‘We’ve got a special bond’: Hibberd playing for the Essendon 34 - and his brother

[daisycutter 28,590]

Just now, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Do you think it would distract the players? I wouldn't have thought so.

i hope not, but i have no idea. i hope the players are sensibly rationing their exposure to the media anyway

i just hope the media don't run with this story. and make a big thing of it......

[sue 8,448]

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

You are quite correct that my comparisons were not of equal merit. But if the boot had been on the other foot and we'd been the club caught up in an ASADA scandal, I would have liked any ex-Demon from that era to continue to feel a bond with his former team mates. And i would be even prouder of him for saying it publicly.

Well at least it might get a few Bombers fans at the match to barrack for Melbourne.

[Willmoy1947 3,790]

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

we-ve-got-a-special-bond-hibberd-playing-for-the-essendon-34-and-his-brother

It is wonderful that if Hibberd plays and wins a premiership medal that he dedicates it to his brother.

But I can't abide that he is representing the 34 WADA suspended Essendon players.  They were found guilty by the highest court in the world.  It is beyond crass and disrespectful to invoke those players in our premiership campaign.

“I guess I represent those guys. I do. I feel like I represent all those guys over all the years. We’ve got a special bond, whether we contact each other frequently or not, I think it’s a bond I’ll have with those guys forever.”

I get that he has a special bond with them but why invoke them now!! 

I would rather he talked about representing Melbourne supporters, getting a flag for us, creating our history, playing for his teammates etc

I have an ugly lump in my throat.  We remember the ambush and thuggery of 2020.  He needs to learn something of our history and should know how galling that interview is for Demon fans.

There may some on here that have forgiven.  I haven't. 

I hope he doesn't play in the GF.  His jumper colours are red and blue but based on that article it sounds like his heart beats for the red and black.

I,  like most normal sports lovers haven't forgotten, but in saying that on an individual basis suggest he is in a position to dedicate this life changing event to whoever he wants to.

Again the different angle is the furtive byline here, and as one dedicates, then Jake I want to know who the other 39 odd dedicate to, like their politic/religion, their Jehovah's  Witness, their shooters and fishers party, and so on and why?

[Sir Why You Little 34,594]

I am not feeling well reading that….

Essendrug Players were twice their size in early 2012

No Sympathy from I

[rpfc 27,504]

1 hour ago, binman said:. 

And why on earth would you say the the Essendon fans are not victims? They are the only victims. 

Have you met many Essendon fans?

Glibs aside, IDGAF about that episode in another clubs experience. 

My point boils down to we aren’t in a position to deny Hibberd’s lived experience and what his reaction would be to his suceess Saturday week.

rp out

[Fritta and Turner 3,710]

Must admit I felt that it was an odd story to lead with for a fringe player, perhaps the balance has been edited out.

My solicitor advised me not to burden any male with responsibility and by association the need for clear, concise decision making until they are well north of 25 years of age.  Many of those at Essendon were lambs to the slaughter, relying on the direction of club leadership.  And the saga would have been traumatic.  And he has now lost his brother in a tragic accident.

I just hope that these incidents motivate him to second and third efforts - in the words of Allan Jeans 'Just make sure you get a kick, son'.

 

[spirit of norm smith 12,984]

Hibberd has had to battle through getting picked up the Dons out of the VFL, then the drugs scandal , then the loss of his brother.  He’s a strong character to get through adversity.  Hoping he gets to enjoy the ultimate and share in a Demons premiership.  

[Stretch Johnson 2,582]

If Pig wants to dedicate his grand final win to his fiance, a goat named Steve then go for it.

Edited September 18, 2021 by Stretch Johnson

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

On 9/17/2021 at 7:07 AM, Lucifer's Hero said:

we-ve-got-a-special-bond-hibberd-playing-for-the-essendon-34-and-his-brother

It is wonderful that if Hibberd plays and wins a premiership medal that he dedicates it to his brother.

But I can't abide that he is representing the 34 WADA suspended Essendon players.  They were found guilty by the highest court in the world.  It is beyond crass and disrespectful to invoke those players in our premiership campaign.

“I guess I represent those guys. I do. I feel like I represent all those guys over all the years. We’ve got a special bond, whether we contact each other frequently or not, I think it’s a bond I’ll have with those guys forever.”

I get that he has a special bond with them but why invoke them now!! 

I would rather he talked about representing Melbourne supporters, getting a flag for us, creating our history, playing for his teammates etc

I have an ugly lump in my throat.  We remember the ambush and thuggery of 2020.  He needs to learn something of our history and should know how galling that interview is for Demon fans.

There may some on here that have forgiven.  I haven't. 

I hope he doesn't play in the GF.  His jumper colours are red and blue but based on that article it sounds like his heart beats for the red and black.

I totally understand what you're saying but he has every right to feel the way he does and to express it.

The last part of your comment is full on - it's not the club (Essendon) he's talking about. In fact, the club is the villain in that story. They are other humans/friends that he feels he's representing - important people in his life who he shared a trauma with.

As a football community, it does seem as though we ask players to be 'real', then when these moments take place, we're desperate for them to stick to the script. They genuinely can't win.

Edited September 18, 2021 by Cheesy D. Pun

[Nasher 33,068]

Hibberd isn’t the most polished media performer. He was asked a question about his previous teammates and so he answered.

Whether the Essendon players were “victims” or not is beside the point. It’s surely beyond doubt that it would have been by far the most difficult and stressful period of Hibberd’s career. An experience that none of his current MFC teammates (other than Melksham) can relate to. We’ve been crapping on all week about how only MFC supporters understand how other MFC supporters feel. The same will be true for the Essendon 34. Irrespective of whether they invited problem themselves or if they were completely unwitting “victims”, it was a period of great stress they endured together. Of course there will be a tight bond amongst them.

Hoping he now doesn’t play because he dared to mention a bond with players who aren’t Melbourne ones, when asked about it by an experienced journalist, is just jealous, spiteful and nasty. He’s one of ours. Don’t dump him because he has love for more than just us. 

And claims that the EFC supporters are the victims, please. I don’t see myself as a victim of the bucket of pus the MFC delivered 08-13 and that’s absolutely no different. The EFC fans saw the effects of a woefully incompetent administration and their team sucked for a few years as a consequence. Boo farking hoo. Their lives and livelihoods and reputations weren’t soiled in the same way the players were. They had zero sympathy for us and as far as I’m concerned, the feeling is mutual. I don’t want any anyway.

[picket fence 15,246]

What a time to bring this up..... WTF Has lost me totally bringing up Essendrug at a time when the whole world ( except for Doggies players ) are going gangbusters for Dees. Should not play just on his comments IMV!

[hardtack 10,127]

7 minutes ago, picket fence said:

What a time to bring this up..... WTF Has lost me totally bringing up Essendrug at a time when the whole world ( except for Doggies players ) are going gangbusters for Dees. Should not play just on his comments IMV!

Ridiculous… surely you must understand how the media works. He has most likely been fed a line of questioning relating to the Essendon 34 and unwittingly answered “yes”, giving the ‘journo’ a byline and theme for the resultant article.

[picket fence 15,246]

11 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Ridiculous… surely you must understand how the media works. He has most likely been fed a line of questioning relating to the Essendon 34 and unwittingly answered “yes”, giving the ‘journo’ a byline and theme for the resultant article.

That might be true but.. he should just have said NO COMMENT I'm a Dee now and left it at that!

[Biffen 12,342]

he can say what he wants .Goodwin cannot.

Hibberd's no walk up start.

I'd only select him if Hunt was not fit.

With an eye to the future.