“This is embarrassing”: Moons slams Dees

Three-time AFL premiership player Cam Mooney says the story revolving around Melbourne’s cancelled pre-season camp is an embarrassment for the club.

The Demons opted to cancel their “boot camp”-style training camp last week due to injury concerns, with Dom Tyson and Christian Salem both sustaining injuries in a similar camp last year.

However it has emerged over the weekend that Melbourne were essentially forced to cancel the trip by the AFL Players’ Association after a number of Dees players went to the AFLPA wanting the camp to be stopped.

With Danny Frawley today stating on SEN Breakfast that 14 Demons players were behind the push to cancel the trip, Mooney says the potential rift this could cause within the playing group is a disappointing look for the long-struggling side.

“You have got 14 players on your list that are now basically the tail wagging the dog. This is embarrassing,” he told SEN Drive

“How does a playing group look at each other now?

“I would doubt it’s a (Jack) Viney. I would doubt it’s a (Nathan) Jones. These guys aren’t in the 14 surely. These are guys that are just built and made for hard work. They want to do this tough work.

“They now have 14 players they can’t trust because those 14 players have gone behind the backs of the playing group and the coaches to put in a complaint to get this camp scratched. The coaches would be extremely disappointed and embarrassed that it has got to this point.”

The former Geelong forward says that by no means is this news a “non-story”, believing that the 14 players’ resolve to fight for the club will now be doubted by their own teammates and coaches.

“This is a story within the football club that is quite poor. For 14 players to get together, Chinese whispers, ring up the AFLPA and then for the PA to come in and do what they’ve done is just embarrassing,” he said.

“Sit down with the footy club if there are concerns with the playing group.

“Do you think a footy club want their players to get injured? I hate to break it to you, but it’s pre-season. Players get injured in pre-season. If you’re not getting injured in pre-season, you’re more likely to rock up to Round 1 underdone. It’s as simple as that.”

Mooney worries that a poor Round 1 showing against premiership hopefuls Geelong could see their own fans turn on their own side due to this story.

“It will be used by their own supporters if they don’t win round one…you’re weak because you couldn’t go on a camp,” he said.

“A big game straight up and they’re already showing the football world that when it comes to the hard work, they’re not all prepared to do it.”

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