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Nathan Jones modelling the Demon's jumper for our round 17 clash against the Dogs. 1750 × 2500

Agree Daisy and that is what I am upset about Michael Christian who is the MRP says it is Medium Impact BECAUSE the victim was hurt and couldn’t as a result come back on the ground. We then appealed only the impact level arguing for low impact. The Lions agreed Berry was not concussed or injured and that the reason he didn’t return was purely based on minutes played in a practice game. That should have been it. Grading reduced to low and a fine but no, For some inexplicable reason the Tribunal substitutes the phrase “ it could have been worse “ to somehow mean it was medium impact. The appeal is then denied. This to me smacks of a pre determined outcome and is a disgrace. The rest of the discussion about bracing, bumping, record etc is totally irrelevant. If this was a final at stake we would be in Court and would win. This process has been an absolute disgrace. Lastly if Berry was injured/ concussed I would happily accept the week. That is not the case and to my mind has been a disgraceful attempt at obtaining a result no matter what. The AFL Tribunal has acted shamefully IMO.

Caleb Daniel will also be wearing Thor’s helmet.

Someone should be held account for this. I understand the desire to play with 22 but the fact that both Smith and Fritsch had to play on while injured in a JLT match, which could jeopardize their start to the season is a huge stuff up IMO.

Mate, I’m in my 60’s and could burn Oscar off.

bb I think the club did all it could with the options it had. It could not predict the Three wise monkeys Stooges of the Tribunal (Loveridge, Loewe and Wakelin) would be told by the AFL advocate to treat real evidence as 'irrelevant' and accept his waffle of: 'potential for injury', the 'look' of the vision, May positioned with 'significant momentum'. None of these hypotheticals seemed to be backed up with evidence nor been raised at Tribuanls before; it is purely gut feel stuff which generates a gut feel outcome. As you said earlier The Fix was in. I do think the club is beginning to play hard ball. That they appealed was a good move - if nothing else sends a signal. Also, our President recently took legal action against some WA reporter and extracted an apology. We are no longer beholden to the AFL - I doubt the new MFC will let many bad calls get past it - but we many not win them all. Respect comes slowly. The MFC of the last 5 years is earning that back. Yes, still some way to go but we are no longer the doormats of the AFL.

Bloody corrupt the Tribunal and the MRP. GW$ key player rounders an opponent who gets helped off the field - no penalty. MFC player braces for impact, contacts neck (at highest) of an opponent who then runs off the field - one week. Consistency??

[censored] defence IMO, we should not have argues impact but that it was not careless, it was a case of May standing his ground and protecting himeself

I went to the Casey game yesterday as I wanted to have a look at the new blokes. Conditions were perfect although it was quite humid and the smoke haze and smell were quite strong. It was a resounding win by Casey who completely outplayed Brisbane around the ball and of course were helped by Viney, Jones and Melksham who were just a class above. This is how I saw the Demons:- Kade Chandler:- Didn't know he was on the ground in the first quarter as I was mainly watching the big three but I certainly noticed him in the second and subsequent quarters. He's small but he looks strong and quick, not lightening, but quick and he has good hands and a good kick. He took a good contested mark at one point and kicked a couple of goals in the second. He covered the ground well and tackled. He used the ball well with several passes inside forward 50 to teammates and was the most impressive of the new blokes from my point of view. He looks like he could become a good player. Nathan Jones: Often when you see a senior player come back to a lower grade they seem a little at sea and don't dominate the way you'd expect. Jonesy didn't have that problem. From the first bounce he just kept getting the ball and managed to find space in tight and continually won the ball at stoppages. His skills were rusty as he missed several handballs and kicks I'd normally expect him to nail but it was a little like watching a year 12 boy play with the year 10's. He was just better than the rest. Seemed to run out the game well and I've no doubt he'll play round1. Jack Viney: Was pretty dominant around the stoppages and on occasions used his strength really well just bashing through tackles at stoppages and clearing the ball. Played quite some time in the forward 50 but doesn't look a natural forward at all. He got plenty of the ball and used it well. He looked pretty spent towards the end and appeared to hurt himself when he attempted a spoil from behind and may have jarred his knee/leg on landing. I watched carefully as he went to the bench where a trainer/physio (I was on the other side of the ground) talked to him for a minute or two. There didn't appear to be any testing of the leg or any ice used and he walked reasonably comfortably after the game. Like all, I'm just hoping for the best. James Jordan: Looked a class player and while he didn't get a heap of it when he did he used it well and looked confident in what he was doing. Played off half back and covered a lot of ground. He is a sure ball handler and a lovely kick and appeared to be in the right place at the right time. He's still quite slight but showed courage and a willingness to tackle. I liked what I saw. Corey Wagner: Showed some speed and footy smarts at times and if he was a first year player you'd be quite excited but he's not and if he's going to make it needs to find something more. He certainly has a go and won his fair share in the forward 50. Jake Melksham: Didn't really see him in the first quarter but started to play well in the second and was dominant in the last half. His contested ball work was great, he was strong in the air, he found space and his kicking was fantastic. He was close to BOG for me in the second half and will be a great addition with his kicking skills particularly. Sam Frost: Just a game. Always looks a class above until he fumbles the simple ones or makes a rookie mistake. He did get better as the game wore on but not one of his better games because of the mistakes. Also there wasn't a lot to do down back for Casey. Tom Sparrow: I was disappointed with his first half and can't say I really noticed him but sometimes when you're watching for the first time you don't notice players so maybe I'm being unfair. He started to get more involved in the third but I was disappointed with his disposal but as the game wore on he got better and better and displayed some really good clearance work and kicking skills. He's very much in the mould of an inside mid with a see ball get ball approach and was at the bottom of a lot of packs. I was much more confident at the end of the day than at half time with him as he definitely has some AFL attributes. Cory Maynard: Not a dominant game but maybe was pushed out of his normal role with Viney and Jones doing a lot of the centre clearance work. Just a game really and not one to get excited about. Toby Bedford: Now here is an interesting one. In one sense he's got it all. He's quick and nimble, he covers a lot of ground, he's a willing tackler and he works hard. Looks to be a sure ball handler and a good kick but reality about yesterday is he didn't get it enough to make a judgement really But every time he was around the ball or got it he caught your eye. I'm glad he's on the list but he's got to learn the best trick in footy - to get the ball. Braydon Preuss: Dominant ruck in the first half and gave silver service to the mids while he was on. As you know, he injured himself in the first minute of the third quarter and wasn't seen again. Austin Bradtke: Got Casey's first goal (I think) with a really good contested pack mark in the first few minutes of the game and followed up later in the quarter with another. He's got good hands and can kick it quite well and found a bit of it around the ground but I don't think he added to his two first quarter goals. He did quite a bit of rucking when Preuss went off and was monstered. Lots of time in the gym and a clear project player but looks a good long term prospect and although it's too early to call looks more a forward than a ruck. Jost Wagner: Not a lot to do but what he did he did well. Very brave on occasions particularly in the air and was spoiling the ball very well to the boundary on many occasions. He's a good VFL player and performs regularly at this level from what I've seen but didn't do enough to push a case for senior selection. Harry Petty: I've liked this kid from the first time I've seen him and again he looked very good yesterday. He reads the play really well, he's a very strong overhead mark and his kicking is very good. He got to the right place regularly and played a very good game. Towards the end of the game he had a couple of spells in the ruck which looked quite promising as he was okay with his tap work and agile and mobile enough around the ground to have an impact. Given our relative glut of KPD I wouldn't be surprised to see him trialled forward at some point. With his contested marking strength and kicking ability he could be a handful. I'm very confident this kid will be an excellent AFL footballer. Oscar Baker: Clearly needed a run. Looked rusty and didn't get into the game as you'd have hoped but he's had a long spell on the sidelines. He loves to get involved and he loves to take people on, not always with the desired outcome. But he has a go, he's got very good pace and he clearly believes in himself. Having said that, it wasn't a good game by his standards from my point of view.

Again...the fix was in. Look at the ridiculous citation. Look at complicity of the Lions Look at kangaroo court of AFL. Think that's ridiculous... might I remind all of the lengths the AFL went to acquit Essendon. The AFL is as corrupt as they come.

i agree. a collision was pretty well unavoidable. there was less than a second (second tops) from handball to collision. may was stationary and front on. berry was in motion. at that point may was vulnerable and had just enough time to turn defensively side on (keeping his elbow in and arm against body). by the laws of physics berry had tghe upperhand because he had motion and may didn't. again at that point berry if he was aware, which he wasn't) could have also turned side ways for a shoulder to shoulder collision where his motion would have been an advantage. at the very last may did push forward as anyone with any brains would have done, because he was standing motionless and he was not to know until the last nano-second that berry did not brace, but by then may was committed to his self protective stance. so no, i don't concede may was guilty of carelessness. i contend the impact was inevitable and one player failed to take a defensive stance. this is not a criticism of berry, just explaining what happened additionally from replays the ball at contact time was about 5m away so "in play" additionally the impact to his chin was at the lower end. most of the impact was taken on the chest. to emphasise that check berry as he goes from vertical to on his back on the ground. At all times his head stays in straight line with his torso i.e. there was no backwards whiplash of his head with respect to his body/spine so, collision realistically inevitable, not careless and impact to head low. I don't tink the defence did a very thorough job.

your "I❤️love the MRP" poster and lapel button are in the mail........

Bet a Collingwood player wouldn't have even been cited! Christian is so biased it is ridiculous.

From JLT2 side: IN OUT Keilty (23rd player) Frost -> May (susp) Jones -> JKH (inj) Viney -> Stretch (omit) Melk -> Hunt (omit) I was not all that impressed with Hunt forward. Idk where he fits right now. I have a feeling they intend to play Lever, Omac and May in the same side. So to have that structure I think Hore plays in the Lever role as 3rd defender. Until someone bangs the door down I think Lewis holds his spot. Misso seemed to indicate there was some doubt on Smith getting up for round one so either hunt gets a chance or maybe stretch gets a gig on the wing and fritch goes forward. I share the ANB/Spargo conserns but I doubt they will break the status quo without an obvious replacement. So this is where my side sits now but it changes every day, infact it changed 3 times while I was writing this: Nev OMac Hibb Hore Frost Lewis Salem Oliver Fritch Trac TMac Melk ANB Weid Spargo Gawn Viney Brayshaw Jones Harmes AVB Smith (Stretch/Hunt on standby for Smith) KK*, May(Frost), Hannan(Smith) and Lever(Hore) missing from first picked side. *I'm not 100% sure on KK being a walk up start, but without injury i think they'd play him, idk who would go out though

No, it's the same old rule ... 1. decide the outcome 2. work the high/low/medium/careless/negligent etc parameters and injury reports backwards to get the outcome you already decided It's Australia lore that you can't really explain "the vibe"

The bad news is that your prediction will not come true. The MRP/tribunal have failed every year to show any consistency whatsoever. You know that within 4 rounds of footy, there will be an identical (or worse!) incident where the perpetrator will either not be charged, will cop only a fine, or will be let off at the tribunal, and "the look" will not enter into it. Funny Christian is interested in "the look" of May's incident, but not concerned about "the look" of random and inconsistent decisions by the MRP. (Just wondering where the words "the look" appear in the MRP guidelines? ... he asked, knowing the answer already.)

When Marvel sponsor the stadium, what more do you expect. Shame on you AFL Cheapen our game whilst you corporate parasites pay yourselves exhorbatant salaries. Shame on you

Absolutely, it's not like May actually lined him up or deviated to hit him. Bloody Lions player has a duty of care to him self to watch the F where he is running.

From The Age report: '...Woods argued May's left foot rose above the ground and his right foot was on the brink of leaving the surface, which meant May had "significant momentum" when he collided with Berry'. I thought that lifting one's feet one after the other is how a person moves forward - it is called walking!! 'Significant momentum'? But what evidence was there to link it to 'medium' impact? It appears zilch! From The Fox Report: After Brisbane explained that Berry didn't play on because he had played enough minutes, not because he wasn't able, 'AFL counsel Andrew Woods argued that such evidence was irrelevant'. Honestly, I find it staggering that the only real evidence of impact ie no injury, no concussion is considered irrelevant! Where does that leave Christians' medium impact' case: 1. Player reaction: Berry fell backwards. 2. Medical report: which was was not damning at all - no injury, no concussion. 3. Did not return to play as he was not concussed and had played his minutes. So the only criteria left is 4. visual look of the incident. So May is out because it looked bad ie the optics. Woods virtually says as much: 'based on the footage alone, the impact "must be more than low"'. Its laughable that none of the objective criteria are fulfilled yet it is upheld. We can't win: one of our players goes down and it is called 'staging/diving', another team's player goes down and the visual looks so bad the impact must be medium. Not saying Berry staged it at all; just saying the optics is a very poor criteria for any suspension let alone deciding the impact.

That;s NOT thuggery, we need more players like May to show some Mongrel. Thuggery is king hits behind play. We have over sanitised this game because of the National directive Nana Imperative! AFL view seems to be.. Let's be seen to do... When it suits us and when we have to turn a "Blind eye" to protect "Vested Interests" so be it Muppetry of the highest order!!

A humble bloke who gave his absolute all for our Club. It would be totally unreasonable for any of us to expect more than that. Well done Cam!

Or Round 2, if you're May.

Like others I had my reservations about Max in the early days. Over the last few years, I sometimes have wished that he would stop playing the joker and be a little more media shy. However, you realize that humour is part of his make-up and no doubt helps him cope with the pressures of AFL footy and helps relieve some of the tension and pressure amongst his team mates. What you can't do his doubt his commitment and talents. Like all top line players he has made a huge mental and physical commitment to succeed. No-one has worked harder on the track and no one works harder on the field. You can't make it without single-minded obsession to being the best. Max has done that. As a result, he will reap the benefits for the rest of his life both in footy terms (reputation and respect) and in financial terms. No-one will say there goes a guy who "coodabeen" a champ. His performance on and off the field tells you that he has become a role model and leader of men.

This had NOTHING to do with what actually happened It has everything to do with a FAKERY...an act of deliberate manipulation of the MRP by the AFL. a desire to see a particular outcome irrelevant of the facts. Facts were submitted....and ignored if this was a criminal or indeed civil case...youd take it to the next level

I’d like to see some kind of protest by Dogs’ supporters, either by flooding the club with emails or simply not turning up at Marvel Rd 1. We are starting to cross lines that shouldn’t be crossed, when a club starts to lose part of its identity for garbage jumpers and portrayal of players as superheroes, we are getting awfully close. I find it a bit sad actually if they have to resort to this for extra dollars.

I've just rewatched this 10 times. You need to watch it especially in real-time, not slo-mo. there really is not much in this, as shirt fronts go. under the rules the mrp are supposed to operate on, i can't agree that the contact can be graded as medium given there was no injury outcome if the mrp is operating under new rules for contact grading they need to explain so but so far they haven't. this is not a safe nor consistent ruling.........but not surprising based on the mrp's history of inconsistency we got the rough end of the pineapple.... again

First impression seeing it on Saturday was it was undisciplined and something they would look at to set a standard as they always do early in the season. Stupid act and I hope Goody has torn strips off him in private. As was the case with Lewis and Hogan in 2017, theres tough acts and theres going over the top costing your side That's what this was

Can't even stand your ground when some Muppet with zero awareness comes careering toward you. Joke.

We should be happy as we now know the true definition of medium impact, which is “ it could have been worse”.

Jones is 5th in the starting midfield pecking order behind Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw and Harmes. Those top 4 can all play 75% gametime and that gives us 3x100% coverage in the square. That means unless there's injuries to that top 4 he's not going to spend major minutes in there and like at the end of last year will have to make his mark in another role. But it's easy to forget that along with Oliver, Jones carried our midfield for a considerable period at the start of 2018 when Viney was injured and Brayshaw and Harmes yet to emerge - it only takes one injury and he's back in the main frame. There's not exactly a stampede of proven alternatives.

If we are going corpse paint let’s do it properly. Gorgoroth style!!!

rubbish..if you pay very careful attention his right foot NEVER moves !! Did he lean into the brace ? For sure..I would... Only a fool wouldnt. Its what you might do if relative stationary against a someone moving into you we're biased ???? pfffffffffft

Agree can't see them wavering much from what you've got there. Apart from no Hannan or Tyson this is pretty much the team we won two finals with last season. It may not be the fittest but its a proven side. I look forward to seeing KK, Hunt, Garlett, Stretch and the new young kids battle down at Casey for a spot

And he stands up when needed on the big stage.

Binman is spot on. May clearly initiated contact and bumped berry. It amuses me that people think he had no other option but to brace. He literally side stepped left and went back into berry to lay the bump. I'll put everyone elses view down to the fact that they are just biased supporters that can't see the forest for the trees. I can understand arguing medium impact down to light impact but arguing that May was simply standing his ground is laughable. And the tribunal agreed with Binman and I.

It's obvious to me that they are a well-managed organisation. It's no coincidence that sales are increasing under a management regime which chooses to sponsor the MFC. The above can be read flippantly...or it can be appreciated that the sales increase might reflect the possibility that the Australian organisation has a well-developed strategic plan which includes sponsoring a team that (1) plays in the most popular competition in Australia, (2) has a support base which may have a higher proportion (than other clubs) of those who are well enough off to buy their cars and (3) is a club that has a standing which suits the Jaguar brand.

Wouldn't dare change your mind - you're correct. The only forward who knows how to play as a forward, find space, beat an opponent to the ball with a variety of delivery/set shot/snap shot options. Runs well, too. Can take a mark rather than a 'specky' by finding the space to make it simpler and easier, and consistent. I'd rank 'em: 1. Gawn 2. Clarrie 3. Brayshaw 4. Melksham 5. Viney when fit.

That's not going to clash with the Sydney (their opponent) jumper at all. Sheesh AFL. Just keep making the rules up as you go along.

Not yet I'm actually a 6 year old...

Well at least your selection got up Wadda ... Rugby League kicks off this week and the SuperRugby is in full swing now so we've got a wider choice apart from Soccer. And then the footy starts the following weekend.

Really? Max's parents are level headed young men??

The tribunal is a joke. The MRP is a joke. Steven May doing something borderline suspendable in a praccy match is a joke. Clowns the lot of them.

To AFLHQ, WHO’S WITH ME?!

He's often isolated deep because of his one-v-one contested ability, as evidenced in round 23 against West Coast and in the semi against Sicily. In reality, they all rotate around the front half of the ground, so where you put them doesn't overly matter.

I’ll repeat what other have said above : Cam Pederson - all class. Very nicely written letter.

Jones must have had some seriously good mates at Melbourne!

I suspect your cousin is right. No-one is better placed to know a player's deficiency than a teammate. This is where the good clubs develop players and improve their weaknesses. That said, I believe we've earmarked him for an outside wing role.