A member of another AFL club, I have followed the Essendon "saga" with concern and anger on many levels. It has become a farce and caused considerable damage to the competition: not only due to the alleged drugs issue but also the way it has been handled by different authorities, including the AFL hierarchy and overseas sports bodies. This has left much to be desired in terms of competence, honesty and openness.
Should the AFL demand that Jobe Watson relinquish his Brownlow medal? Or perhaps he should pre-empt this and offer it to them? The medal is a great honour but it does not reflect his character, skills as a player and a captain, and support of his team and club throughout this sorry, ongoing story.
The character of this season's Essendon players has been remarkable and commendable. They have enabled the club to go forward with dignity and optimism. Good luck to Essendon in 2017 – from a Cats supporter and member. I hope to see you standing on the grand final dais next September.
Marion Hamilton, Geelong
Let's call them what they are: the Cheetahs
At long last, Essendon must be pleased to be able to put the drugs scandal behind them and move forward. To assist with a new beginning, it might be worth considering a new name. With the Hawks, Eagles, Swans and Crows, the avian species are already well represented. The AFL could, however, accommodate another feline team. May I suggest the Cheetahs?
David Olive, Kensington
Many things were in Watson's control
Jobe Watson says the Brownlow medal does not define him and that whatever happens is out of his control. Yet he was part of an appeal by 34 current and former Essendon players against their suspension for doping (which has failed), decided not to return his Brownlow, and spent 12months working and holidaying overseas while he agonised over whether to continue to be paid to play football. Some things are in his control.
Brendan O'Farrell, Brunswick
Jobe, a champion in every sense of the word
Jobe Watson, you are a champion footballer. More importantly, you are a champion person. You have such wisdom and a balanced view on life. Have a marvellous life.
Belinda Burke, Hawthorn
Why shouldn't Hird also return his medal?
"Watson must give back his Brownlow", trumpets your editorial (The Age, 13/10). If you believe that, then you should also call for James Hird to lose his 1996 Brownlow medal. As the Essendon coach, he permitted the administering of drugs to his players without the knowledge of what damage they could do to his charges in the future.
John Cain, McCrae
But of course our boys would never cheat
The AFL has no option but to take the Brownlow medal off Jobe Watson. Or are only overseas athletes drug cheats and our footballers are just silly boys who do not take responsibility?
Joe Garra, Werribee South
Double standard when players take drugs
I wonder whether a tale of two consecutive Brownlow medallists, former Collingwood player Dane Swan and Jobe Watson, will provide an Orwellian conclusion: recreational drugs are good, performance enhancing drugs are bad.
John Skaro, Malvern
A battle to survive
Your sad story about the challenged life of a struggling man who is experiencing crippling rent costs (The Age, 12/10) hit the nail on the head. Most poor people who are desperate for a safe, clean place to call home have suffered significant trauma in their lives. Mental issues are common, as well as a lack of access to basic resources, employment and education. Our studies have proven that most people do not live on the street by choice. Life has dealt them bad cards. I call on our politicians to make housing affordable, and for policies that give vulnerable people a fair chance to join in and share.
Mark Dohrmann, Sacred Heart Mission, Parkville
Breaking their spirit
Readers gave examples of the regulatory cruelty at Broadmeadows detention centre (Letters, 13/10). One new rule I find particularly concerning is requiring refugees to book days ahead to go into the prayer/reflection room. It was set aside so all could practise their religion or withdraw for a little peace. No one with any understanding of these unfortunate people's anxiety and stress would expect them to predict ahead their need for the room. Are these heartless policies intended to get them to break and give up their claim for asylum? Where are our leaders, particularly religious, that such limiting of spiritual practice can occur without a murmur?
Kate Kennedy, Coburg
A community effort
Josh Gordon is right on the mark about the need for a "post coal" plan for the Latrobe Valley (Comment, 13/10). Renewable energy generation, such as solar, is a worldwide, fast-growing sector and must surely be part of the future for an area with existing transmission infrastructure and electricity generation expertise. A mega solar farm on a power station site would tick social, economic and environmental boxes. The federal government recently announced support for 10 large solar projects, but none are in Victoria. If the federal and Victorian governments contributed, with the electricity revenue going back to the community, it would be transformative. The community could be involved and would gladly purchase a panel or two to give the valley a stronger future.
Peter Allan, West Brunswick
If this is the best ...
If the inner-city experienced a power outage that lasted a week, the fury and angst would be off the scale. The lack of robust public debate on the capacity of energy providers to promptly restore power after a storm to the outer suburbs is worrying. Italso engenders little confidence in their ability to respond to even nastier events.
Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont
McGeough is our man
Like many readers, my wife and I (American-Australians) are very concerned about the US presidential election. In our view, and we are octogenarians, there has never been a more potentially dangerous time in American domestic affairs. The country is badly split, and the risk of this becoming worse if a populist demagogue in the person of Donald Trump is elected president has caused us real anxiety.
We read American and international publications and follow coverage in the electronic media. But first thing every morning, we look for Paul McGeough's report from Washington before getting to other sources. No other journalist has been as clear and perceptive as McGeough in presenting the key elements of this hugely complicated situation. His long-ago predecessor, my old friend, Washington colleague and former Age editor (the late) Creighton Burns, would have been proud of his reporting.
Frank Bennett, former US consul-general, Brighton
The ultimate clown
The "creepy clown" phenomenon has peaked with one of them attempting to become president of the United States. His performance has been so grotesque and scary that it has drawn the admiration of other "creepy clowns". They are amazed that he has managed to elicit such fear without the use of a mask.
Mario Fenech, Armadale
A fine first step
I applaud the decision to restore Flinders Street Station to its original colours. The current colours are far from inspiring and do not do justice to the building.
Now, if only someone would think about extending the facade from Flinders Street back along to the Yarra River. Imagine how great that would look from Federation Square. It has always seemed a lopsided building – and you have to go to the St Paul's Cathedral corner to get a good view of it. Extend the facade, then have the most modern, fantastic new interior possible. That would be a building to behold.
Ellen McGregor, Heathmont
Birth of toxic culture
Adele Ferguson reports that the life insurance industry has been toxic for decades (BusinessDay, 12/10). I worked for it as an IT guy in the late 1970s. One state manager told me that in the 1930s, he sold insurance in the back blocks of his state. When he went into a property, often he would be welcomed by the business end of a shotgun, which was only lowered if he convinced the farmer he was selling general, not life, insurance.
After the introduction of compulsory superannuation, the bulk of the business was wholesaled to large funds and salesmen morphed into financial advisers. Banks bought these companies as part of their expansion by vertical integration. The toxic culture came with them.
Kyle Matheson, Mont Albert
We're behind the times
The following have made same-sex marriage legally permissible: The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Iceland, Portugal, Denmark, Brazil, England, Wales, France, New Zealand, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Scotland, Finland (effective from 2017), Ireland and the United States.
What is wrong with us that we are we making such a dog's dinner of the whole question?
Dorothy Murison, Hawthorn East
A plea for action
Where are the think-tanks exploring ways to create new industries to replace employment lost through the car industry closures? Who is looking at ways to redeploy the soon to be abandoned infrastructure and management skills? What government incentives and supports are planned to stimulate businesses to create growth opportunities? Where are the discussions between business and industry groups, local communities and unions to develop ideas to generate local employment? Or are we going to stand by watching while much of Australia becomes another rust belt?
Kaye Cole, Princes Hill
Good times are over
It is wonderful to see that former Howard government minister John Moore and his three fellow travellers – Hawke government minister Barry Cohen and Labor backbenchers Tony Lamb and Barry Cunningham – have had part of their snouts removed from the trough following the ruling by the High Court ("Former MPs' life gold pass set for the chop again", 13/10).
Michael Oakley, Camberwell
Sleep well, Premier
NSW Premier Mike Baird, have you ever looked into the eyes of a rescued greyhound? l have, as l have rescued, fostered and adopted greyhounds for 13years. Most have never known love or comfort. Once shown this, they see that there is more to life than a cold floor, loneliness and cruelty. Mr Baird, you could have made a stand and been a historic figure in change for the good of humanity. Instead, you have sentenced thousands of dogs to death and cruelty. Feel free to change your mind.
Tracy Neave, Maidstone
Make big boys pay
It is scandalous how little revenue Australia receives for its mined resources and an egregious failure by successive governments. Even Labor's original resource super profits tax, which was killed by mining industry lobbying, was a flawed approach.
The government should give high priority to implementing a revenue regime that ensures we benefit appropriately from our resources wealth. Mining companies should have to pay a significant price for the resources they extract and "on sell". This should be based on the amount extracted and their market price, not the company's profit. (The profits should be taxed like any other company's profits.)
Amortised exploration and establishment costs and post-mining rehabilitation provisions incurred by the business should be deductions against profits, and not affect the price paid for the resource. If a company cannot make a reasonable return on investment on those terms, the resource should be left unexploited for the time being.
Tony Ralston, Balwyn North
Now for No.3 tram
Not everyone takes a tram from the suburbs into the city. Many people use our excellent tram network to get from one suburb to another. The proposal to extend the 86 tram to a more logical destination, South Morang (The Age, 13/10), is to be applauded. In fact, this is one of many extensions that should occur throughout the middle suburbs. Extending the No.3 Malvern East tram to Malvern East train station would provide a link between the Glen Waverley line and Caulfield Station. Pretty logical, in my opinion.
Steve Stefanopoulos, Armadale
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
There are a few scary clowns in our parliament and another one is aiming for the White House.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East
Donald, you had better duck now before you are dumped.
Ann Johnson, Box Hill North
Our politicians rightly condemn Trump, but they don't have plans to eliminate domestic/sexual violence, wage disparity and everyday sexism.
Ian Bell, Fitzroy
Senator Brian Burston's new broadcaster could be called Public Radio Audio Visual Digital Australia – or PRAVDA for short.
John McCombs, Merrijig
What information of any consequence could possibly be hacked from a Turnbull cabinet meeting?
Phil Alexander, Eltham
If Mike Baird is looking for another career, he could try Cirque de Soleil. He would excel in acrobatics .
Gary Ching, Glen Iris
Mr Shorten, you say what you believe people want to hear but you remain unpopular. Why?
Francis Smith, Caulfield North
Become speaker in the Victorian parliament and see the world. All within guidelines, I'm sure.
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick
Sport
We used to be proud of our tennis players. Watching Tomic and Kyrgios play, I can only hope the next generation isn't any worse.
John Cummings, Anglesea
Thanks for your advice, Nick. I certainly won't buy a ticket to watch you play.
Doug Perry, Mount Martha
No, Greg Cote (12/10), anyone with decent values does not care about Tiger Woods.
Peter Winneke, Camberwell
Furthermore
An elderly gentleman told me his grandson wouldn't grow up with Australian-made Fords. How sad.
Ashley Spencer, Cheltenham