated like royality in Brisbane they wont get that at their new clubs.

Farewell Mal Micheal I hope you remember the old phrase dont ever bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[Corpuscles]

Wow! beyond beer o'clock and this is still raging!

Please! Pretty Please? AD step in and sort this out! this is potentially most damaging decision ever! (Sorry Mal great heart...but light-on upstairs!)

Um.... Wet Toast, Crowbots, Colliwobbles, bummers.FULLSTOP..... um sorts out the TV stuff beeuuuatifull just 2 games a week

Does anyone know the Seymour Lions are the best footy team outside of the ShamAFL? Cum in Pavlova

 

[mores07]

what mal micheal is doing is an absolute disgrace. i have gone from being a big fan of his, to losing all respect for this bloke. brisbane gave him the oppurtunity with arguably the greatest side of all time, then when the going gets tough, he wants out to continue his career with essendon!

whatever micheal has done in his career, will be forgotten from this point on, and he will forever be remembered by this 'change of heart'.

people will not forget what this bloke has done, and nor should they. micheal has shown his true colors, and i hope brisbane rip his head off when they play them next year.

 

[Seth]

So what about Nilma Darnum Football club!

Sue him Nilma.

 

[Corpuscles]

So what about Nilma Darnum Football club!

Sue him Nilma.

Cum on I am ( prolly no onne else) not even game to google that unless there is better info?

Best regards to Nilma