Elusive Tunbridge

Australia is an open genuinely free speech society. One of the few in this world. However, I often wonder whether or not "free" discussions, such as the preceding 10 pages, actually do any good. Seems to be more a digging in, or reinforcement of opinion, rather than any possible acceptance of change.

Wast of bloody time really.

My attitude to the "No T$" thread, exactly. So I don't read it, and I don't go on there urging anyone to close it. So the calls to close this thread are pretty suss, IMO.

I would however ask what these posters with their mocking tones are actually DOING to address racism and the race divide in this country?

If your passion is genuine, harness it, and actually DO something about it. Something that extends beyond expressing moral outrage on an internet forum over a footballer being booed.

I gather from this that you would like to see more being done to reduce racism in Australia, if only by others. Or am I misreading you?

The booing will have little to do with racism but a lot to do with his reign as the Australian of the year and his comments to divide rather than unite Australians at that time. No one is proud of the treatment meted out to Aborigines in the past but for goodness sake be a diplomat and a spokesperson for all Australians. There is a lot of residual resentment for his ill considered words at that time which did nothing for his reputation nor the causes of reconciliation and harmony within society.

Sorry to break this to you, but Bob Menzies is dead.

Paedo, you beauty!

Yeah, Goodes is just an utter plonker. What a way to quell the media circus by throwing them more peanuts.

Fark now all the commentators are just banging on and on about it, and that just what my Friday night needed, Matthew Richardson's expert analysis on this situation with assistance from the ginger one.

Opps I hope that was not racist.

You'd know.

All sorts of very good reasons why the booing might possibly not be because he's Aboriginal.

Of course it's not about race. It's never about race.

was also wondering if there was a subliminal message with the capital r "Right hand" reference

Waddaya mean, "subliminal"?

For precision:

"Indigenous" covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. "aboriginal" refers to the original inhabitants of any land - aboriginal Canadians, for example. "Aboriginal" with the cap is accepted usage for the aboriginal people of mainland Australia and Tasmania. Accepted usage, of course, always rests on shifting sands, and any of these terms or their variants can be demeaning in the Right hands.

interesting that Fitzy has been named in the forward pocket...

Hard to believe he'll play there. I'd have expected him to start on the bench and rotate through the backline.

I was about four seats away from him when he started up. Perfect expression of my feelings. I hope to see him again on QB.

King is still only 19, and it seems the club are not trying to hurry his development, but given our numerous NQR rucks the prospect of him becoming a genuine forward/ruckman is pretty heartening.

Exactly why is King on your list?

I understand the argument you're putting, franky, but what I saw from the Ponsford on Saturday made feelings of gloom and doom almost irresistible.

Isn't Harmes still on the rookie list and at this point in time can only be elevated in place of a long term injury?

Yeah, I forgot that. But we do still have an LTI unreplaced.

I wouldn't be surprised if both Riley and Harmes come in this week. I'd like to see Max King get a run with Casey seniors - he needs to be well dug in there by the end of the season.

Take it however you want. Your willingness to believe me doesn't change what happened.

I will ask you this though, how many FIGJAM's have asked to be dropped in the prime of their career?

You don't need to tell me the answer, but if you can figure it out, it might give you some insight into what happened.

The thing that makes me think you're just doing a bit of vicious rumour-mongering is that you call Watts a FIGJAM. For all his deficiencies, he's not that. I don't know the real story behind his dropping, but I'm pretty sure you don't either.

With trolls like that, you need a BIG billy-goat.

What changes would you have made this week?

In Dangerfield, Sloane, Shiel. Obviously.

I think it's time you looked at reality Song

This club is still playing timid football 10 years down the track...

Last night we were inept, fumbly and lacking in teamwork, particularly in the first half. I think this was mainly due to failing to respond to the Swans' pressure. Roos permitting McVeigh to run around unmarked didn't help. I didn't think we were timid at all, and I didn't see the Swans easing off in the second half.

Next week will probably be discouraging again, but we're still well ahead of the last few years.

One of teh old club stalwarts like Todd Viney could also help out by setting Hoges up with one of their daughters to strengthen his ties to Victoria

Plain, weedy nobody like Jesse would have no hope of finding a partner himself, especially in a small town like Melbourne.

It's a very big list - I wonder how many are part-time, or even casual? But I'm very pleased to see we have a Head Doctor.

I don't believe Eddie Everywhere would fancy becoming Eddie Irrelevant.

my friend has told me a few times that Jesse has said he probably wouldn't go back to Perth at all if not for his family, that there is so much more to do in Melbourne, and he loves being in the home of footy, apparently a lot of his mates are over here now anyways, besides Dom sheed who is an Eagles boy, jaeger up at the Suns and David swallow is up there too

Perth is a very nice place to visit, but after six months the walls start to close in. And they don't have the G.

Billy stretch upgraded to emergency.

Sign of things to come, sooner rather than later.

Just catching up with reading of press articles and saw Ross Lyon say that Melbourne are the #1 tackling team in the league this year. That came as a delightful surprise and something supporters have yearned for, for a very long time. It will be a fierce game tomorrow. Whatever the result the dockers will know they have been in a 'bruising' football game! .

Will be there to cheer Jack Watts every time he goes near the ball. Its great how he brings so many team mates into the play, an often unnoticed skill. Hope his confidence is back and that he has a great game. Congratulations on your 100th loyal game, Jack. Thank you for sticking fat with the Dees!

Should be able to get a 40 goal first quarter, then lock it down and save ourselves for Sydney.