20 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

Article in The Age today about State of Origin. Victoria’s starting midfield - Gawn, Tracc, Oliver, and we kindly fitted in Bontempelli

Love that - a good opportunity for Bont to learn from the best in the business. 

24 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Another issue that has been bugging me is commentators piling on Fritsch after he was thumped in the chest with significant pressure, while looking the other way and not prepared for contact - surprise surprise he fell to the ground.

Calling him for staging.

Pizzes me off big time. Don't thump guys off the ball  and especially when they are not looking. Its a free every single time.

Not one commentator called them out on it.

It funny you should say that, i was gob smacked. 

I can't recall who it was, or whether was half time or post-match analysis, but it was fox. And as you say they accused Fritter of being a stager. Which is pretty harsh accusation given the implication of being a cheat. 

Then they showed the video, which to me showed the Pies player (murphy?) bumping Fritter pretty hard, and certainly when he wasn't expecting contact. As you say, absolutely a free very day of the week. 

Maybe it was Dunstall who then said blocks should be paid, but otherwise they all simply ignored what the video showed - Fritter did not stage for that that free. And so not did not retract their accusation of staging. 

Yet another example of media narrative not supported by evidence - in this case Fritter is a stager. 

That was such a stupid free to give away. Completely unnecessary.

I would have thought a much more relevant discussion for people supposedly analyzing the game would have been to question the discipline of the Pies or whether they were frustrated about the strategy to have Fritter shadow Moore and were trying to break that tag. 

40 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Another issue that has been bugging me is commentators piling on Fritsch after he was thumped in the chest with significant pressure, while looking the other way and not prepared for contact - surprise surprise he fell to the ground.

Calling him for staging.

Pizzes me off big time. Don't thump guys off the ball  and especially when they are not looking. Its a free every single time.

Not one commentator called them out on it.

Only one I’ve heard say anything about how dumb it was is David King. As he said, why? It’s 50 meters off the ball and we are one of the few sports that allow that sort of contact anywhere away from the ball.

I feel there is nothing we can do about it, but do we all feel comfortable about the ongoing perception of bias, which may actually come back to bite us badly, to the point of costing us, if we make it, a final by the narrowest of margins?

21 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I went to the Freo and Carlton games; we had issues turning turnover into quick forward movement that ended with a deep entry into the 50. It was stagnant or weirdly daring and not on same wavelength across players.

Goodwin bangs on every week about how we are not the finished product and who would be - footy seasons are marathons.

To that end; I have no idea why some are so offended by statements that we are not there yet with our connection. By definition of our dominant press last week - it had not been to that level this season - it is something that has improved.

I expect the forward line to get better with its movement and with our ability to deliver into the forward line with deep entries that will improve or goal kicking accuracy.

It is not ridiculous or ludicrous or whatever other adjective one may have - it’s footy. Either you IMPROVE over the season or you don’t - and last year we didn’t and got worked over amongst other issues.

It's a complex one. On the one hand, our forward connection is strong as we're able to generate a strong about of scoring shots and marks inside 50.

On the other hand, with a combination of fatigue and still learning the new turnover game, I think we're leaving 4 or 5 goals at least on the table each week, because every player is not quite instinctive or on the same wave length on our turnover game.

As I say, part of this is still learning the new tweaks to the ball movement and system, as well as experimenting with our line up (so there's still not complete continuity with role playing), but also because we're clearly fatiguing, as evidenced by our sudden plummeting scoring accuracy.

If we can hit our straps fitness wise, I think our forwards will be able to get back deeper earlier, which means when we do get those turnovers, we're not slowing our ball movement waiting for a forward to present or be free, and we're hitting targets closer to goal, which will improve accuracy.

6 minutes ago, binman said:

It funny you should say that, i was gob smacked. 

I can't recall who it was, or whether was half time or post-match analysis, but it was fox. And as you say they accused Fritter of being a stager. Which is pretty harsh accusation given the implication of being a cheat. 

Then they showed the video, which to me showed the Pies player (murphy?) bumping Fritter pretty hard, and certainly when he wasn't expecting contact. As you say, absolutely a free very day of the week. 

Maybe it was Dunstall who then said blocks should be paid, but otherwise they all simply ignored what the video showed - Fritter did not stage for that that free. And so not did not retract their accusation of staging. 

Yet another example of media narrative not supported by evidence - in this case Fritter is a stager. 

That was such a stupid free to give away. Completely unnecessary.

I would have thought a much more relevant discussion for people supposedly analyzing the game would have been to question the discipline of the Pies or whether they were frustrated about the strategy to have Fritter shadow Moore and were trying to break that tag. 

Have to watch this back, from memory it was at the Punt Rd end 2nd or 4th quarter?

On 6/15/2023 at 1:31 AM, Wodjathefirst said:

In 2021 it may sound strange,  but I feel our team had a fairy tale run of sorts. It appeared that they were not fazed by not having crowds attending games for a lot of the home and away games that season (due to Covid lockdowns etc). This did not seem to phase them. They were galvanised and on a mission. Got the minor premiership, can’t ask for much more.

Come finals time, particularly those held in Perth, they got the best rent a crowd support you could hope for. A significant majority of the football loving state adopted Melbourne as their team in the finals. The crowds were electric and loud! Make no mistake, that really lifted our boys untold. They certainly got the job done and did it with style. I was so proud.

2022 was such a struggle year on so many levels. Premiership hangover, the draw, being the hunted, injuries etc. In the scheme of things we did well but it wasn’t a great year if that makes sense. In my opinion although our crowd numbers were reasonable, for the most part lacked real passion. Lesser opposition crowds at times were louder than us! That’s how I saw it. 

This year we seem to be disregarded  as serious contenders by media, opposition fans. I get it, we lost a few close games and didn’t have too many big scalps. Such is.

That was until the Collingwood game. The boys lifted and our crowd got behind our lads (eg. cheering matching the boos Grundy received - I was so proud). Not only did our players step up, so did our supporters. I know it was a big crowd but it was different. Although we were outnumbered, our supporters stood up and showed real passion. I have no doubt our players would have noted this also.

I am optimistically thinking this is a turning point of sorts for the rest of the season and hopefully for many years to come.

I like it how the media are critical of us. I actually love feeling the hate other supporters from some clubs seem to have for us. The doggies, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Geelong supporters come to mind.  I hope there are others. Most people only seem to think that Collingwood, Brisbane and Port are the only serious contenders. We are disregarded by a lot of people.  Again, I love this. 

I hope the crowd reaction for the Collingwood game was not a one off. I want our mob to galvanise, I want us to feel as if it is us versus the world.  I want our passionate supporters to turn up and back in our boys for the rest of the season. Goody at his press conference pretty much said words to this effect. It is the least we can do to help our boys.

I am looking forward to see the ‘disregarded’ demons become the team that everyone fears. Same for our supporters. Rather than being ridiculed, I want people to be amazed at our size and more importantly our passion. 

For over half a century we by and large were on struggle street. It is time for us to morph into being a football powerhouse, players, support staff and supporter base. I want us to be feared, hated and respected all at the same time. 

Life is too short. I hope we smash Geelong next game, although a close win will do. GO DEES!
 

The big difference about 21 was a dream run re lack of injuries.

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

Only one I’ve heard say anything about how dumb it was is David King. As he said, why? It’s 50 meters off the ball and we are one of the few sports that allow that sort of contact anywhere away from the ball.

King was critical of Murphy, not Fritsch and said the free kick was there.  Dunstall concurred.

The diving comments initially came from Taylor on the Channel 7 telecast, supported by Watson. BT is so far past it that it's got beyond a joke. The day he's pensioned off will be a blessing for the entire footy community 

Edited June 16, 20231 yr by Go the Biff
sp

2 hours ago, binman said:

It funny you should say that, i was gob smacked. 

I can't recall who it was, or whether was half time or post-match analysis, but it was fox. And as you say they accused Fritter of being a stager. Which is pretty harsh accusation given the implication of being a cheat. 

Then they showed the video, which to me showed the Pies player (murphy?) bumping Fritter pretty hard, and certainly when he wasn't expecting contact. As you say, absolutely a free very day of the week. 

Maybe it was Dunstall who then said blocks should be paid, but otherwise they all simply ignored what the video showed - Fritter did not stage for that that free. And so not did not retract their accusation of staging. 

Yet another example of media narrative not supported by evidence - in this case Fritter is a stager. 

That was such a stupid free to give away. Completely unnecessary.

I would have thought a much more relevant discussion for people supposedly analyzing the game would have been to question the discipline of the Pies or whether they were frustrated about the strategy to have Fritter shadow Moore and were trying to break that tag. 

Brian (Damage)Taylor was very quick to label Fritter as a stager after the first replay (and his peanut gallery all concurred). They show the zoomed-in second replay which shows that there was definitely some force behind it, and it was met with a stony-silence. 

I wonder how many other professional sporting leagues around the world have as many hacks in the commentary box as the AFL does. 

Probably commissioned and 'in the can' before Monday, but good fun, and a nice reminder to continue that momentum, supporting our World Champeen Demon Army!  And the Boys, of course!

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1358380/pump-up-the-volume?videoId=1358380&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1686812220001

2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Brian (Damage)Taylor was very quick to label Fritter as a stager after the first replay (and his peanut gallery all concurred). They show the zoomed-in second replay which shows that there was definitely some force behind it, and it was met with a stony-silence. 

I wonder how many other professional sporting leagues around the world have as many hacks in the commentary box as the AFL does. 

It's not Taylor's fault he's a complete boofhead,he was probably born that way, but it remains a mystery how he gets a headline job in the commentary box.

Any job actually.

But if they paired him with Daisy Pearce every game  it could be a ratings commentary win. 

People would tune in just  to hear Daisy quietly correct his mistakes and complete lack of game vision 30 seconds after he's made them and the game has moved on a bit.

I suspect he's too stupid to  notice or he's too busy checking his " cheat sheet", but the rest of us notice as if it's up on the scoreboard in neon lights

16 hours ago, layzie said:

I've got a boombox.

Thats the kind of inside the box thinking we need.

 

When Collingwood missed those late shots May still continued to kick it to his usual spot even though he had players on short 

16 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

When Collingwood missed those late shots May still continued to kick it to his usual spot even though he had players on short 

I wonder what he was thinking.

what I mean is, I actually what he was thinking as he was surveying what was ahead of him and to come to the decision to kick to those spots. It’s be nice to make sense of, to help understand the decision making process. 

it’s easy to sling mud from the sidelines…

Edited June 16, 20231 yr by Engorged Onion

26 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

I wonder what he was thinking.

what I mean is, I actually what he was thinking as he was surveying what was ahead of him and to come to the decision to kick to those spots. It’s be nice to make sense of, to help understand the decision making process. 

it’s easy to sling mud from the sidelines…

Probably already planning his four days off of golf.

Post game Fox interview when asked what he was doing with his time off was literally responded with "golf, golf and more golf".

May have also been where his head was at when he dropped those two marks that were all but his to ice the game but fumbled them in the dying moments.

I am joking of course but if we somehow lost that one these would be big talking points. Funny how it all works.

Edited June 16, 20231 yr by Young Blood

On the fritter staging thing. I think most of the Fox footy panel post-game generally thought it was a hard enough hit, which it clearly was. Its also not something Bayley has a history of. Like Dunstall said it would be great to see another angle because I actually think it was a nasty hit to his upper body, blindsided and if the world were in some sort of order should deserve a fine along with the free kick.

Stupido.

6 hours ago, layzie said:

Have to watch this back, from memory it was at the Punt Rd end 2nd or 4th quarter?

2nd quarter. Definitely not staged. How can a player stage a result of something he didn’t see coming?! Ridiculous. 😤 

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

2nd quarter. Definitely not staged. How can a player stage a result of something he didn’t see coming?! Ridiculous. 😤 

I've watched it back, massive blunder by Ch 7, massive! How could they all get it so wrong?

Nice to see Mason Cox first on the scene the give Fritta stick when he missed, turning into a professional bin dipper our Mase.

Ridiculous to think Fritta staged that.

That's why channel 7 commentary team are [censored].

Just started to watch the replay- friday night just got interesting 💙❤️

35 minutes ago, layzie said:

Nice to see Mason Cox first on the scene the give Fritta stick when he missed, turning into a professional bin dipper our Mase.

A real class act right there.

After kicking his goal he ran past one of our players (Max? Tracc? I can’t remember) and laughed in his face. Real mature and ever gracious. [censored] dopey [censored]. 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Ridiculous to think Fritta staged that.

That's why channel 7 commentary team are [censored].

The fox crew got struck right into fritter at half time, or post match for supposedly staging.

I think it was Johnson who had the footage pulled up to make that accusation. 

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

A real class act right there.

After kicking his goal he ran past one of our players (Max? Tracc? I can’t remember) and laughed in his face. Real mature and ever gracious. [censored] dopey [censored]. 

He is one of the most unlikeable players going around in my books. 😡

1 hour ago, binman said:

The fox crew got struck right into fritter at half time, or post match for supposedly staging.

I think it was Johnson who had the footage pulled up to make that accusation. 

Johnson has it in for us every since 2021 Grand final.

I am also still dirty on him for stealing Russell Robertson's All Australian spot in 2005.

Edited June 16, 20231 yr by dazzledavey36

I was at the game and watched the replay (with the sound down) and I have absolutely no idea what people are talking about RE Fritsch diving or what have you.