hemingway

Caffeine addict?

I suspect that it is only in AFL footy, where there are so many tribal loyalties together with marketing sell that we have had such a soft approach to the players. Sure they have served their time but the hands off approach from the AFL and media is a construct and an attempt to minimise the damage.

A round with The Fence in a white HT Holden. The tastes suggest that the girls were all class. Even if you take the Holden or the Fence out of the picture.

The Hogan thing sums up the disconnect between supporter and those who ply their trade in the Industry. We supporters are loyal, sentimental, nostalgic and for entire lifetimes committed to our club. It is our heritage, it is part of our blood line and DNA. Yet we folliw a game that is professionalized, corporatised and bastardised. We invest our emotional energy and passion into this crazy unreality. Do I want Hogan to stay a Demon? Absolutely. Do I accept that he may go? Yes. He is a player who was drafted from far away WA. It's a long way away. It's not Melbourne. It's unique like all other parts of the country, with its own culture, lifestyle, behaviour and way of thinking. Melbourne is not Perth. We are a product of our upbringing, our connections, our family. Jesse will always be a Western Australian as that is where he belongs. Any Melbournians who have lived interstate or overseas remain at heart Melbournians as that is where the heart lies. There will be many who will get upset if Jesse flies away home. Yet who could blame him. If this occurs this meat market of professional sport will see another player or group of players ripped away from their home turf to ply their trade in far away Melbourne. God help them. Poor buggers having to put up with the traffic, the aggression, the road rage and lack of courtesy. What a dog eat dog world Melbourne has become. When I look at the way the game continues to change I see Hogan as a CHF of the past in the image of Brown and Carey. He is a key position player in a game that no longer has key position players. So it will not be the end of the world if he goes, which he will sooner or later.. Yet emotionally I want him to remain a Demon, how crazy!

I doubt it.

Totally agree. Really get angry which means that I am angry most of the time! The only thing to be said is that it has been going on for a long time and the more successful clubs have used the umpires leniency on throwing to great advantage to ensure quick ball movement. The two handed flick out has been perfected to the point that the old fashioned handball is almost a thing of the past. I can only think that this is a direction from the top to ensure a fast flow on style of game is maintained and is a way of avoiding the congestion and huddles around the ball. However, I find myself shouting at the TV when I watch the blatant throwing taking place in every game. At times, handball resembles a flick pass, and, at its worst, a rugby pass. The Hawks and the Cats are expert but other sides are catching up. The word handball should be replaced by the word handpass and the change in interpretation of the rule acknowledged or the rule changed.

Fair call. Also I find it hard to be sympathetic toward the EFC players when sportsmen and women in this country and across the world have to live with their decisions regarding doping. Ignorance of what you have taken or casting blaming on others (ie coach or club) is not a legitimate excuse. AFL footballers should not be treated any differently than any other professional sportsperson.

Totally agree. We have the airbrushing by the AFL and media of the doping scandal. These guys should not be welcomed back as heroes.

Of these two teams, win or lose the Dogs are the future.

We talk about the players, Hird and the rest of the gang and that gang includes our new coach.

A couple of EFC acquaintances of mine, were happy to see him go and had a quiet snigger that MFC had picked him up. Reminded me of the snigger from my brother in law when we picked up Dawes and HH, In summary they regarded JM as a dumb footballer and turnover king. However on the plus side, Goodwin must believe that it will be a worthwhile pickup. Also one of the EFC supporters is a complete DH and hates Melbourne.

That's a much better response than your earlier post. I agree with some of your comments. However, it is not up to clubs or players to argue the merits of different substances and products. It is not an exact science as you say. However, banned substances are banned substances and all sportsmen and women have a responsibility to know what they are taking and whether it is banned. No international athlete can say they did not know or that they were mislead by someone else. If you take banned substances knowingly or not you are regarded as a cheat and treated as such if your charge is proven. Athletes that take banned substances are seeking to gain an unfair advantage over their competition.

Over the years I have read many opinions on drugs in sport, but these two justification propositions are truly remarkable. You criticize SWYL comments as childish, however, your comments are truly foolish.

Yes understandable. It is a little hypocritical to condemn club and players and at the same time welcome two of the players as if they had only ingested mothers milk.

Eddie is a natural bully. Personal attacks are his stock in trade. His day will come. .

CB don't do this to us. I always feel deflated after premature expectation.

Agreed ad, just plain sensible talk no bull..... and clearly all on the same page. unlike some other club presidents, Bartlett is not a headline grabber.

Agree with the comments on this thread. Have only just listened to the press conference and it has to be the most impressive performance I have heard from a President, CEO and coach. Reassuringly, It showed what a stable club we have become and reflects the benefit of good leadership and considered management. People who know what needs to be done and who have shown by their actions that they all have a stake in the outcome. Wise leadership. i liked the belief, the expectation, and the clear vision tempered with a realistic outlook. It was the most impressive performance by a new coach that I can remember watching. What I saw in the new coach was: Belief, ambition, realism, intelligence, listening skills, patience, clear thinking, clear communication, honesty, humility, and support for players and staff, A man with very strong attributes for a senior coach. We are in good hands.

Maybe, does provide depth beyond that is debatable.

I think we know from his EFC days what he brings.

Politically incorrect Ted, but also a reality check. He was part of the holy mess at EFC. This does not mean he can't coach but does cause one to reflect about his past judgement on doping.

I can understand the logic for team balance, but I don't favour Watts being used in the ruck, very much robbing Peter to pay Paul. He has a bigger frame these days but he is not huge. Like Roos, I just worry about the physical toll on his body and the heightened risk of injury. His mobility and pace, together with his marking skills leading up the ground and kicking accuracy make him our major weapon up forward. I would hate to see this sacrificed. However, it does not answer the question as to the best bet back-up for Max. I really think that either we play Spencer or we clear him. He has been around a long time a la Jamar, and he is wasting away playing for Casey every week. Yes, I know that raises questions of team balance but some game time early in the season is warranted.

Agreed Dr, but in particular Watts. His heritage (Brighton Grammar) would have been enough without thinking of body type or game style.. Sheedy had a dim view of public (private) school boys who he thought were soft, preferring hard bitten country kids. Having said that he must have taken a few at GWS. Certainly Toby Greene (Wesley College) falls into that group.

Yeah interesting. Understand that Stef Martin is a pretty smart guy so you are probably right. My guess is that you also right about Carey Grammar because in the last few years that have had 6 students make AFL lists -Viney, Moore, McRae, Hrovat, Ashby and Jaksch. The picks are obviously Viney, Moore and McRae.

Guys we should know by now that despite the odd issue, the AFL, the Clubs and the footy media are all in bed together. It is a business and decisions are made to benefit the industry. The EFC has a major stake in the business. As a result, conflicts arise and business interests predominate. AFL CEOs, have for a very long time been deal makers. You can just add Gil to a long list of deal makers. Principles get easily pushed aside when your objective is to achieve the best commercial or business deal. I suspect that for the next 10 years we will be moaning about GWS. The playing field has been tipped upside down to give them a leg up for business reasons. There is nothing fair or even handed about the AFLs support for GWS. I was listening to someone rabbiting on about what a wonderful recruiting job GWS had done. Save me! They may have done a great job in development, but recruiting wise, the AFL has done the job for them. Anyway, back to topic, I will eat my hat if Jobe is required to hand back his "Downlow Medal". In any event, who would want it? To be known as the recipient of Jobe's tarnished medal.