hemingway

i must admit, it is not the Ernest of old contributing to this narrative. I have lost a lot of weight and enjoyment for life. I am sorry Earl for not catching up with you but I am in a mid winter mood swing when I prefer to be alone with my thoughts. I appreciate that I am still remembered and perhaps valued in a small way. I find that I am no longer able to write and my last novel has been shelved. I feel it will never be written and all that I am now able to do is write short posts on this site, particularly this thread that is so ambiguous and full of fellow eccentrics and the odd egocentric. I hope for good news tomorrow at the bull ring.

They do not have the credentials or capacity to "lead" on social issues. They should be in step with social changes and make changes where compatible with the game and not just change for change sake (or to be seen to be doing something).

Yes, there will be no joy if and when they win their first granny. no different than everyone knowing that the winning side has been doping all season. i hope never to see smiles on the faces of Scully or Greene.

How has Bitters avoided being thrown into a Malaysian lockup? Given that Anwar Ibrahim has been locked up for alleged activities that would be minor offences on the Bitter list of interests. i know he is not a politician but he is a white Australian who would not go unnoticed in the police state that is Malaysia. I think it fortunate that he got out in time.

i know I am p.......in the wind, but I would rather have some experience and toughness (whoever that may be) than O.McDonald. The other match ups are fine,

Not saying we will lose, just that the Phil Walshe anniversary is a big deal. It's like a death in a country town. And yes, Adelaide and SA is a big country town. It touches more people and they are more connected than in big city like Melbourne. Also would not compare the Toiges with the class of the current Crows outfit. Irrespective of the reasons I like the positive thinking junior.

Been in Adelaide recently, very strong emotion about this, supporters really feel this is something important to play for. Walshie was a respected and loved person.

Welcome back to the honourable and innuendo free banana. I had a lovely sweet organic banana on my muesli this morning. It was delicious. Redleg does Mrs Redleg like a ripe banana herself ? What about any little Redlegs? Wow this is such a healthy smut free post. No doubt we will be hearing from virtuous cleanskin Old Dee very soon. Wonder if anyone else will bite? No, I am not going to mention the obvious.

Lets have a break from Uncle Bitters, he already thinks he owns this thread and only responds occasionally to maintain his brand image. I do have a mild affection for the man but I suggest a week free from UB comments. Redleg can to suggest a new idea.

agree with your first para. On your second para, i don't like the idea of mid season delisting. Players should have some certainty at least from season to season, delisting mid season would be unfair and just way to mercenary. It may have the effect that clubs would be less diligent in assessing performance at the end/beginning of the season if they think they can chop heads mid season and bring in replacement players.

And their supporters have already become insufferable. A shocking mob. Their hate of Vicorian clubs knows no limits although their hate of Port Adelaide has no end.

Brad does not endear himself that's for sure. Nor does his brother but I think Brad shades him at the post . Two undearing twins.

Another way to destroy the fabric and meaning of clubs, player loyalty and emotional investment by supporters. The talk and speculation of players moving clubs would become incessant and demoralising. Bad enough now, would be a nail in the coffin of the important connection of player and club. Clubs and players prostituting themselves for money and the hope of instant success. That would be the end for me.

Good post. My childhood memories of the VFL are wonderful memories and is the foundation of my faith and love of the game. The nature and development of the national game has taken away some of the spirit and soul of the game for the older supporters. It has become a product and clubs are talked about in business terms. GWS is another one of the AFLs franchises, and Head Office will have to continue to support the franchise in a manner that makes it unfair on the traditional clubs. Unfortunately, business, sport and life per se is not a level playing field. Having said that, I agree that the GWS outfit is super professional. Talking to the father of a very good player, he confirms that GWS has been fantastic in its support for his boy and is super professional in everything it does, so much so that it is unlikely (unless his boy is traded) that he will play for another club despite being a Victorian.

Earl with all your other activities and enterprises, you don't seem the type to attend training. I am surprised you are even in the country with all your global trades. You juggle a lot of balls my friend. Oh, I know, you were down there to supply the players with some of your magic guava paste.

Okay thanks for the factual correction. In regard to my implicit criticism of the MFC medical management, my understanding was that the full extent of the injury was found after RFC scanned the foot, something not done by MFC. The analogy being that if you went to two doctors or specialists and one investigated the complaint by scan and one didn't, it would reflect badly on the one that failed to investigate. The fact is that some doctors have very good diagnostic skills that include proper investigation and others don't. The reason that many cancers develop is that the initial doctor fails to investigate or make an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes it's missed due to poor assessment (poor skills), omission or lack of care. In any event, my main point was that Jack has the skills (although not the pace), but that the health of his foot will be the main determinant of whether he makes it over the longer term.

Maybe he has a better relationship with Roos than Goodwin? Maybe maybe maybe. We live in a football world that is all about rumour, innuendo, and news creation. All I know is that nothing is certain in this world but unless there is a definite decision made and communicated we get lost in a world of paranoia and speculation. I have learnt to enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself. If the club does the right thing, I am sure Jack will be a one club player.

A great summary by Mooney, thanks for sharing Bub. I think most of us share these sentiments, but it's nice to hear from a footy person that we do have reason to be optimistic. It may not translate into a flag, but future team success and happier times ahead appear on the horizon. Expert list management will be critical and the ability of Goodwin to take the players with him through his own force of personality, vision, and game plan. We now have a group of young players that expect and demand success. Viney is the best example but there are many others exhibiting the same features.

At the time of the proposed trade, he had been playing all season with a dodgy foot that had been not been diagnosed by the MFC medical staff. It was properly assessed by the RFC which was a poor reflection of medical management at that time. Having said that, Jack is not naturally quick, foot injury or not. Although the injury would not help. However, he has good skills and is footy smart. In that first year with Scully, I thought that Jack would be the better player simply because of his skills and footy smarts.. He can win the contested ball and is a competitive beast. He is a ferocious tackler and a team player with leadership qualities. So I think his lack of pace is offset by his other attributes. By all accounts, he has been a role model to others (such as Petracca) in the way he has gone about his rehab. However, he is now competing against a whole new group of young promising players so he will have to work hard to maintain a place in the side. I think the bigger hurdle for Jack is whether his foot will hold up long term. His foot will never be the same or be as good as new. So he will play with this limiting factor. It is an injury that has a poor prognosis due to the demands of the sport and harder grounds. Maintaining consistency and form may prove difficult if he is unable to play from week to week. He deserves another season before judgement is passed.

God help me Picket, the man, woman or Intersex already has an ego the size of Eddies. He would become uncontrollable or alternatively take himself so seriously he would become a crashing bore. Given that he already thinks he is a sexologist this could be dangerous!

I prefer Vogon over Grunthos and Paula but I do like the poem! Very descriptive and evocative.

thanks. i don't think you are a vogon after all.

Does genuine curiosity have another meaning? Along sadomasochistic lines.

BBO crude and offensive. It's not funny.

I offered an opinion boys. It may be right or wrong but I am not interested in some kind of justification of what I wrote. It becomes pedantic and a boring exercise. I don't mind debate but it gets to a point where it becomes very boring very quickly. Point scoring does not interest me. My theme was simply that Jack has shown great character to cop all the criticism and abuse and play good footy this year. I did not think this was possible but he proved me wrong.