Totally spineless game, there was no way WC had any interest in winning. Some of their forward play was laughable.

If there's any doubt that they tanked, just look at the free kicks. 26 to 8 West Coast's way. With a huge advantage like that, they still only managed 5 goals.

Umpires were 14 H. Ryan, 23 Ellis, 28 K. Nicholls. Why is Melbourne copping such lopsided umpiring??

Please don't win next week in Adelaide, I would hate the last game against Richmond at the 'G to be another spineless tank like today's and last year's limp game against tanking specialists Carltank.

Anyone who paid money to get in today was totally dudded, by both WC and the umpires.

Anyone who paid money to get in today was totally dudded

Not really, I knew what to expect. Recruited another fan. And my 3 year old LOVES to go regardless of the result each week so it was a good day. Seeing people smile at my son as he's belting out the song a the top of his voice is worth it every time.

If there's any doubt that they tanked, just look at the free kicks. 26 to 8 West Coast's way.

Incredible statistic. You don't even get numbers like that when a Victorian team visits an interstate club!

It was disgusting, they missed so many blatant free's to us.

The absolute worst one was when Braun had the ball in one hand, got tackled, and threw it in the air. The umpire was DIRECTLY in front of him and didn't so much as move his arms.

Do you all hate footy so much that you can't even enjoy a game once in a while? West Coast are terrible, and yesterday was not their worst game this year. They've only won 1 game at the MCG since they won the Grand Final in '06.

I'm almost certain that tanking has never occurred on the field or in the coaches box. The only time it's ever happened is in the selection of players and the decision to put players in cotton wool, so that they can be 'Cherry Ripe' for the next year.

Give it a break. The umpiring was actually okay. Supporters are always biased, and almost all of West Coast's frees were there, and ours were not there. We won the game anyway, so why ruin it by whining about the umpiring or whether our opponents were trying.

Go dees!

Give it a break. The umpiring was actually okay.

Were you even at the game Chook? The umpiring was unquestionably bad, not just in terms of the lopsided free kick count, but the decisions that weren't paid to both teams. They were inconsistent in their decisions as well.

The only time it's ever happened is in the selection of players and the decision to put players in cotton wool, so that they can be 'Cherry Ripe' for the next year.

And on that logic, West Coast is tanking: Hansen, Masten, Hunter, Staker, Kennedy, Rosa, Wirrpanda and Rosa all put in cotton wool.

Do you all hate footy so much that you can't even enjoy a game once in a while? ....

...Give it a break. The umpiring was actually okay. Supporters are always biased, and almost all of West Coast's frees were there, and ours were not there. We won the game anyway, so why ruin it by whining about the umpiring or whether our opponents were trying.

Go dees!

No-one's saying we shouldn't enjoy the victory. My son, mother & brother-in-law all went along and enjoyed the win enormously.

That being said, no-one should ever accept that sort of umpiring performace ever again. It was worse than West Coasts performance! The Braun decision was by far the most ridiculous non-decision I have ever seen on a football field! You know the umpiring is poor when the home side, who won convincingly, give the umpires a razz on thier way off the ground. There is no way Jeff Geischan will accept that hopeless performance from the umpires. If you want proof, see how many of those umpires get any of the following 1) a game next week 2) a finals game 3) a contract next year.

If you think the umpires were okay, you're on more drugs than Ben Cousins! I haven't seen a crucifixion like that since the passion of the christ!

Were you even at the game Chook? The umpiring was unquestionably bad, not just in terms of the lopsided free kick count, but the decisions that weren't paid to both teams. They were inconsistent in their decisions as well.

And on that logic, West Coast is tanking: Hansen, Masten, Hunter, Staker, Kennedy, Rosa, Wirrpanda and Rosa all put in cotton wool.

I was there. And given I am in the minority regarding the quality of the umpiring, I'm not going to argue with you about it.

Regarding the other point; tanking, I believe any team that puts players in for early surgery is tanking to a degree, so yes, the Eagles were tanking in that regard. But I don't believe that the players on the field or the coaches in the box were trying not to win, which is what the cynics here are saying.

But I'll admit that I may just be hoping, for the sake of the game, that that's the case. I always try to believe that the umpires are doing a good job - at least as far as conforming to the legislation put down by the AFL. And I also hope that no team would ever try to take advantage of a drafting system designed to equalize the competition.

I was there. And given I am in the minority regarding the quality of the umpiring, I'm not going to argue with you about it.

Regarding the other point; tanking, I believe any team that puts players in for early surgery is tanking to a degree, so yes, the Eagles were tanking in that regard. But I don't believe that the players on the field or the coaches in the box were trying not to win, which is what the cynics here are saying.

But I'll admit that I may just be hoping, for the sake of the game, that that's the case. I always try to believe that the umpires are doing a good job - at least as far as conforming to the legislation put down by the AFL. And I also hope that no team would ever try to take advantage of a drafting system designed to equalize the competition.

I never though I'd encounter another person who had his head in the sand as much as AA! Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I never though I'd encounter another person who had his head in the sand as much as AA! Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

What, you mean he's not real? Then where to the presents come from?

I'm almost certain that tanking has never occurred on the field or in the coaches box.

Of course it has. It's easy to manipulate the game by playing particular match-ups, or 'experimenting' with tactics (as Peter Sumich admitted West Coast were doing yesterday).

Give it a break. The umpiring was actually okay. Supporters are always biased, and almost all of West Coast's frees were there, and ours were not there.

Supporters may be, but radio commentators on SEN(?) post-game said the umpiring was poor today.

The inconsistency of umpiring interpretations is a huge blight on the game.

Vlad and the yes men need to pay attention to getting it right. For the sake of players, coaches, fans and the umps themselves.

Of course it has. It's easy to manipulate the game by playing particular match-ups, or 'experimenting' with tactics (as Peter Sumich admitted West Coast were doing yesterday).

Supporters may be, but radio commentators on SEN(?) post-game said the umpiring was poor today.

But there's an ideological difference between tanking and what Sumich was talking about. It probably amounts to much the same thing - poor performance, but there is a difference. Being bad now in order to find out something about your players and gameplan is not the same as intentionally making it hard for your team to win so that you can pick up better draft picks.

Not really, I knew what to expect. Recruited another fan. And my 3 year old LOVES to go regardless of the result each week so it was a good day. Seeing people smile at my son as he's belting out the song a the top of his voice is worth it every time.

Yes knowing what was coming helped a bit. Garry Lyon's absolute certainty that Melb would win, on the footy show in the face of derision from Sam reminded me of what to expect. My wife & I actually started to find the West Coast play up forward humorous, which helped find some fun in an insipid day. I was sitting right in front of Worsfold, he seemed totally relaxed throughout the afternoon.

Glad your 3 year old is enjoying footy at the 'G, mine did and he's now 19 and Melbourne's most passionate supporter!

The absolute worst one was when Braun had the ball in one hand, got tackled, and threw it in the air. The umpire was DIRECTLY in front of him and didn't so much as move his arms.

Yeah I couldn't believe that, would love to hear that umpire's explanation. If he wasn't cheating, did he close his eyes for the whole passage, or his brain just go to sleep? Hard one to find any explanation for...

Do you all hate footy so much that you can't even enjoy a game once in a while?

We won the game anyway, so why ruin it by whining about the umpiring or whether our opponents were trying.

No we love it that much that travestys like Saturday aren't enjoyable. I have now sat through two games that were absolute jokes, MFC v. Carlton last year (total non-event, one side weren't trying; yes we won but as Jimmy Stynes said, imagine if Melbourne had also turned up that day determined to lose?) and now this one. You are obviously a decent Chook, but you can't tell me that you ever felt after quarter time that there was any risk that Melbourne would or could lose on Saturday?

With the way West Coast went about it, the result was an absolute certainty and that's why games like that aren't enjoyable even though we love football passionately.

Umpiring as biased as that (8 free kicks to 26) also ruins it for lovers of the game. Like others I was there and saw what the umpires did and didn't pay. But even if you weren't, a biased result like that (8 to 26) must alert that something is wrong. Either with how one side is playing (unfair footy) or with how the umpires are umpiring.

You tell me which it was.

I also hope that no team would ever try to take advantage of a drafting system designed to equalize the competition.

Carlton last year. As I said, you're a decent Chook and don't deserve to be too disillusioned. But they got Kreuzer and Judd as a result of "taking advantage of the drafting system" (aka tanking, deliberately losing) in the last game against Melbourne in 2007.

Chook, you and I can look forward to the last game against the Tigers at the 'G. They won't be tanking and so far, I have never witnessed any MFC side do it. We might be hopeless on occasions, but never tanked.

The absolute worst one was when Braun had the ball in one hand, got tackled, and threw it in the air. The umpire was DIRECTLY in front of him and didn't so much as move his arms.

I know. :angry: I almost broke my leg, kicking the seat in front of me. Thank god no one was sitting in it.

The inconsistency of umpiring interpretations is a huge blight on the game.

Vlad and the yes men need to pay attention to getting it right. For the sake of players, coaches, fans and the umps themselves.

But will they get it right? That is even more frustrating. :angry: