Hi guys

Thanks for a great night and for sharing your views on the current state of the game.

While I don’t think we can blame everything on Paul Roos and Ross Lyon, I hear your concerns about congestion and I’m sure we can come up with some new rules that you will all complain about later.

I’ve already put some thought into some of the points you’ve raised and thought I’d address a few of them:

• Alastair, I don’t agree Essendon should be ‘wiped from the face of the Earth’. Sure, there are problems, but let’s look at the long term.
• Mick, I don’t think Nathan was trying to take what ‘is rightfully yours’, he hadn’t had any naan bread yet, while you had eaten several pieces.
• Brad, I agree, it was better to sit inside for dinner.
• Nathan, I’m sorry but it’s not my job to stop Mick from ‘looking at you’. It’s a free world.
• Brenton, your point about Adelaide Oval being really loud was well made. It wasn’t necessary to keep bringing it up every five minutes though.
• Leon, I don’t think I can give you any more concessions than you already have. I don’t think your proposal of getting every player in the next draft is workable, but I’ll look at it.
• Chris, I’m sorry I thought you were Brad but I don’t think it’s quite the insult you made out.
• Guy, ‘pausing’ the season until Ablett is back, while appealing, is probably not feasible. If it’s any consolation, I’ll see what I can do about the Brownlow though.
• Damien, Richmond is as big a mystery to me as it is to you. We shouldn’t discount some sort of curse. Like the one Melbourne have. I also don’t think it’s all your fault like you said.
• Brendan, while you didn’t say anything all night, it was done with a quiet dignity we all admired and appreciated. The points you didn’t make were more insightful than most of the points the others did make.
• Alan, I can’t ask Port to take you back. Mainly, because I can’t be bothered with having to speak to Finnis when he hears about it.

So thanks again everyone. It was a wonderful evening and I’m sorry I wouldn’t let you have The Voice on in the background.

Let’s do it again soon.

Gil