If anyone has some footage of the game handy I invite you to look at this.

It's early in the last quarter, Bell lays an illegal shepherd on Brogan and knocks him down. A few minutes later they pan back to these two players -- Brogan is towering over Bell ranting an raving, shaking his fists and pointing his finger, Belly looks like a school boy desperately trying to talk his way out of being beaten up by a school bully.

If ever there was a need for a hard bodied senior player to go and stand up to an opposition player then this was it, instead Bell was left out to dry. Very disappointing.

why? Bell should have been smart enough to smile at Brogan who then would have given a free kick away.

Bell has a mean streak that i like. He needs to back up a cheap shot himself. Flying the flag is overrated unless your jonathon brown.

Bell has a mean streak that i like. He needs to back up a cheap shot himself. Flying the flag is overrated unless your jonathon brown.

He didn't look mean, he looked like he was about to piss himself. Take a look at the footage if you can.

I remember the incident... was on the far side and Michaela Wilson took a dive and received a free kick...

dean brogan, of the infamous supporter punch, then came in and remonstrated with Bell who explained what happened...

not sure that belly had to explain his actions to this thug!!

I saw it.

I thought Bell coat hangered another player and Brogan was flying the flag for his team.

I also thought that Bell shouldnt have been trying to convince Brogan that he was innocent, which he was.

But who did you think was going to go up against Bogan? White? No! I know.... Wheatley.

He didn't look mean, he looked like he was about to [censored] himself. Take a look at the footage if you can.

yes he did. brogan made him look like a bit of a girl. brogan has a few screws loose and he is a big unit. I dont know what bell could have done for a split second i think brogan lost control. bells reaction actually stopped him from cutting him in half.

oh for the day when Melbourne is full of footballers, who fly the flag, shepherd opponents and protect our ball carriers, be prepared to fight the fight.

you mention the word shepherd and protect ball carriers - do we not do this?

how many times this year has this occurred??

we just do not do the things that good teams do!!

Please, we hang Davey out to dry when he remonstrates with the opposition and gets suspended, but Belly is weak for not getting sucked in by Brogan?

It seemed to me like Brogan wanted to start something, but Bell was too smart to take the bait and give away a 50m penalty.

I don't think he was apologizing for what he did, or pleading his innocence, he was probably just letting Brogan have his rant and get over it.

It was the mature thing to do, and does not at all reflect badly on him or the team.

Better him walking away, than costing us a goal.

If he was coming in to help protect his own teammate, it would be a different story.

Please, we hang Davey out to dry when he remonstrates with the opposition and gets suspended, but Belly is weak for not getting sucked in by Brogan?

Er what? Who said that?

I'm not suggesting anyone whack the bloke which is what Davey did, which was dumb, but at least let the opposition know that we won't be physically intimidated. Allowing yourselves to be pushed around is a quick route to regular thumpings.

My point was -- which seems to have been completely missed -- was that he needed some backup against a raging moronic bogan giant, and didn't get any. I found that to be disappointing.

It seemed to me like Brogan wanted to start something, but Bell was too smart to take the bait and give away a 50m penalty.

I don't think he was apologizing for what he did, or pleading his innocence, he was probably just letting Brogan have his rant and get over it.

Watch it again.

Er what? Who said that?

My point was -- which seems to have been completely missed -- was that he needed some backup against a raging moronic bogan giant, and didn't get any. I found that to be disappointing.

Wasn't refering to what you said specifically, but the implication in some other posts is that he is weak for not standing up to him.

Again, no point in having a whole pack of players come in and start a fight over a simple incident and give away free kicks, or get suspended, or get fined. It achieves nothing, especially when you're getting spanked on the scoreboard.

I rather see senior players encouraging their own young teammates, than starting fights. Last week it took nearly half a quarter before anyone approached Frawley and told him to keep his head up. That to me is more concerning and more disappointing.

Belly's sheppard was illegal, what exactly would they be fighting about?

P.S.- What does 'he look like he's about to [censored] himself' imply?

Again, no point in having a whole pack of players come in and start a fight over a simple incident and give away free kicks, or get suspended, or get fined. It achieves nothing, especially when you're getting spanked on the scoreboard.

I'll have to agree to disagree there, I think. It does count for plenty. If a team thinks they can push you around and physically intimidate you then they get a psychological edge. It's no coincidence that in grass roots footy you often see the sides that are most successful are the sides with the highest proportion of thugs in their side.

It's all well and good to say "just be a bigger man and walk away" but in a game where psychology and confidence play such a vital role I think there's a lot to be gained by standing up for yourself when you're put under physical stress by the opposition.

If anyone has some footage of the game handy I invite you to look at this.

It's early in the last quarter, Bell lays an illegal shepherd on Brogan and knocks him down. A few minutes later they pan back to these two players -- Brogan is towering over Bell ranting an raving, shaking his fists and pointing his finger, Belly looks like a school boy desperately trying to talk his way out of being beaten up by a school bully.

If ever there was a need for a hard bodied senior player to go and stand up to an opposition player then this was it, instead Bell was left out to dry. Very disappointing.

Mountains out of molehills. There was very little in that incident from Bell or Brogan. Over in about 10 seconds.

By the way, great acting by the other player involved.

I saw this incident and I was pretty disappointed in Melbourne that no one came in to help Belly condsidering he was giving away about 5 feet. I know there is a fine line between standing up for yourself and giving away free kicks Belly seemed out of his league there.

When it is in the backline Belly is always the first in the help someone out as you can see during the game when Fergy got a hip and shoulder after the ball was out of bounds, Bell was there in three seconds flat to hold the flag up high.

Saw it and made a comment about it on the game thread. Disappointing that A there was no team mate there to back him up and B for Bell not showing a little intestinal fortitude.

In other parts of the game Bell was one of the few to fire up and get aggressive, I just think he chooses his battles a little smarter than other guys playing..

I'll have to agree to disagree there, I think. It does count for plenty. If a team thinks they can push you around and physically intimidate you then they get a psychological edge. It's no coincidence that in grass roots footy you often see the sides that are most successful are the sides with the highest proportion of thugs in their side.

It's all well and good to say "just be a bigger man and walk away" but in a game where psychology and confidence play such a vital role I think there's a lot to be gained by standing up for yourself when you're put under physical stress by the opposition.

Nasher has a point although his facts are a little astray.

Bell shouldn't have tried to explain anything to Brogan he should have told him to F#*& Off & some other Melbourne players should have gone in to support him but without Carroll the other defenders are an insipid lot.

A smart player would've probably sucked Brogan in & got him to retaliate & scored a free kick.

Bell was clearly trying to explain to him that he did it by accident, as if to say please don't touch me - it was a bad look and made him look like a squib unfortunately

bell was on the angry pills all game, and the one time it looked like he'd get really fired up, he backed down. i was more perplexed/intrgued by this than anything else, i don't think it reveals much. though i'd prefer a few demons guys around bell just to show unity

I'll have to agree to disagree there, I think. It does count for plenty. If a team thinks they can push you around and physically intimidate you then they get a psychological edge. It's no coincidence that in grass roots footy you often see the sides that are most successful are the sides with the highest proportion of thugs in their side.

It's all well and good to say "just be a bigger man and walk away" but in a game where psychology and confidence play such a vital role I think there's a lot to be gained by standing up for yourself when you're put under physical stress by the opposition.

Prime example of this is the essenscum team GF 2000.

Bell was an absolute disgrace. He should have told Brogan to get [censored] and if Brogan wanted to go on with it then Bell should have taken a dive to try and get a free kick. It's what Wilson done.Bell is the normal Melbourne player he is strong and quick but his lack of aggression is amazing. People will say that we haven't got strong enough bodies which is half true but what is the use of having strong players when they are as aggressive as Jamar, P.Johnson and Bell ?

I think what was more of a disgrace was when the country bumpkin Riley was laughing and joking at 3\4 time when we were 15 goals down. How can a coach do that ? Get rid of him now before he ruins our chances of getting the best coach available. He keeps on saying that it is not about Riley then why is he allowing Neitz and Robertson to hobble around the ground like old men when the season is over ? He keeps on saying that we are playing young kids then why is he playing Neitz, Robertson, Ferguson, Holland, Ward and Brown in front of Dunn, Jamar, P.Johnson, C.Johnson, Garland and Warnock ?

Yeah, Bell lacks aggression

FFS, have we really run out of things to talk about, we're resorting to discussing a 15 second incident that is completely irrelevant?

FFS, have we really run out of things to talk about, we're resorting to discussing a 15 second incident that is completely irrelevant?

Better than re-hashing the merits of some assistant coaches, based on what they look like and how well they played footy, because a newspaper article quotes one of their mates as saying they're 'ready to step up'

To anyone interested in seeing the incident again I beleive the game is being replayed on fox sports 1, today @ 3:30pm

Anyone remember which quarter it was in?

To anyone interested in seeing the incident again I beleive the game is being replayed on fox sports 1, today @ 3:30pm

Anyone remember which quarter it was in?

Last quarter.