It's a good point that players need to be protected.

As much as sniping etc lead to "hard" football in the older days, I don't think footy's ever been tougher than the modern game. Players are expected to go in so hard at every contest and they're getting continually hit by bigger bodies than ever before.

It's a good point that players need to be protected.

As much as sniping etc lead to "hard" football in the older days, I don't think footy's ever been tougher than the modern game. Players are expected to go in so hard at every contest and they're getting continually hit by bigger bodies than ever before.

Yes. They are expected to go in hard for 2 hours now. In the past players went in hard, but then waited on their patch for the next contest.

I dislike Geelong immensely (for some reason) and at first thought it was holding the ball - but after seeing a replay, Cyril clearly knocks the ball out and it therefore cannot be incorrect disposal (as much as I wanted it to be).

Don't agree. I just watched it again too, and I see Rioli grab his arm and drag it down, thus making the ball fall out. Either way, though, the umpire was behind, and can't have known he knocked the ball out if in fact he did, meaning all he saw was Duncan grab it, run, then get tackled. That is holding the ball, and it should have been paid (although I will say that I do like umpires putting the whistle away late in close games).

Hawthorn was also hurt by Sewell playing on. Hawthorn got a free kick for holding the ball after that, when Podsiadly was caught, but I'm convinced Sewell didn't hear the whistle; any decent footballer would have known to stop and take the kick and wind the clock down, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here and saying he didn't hear the whistle, and as a result, he kept going. It was hard on TV to hear the whistle.

Finally, the biggest issue of the lot was Puopolo going for goal of the year with 30 seconds left. They had 3 on 1, he should have done all he could to keep the ball in play and either bring it back to a teammate or straighten up. Or at least take it out of bounds to drain time. Going for a mid-air hack was just irresponsible.

Was just a great game. It was holding the ball, I don't care what the official rule is, he got tackled after plenty of time, and he didn't get rid of it. If it was just knocked out and there was no tackle - then I'd say play on.

But good - suck it Hawthorn.

Puopolo's decision was just ridiculous.

I once said Tom Hawkins would never be a very good player, he's now a very good player.

Would love to have a Mitchel or Selwood, let's go get Chappy though.

Would probably have been a different result with a 4qtr Hodge and Buddy, but gee Geelong are just an incredible team.

Could people please refrain from any criticism or animosity towards members of the media.

It might lead them to saying nasty things about our club in return.

Thank you.

chuckle, will tell at least one of them to their face when back in OZ, though instead of idiot I'll probably shirk and just say goose as Walls has been polite in person...but for sure a goose.