Love my family Love the Essendon FC Love my Religion Not ashamed of my political beliefs based on equality, fair go for all & my Progressive Centralist views.
Joined October 2020
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The AFL has a serious problem, and it's time to stop pretending otherwise.
Sydney star Tom Papley has reportedly returned a positive result to a random drug test during a roadside licence check conducted by NSW Police on Monday, a matter confirmed by the club.
The AFL needs to introduce a much stronger zero-tolerance policy. I fully understand that footballers are members of the broader community and that drug use is a significant problem in society. But that cannot be an excuse for what is happening in our game.
Quite simply, it is not good enough.
Sponsors should seriously consider withdrawing their support until the AFL demonstrates that it is genuinely prepared to clean up the game. Football is a privilege, not a right, and players have responsibilities that extend beyond the football field.
I'm certainly not naive enough to believe that Essendon is immune. I'm sure there have been players at our club, as there have been at others, who have experimented with or used illicit drugs. This is an issue across the competition.
What particularly concerns me is the seemingly weak position taken by the AFL Players Association. At times, its approach appears more focused on protecting players from consequences than addressing the broader integrity of the game.
We need to distinguish between providing appropriate health and rehabilitation support and accepting a lack of accountability.
Drug use cannot simply be dismissed as a health issue when there may also be criminal conduct involved. Both issues need to be addressed, and neither should be ignored.
The AFL has a responsibility to its players, supporters, families, sponsors and the wider community. It cannot continue to turn a blind eye or hide behind carefully worded statements.
It's time for leadership, accountability and meaningful action. We need to clean up our game before we lose the confidence of the people who support it.
The original reports widely publicised a positive roadside drug test, alongside the fact that he was driving with a suspended licence. The Swans have since confirmed that the initial drug test was only a preliminary positive indication and that a second sample is being analysed, with results expected in approximately four weeks. My broader concern remains unchanged. I believe there is a culture of privilege and drug use within the AFL and, more broadly, across other professional sporting codes and sections of Australian society.
Professional footballers are highly paid, highly visible and influential members of our community. With that profile comes responsibility.
I am not suggesting that players should be denied medical treatment, nor am I suggesting that every player who encounters a drug-related issue should automatically be condemned. But we cannot continue to excuse poor decisions or apply standards that would be unacceptable for ordinary members of the community.
The 6. factors that influence US elections
1. Race and ethnicity – Voting patterns among African Americans, Hispanic/Latino voters, Asian Americans and white voters. The changing political preferences of Hispanic voters, in particular, are significant.
2. Money and campaign financing Billionaires, corporations, political action committees (PACs), Super PACs and the influence of big donors on candidates and political messaging.
3. Gerrymandering yes gerrymandering
Manipulation of electoral boundaries to favour one political party, particularly in House of Representatives elections.
4. Voter motivation and turnout How strongly people feel about voting. Getting your supporters to the polling booth can matter just as much as persuading undecided voters.
5. Political polarisation Increasingly divided political views, where voters may support their party regardless of its candidate or policies.
6. Religion and religious identity Particularly evangelical Christians, conservative religious groups and the influence of religious values on voting behaviour.
Lesson to be learnt by Australians.
The media must be held accountable!
I am absolutely bloody furious.
The Australian media is becoming increasingly dominated by right-wing agendas. We need to challenge it at every opportunity.
Once again, the media and political commentators have jumped to conclusions.
Yesterday assault on a One Nation volunteer on Victoria's Surf Coast is a case in point.
Police have clearly stated: "Detectives are not treating the incident as politically motivated."
I'll repeat that for those who seem unable to understand it: NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
So why the rush to turn this into a political issue before the facts are established?
Our media has a responsibility to report facts, not manufacture political narratives or manipulate public opinion.
When journalism becomes propaganda, democracy suffers.
Speak up. Speak loudly and speak often. Demand honesty, accuracy and accountability. The truth matters, and silence is not an option.
My publish response to today's AGE Article
"City to Tullamarine in 18 minutes":
The zero - cost airport rail plan the government killed off by Chip Le Grand November 3, 2026
A proposal to build and operate a private rail line from the city to Melbourne Airport at no cost to the public purse was rejected by the Andrews government despite being backed by Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM).
The 2015 plan was for a purpose-built, direct, fast-speed railway through Maribyrnong which would have offered baggage check-in at Southern Cross Station and 18-minute trips to Tullamarine.
Enough is enough. Chris forgot to mention there would be a substantial land acquisition needed to take place for this project to take shape and it would be government and private properties land purchases?
The Andrews Government should be congratulated for refusing to privatise Victoria's public rail assets. Privatisation has already gone too far in this state.
We have had enough of governments selling off public assets. What is the agenda here? Why is it continually being raised when Victorians have already seen the consequences? Instead of seeking more assets to privatise, we should examine what was sold under the Kennett Government in the 1990s. Around $22-30 billion worth of Victorian public assets were privatised, including electricity generation assets such as Hazelwood, Loy Yang B and Yallourn, electricity distributors and retailers such as Powercor, CitiPower and United Energy, gas distribution businesses, ports, and Victoria's train and tram networks. For more than 30 years, billions of dollars in profits have gone to private interests.
Many of these utilities continue to generate substantial profits. Had they remained in public ownership, those returns could have helped fund hospitals, schools, roads, public transport, emergency services and community infrastructure without placing additional pressure on taxpayers. The real story is how much income Victorians have lost over the years. Journalists should undertake a detailed analysis of Victoria's privatised assets and calculate how much revenue would have flowed back to the State had these utilities remained publicly owned. Look at the real story Chip you are better than this story.
Please if you are going to vote One Nation think hard before
You vote for this is what you are voting for…
One Nation has vowed to create an online, real-time expenditure tracker as a way of revolutionising “the way that that budgets are done in this state” if elected, while refusing to release costings for its policy proposals before Victorian voters head to the polls.
One Nation’s refusal to release costings for its policies raises major questions ahead of an election in which debt is a major concern for voters and a threat to the state’s prosperity
Last month, One Nation was forced to clarify its costings for proposed family policies after PBO costings commissioned by the Liberal Party found they could blow out by more than $500 million.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has insisted her policy on the Suburban Rail Loop is clear – before refusing to answer whether her plan to pause and review the $33.5 billion project would mean tools down on work site and refuses to release the Liberal party costings
A Liberal candidate in a key battleground seat has been caught out encouraging people to vote for One Nation in the upper house while campaigning in the electorate that is considered vulnerable to Pauline Hanson’s party.
So please consider how and why you vote against the Government which hasn’t been perfect but on the whole has been a good government and still has a lot more to achieve
AFL 2026 brand value ranking
Collingwood (2025 ranking: 1st)
Brisbane (2nd)
Sydney (3rd)
Carlton (5th)
Richmond (4th)
Geelong (6th)
Adelaide (7th)
West Coast (9th)
Hawthorn (8th)
Essendon (11th)
Fremantle (13th)
Port Adelaide (10th)
Western Bulldogs (12th)
St Kilda (16th)
Melbourne (14th)
North Melbourne (18th)
GWS (15th)
Gold Coast (17th)
Essendon, we have improved by 1 go bombers in 2000 we were amongst the top clubs in this space if not the top club Go Bombers
You be the judge
Herald Sun stories in today paper
Labor’s infrastructure fail exposed in damning report
No more secrets: One Nation’s bid to make cabinet documents public
Dad attacked by machete-wielding intruder issues blunt message to Labor
First wave of Gallipoli’: Housing crisis threatens Labor MPs in Melbourne’s east
Why are politicians such weirdos?’ Carroll’s cringe Macca’s run fails to win over voters
Defiant Jess Wilson refuses to debate Warren Pickering as Premier accuses her of ‘running scared’
A fair and balanced press is essential to a healthy democracy because democracy depends on citizens having access to accurate information, competing viewpoints and the ability to hold those in power accountable.
When a media company becomes excessively partisan, has significant conflicts of interest or consistently promotes one political side while undermining another, it can distort public debate and weaken the foundations of democracy.
Essendon Draft Needs
We have about 4 to 5 picks in draft and what are our needs
That are High or not negotiable
1.Key Defender
2.In an out Midfielder
3. Small forward
4. Key forward
Key defender from
1. Tyson Bradley
2. Clancy Snell
Inside /OutsiderMid from
1. Ethan Drever
2. Heath Mellody
Small Forward from
1. Arki Bulter
2. George Diver
3. Leo Speed
Key Forward from
1. Jack PIckett
There is great talent in this draft the players on this list are extremely good
The Jerusalem Treaty: A City for All Humanity
Jerusalem is unlike any other city on Earth. It is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. It is a place where faith, history, culture, and civilisation converge. Yet for generations, it has also been a focal point of conflict, division, and competing claims.
Perhaps the greatest mistake made during the diplomatic negotiations surrounding the establishment of the modern State of Israel was the failure to create a truly international Jerusalem. The city's significance extends far beyond any one nation, religion, or people. Jerusalem does not belong exclusively to Jews, Muslims, or Christians. It belongs to all humanity.
The time has come to revisit a bold idea: the creation of an independent and internationally administered by the UN, Jerusalem protected under a new "Jerusalem Treaty."
Under this model, Jerusalem would become a sovereign city-state, similar in concept to Vatican City. It would be politically independent and neutral, governed by an internationally appointed council operating under a United Nations mandate. This council would be responsible for the city's administration, preservation of heritage, infrastructure, security, and public services. A dedicated international budget would ensure that Jerusalem remains a thriving city for its residents while protecting its unique historical and spiritual character.
The purpose of such an arrangement would not be to diminish the rights or identities of any community. Rather, it would recognize a simple truth: Jerusalem's importance transcends national borders and religious divisions. The city is a shared inheritance of humanity.
For decades, successive generations have witnessed violence, unrest, and political disputes over the control of Jerusalem. Despite countless negotiations and peace initiatives, lasting stability remains elusive. An international framework could provide the neutrality necessary to protect the rights and access of all faiths equally, ensuring that no single group exercises exclusive control over sites revered by billions around the world.
A new Jerusalem would stand as a symbol of coexistence rather than division, stewardship rather than ownership, and cooperation rather than conflict. It would be a city governed not in the interests of one religion or one nation, but in the interests of all people.
Jerusalem should be protected as the world's spiritual capital, a city that belongs to every generation and every corner of humanity.
Proposed Sites Under International Protection and Administration
The Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Dome of the Rock
Western Wall
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Via Dolorosa
Garden of Gethsemane
Mount of Olives
Tomb of the Virgin Mary
King David's Tomb
The City of David Archaeological Site
The Old City Walls and Gates
The Armenian Quarter
The Christian Quarter
The Jewish Quarter
The Muslim Quarter
These sites would remain open and accessible to all faiths under guarantees of religious freedom, preservation, and equal treatment.
Jerusalem is too important to belong to one people alone. It is one of humanity's greatest treasures, and humanity itself should be its guardian.
Jess Wilson and her support team ski towards the victory line, confident that Victorians won’t ask the hard questions.
But where is the plan for economic growth? Where is the plan for Victoria’s future? And what about the billions of dollars in funding that need to be accounted for?
Jess Wilson’s plan for Victoria could create a growing $10.8 billion budget black hole. The inevitable question is: how would the Liberals fill it? Through cuts to our schools, hospitals and police?
It’s easy to ski downhill when nobody is asking the hard questions. But Victorians deserve answers, not slogans. o be accounted for?
Jess Wilson’s plan for Victoria could create a growing $10.8 billion budget black hole. The inevitable question is: how.
would the Liberals solve it? This is how cuts to our schools, public hospitals and services.
It’s easy to ski downhill when nobody is asking the hard questions and filling some pot holes. But Victorians deserve answers, not more slogans
THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF A LIBERAL–NATIONALS AND ONE NATION GOVERNMENT IN VICTORIA?
Imagine this scenario becoming reality. These are the real potential consequences voters should consider .
1. Working from home: Legislation introduced to remove the legal protections for working from home, with One Nation supporting the government in Parliament.
2. New coal power station: An agreement signed to develop a new coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley.
3. Age of criminal responsibility: The age of criminal responsibility lowered to 10.
4. Nuclear power: Victoria's ban on nuclear power lifted, with a feasibility study launched into building the state's first nuclear reactor.
5. Major infrastructure projects: Major projects halted pending full audits, with thousands of workers potentially stood down and some projects facing cancellation.
6. Public service jobs: A freeze on new public-sector recruitment, followed by workforce reductions and redundancies.
7. Cost-of-living relief: Cost-of-living measures introduced by the previous government scrapped or scaled back.
8. Housing: Housing agreements with the Federal Government thrown into dispute, putting planned housing delivery at risk.
9. Public hospitals: Health funding redirected towards private providers, raising concerns about the future funding and capacity of public hospitals.
10. Road maintenance: Road repairs and maintenance delayed as the government tightens its budget.
11. Free dental care: Plans for expanded free dental services shelved or taken off the table.
12. Firefighters' pay: Firefighters pressured to abandon their claim for a 50% pay increase and accept a settlement of 25% over three years.
13. Victoria's financial position and credit rating under pressure.
14. First Nations: The Treaty framework scrapped, reversing progress towards formal recognition and reconciliation.
15. TAFE and higher education: Funding cuts or reductions that threaten training opportunities, skills development and access to further education.
16. State will not support Minimum wage increase for the lowest paid workers as the state says business cannot afford it.
17. The Airport rail project wind back no super station at Sunshine and no East Keilor
And this is only the start
Well done, voters of Victoria. Is this really the future you wished for?
Before casting your vote, ask yourself: Who will pay the price if these policies become reality working families, young people, workers, patients, students or the most vulnerable in our community?
A vote has consequences. Make sure you know what you're voting for.
What do the following AFL top draft prospects all have in common.
1. Ethan Drever,
2 Arki Butler
3. Heath Mellody
4. Gus Teixeira
5. Clancy Snell
They are all Bombers supporters .
We will be lucky to draft 1 out of 5 which is a shame because I believe this is the missing component of our rebuild
Passion To play for the jumper
Disgusting, despicable and utterly pathetic.
Anyone considering voting for One Nation needs to take a long, hard look at themselves following the latest controversy over a cartoon depicting Penny Wong being murdered, with Pauline Hanson reportedly declaring the videos are “not going anywhere”.
Is this really the kind of politics you want to support? Politics that fuels division, normalises violence and treats threats against elected representatives as entertainment?
If someone unstable were to act on this kind of imagery, would those cheering it on still be laughing?
This is not responsible leadership. It is dangerous, disgraceful and completely unacceptable. A party that claims it is serious about governing Victoria and Australia should be held to a far higher standard. We should be demanding respect, accountability and leadership
not the normalisation of political violence.
Stop the murders of innocent people
When will my Muslim friends and the wider Muslim community stand up and unequivocally condemn the murder of innocent people in the name of religion?
Three gunmen reportedly opened fire on mourners at a Jordan Orthodox church funeral, killing nine people and wounding between 34 and 40. Among the victims were doctors and other members of the community.
Meanwhile, more than 60 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were reportedly massacred in Ethiopia’s Oromia region on 24 October 2026, including at least five children. Churches and homes were targeted, and at least 20 houses were reportedly burned.
These atrocities must not be ignored. Orthodox Christian communities are also disappearing from their ancient homelands across Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey through persecution, violence, conflict and mass emigration.
I am not blaming an entire religion for the actions of extremists. But silence is not the answer. Religious leaders, governments and communities including my Muslim friends—must speak out and demand accountability.
Orthodox Christians have the same right as everyone else to live, worship and raise their families in safety. How many more innocent lives must be lost before the world acts?
This must stop. With your collective silence comes complicity, and with complicity comes the risk that these atrocities will continue unchecked.”
The rise and rise of the Australian right One Nation and parts LNP
So Is Victoria sleepwalking into becoming a different kind of State or have we been in denial about something far more uncomfortable — that Australia has always been, broadly speaking, a racist country?
Perhaps the difference is that, for much of our history, racism has been kept in the closet, hidden behind a façade of fairness, equality and the Australian way of life. In countries such as apartheid-era South Africa and parts of the United States, racism was far more openly expressed and institutionalised.
Are we now witnessing the emergence of a racism that was always there, but which many Australians preferred not to acknowledge? Please Victorians please prove me wrong come election day.
GIVE HIM A GO!
A New Way Forward with Ben!
Fresh Ideas. New Energy. A Better Direction. A Brighter Future.
Andrew Philippou retweeted
🚨 President Trump just dropped SUPER hard truths about how broken America's immigration system is
"Why do we ALWAYS have to take people from SHlTHOLE countries?! Why can't we take people from like Norway, Sweden? Why not Denmark?!"
WE'RE THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE DON'T NEED SOMALIS.
EVER.
