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Got to say, while I agree that it's inconsistent and unfair and the MRP hate us and blah blah blah, my predominant thought is that I wish Bernie would keep his limbs under control. This is getting out of hand. This could have all been avoided if he'd kept his elbow to himself.

So now we have supporters second guessing our medical staff from thousands of kilometres away based on a television screen shot. Stupidity knows no bounds.

How did Zak Jones get off for elbowing Hannan? Not enough force in the Betts incident. But if its a Melbourne player.... Did we use that useless beak Findlay again?

Woe is Melbourne. AFL corrupt. Protected species. I used to scoff at these comments but I'm now a convert. Bernie deserved a break but I'm sick of the AFL sending messages through our club and conforming to some media narrative. The inequality is there for all to see. After Buggy vs. Sydney, that free in the first minute against Carton was a perfect case-in-point. The umps were clearly on the lookout to assert their authority over Melbourne early on, as if we we'd been branded as some bullying footy team resorting to dirty tactics - why? Because the media says we're undisciplined thugs and the AFL don't like that image.

How does Bernie deserve a week? selwood gets off cotchin gets off zak jones gets off schofield gets off bernie guilty in both incidents! this is the biggest load of BS

MRP absolutely corrupt, Vince barely touched Betts, and certainly shouldnt be graded intentional, ho the [censored] does Martin get off?

Personally I thought it was great - it was in direct response to an accusation, and rather than get all defensive - he got playful... I'm all for it. Any player with a serious injury would get it, its always always about the context.

So if youre Bernie VInce, Jordan Lewis or Jesse Hogan, don't hit anyone or you'll get suspended. If you're Dustin Martin, you can hit someone and its all good, you will just get a fine. [censored] the AFL and the MRP, cheating corrupt scum.

Even though we all admit his stupidity, when you compare it to other decisions like Schofield insufficient force, Selwood a dirty elbow to the back of the head yet also insufficient force and Thompson forearm to the face of Danger 1 week, you are left with the inescapable feeling that something is very wrong. I don't think we have had anyone get off this year and have been penalised heavily. If there is no increase in penalty I would challenge, as while stupid to throw out the elbow, there was no real impact or force and that seems to be the MRP measure. I am not going the "woe is me " line, but rather seeking consistency, where at the moment there is none.

The disrespect shown to a young developing player, such as the cretinous post above, who has had tremendous recent personal loss, plus his own not inconsiderate health scares, absolutely sickens me.

I actually cant believe people think that bump is worthy or suspension. 100% going for the ball (and nearly got it) until the last split second. Not sure what you think he should have done!!??

To claim the available footage is inconclusive is a disgrace, it was plain as day from the angle shown during the game. The betting agencies wouldn't be happy with Dusty being banned, since the AFL is controlled by them, it's no surprise Dusty has been cleared. I think it's time for Gil and the boys to quit attempting to be a moral compass.

Unbelievable. Hes right there on video hitting the guy in the face. How do the AFL get away with such corruption?

Often when a player is out of form, you read the coaches saying they just need to "work on the basics", and form will return. "The basics" are pressure acts, tackling, shepherding, and small things like knock on's etc. The thing that disappoints me about his return is not his lack of touch, but a continuation of his previous unwillingness to chase and tackle if he fails to take a mark. He is a bystander more often than not, in a full ground modern press that requires every player doing their bit. His form 2 games back doesn't bother me. His defensive effort does.

Usual MRP bullshite. I really am over those [censored]

We're deemed a soft target. Those not believing that are imho, in denial. We do a lot right. We've come a long way but whilst the players ,some, have a bit of mongrel, the club doesn't. WE ... DON'T....SAY.....BOO !!

From the most reckless dad....

Schofield got off because the idiots at the tribunal deliberated about Houli's good character and gave him two weeks for knocking out the Carlton player. They immediately hamstrung themselves because if they didn't uphold the Schofield decision that would've had to dish out two weeks for his glancing elbow. The whole system is pathetically flawed.

He got better as the game went on, got to the right spots and clunked most of his marking attempts. He's still getting his touch back, and he is clearly not as fit as he'd like to be at the moment. He was blowing up in the third when usually he'd just keep leading up the wing or start grappling someone. For a big guy he is normally very fit and mobile, that's why he often plays his best football further up the ground. It's interesting when he plays up the ground he is forced to lead and usually clunks lots of marks out on a lead. When he plays deep, whether due to having the space blocked in front of him or lack of fitness/laziness/frustration, he always calls for it out the back and tries to wrestle 2-3 opponents instead of leading. I reckon it's part attitude, but definitely part fitness. In a few weeks time with more gametime under his belt I think we'll start seeing him lead more and play some really good footy. He's obviously had a horrible year personally, so no point criticising the bloke, just making observations and looking to how he will improve and produce his best football again.

agree with both sides of the argument... he needs to stop acting like a petulant child on field... both when he is in form or out of it. full stop

I have no idea what happened, but I am upset about it.

Yet again, I am embarrassed to be a Melbourne supporter when fellow supporters post some of the stuff I'm reading in this thread.

Yep, the first incident was stupid but harmless. Perhaps it should've been fine territory. The second incident should've been play on. Report was ridiculous. That he got 2 weeks is red hot. That many of you are patronising/bagging Bernie is in my opinion worse. He shut down Sloan super effectively on the night and is a required player and loyal servant for this club. Can't believe some of the commentary here. It's unfortunate to say the least.

Demonland cracks me up. People ranting about Bernie being past it and no good, yet in the same breath crying and whinging about him being suspended. Bigger things in this world to worry about people, move on!

Agree the MRP is a farce, but I'm pizzed with Bernie, he's let the whole club down!

Tim Watson? A guy that was bets mates with all of those invoved in the EFC drugs saga and who brought up a child who took drugs and has been suspended fro 12 months and who has been campaigning relentlessy for the EFC to get off....? That Tim Watson? Goose.

The MRP is an ass, plain and simple. Further. There are puppets and puppet masters. Ought not be too hard for the less ocular confused to get who's who.

Load up on dusty he is clearly a Monty for the Brownlow

So Vince gets two seperate penalties for two offences. Suspension and a fine. Whereas Dusty who is already sitting on one fine, get a single fine for the two offences, cause giving him separate fines = 3 for season = suspension.

Sometimes it sucks being the new guy in an internet forum. I thought we would be talking about how harshly armchair pundits have been treating Dean Kent over the past few weeks. The thread was really a conspiracy theory about how the club refused to take Dean to Darwin Hospital to receive medical attention. WTF am I reading??

Dustin Martin punched a player in the head, expect him to get off.

Lewis has been a great pickup. Great game on the weekend too. Was never brought in to be our best player, but hes a wise hand and makes a valuable contribution on and off the field.

He was very good last night and did his bit in a midfield missing a number of key players. Has had a decent few weeks, hopefully he is just starting to gear up for finals!

Not having a midfield and allowing the ball to continually get delivered to the best forward line in the comp didn't help the defenders either.

For some reason there was no media attention for this incident at all, it's a disgrace. On the Sydney website following Jones being cleared, this is what they said about the incident: http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2017-07-03/duo-cleared-by-mrp "The ball was loose with both players coming to the contest. Jones runs through the line of the ball and seeks to hit or tap the ball with his right hand to his advantage, making contact with the ball. At the same moment, he braces for contact with Hannan and high contact is made to the Melbourne player. It was the view of the panel that Jones was contesting the ball and no further action was taken." The part in bold is a straight-up lie.

Hadn't watched that Jones one, how the hell did he get off for that! Had no interest in the ball and chose to bump the head instead. Put Hannon on his arse for a bit too!

AFL saw fit running an article 'Weekends Off at Bernies" venturing on how many weeks he'd get - a good 48 hours before official review. Should the AFL (between its own in-office family-wrecking bonk-fests) be allowed to do this?? Also IMO many on here are a tad quick in forgetting what Bernie had given us these past years.

And then Frost fumbled the ball twice allowing Adelaide to get a goal out the back and thus destroying any chance we had.

He still calls for the ball over the back too often and his second efforts have been non-existent (hopefully because of a lack of fitness).

Lets us be under no illusion my fellow Dlanders. Hird fukced up badly because HE fukced up. No one held a gun to his head ; quite the reverse really if you understand the nature of egging on your underlings to sign non specific waivers and do the 'club' thing' !! No, he with his mate the weapon, got Dank in and the rest is history ( if not recorded ) Hird is not.. i reapeat not the Victim. He was an instigator. [censored] him !!

41,695 and closing!

I admired him as a footballer but after what's happened you just cannot state he was 100% clean. I remember on a couple of occasions how quickly he healed from injury, at the time that added to how gobsmackingly good he was, but now I can't be 100% sure. If he was tainted I'm sure he wasn't alone, I'm 99% convinced that cheating has been widespread and is the reason why the AFL had to alert the Bombers, they were busted anyway and this isolated the problem. Essendon have taken the drug taking rap much like we took the tanking one. With this in mind, should he present the medal? No, but it would explain why the AFL want him to.

Yeah just kept Sloan to 8 touches before he went off. Its not all about getting 30 and kicking 3.

TBH, people spouting the 'play anywhere anytime or we don't deserve to play finals anyway' line sound like they have no idea about modern football. It is a professional sport. A taxing, contact sport, in an incredibly even competition, and any small competitive advantage can make a difference. Motivation has nothing to do with it. It's about bodies, recovery time and the impacts of flying and travel. No need to whinge (except just to let the AFL know that our spate of exertion injuries coincided with our run of short breaks), but it can't be dismissed as a factor in potentially missing the finals.

If Lewis hadn't of played we would have been pumped. He was our best, and provided much needed leadership to stem the bleeding when momentum was against us.

Will get off on both. Insufficient force on betts and didn't hit the head on Douglas. Will need him to tag on of ports mids

It wasn't hot and it certainly wasn't humid at the ground last night. It was absolutely perfect conditions to play football. We were playing a full strength side at the top of the ladder without 6 of our best players. Next week we play a top 4 side also without injuries and we may have 2 back, but lose 2 as well. Expect a similar result

A lot of assumptions there Farmer. Maybe ask the club for clarification to get the facts first.

I wonder if Adelaide would consider a trade for Vince so Sloane doesn't have to get tagged by him again?

30+ disposals at over 80% efficiency in very slippery conditions. He did his part last night.