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If true that is total bollocks. He stuffed up and has paid his penalty.

Just for a bit of fun, I thought I'd delve into the Demon statistic archives. Clarry's season so far has been beyond comprehension when you take into account the nearly 160 years of the MFC. (Sourced from AFL Tables) - Currently sitting in 4th for most disposals in a season with 599 touches after 20 games (only sitting 18 behind Nathan Jones' 2016 season). Clarry will without a doubt lead this category after the Brisbane game. - Currently ranked as number 1 for most handballs in a season. Clarry has handballed 438 times this season, 109 more times than the next ranked player - Currently placed second for most tackles in a season with 144. He'll only need 5 tackles for the remainder of the season Jack Viney's 148 tackle record set in 2016. - Ranked third in clearances with 135 so far this season. Should claim second place by seasons end but will need 19 more to take first place away from Brent Moloney's 2011 season. - Currently ranked fourth in most clangers in a.....actually let's forget about that one! - Absolutely dominating the contested possessions in a season category. Currently ranked first with 316 for the season over 20 games, edging out Brent Moloney's record of 271 set back in 2011. He also shares the most contested possessions in a single game record with Jack Viney with 26 in a match. - Also, currently ranked 6th on the all time list for most handballs in a season recorded by ANY PLAYER in the history of the competition. He only needs 35 handballs to beat the record. And he just turned 20 years old. Enjoy the ride folks. He's only just getting started.

He'd need to push out someone like Harmes or Melksham. I'm not sure a push would do it, maybe a left uppercut.

No, they just said that they believed some clubs had complained about his rucking. This actually could be a serious issue and needs investigation after the season has finished. If umpires have been directed to penalise a player, we have a real problem. The Club should look into this after our season has ended. It is very strange to say the least.

OMac is a good player. It's only your stubbornness that prevents you from seeing it now. Agree with you on Frost.

This is without doubt one of the worst penalties we have seen for a minor matter. Appeared to be a push to the shoulder, which slipped up to the neck. Nothing in it. Feel sorry for the bloke.

Tomas Bugg needs to earn back trust? What, are his teammates afraid he might him them? Contemporary society is just so full of nonsense.

Just admit it, TGR (and your naysaying brethren), that nothing less than Lewis winning the Bluey trophy, Norm Smith medal and his 5th premiership medallion - all in the same year - will convince you that he has been a good pick-up by the MFC. Don't worry, you'll get your gotcha moments, your "I told you so" moments, soon enough with his next fumble, missed handball, slight slip-up or whatever other supposed sign of terminal decline you wish to focus on and continually peddle. In the meantime, perhaps you could acknowledge, respect and - heaven forbid - even enjoy what Lewis has already offered the club.

I totally agree, jnr. He paid his penalty with 6 weeks of no football and, from all reports, he has put his head down and worked extremely hard on the track for each of those weeks he missed. I still think he'll make his way back through Casey, but I'd happily welcome him back into the side if he was picked.

Thats crazy. We need all the fresh bodies we can get at this time of the season.

Would just like to wish ex-MFC Head of Footy Neil Craig all the best. He was an absolute gentleman at his time with the Dees. Always gave up his time for a quick chat and was always 100% interested in you. Was more than happy to share his knowledge and I loved this bloke. Thank-you Neil

It's bizarre. Footy Classified showed all 5 last night and in only one does Gawn have a straight arm. I've paused them all and if this is the rule they are quoting they clearly got 4/5 wrong.This clarification is not clarification at all, it's more confusing as he didn't break the rule at all! We should get an apology, but we won't, they'll claim it's always right as they always do.

This is just karma to the saints for when Nick reiwoldt tricked ( I think) a freo player a few weeks ago at Domain Stadium by calling for the ball when it wasn't his free kick. Saints awarded a 50m, and goal. Everyone on the saints team thought it hilarious. Just like I do with this one.

Do you legitimately think that Richmond will drop their last two against the Saints and Dockers? That looks like you are attempting to do one of two things... 1) Manufacture a huge MCG clash between Tigers and Dees in week one of the finals... if thats the case Kudos for trying! 2) Attempting as hard as you can to try and push the Tigers down to 9th place... in which case even more Kudos!!

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible. The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition. Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

Lewis has been huge. People who cant see this are just butt hurt that we didnt get a guy in his prime. Has been more consistant than Viney and played more games than Jones. Top 5 b and f i suspect on the back of a very strong 2nd half of the year. Hibbo will also be up there, massive impact from both of them.

doesn't pass the sniff test and ollie wines gets nada and....and....and....could go on all night with the lack of consistency and the whole appeal process i wonder if the afl can see the farce in the whole system......not that they'd admit it

Just reported on channel 7 news, max opened talks about contract extension and is seeking a deal that will see him a demon for life. Let's hope he gets it done.

It seemed premeditated to me - if they rarely pay it but suddenly penalise the same player 5 times in one game because 'there was more evidence in this game' strongly suggests they were looking for it. That other clubs have complained is very troubling. Did the footy commentators say what the nature of the complaint was? Or did the umpires pull this new interpretation out of thin air so they could penalise Max in some way?

And there is the problem, was it pre meditated umpiring. One of the footy shows suggested clubs had complained to the umpires department about Max. If the umpires department directed this we have a serious problem. Certain clubs would be controlling umpiring. Fantastic.

That is seriously pathetic

"And in my client's defence, your Honour, I would argue that the opposition's ruckman, Mr Longer, by jumping onto my client blocked his approach to the contest. If the umpires had correctly interpreted the rule, the free kicks in each instance should have been awarded to my client, Mr Gawn."

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but we are the worst off club for frees at home against interstate sides. That can't be argued against as it is a fact.

@Webber is there any evidence that the brain has less free play up and down inside the skull because it's anchored by the spinal cord, compared with horizontal free play? I had a bicycle accident where I flew at speed across the bonnet of a right hand turning car car and landed flush on top of my head/helmet on the road. The helmet was destroyed and I believe it saved my life - otherwise my skull would have been crushed. While I was pretty dazed until the ambulance came, I didn't have any lasting concussion symptoms. Lucky no spinal injury too!!! I'm a big fan of bicycle helmets.

Wells has hardly played. We wouldn't have got lewis iof not for three years. I would back the footy dept over you any day.

This kid is now 5th for total disposals, 2nd for contested possessions, 5th for clearances, 10th for centre clearances and 3rd for tackles for the entire competition. (Source - afl.com.au/stats) Completely absurd for someone in their second season who only turned 20 a few weeks ago. Seems to be flying under the radar of most supporters and experts alike, I wonder if his 'dive' has taken the gloss off the most complete second year I've seen from any player I can remember. Or does his high handball/kick ratio make him a bit less flashy and eye catching? Regardless, he is as important as anyone in the team now and I love him. I remember a lot of supporters hit the roof when we drafted him ahead of Parish. I'm sure Parish will be a gun but for now it looks like a great decision.

Interesting the commentators were saying he's slowing down and losing his touch, right before he put in one of the most important quarters of his time at Melbourne. If we make finals, he will be HUGELY important to us. He will be one of the players to get the young players to maintain their focus when the pressure is on.

Rubbish. Bugg was made to take responsibility for his actions. He basically king hit a bloke. He has shown remorse, stayed out of the media, kept his head down and trained hard to try to prove that those actions were not representative of how he or the club would like to play the game. He's done his time and I look forward to seeing a BETTER player out there which I think he will be, because he has been handled well. Hung out to dry? I think you're a drama addict.

It's not just tackles, Weid flew for every ball he could. Watts flies for one a game. It drives me [censored] crazy. It has for his whole career. He really won me over with his form the last year and half, but when he reverts back to this [censored] I can't stand it. A perfect example is the Port game. Ball to the top of the goal square, 3 players locked arms and flat footed, Watts the 4th player with 2 metres seperation. Any player in the league would've jumped up and plucked it, let alone someone 196cm. In the end it resulted in nothing. Weid would've ate it. If Watts isn't running hard and linking up, he provides nothing. No physical presence, no bringing balls to ground, no ground pressure. Nothing. He should be embarrassed that Weid was preferred in such an important game. When all Weid provides is the basics and not much else. I have no faith Watts will come in and provide the basics off the back of one VFL game.

Her mail is better than anyones. He definitely met with us.

I have only witnessed the first and last quarter on replay but I watched Weid closely. 6 times in the first he went up in a pack and brought the ball to ground. Not once was he beaten in the air. That at this time is his role. Mark it or bring it to ground and dont let them get an easy out. I would be playing him on the younger Brisbane backs next week.

So seeing the other ruling from the AFL today, the correction that Max needs to make to his technique is to lead with a straight leg, roundhouse kick to the head, that being well within the rules.

We would have won about 6 games for the year without him. A huge get at the point where St. Kilda got to within 4 points of us, i thought we were gone Jordan obviously didn't feel the same way and he was actually able to do something about it. I just had to stress out!!

Lumumba...or did you count him last year? And the list may yet still add a handy player in Ablett. The 2007 list is pretty good, too: Buckley, M Voss, Ricciuto, Hird, Koutoufides, Chris Grant, Chris Scott, Archer, Chris Johnson (Bris), Luke Darcy and probably others I've now forgotten.

I'd like to think at least 1 maybe 2 especially the Haw and Freo games during that time Hoges and Lewis got themselves rubbed out but we have got to remember all that has gone on this year suspensions, illnesses, funerals, deaths, injuries etc i think as a football club we have coped exceptionally well let's not forget all of this.

That's not true about the Collingwood supporters. I don't think you are eligible for the dole while in gaol.

Yes, assuming one particular team is the subject of a conspiracy is pretty silly. But assuming the AFL might do naughty things to make the competition more exciting (especially for teams with large supporter bases) where exciting means more dollars and a bigger empire is perfectly reasonable. In fact I'd suggest it is is naive not to keep a wary eye out for such behaviour. I expect most supporters know the holding the ball related rules as well as umpires. Just because they call 'ball' at ridiculous times just shows passion for their team, not some fundamental mental failure.

Oppo fans loudly proclaim he's overrated which generally means he's hated which means he'snow officially a star of the game. Once he gets respect, he's a HOF.

Simple answer for the AFL to min this type of discussion would be that at the start of the year teams of umpires are put together and umpire together for the whole session. This would include boundary goal emergency and the video ump. They would train together umpire together and if one of them has a shocker they all go back to the country. This way they would get to know each other and then there would be more consistent with their decisions. Also they would pull each other into line if a bad decision was made because none of them would want to get sent to the bush the following week. Teams only get better the more they train and play together so why should it be any different for the umps?

For those that think we have been on the rough end of the stick.............well you're right. The HS article "Free kicks: the teams right at home" shows that over the last 10 years, we have the lowest differential for free kicks for vs free kicks against for victorian teams playing home games against interstate one's. The overall differential list has the Weagles benefiting the most as the home team (surprise surprise). I'm not sure where we fall in terms of differential overall (we aren't in the top 9), but i think i have a pretty good idea where we might be.

Caro just said on FC that he DID meet with Melbourne. Her mail is normally good, her opinions not so.

It was a shocker worse than any Moreton Bay Bug you have ever seen. And one did wonder about the origins of the hair or its host body part. Harry was a character and a product of his time. When you think about the big H and the media coverage of the day it was such a completely different era. Unrecognisable compared to today.

David King analysed the free kicks in his segment on the couch. Suspects an umpiring conspiracy or tax as he called it. Seems clubs have complained how Max positions himself and uses his hands. They showed 3 of the frees and 2 were rubbish, over umpiring by the same umpire. The other has Longer with his hand on max's face but Max may be fending him off. Final King analysis if that is how you are going to umpire centre bounces apply it to all ruckmen not just Max. Hayden kennedy has a lot to answer for and clearly the club are aware of clubs complaining about Maxies dominance. The umpiring dept is a bit of a joke but they never fess up to making errors. An umpire friend of mine asked me today what I thought of the mark that wasn't paid to Ben brown in Tassie it was worse than anything we saw yesterday.

Let's cross to Tommy down in the rooms. Are you there Tommy? I'm ere Arry. Can you hear me? Tommy, have you got Phil Carman there? I don't fink so Arry. I can't see anyfink because it's dark in ere Arry. I fink I've locked meself in the broom cupboard Arry.

Because posters are making accusations of a highly criminal activity with multiple conspirators at all levels of the game without sufficient evidence.

According to Plapp Watts did what he had to do. He is so far ahead of Weid at this stage it is a no brainer. Weid may be good in time, but at the moment he is a liability. They may also bring in Frost as Lions have a number of talls and he adds pace as well as height, not to mention unpredictability.

Have a look at what Chris Scott, Hardwick or Buckley and numerous other coaches do when a player is reported. They support their player through the media and push to try and get the best result - regardless of the players actions. Richmond even went as far as getting references from Wally Aly and tried to manufacture one from the Prime Minister. We did nothing except throw him to the wolves. At the very least our club could have come out and said "Bugg has apologised", "it was a reflex action", "Mills initiated contact first" etc Instead they came out and said "it's clearly not how we want to be seen as a footy club" "we'll cop what we get" etc. The Club's advocate Ian Findlay basically threw himself at the mercy of the MRP and basically didn't try to argue a case for getting a suspension no longer than Houli's. The hearing lasted 9 minuts. He said "He comes here tonight not to try to get the charge downgraded, not to waste your time." The fact that the incident happened the week after Houli meant their was a frenzy of media coverage about Bugg. At the very least they should have been saying "Its no worse than Bacher Houli" It may not have worked but he deserved that possibility. Instead he was left to front the media by himself with no club representative there when he made his statement to the media. Hung out to dry.

Delusional in a pathetic attempt to prove a point. No credence given to the fact that Lewis has been a very good performer all season and has been excellent recently perhaps given that he is fully integrated with the game plan, team mates and culture of the club?To assert that he has 'cruising' until now is errant nonsense. Maybe u could pot all greats of the game that bring their very best at finals time. Conversely, if he wasn't performing now you'd be saying he hasn't got the bottle for the big games. Laughable.

Narcotics and Booze....