nrc73

I really liked all the indigineous post goal celebrations I saw over the weekend for the following reasons: - they were brief but noticeable and didn't scream "look at me". - I don't view them as inciteful in the slightest - their style appeared more traditional and even personal (to my eyes) In short, they were everything Goode's actions were not.

Of the more offensive suggestions put out by many media outlets, is that most Australians are ignorant, bogans, racist, stupid, etc., The reality is that most of us would like to be seen as educated & informed and sadly the information you've highlighted has not been put forward by the AFL, the media (Left or Right), and this is the part that bothers me the most. How can we come together without these items being brought into mainstream discussion? For me, Indigenous Australian of the Year has a role to inform and this is the part where the Left stifle constructive conversation by trotting out the line about "white people trying to put Goodes back in his box because he makes us uncomfortable". This is rubbish. I was not uncomfortable with the way Goodes expressed how strong he felt when he became AOY - I just felt he missed an opportunity because he didn't provide a good platform for ongoing dialog about the issues and I keep thinking about all the public engagement (the Long Walk) and success that Michael Long has had since leaving the game in keep the issues on the radar in a constructive way. Sadly, I think both sides have been guilty of being narcissistic for that reason this whole thing has lost it's value.

Not according to dozens of articles during the last week. Broad generalisations are the most important and effective response and therefore should be perpetuated as much as possible. You've put a balanced argument forward, but sadly that is not what has appeared en mass in the media.

Hear about the rule change where you're no longer allowed to take people out at the legs? He was one of the bigger offenders of doing that, but should be praised for bringing another rule into the game to make it safer.

Agree 100% with everyone that Dawes output all year does not warrant his salary, senior member status, nor possibly a permanent spot in the team. The only value Dawes has really provided is a link up man when we move it through the centre at speed. That's about it. I seem him as being in the same ball park as Grimes, who's been forced to improve his game before earning a spot. One thing you can be confident about Jamar - he does know how to clunk a mark in the forward line, although I wonder if he has the athleticism to lead up all game. Surely it's time to find out if he has another year in him.

They don't broadcast a lot of games, but K-Rock was one of the few times I ever felt I was listening to anything intelligent. I seriously think the stuff on MMM is funny to few others that those in the broadcast box.

Dito, looks like a lot of others feel the same way.

Glad someone else noticed that we have already become too Hogan focused and that it made us predictable and a real lack of understanding among the players at the contest of who would stay down to clear the ball away. Couldn't help but think of the Richmond Freo game earlier in the weekend where Richmond continually lowered their eyes to a shorter moving option when going forward. Waited all second half for our guys to try it, but it never happened.

You always get a whole new perspective when you actually go to the game (which I did) and what you will never see from a replay is the body language of some of the senior Melbourne players when Toumpas has possession and makes mistakes, makes no effort to keep the ball in by deliberately taking it out of bounds, etc. Answer me this - why should we gift games to any player just because they're been a high draft pick? Take a step back and ask yourself - if you were able to trade Toumpas for another Vandenberg, would you? Do you really think we would sit back and wait 4-5 years again (aka Watts) for a high draft pick to show something, when you have Brayshaw & Hogan going past them in their 1st/2nd year? I watched Toumpas very carefully today. He is currently only capable of following instructions exactly. He does not have the football smarts (at this stage). Once he is forced into a situation where he has to think and play as a group he badly lets us down. If you need evidence, take a look at the last quarter, when every Melbourne back had manned up and Toumpas was 20m behind the Collingwood forward that took the mark and kicked the goal. He was just way too slow to recognise the player he was meant to be taking. I would rather have Stretch, ANB or anyone else that needs to be blooded in for him quite frankly. Toumpas has far too much to learn in a football sense and if what you're really doing is looking at stats, you're missing out on the intangibles that win and lose games.

It's a case of 'right idea, wrong execution'. Here's the part I don't get - Shaun Burgoyne made comment that while he's good friends with Goodes and they do a lot of work in their communities together, he said 'Goodes isn't a good dancer'. I want to see Indigenous AFL players put on a great dance not just for my entertainment, but because I'm envious that the kiwi's get to regularly enjoy the strong culture of their own Indigenous people, to see that pride.. Maybe such a display of unity would be massively good for our Aboriginal culture, too. Someone said that it's be too hard to get the Indigenous players from all club to assemble for the opening night of Indigenous round, but like almost everything in life big achievements are hard won.

That's a very timely quote. It effectively says, "we don't like controversial post goal celebrations, except when it comes from Australian of the Year. He has license to do what he wants, how he wants.". People love sport because they like to believe the rules will be universally applied. Onya AFL.

Forget the name Andrew Bolt, the real article is from Anthony Dillon, a part Aboriginal. Comes closer to identifying what may be at the heart of the matter, what's really bothering people - deliberately playing the victim game, rather than seeking empowerment. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/the_goodes_case_hurt_feelings_are_not_proof_of_a_crime/

This is the type of thought that occurred to me as well. Goodes only cemented what many non-racially motivated people (rightly or wrongly) perceive him to be - individualistic and self-centred. He's Australian of the Year - if there's anyone that could assemble other Indigenous players for a group war dance, it would be him, surely? A group dance before a game would be true celebration of culture - I'd love to see that! It could even be a great moment in modern Indigenous history - to be seen as having a collective voice, their proud heritage before a national audience - what could be better? Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't seen anything like in other Australian sports to date. But what I really hate is media commentators painting the broad brush and labeling all AFL fans that boo as bigoted. Could the AFL be trying to insult and alienate their support base through their media pets any harder?

I thought Pederson had a good year last year, thought he would be automatic for the starting 22 this year. Can someone comment on whether he's lost form, been injured or where he's at? Would love to see him produce more of his best from last year.

Not a dancing on his grave tupe post, but I think this is good experiment if only to gauge how much we do or dont miss him, leadership or otherwise. There are some players that are like club furniture, while others like Jack Watts have had spells so we know the difference to to team when he's been out. From that perspective probably a good move and remember its a long season.

Like the way you think.I think ultimately you just want to see these players reach their potential, except for games against MFC

Gawn looks terribly awkward, but he's always had ticker and gets my support. More like him please.

Agree. Someone suggest how many games this year he was in the best 3 or even 5 players!

I blame Leading Teams. I thought they dealt with leadership and the psychological side of the game!

In terms of trading players that have been around 4-7 years, I think you have to look at it from the perspective of tallying how many times those guys have finished in the top 5 of each game this year. Role or not, players in this age group should be regularly turning up as the best performers. All I've seen this year is either this years imported players or 1st/2nd year players regularly featuring as the best performers, despite Roos trying to protect the younger players. When Roos regularly touches on the cultural issues, few players have had more games in the last 4-7 years than Watts, Trenners & Grimes. I get the feeling it's the culture that Roos is trying to fix first.Too soon to give the captaincy to Viney, but he's exactly the sort of person that we ought to be getting more of. If Roos has such a great record of finding good players from other clubs, I say give him all the currency he needs to get the best players he can rather than hand over draft pick after draft pick. Tired of this "oh they've been injured, they'll have a breakout year next year" line., If a player gets injured half way through their career, they rarely come back in stellar form unless they've already been a stellar player. Bad culture is perpetrated by bad leadership. I think it's been no accident that Cross absence and Melbourne form slump has coincided.

Things are looking for your club when you got 2 players competing for the rising star. Despite all the priority picks, whem was the last time MFC had that situation?

I'd trade Watts for Puopolo any day. That's the kind of player Melbourne needs. Couldn't take my eyes off Stringer last night against St Kilda. That's what a real draft should be - good impact in first few years. None of this 'it takes time to develop' rubbish - he's a not a ruckman.

That's what I've noticed. Basic skill errors, absence of awareness, etc.

Watts has to be traded this year, otherwise clubs looking at him will consider him too old by the time he spends a year or so getting acquainted to their club system.