Crackers' Call - Andrew Demetriou and the Essendon media war

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I had to wait a year to collect Mark Maclure from Carlton, eventually taking his scalp in Sydney in a Sunday game.

But this war between journalist Mark Robinson and AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou is getting out of control.

Demetriou reportedly wouldn't shake Robbo's hand at the Brownlow Medal as a direct result of his reporting of the Essendon saga throughout 2013.

The story erupted again last week with the allegations that the Bombers are still paying James Hird and that back room deals were done with Australian Sports Commission head John Wylie as the mediator.

The rumours that nine Essendon players are going to receive infraction notices in the next couple of weeks persist as well.

Football doesn't need this supposed war and it reflects badly on those involved, particularly Demetriou.

After all, we are about playing football and putting on the show.

Sure the Essendon saga was hastened so the integrity of the finals could be preserved but the Bombers couldn't have won the flag anyway, they're just not ready.

Mind you if all the rumours about infraction notices are proven correct they won't be ready in the next few years either.

This was the grubbiest episode in AFL history and it still is not resolved.

I don't know if Hird will coach again but I do know that the club has been ringing members imploring them to sign up again.

And now coach Bomber Thompson has come out publicly and said 'stick with us, this crisis will pass'.

A two-time premiership coach at Geelong, Thompson has been handed the poisoned chalice.

He's a friend of mine and will do his best but it's a job he didn't really want in the first place.

One thing I do know, having worked alongside him with the Cats, the team will be well coached.

Will he hand the reins back to Hird in once the season is over? If the AFL have anything to do with it the answer will be a firm no.

I hear they'd prefer Thompson to continue beyond 2014.

Hird is soiled goods and Essendon should move on but time will tell whether that happens or not.

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