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Salem has been given a week for his elbow. Cunnington predictably got a $1000 fine for intentionally punching someone on the field. The MRP are a joke! How Salem can get the same as Thompson is beyond me. Update. Higgins also got $1000 for striking Clarry. Both Higgins and Cuntington were deemed intentional with low impact. Higgins got off completely for hitting Vince. The protection of that puss bag of a club continues. I hope we smash them in Hobart later in the year, don't care if the whole team ends up suspended just pummel the twerps into the ground.

Utter garbage. What Salem needed to do was grab a handful or his jumper, then beat him to death with an iron bar.

I reckon Goody needs to come out and say that Sunday's game demonstrated the need for the club to take action to protect our younger players from the sort of treatment they were on the end of during that game. Perhaps he could say that our insurer has told us that it's part of our duty of care to our players to do everything within our power to prevent the same thing - or worse - happening in future (if this isn't true, it really should be). He could say that the spite in the game was initiated early on by a 19-year-old player getting throat punched off the ball by a senior player, who was not penalised for doing so. He could say that, unless we take steps now to ensure that this type of thing is sanctioned, we can't guarantee that our players will be protected from more severe injury in the future as a result of such an incident. He could say that it was our reasonable expectation as a club that our players would get adequate protection from the umpires, but clearly this did not happen throughout the game. This is a cause of some concern to us. He could also say that in any other year than this year, the opponents who deliberately punched our players would be sitting out for a week or two, and like the majority of the football world, we are perplexed as to why this has changed, and have yet to receive a good explanation from the AFL about the rationale for this change. He could also say that we like to play the game hard but fair, but that Sunday's game demonstrated that bending the rules actually gets you further. Our acquiescence after the Carlton game has bothered me. Both Hogan and Lewis reacted to something that was said to them. Viney, who was within earshot of the Lewis incident, clearly thought it was inappropriate too, and shoved Cripps into the ground after Lewis hit him. By contrast, Carlton exposed the sledging of Marc Murphy and it actually worked in their favour. So far, our silence and meek acquiescence has just made us a bigger target.

See this is the sort of thing that really annoys me. He was setting himself to contest the mark with Goldstein, and Hansen took his eyes off the ball and shoulder-charged him long before the ball came, which allowed Goldstein to mark uncontested. If you're setting for a marking contest and an opponent just takes you out when you don't expect it, very few players could stay on their feet. Yet our "supporters" say he staged. If after watching the replay you really do think that Watts staged that, you have no idea. I've also seen comments that Oliver staged when he was sniped by Higgins in the first quarter, and that Vince staged when he was punched low in the gut by Cunnington - even when he was vomiting on the bench, the commentators were trying to say he was exaggerating. Unbelievable.

It's very very hard to keep supporting this sport. The AFL and MRP are an absolute disgrace!

I thought Dom Tyson had his best game of the year.

Haven't read the thread yet, but wanted to say this before I forget. Apologies if someone has already made this point: After this game, I assume it is now ok to: - Punch a player in the guts. - Trip a player as they attempt to play on - Punch a bloke in the face as long as you hold their jumper - Jump on a player's back after they've been paid a mark

I'm home sick with a crappy cold today. Decided to watch a replay of the game - with my passion taken out of it. The umpires made a huge difference. I know it's poor form to blame the umps but the amount of deliberate trips they missed, along with 360's not called holding the ball, Watts being held for most of the game, head highs missed and stupid DOOB calls, inevitably in Norths forward half really impacted our momentum, time after time. These players are putting in effort,they do want to win, it's not mental weakness. Currently our structure is missing key players and many players are lacking experience. No ruck against Goldstein, and we only just lost. the worst you can call me is an optimist, but I see a bright future ahead for the Dee's. Yes patience is hard, yes we want to win all of the games but to all of you who are digging into the players, the coach and the club, do you really think we are that bad? Have we been monstered by any side this season? Nope we have been in a position to win in all of our games, we are getting closer. You don't go from rock bottom to the greatest heights overnight. Remember that game one is the only game ths season that we have had our best team on.

It was a shocking free in any case and even after calming down I still want a please explain sent him. The bloody umpires were joking with north players at 3/4 time... such a bad look in a game where the umpiring was painfully one sided

I agree here bub, for the sake of the players, members and the club itself we need to come and out and slam the MRP. Every Melbourne player involved in an incident this year is suspended, while other clubs players throw punches and get fines or are let off. We copped disgraceful umpiring and have said nothing publicly. Now this. I want my club to stand up on the field and off. I feel we are the AFL's [censored]. Call a press conference and say as a club we are just disgusted at the inconsistency of this body, then cop the fine and move on. PS.Why is the word for a female dog, a b.tch censored.

Next thread: "when does the hyperbole stop?" Look, I hate losing too, but you have a ridiculously short memory if you think anything we have delivered this year is "insipid". You turn a lot of people off bothering engaging with you when you use ridiculously over the top language. Get a grip.

I'd calmed down a bit until I opened this thread.

The issues will be mental. If Hogan can get back quickly conditioning will not be so much of an issue. Both Gawn and Hogan could be back for QB. By god North showed us how badly we need out big men back.

How bad is a system when a player gets the same penalty for accidentally making contact with an umpire as a bloke who deliberately punches a player in the throat or stomach? That's like fining a jaywalker the same as someone who deliberately hits a pedestrian with their car. Great system. Nailed it.

Scott set the MRP up for this in his post game by saying they had validated punching. Just when you think you can't like a bloke any less. And for the record Cunnington's wasn't a jumper punch. He just punched him. I hope it gets ugly over the next few weeks and they are forced to fix it. It's a bad look.

Easiest way to fix the MRP is to punish the intent, not the outcome. Players can control intent, they can't control outcome.

One third the force of Thomson on Dangerfield who got off earlier in the year. Given the inconsistency of the MRP I expect Salem to be jailed for 4 years.

and 2 trips to players running to goal. Bugg dumped after a mark. Throat punch to Oliver. Scragging Oliver at every bounce. Numerous holding the ball decisions, including the most blatant 10 metres from our goal. In a close game 22 -10 frees that is 5.5 per quarter to Roos to our 2.5. Huge difference in a tight game. Several soft frees to Roos forwards none to us. When you can name that many incorrect decisions you have bad umpiring. What would Scott, his brother or Eddie do if it was their club? Blast it across the media and complain to the Umpire's department.

While yesterday was hugely disappointing and hurts a lot, I am trying to take a glass half full approach. We are a better side than North and should have won, but with the competition so close, unexpected losses and unexpected wins will happen (e.g. losing against North, winning against Adelaide). The absence of Gawn and Hogan is really being felt and if I told you that they’d only play for 3 and 4, respectively, of the first 12 games before the season started, you would have felt our chances were obliterated entirely – but they aren’t. We have been competitive in all our matches and have found ourselves in a winning position in every match. And ultimately, whilst our inconsistency does raise doubts, we still can make finals. The reality of our situation is that we are still an inexperienced side and our winning culture still needs to be nurtured and developed before we can be considered a serious side. However, all it takes is one win for everything to click and I do believe that win will come this season. When it comes, it may be just enough time for us to string some games together and make finals, and it may be too late but will set us up well for a strong chance in 2018. We’re steering in the right direction and this will be the team and Goody will be the coach to break our premiership drought. NB: it will be the team once we have added either May or Lever to our back-line

I have been saying it for a few weeks but I think Tyson is slowly working his way into a good bit of form. He seems to have got that sidestep back and finds space through traffic more and more each week. His kicks are also getting better and better. Here's hoping it continues.

What started the "niggle" was Higgins decking Oliver right in front of the ump after about 10 minutes of the start and no free. And our players getting held off the ball and throat-punched all over the ground. Higgins gave away a free because he throat-punched Bernie, and complained that it shouldn't have been a free because it was "only" a throat-punch. You heard what Scott said in his presser - the MRP has set the standard. They knew exactly what they were doing. Why any Melb supporter would want to try to excuse an umpiring exhibition like that is simply beyond me.

I thought as an exercise I'd list 3 positives from yesterday's debacle. 1) Hannan showed something. Actually something we need more of....poise...and clever decisions. 2) Hibberd has already become a staunch defender. Quite the rock back there. I dont hild my breath when he has it. 3) an up and down day for Frosty but i think he'll really become a bit of a folk hero to us supporters. Got some moxy Im glad it was only 3 as there's f all else about that game

What's the point in being angry? Disappointed maybe but a game of footy is not worth my anger. Abusers of women and children, drug importers, poverty, weak politicians....those things make me angry, not the footy. I see things a little differently than most here. Did we all really expect to be finals contenders this year or was that just wishful thinking? A brand new coach still finding his feet. A lot of guys playing their first season together. A horrific run with injuries. How many teams in the competition have an All Australian ruckman and Rising Star winning KPP even on their lists, let alone out injured? Agreed that some of the umpiring decisions yesterday were ordinary but to suggest that an umpire is biased or cheating is blatantly wrong. We were beaten by a big, strong, mature defence, the inability to counter Goldstein's superiority and poor decision making. It didn't help that a few of our guys failed to have an impact (putting it nicely). Tom Bugg can't be blamed though. He did all the hard work in actually getting the ball in his hands. Yeah, he missed goals but to do so, he won the footy first which is the main objective of the game. i have always said 2018 will be the year. This is still, as our coach said, " a developing team". It is only natural that we will have highs and lows. It is all a learning curve. Still, it is clear that there is a significant improvement in our efforts in comparison to previous years and that makes me happy. However when this team finally gels it will be devastatingly good. It is only about 10 months away. Hold on to your hats.

Scott is like the arsonist who burns down a building and then says we need to stop firebugs.

Summary of us in the HS: 'A Demon takes the ball and streams forward with numbers in front of him. But Wait. Let's stop this promising foray forward by handballing sideways to a stationary teammate, who has an opponent next him' This is our major issue for mine. People talk about bad quarters and not winning contested possession at stages. That is correct but no team is going to be 100% at every quarter for the entire season. Teams have lapses in every single game. We, nor any other team in any sport are going to play 100% for even a game let alone an entire season. The point is, that when we aren't dominating in the contest and are under pressure, that we keep our structure and move the ball forward and make them defend. it won't be perfect, but instead of being outscored by 6-7 goals in that time, it might be 2-3. We continually try to be perfect when under pressure which plays perfectly into the opposition's hands.

I know we have an auto-censor on Demonland, but I really do think it's totally inappropriate to use this language. To call someone bald is so unfair. It's not like he has a choice.

There is no way he plays at Casey. He is way to valuable

See that swamp dweller Scott was being critical of us for getting physical with his boys. What a pathetic, wingeing bastard - especially when he was well known as a sniper when playing.

No it doesn't. We lost because we played poorly, and the club already acknowledged it. But if we don't make a song and dance about our players being physically targeted outside the apparent rules of the game, and us getting the rough end of some absolutely puzzling decisions, we will continue to get shat on every single game by the umps, because we are a small voiceless club. Enough is enough. Games are becoming unwatchable, and the MRP are partly to blame. Hogan got done for 2 weeks for punching a player, and so he should have. Yet here is Cotchin doing the same thing and not so much of a fine. Disgusting pathetic double standards, that allows outright thuggery which in the real world would result in a criminal conviction.

Bottom line is their best is great and capable of matching it with any team! Their worst is poor.....Its all about whats happening between their ears!

I don't think we deserved to win anyway but I'm going to do an umpire rant anyway. That is one of the worst umpiring games that you would see. Bugg tackled 5 seconds after the mark was paid, Vince punched in the stomach so hard that he was spewing when he went off. Touch Brown and a free kick straight away, Hibbo handball in the last that ricocheted out of bounds called deliberate, seemed like numerous times we got tripped without a free kick, Salem rode into the ground when he didn't even have the ball. There was definitely more lets be honest. Rant over

Waaaah waaaaah waaaaah. I love these threads. The quick reminder to myself to harden up and move on.

Club needs a bit of mongrel....from top down. Not happy how we just roll over...all the bloody time.

MRP hate our guts. How does Cnutington not get banned for a deliberate punch.

F M D

Hit the nail on the head. Just a simple thought experiment really, take out the best ruck and best key forward of any side (particularly those in the eight given the even season) and see what you're left with. Goodwin talks about opportunity because he is a positive coach, but when you're going against the best (fit) ruckman in the league with two established key defenders, personnel matters. Adelaide (who also lost to North) wouldn't be the same without Jacobs or Tex, Port without Ryder or Dixon, and we've seen what Naitanui means to West Coast, now also take out Kennedy. Freo without Sandilands the list goes on! Obviously personnel isn't the only reason we struggled yesterday, and I'm not excusing that putrid first quarter effort. We have some attitude problems no doubt but for anyone to say we haven't improved overall is nonsense, our percentage shows we've been in every game. It is a roller-coaster of a year, I can't get off and sometimes feel like throwing up, but I enjoy going each week and if a couple of things had gone our way the win tally would be far greater.

Demonland the day after a win: The premiership is ours! Demonland the day after a loss: Trade everyone! (Closely followed by 14 pages of arguing with each other about the order in which to trade - and who is the 'softest' of our players)

Watts is stuffed. It's definitely an excuse. His body is just clearly not made for that sort of play. We're throwing a gazelle to the wolves. He could barely keep pace after half time yesterday. We badly need Spencer back. And when he comes back, if Goodwin drops Pederson, then the coach can head back to the VFL with him.

Another one that resulted in a North goal, was when North kicked it out on the full on the southern wing. We had a clear view down the boundary line and it was OOF by a good metre. Paid a mark, that kick was marked by a North forward who goaled. The boundary umpire was 5 metres away and called nothing. The whole southern stand erupted. When the margin is 14 points, don't tell me the non-decisions by umpires don't affect games. Umpire Hosking ( 16) I think made one call all day, apart from "ball up"

The Hibberd deliberate decision will take some beating.

In a no-pressure, take your time kind of way, I can't wait for Jesse to return.

Not sure he was poor last week. He more than did his job in the ruck vs Adelaide which allowed Pedobear to go forward and kick 3 goals and allowed TomMc to go forward and kick 2 goals. He must be feeling the physical effects of the battering his body gets in the ruck. I recon all the extra ruckwork since round 3 had to eventually take its toll. It did, this week.

They had Roughead and Boyd all year who could play in the ruck. We dont have anyone. Our tall forwards play ruck to try and compete and while they are doing a decent job with their lack of height, its nowhere good enough and also completly ruins our forward structure. We get detroyed when we try to bomb it into our forward line because we have no proper key forward. This creates uncertainty for our mids which leads to over using it and being tackled. We have no behemoth waiting down the wing for that quick release out of defence. Instead, we see thiers and have to work something else out. Often we kick it that way anyway and hope we can spoil it over the line.We are forced to play Weiderman when he is clearly no where near ready, Its [censored] our structure completly. .

Once we have had to plug our rucking gaps with the likes of Tom Mcd, Jack Watts and Cam Pederson, I have feared that one or more would injure themselves purely due to exhaustion. Jack Watts looked tired and lethargic today. Cam Pederson was out on his feet at 3/4 time, struggling to get up. It was always going to happen but we have no options at the moment. If you take in account the players that we are missing Smith x 2, Gawn and Hogan - they are our talls. I walked away tonight disappointed but not shattered. When we lost our second ruck option, the injuries to other players and Jessie's ongoing personal issues I felt that the resulting changes to our game structure would likely put an end to our chances on making the finals. Any win would be a bonus. I am not accepting mediocrity but I think I am being realistic. A Club cannot lose the players that we have lost without suffering the consequences. Dont talk to me about the Bulldogs losing players last year. Their list is longer than ours and they had other ruck options. We have none but a make do lot who have played up till today beyond expectations (well mine at least). Our problem today like in the past is that we played catch up after the first quarter. Unlike last week where we were able to nullify Jacobs, today Goldstein hammered us. Even just to get Jake Spencer back would allow the return of the structures that the team trained with all summer. Slowly we will have our best 22 playing. Then there are no excuses. Today we played a nineteen man team. We were within 3 pts and if the umpires had been more consistent during the game we just may have won. I was hoping that they would do their usual evening up in the last quarter but no we must have got too close. It will be interesting if charges are laid against Zeibel and Higgins. They were certainly a protected specie today. Ask Clarrie how he was after he was hit and ask whoever it was who cleaned up after Bernie was vomiting on the sidelines. They were not jumper punches, Scotty.

Ever thought he might be buggered? Shouldering the ruck for last 4 or 5 weeks or so? Having ruckmen that weigh 30 kilos or more heavier collide into him? You probably haven't thought of that

I think the decision was high as he sort of grabbed his head. I too assumed it was our free for holding. It was bad, but that Hibberd deliberate call potentially takes the cake.

In all 4 of our wins, we have had more kicks than handballs. When we handball more than we kick, we lose, just like yesterday.

This could be an exact quote of a Roos fan about their team if a couple of sliding doors moments in the final quarter tipped the game our way. You want an example of brutal? Watch the second quarter again. We bullied them. Absolutely a team tactic, and they had no answer. It follows on from our ruthless brutality at times last week, and there's probably a small clue as to its origins in that Granny video. Unfortunately we couldn't keep it up after the break. But we're young. And still learning how to physically dominate the opponent across an entire match.

What a pathetic statement....watts at best is a brilliant 3rd forward...wing & at the moment relief ruckman ...he is not a full forward as at times he had to play today against two of the best backman in the league....if we as supporters were told we'd win some amazing games ...lose some winnable games but always be in the game ...you would take it in a heartbeat....like it or not ...we are undermanned ...we are young & we have enormous upside...everyone is disappointed but to bag Watts after today's game is downright ridiculous. They were bigger...stronger...& just better on the day & yet we still nearly pinched it...such an ill informed opinion

Yeah I was the same. This mob smashed the best team in the comp. Put ten goals on them in a quarter. It's not the end of the world. Some are expecting us to go from absolute jokes a couple of years ago to winning every game now. I'm annoyed we lost, and we've been set back a lot this season with injury... but we're on the right track.