Booing the players off

[waikikkamukau 62]

What I saw tonight, in many ways, was a disgrace.

On-field I think this club died after we knifed James McDonald - but that's for another thread.

I sit near the race each week and what I saw after the game left a sour taste. Ignoring the degenerate Essendon fans come to our race to give our players/supporters grief was shocking - but I was far from enamoured with the behaviour of Dees fans.

Last week the booing was, I feel, an instinctual reaction to a terrible performance. What I saw tonight was macho rubbish - men wanting to big note themselves to their mates, to show off and laugh at how they could slag the players off of the ground.

This, for mine, is very dangerous territory.

Tonight was absolutely disgusting, I feel the lowest I've felt as a fan, but that heckling, booing and rubbishing of the players shouldn't be part of our club in my opinion. It achieves nothing and is not what sport is about.

I think there will be two camps;

1) I pay my money and can act as I please

2) you should never boo your team off

What I despise is the premeditated nature of it - the tribalistic show-off nature of it. Regardless, I think it's an important conversation for fans to have.

Agree for the most part, however moving Junior on was simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The brains trust that thought it was a good idea to do the "best thing" by the Melbourne Football Club have a lot to answer for! Why should we be surprised though MFC have a rich history in f#%king things up at board level.

[waikikkamukau 62]

Pretty sure it would have been bombers fans cheering off jack watts

It was, they are absolute turds!

[hardtack 10,186]

Last week the booing was, I feel, an instinctual reaction to a terrible performance. What I saw tonight was macho rubbish - men wanting to big note themselves to their mates, to show off and laugh at how they could slag the players off of the ground.

I don't know if it happened this week, but I heard it mentioned in last night's game coverage that Dees supporters were not only booing and shouting abuse at the players as they entered the race, but were also spitting on them! I was always under the impression that this one precisely one of the reasons so many despised the Essendon and Richmond ferals...

It is bad enough that we have sunk so low as a team, but to sink so low as supporters is plain heartbreaking!

[stuie 7,374]

We (MFC) deserve WHATEVER gets served at us.

Simple as that.

[Thehardtackler 785]

It's not going to get any better soon! Colin Sylvia does not want to be at the club., I spoke to him yesterday at training and he is totally disinterested. Jack Watts appeared far too comfortable and needs some serious tough love. Nathan Jones and Mitch Clark looked completely depressed to me and I can't see us improving any time soon without these players mentally fit and firing, so more boos will come and the players and the coaches may as well prepare themselves for it! These are all observations from Friday training.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Thehardtackler

[biggestred 4,402]

I don't know if it happened this week, but I heard it mentioned in last night's game coverage that Dees supporters were not only booing and shouting abuse at the players as they entered the race, but were also spitting on them! I was always under the impression that this one precisely one of the reasons so many despised the Essendon and Richmond ferals...It is bad enough that we have sunk so low as a team, but to sink so low as supporters is plain heartbreaking!

They WERE essendon ferals.

[deanbarber 37]

i am against booing for one;

but may i ask - Have you ever booed off the umpires?

Obviously the umpires are not employed by OUR club, but they still try to the best of their ability (hard to believe sometimes), but believe it or not, they do. And although supporters are infinitely more passionate towards their club and players than the umps, but its the same principle...

so let me ask the ones above, and inevitably future posters below, have you ever booed an ump? if so, whats the difference.

* not starting an argument, I'm just curious.

[rjay 24,100]

i am against booing for one;

but may i ask - Have you ever booed off the umpires?

Obviously the umpires are not employed by OUR club, but they still try to the best of their ability (hard to believe sometimes), but believe it or not, they do. And although supporters are infinitely more passionate towards their club and players than the umps, but its the same principle...

so let me ask the ones above, and inevitably future posters below, have you ever booed an ump? if so, whats the difference.

* not starting an argument, I'm just curious.

No it's not, it's part of the culture of footy to boo the umpires.

[The heart beats true 16,552]

I booed the players last week (the first time in my 30 years as a member), and I was genuinely amazed at the consensus from all Melbourne supporters as to how bad the performance was against Port. The news media ran that footage of the players leaving the ground all week to the disgust of loyal supporters because that was the story - it felt like a betrayal of trust.

This week was entirely different. You saw a swarm of pathetic, sad men cluster around our race in the hope that their would be blood (and in that moment their ugly heads would be in TV). It was like Neanderthals gathering to stone one of their own.

I watched the players leave the ground surrounded by hatred and as that happened I realised that I would never not support this club. I love the Melbourne Football Club and one day when we gain back our pride, confidence and competitive culture I will literally weep at the transformative power of sport.

I'm calling the club on Monday to offer mine and my businesses support in anyway I can.

[Choko 493]

I booed the players last week (the first time in my 30 years as a member), and I was genuinely amazed at the consensus from all Melbourne supporters as to how bad the performance was against Port. The news media ran that footage of the players leaving the ground all week to the disgust of loyal supporters because that was the story - it felt like a betrayal of trust.

This week was entirely different. You saw a swarm of pathetic, sad men cluster around our race in the hope that their would be blood (and in that moment their ugly heads would be in TV). It was like Neanderthals gathering to stone one of their own.

I watched the players leave the ground surrounded by hatred and as that happened I realised that I would never not support this club. I love the Melbourne Football Club and one day when we gain back our pride, confidence and competitive culture I will literally weep at the transformative power of sport.

I'm calling the club on Monday to offer mine and my businesses support in anyway I can.

GREAT post.

Last week I booed for the first time in my life. And I have to say, I blame my family, because they wouldn't let me leave for the first time in my life, which meant my only option was to boo. Last week we played an average side in round one, and we did not try enough.

This week we are a shell of a team, and sadly in some respects, we tried. I will not boo them when they try.

[Choko 493]

As for Jack Watts, he deserved what he got. Zero sympathy from me. That incident on the half back line where he could have and should have heavily bumped his Essendon opponent, but chose not to, then should have tackled but didn't come close to holding it, spoke volumes about the softness of Watts' mental application. All this in the week after he lamented a lack of on-field leadership. The guy is a pea-hearted footballer, and just so disappointing. He is in year 5.

[ThreeOneSix 953]

I don't know what supporters expect booing our players to achieve.

It's hardly going to make Toumpas, Hogan, Viney look at that and be inspired to be playing.

The pressure on these kids is already massive.

As for everyone comments on Jack Watts, I totally agree, absolutely insipid performance by Watts.

Usually Watts is unfairly targeted by negative comments, but we can't defend him anymore.

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

I don't know what supporters expect booing our players to achieve.

It's hardly going to make Toumpas, Hogan, Viney look at that and be inspired to be playing.

The pressure on these kids is already massive.

As for everyone comments on Jack Watts, I totally agree, absolutely insipid performance by Watts.

Usually Watts is unfairly targeted by negative comments, but we can't defend him anymore.

Where is Ben Hur to tell us all " i told you so" ? his silence is Deafening

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. A genuine, passionate and off the cuff response from Demon faithful like last week I can handle, but not these wankers who are more interested in getting their mug on telly. Well guess what, you all looked like absolute fuckwits. Some of them thought it was funny and had big grins on their face as they did it FFS, and I am pretty sure not even all of them were Melbourne supporters. You can all give yourself a very well earned uppercut.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Forest Demon

[mjt 640]

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. A genuine, passionate and off the cuff response from Demon faithful like last week I can handle, but not these wankers who are more interested in getting their mug on telly. Well guess what, you all looked like absolute fuckwits. Some of them thought it was funny and had big grins on their face as they did it FFS, and I am pretty sure not even all of them were Melbourne supporters. You can all give yourself a very well earned uppercut.

Most of them were peptide supporters, lets see whos grinning at the end of the season.

[Arrow 1,257]

Worse was it was made aware Jack's grandfather I believe died last Sunday before the game, and this week they wore black armbands for that reason. MFC didn't tell the reason behind it because they didn't want to have Jack have to face the questions about whether his game was off because of it etc etc.

Than to be boo'ed of by your own supporters on the night where you've tried to pay respects to your grandfather would really be a dagger in his heart.

I thought the effort was insipid but you draw a line.. I actually think booing the collective isn't too bad, but when you boo a player coming to the bench or slap when they've been subbed off... How can you be angry when players leave our club.. i would too.

[Deecisive 1,665]

i think a lot of people watching that game no matter who they supported would have booed the dees off for that performance. Its one of the few ways supporters can let the club and players know how they feel about their performance. If they want the applause then they need to take the jeers as well.

[Undeeterred 2,896]

Worse was it was made aware Jack's grandfather I believe died last Sunday before the game, and this week they wore black armbands for that reason. MFC didn't tell the reason behind it because they didn't want to have Jack have to face the questions about whether his game was off because of it etc etc.

Than to be boo'ed of by your own supporters on the night where you've tried to pay respects to your grandfather would really be a dagger in his heart.

I thought the effort was insipid but you draw a line.. I actually think booing the collective isn't too bad, but when you boo a player coming to the bench or slap when they've been subbed off... How can you be angry when players leave our club.. i would too.

We forget sometimes that the players are people too... When you're going to boo them, remember that a lot of them are 20odd year old kids having a crack. It is humiliating enough getting smashed every week, without being booed on national TV into the bargain.

What on earth does that acheive except making them feel worse about it all?

[Scipio 5,901]

No it's not, it's part of the culture of footy to boo the umpires.

As sad as it is, that is absolutely true.

[low flying Robbo 979]

Immediately after that incident, Watts was hobbling for a minute or two. I know he didn't have a great night, but I'm not 100 per cent convinced he wasn't subbed because of injury.

one of the doctors came over to him straight away and gestured for a sub to the bench almost immediately

[Scipio 5,901]

Neeld stated that he came off due to illness, not injury.

[GrandOld 367]

Booing? He'll I wouldn't blame a supporter if they had have hanged their ass over the race and taken a dump!!!

[dee-luded 2,958]

What I saw tonight, in many ways, was a disgrace.

On-field I think this club died after we knifed James McDonald - but that's for another thread.

I sit near the race each week and what I saw after the game left a sour taste. Ignoring the degenerate Essendon fans come to our race to give our players/supporters grief was shocking - but I was far from enamoured with the behaviour of Dees fans.

Last week the booing was, I feel, an instinctual reaction to a terrible performance. What I saw tonight was macho rubbish - men wanting to big note themselves to their mates, to show off and laugh at how they could slag the players off of the ground.

This, for mine, is very dangerous territory.

Tonight was absolutely disgusting, I feel the lowest I've felt as a fan, but that heckling, booing and rubbishing of the players shouldn't be part of our club in my opinion. It achieves nothing and is not what sport is about.

I think there will be two camps;

1) I pay my money and can act as I please

2) you should never boo your team off

What I despise is the premeditated nature of it - the tribalistic show-off nature of it. Regardless, I think it's an important conversation for fans to have.

I agree...

I applaud the people last week for letting thier feelings out, & if booing is in order, then that is fine... BUT, to go over to the race & slag off at the players in their faces is just not on.

People, if your unhappy its healthy to show it & let it be known. And this can be a motivating factor for the players, & the club to improve.

But to get over to the race & act like animals is petulant & is not respectful..........

to Boo from the heart is Honesty... & being engaged.

to hover over the cage & belittle at a personal level is cowardly.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Agree for the most part, however moving Junior on was simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The brains trust that thought it was a good idea to do the "best thing" by the Melbourne Football Club have a lot to answer for! Why should we be surprised though MFC have a rich history in f#%king things up at board level.

No, he was our only Honest player on the list, & the one true leader. our heart & soul team man was was Full of courage.

[jnrmac 19,401]

Sad to see and hear. On ABC the commentators were at odds to whether Neeld should have just moved him rather than embarrass him like he did. He certainly wasnt the worse on the field.

He was the worst on the field. Because he didn't try. Gillies was possibly worse but he tried - he is just no good.

And Neeld did move Watts from defence to attack. To man up on Fletcher. Sadly his attack on the footy was non-existent and jogged around all night looking totally lost.

Will be the last game he plays for us for at least 5 weeks. And i would be bothered if he never played again.