Actually not - I was disappointed with Watts comments on losing and put it down to a dumb thing for a 20 year old to say.A footballer has to move on from a defeat to prepare for the next week but I believe that a footballers makeup must contain a healthy dose of a love for winning with also an equal loathing of losing.

I'm in two minds regarding displays of emotion after the siren has gone and what it all means.

I am of singular mind when I say I want our boys hating to lose a single contest, quarter or game. I am not convinced that all our boys do.

Well said Mr. Bean, i agree.

Wish i had kept that Watts newpaper article about losing. I knew at the time it would leave a stain.

an isolated incident or even a number of isolated incidents over the continuous passage of any game can be taken out of context.

We are unlikely to know what is the reality of the individuals or the team.

Coverage of any beaten team in the rooms is restricted and is certainly different to the scenes in the winners ANY TEAMS

I am sure that no Melb player enjoys defeat but the reality is they must accept it and strive not to endure it again

If they have done everything they can to avoid the defeat and are spent at the end of the contest it may even be time for a wry smile with your opponent and prepare for the next contest

Not sure where Im going with this like others a little bit each way

It seems just another way for the press to dump on MELB

WINNING IS THE ONLY RESPONSE.

Sometimes during a 2 hour match something funny will be said, that incident could even be mischieviously replayed out of context. Players will no doubt encounter opposition players that they have shared experiences with on international rules or U18 and it's reasonable to expect some exchange of pleasantries even after a thumping. But IMO these are the only acceptable circumstances. When a player is playing for or watching Melbourne or Casey he is on the job. I hope the club will identify players who don't understand this and re-educate or eliminate them.

Sometimes during a 2 hour match something funny will be said, that incident could even be mischieviously replayed out of context. Players will no doubt encounter opposition players that they have shared experiences with on international rules or U18 and it's reasonable to expect some exchange of pleasantries even after a thumping. But IMO these are the only acceptable circumstances. When a player is playing for or watching Melbourne or Casey he is on the job. I hope the club will identify players who don't understand this and re-educate or eliminate them.

I've been known to get soundly beaten, then hear a snide remark from the opposition that causes me to smirk and even sometimes get involved in a bit of light verbal.

It's more a sign of fight than anything - you may have won this round, but we'll come at you harder next chance we get, and this will change.

I don't necessarily say that, but it's what I'm thinking.

There's something in there that amuses me, that an opponent thinks they've got my number in perpetuity.

The alternative is the stony faced dropping of your head - to me that's a sign of resignation to defeat, and that you're at a loss to explain the result, or you're helpless to change it.

It looks like you're bereft of hope, and you don't want the opposition to see that.

I subscribe to the "never let them see you hurt" mindset.

And I'd be crucified by supporters and the media, because they'd misinterpret my mindset.

* If I was in any way, shape or form good enough to play AFL. Which I'm certainly not.

Edited May 16, 201213 yr by José Mourinho

Yeah but there's a difference between a wry smirk and giggling like a private schoolgirl.

If the Hawks had have lost to us on Friday night do you think they would have been on the ground ahaving a chat and agiggle after the game?

If the Hawks had have lost to us on Friday night do you think they would have been on the ground ahaving a chat and agiggle after the game?

They would have gone through the motions of required etiquette but their heads and shoulders would have been lowered. Not too many smiles. Even normally puffed up self postulator Dermott Brereton would have been visibly deflated. Pretending it doesn't hurt means your ain't hurt enough to really feel it. Or just a weak ego afraid to admit it.

Edited May 16, 201213 yr by Jackie

I don't agree that it's a huge problem, but it isn't a good look considering the situation we're in. I think it's nice in a way though because players of different teams must know each other and I like the idea of being enemies during play and then acknowledging each other after the siren and having a chat. The problem is we aren't getting absolutely demolished but we aren't losing really close games, so I'm guessing the players aren't too distraught and are just getting used to these medium losses. We need pride as a football club though, we need to show that we are 100% in it for winning. No strings attatched.

When your club is presently the laughing stock of the AFL it's terribly stupid to act as though you're not emotionally invested in the result. Rightly, or wrongly, the perception is that the current plight doesn't hurt enough.

It's not a hanging offence and when young guys are in a group you can easily understand how it happens, but I doubt you'll see that type of behavior for the remainder of the year.

If the Hawks had have lost to us on Friday night do you think they would have been on the ground ahaving a chat and agiggle after the game?

Hell would freeze over before that happened

When your club is presently the laughing stock of the AFL it's terribly stupid to act as though you're not emotionally invested in the result. Rightly, or wrongly, the perception is that the current plight doesn't hurt enough.

Exactly, at least be smart enough not to throw petrol on the fire.

I subscribe to the "never let them see you hurt" mindset.

And I'd be crucified by supporters and the media, because they'd misinterpret my mindset.

Hose, you should change your tag to "LinDee" then.......................

Anyone that hadn't put in 100% shouldn't be happily chatting.

Those that did can do what they like. They could not have done more.

So much is about preception - who wasn't impressed with Jobe Watson on hands and knees throwing up green gatoraid in the middle of the gorund after busting a gut ?