hemingway

They may be bogans, but this suggests that only bogans would behave this way. It does bogans a great disservice. Comments like this come about because of the boys club type mentality. They also come about due to bias, ignorance, over inflated egos and inappropriate attempts at humour. It comes about due to a misguided attempt to entertain. In one case, it comes about because the guy also has a bully type mentality. Most of us have also had occasion to make or have a cheap laugh at someone else's expense. Most of us immediately regret and feel guilt in so doing. Most of us learn from our mistakes. In this case, these guys and one in particular do not learn.

Jack Watts had more than a baptism of fire. I cannot think of any player that has been the subject of so much criticism and ridicule from the football world and Melbourne supporters. His form this year tells us a lot about his talent and his character. We knew he had the talent but not the physical and mental toughness to make it. He proved me wrong and many others. It also shows good judgement by the club in sticking by him. I was as frustrated as many others with his game. So happy for him to see him emerge from the darkness. In this dog eat dig world that craves immediate success, it is a lesson that patience and persistence can pay off. It shows that Jack despite being labelled as soft has a resilience and toughness that has sustained him. He has succeeded when many would have failed under the weight of public opinion.

Understandable loss but still very disappointed.

Big pecs but not much in the lunchbox if that is Bitters. Perhaps that explains his constant references to floggings and other depravities. However, I suspect that our constant reference to Bitters on this thread only feeds an already healthy ego and only encourages him to exaggerate his tales. They do make for entertaining reading but is this good for anyone?

Those were the days, used to love watching the final quarter of the reserves. It really got everyone in the mood for the big match and had the added interest of seeing who looked good in the reserves and may be a chance the following week. If the prelim game was reinstated I reckon it would have the fans flocking back. Would be good for the revenue of the bars and food outlets. Having attended some country games this year, all the spectators turn up to watch the last half or quarter. Unfortunately, I know the answer, its not going to happen.

Sorry Redleg this post screwed up, I would never try and put words in your mouth.

Given his record at Essendon, I see Melksham as a depth player and not an automatic pick. Also unless he tidies up his disposal and gains some composure when getting the footy, he may a liability and becomes another one of our defenders who turns it over just to often. He may be tough and uncompromising but we have plenty of those guys now and we need quality outside players with great disposal skills.

Daisy having lived in Switzerland for some time, I can tell you that Bitters would not get into the country. And if by chance he did the Swiss are very good at sending unwanted folks back to their own country post haste. Don't forget, the Swiss are very conservative, law abiding citizens who don't take kindly to difference. Having said all that, Swiss standards have changed since the migration of workers from other countries so that perhaps Bitters could be mistaken for a foreign worker. Unfortunately most foreign workers have dark skins. If Bitters is in Suisse, he could be back in town very quickly on the next available flight. Unless, he gets into the country as an artist or entertainer.

Quite likely Adam. He is a disillusioned man both with the club and the game. Also realistically he is toward the end of his career and it would be very difficult coming back and committing yourself to start all over again after such a long absence. If he loses his Downlow Medal that would be it.

Poor form Ethan you are so much better than that.

I said I was crazy Ron, I hardly need you to agree or confirm it.

The reality check hey wolf

A man of principle OD. And I can't blame you. I still love sport but the medals, cup or urn are all a little tarnished. I do agree the Olympic organisation like FIFA is heavily conflicted by politics and self interest but I will be watching the contest and cheering for the Aussies.

Crazy as you may think, I would not take anyone from EFC irrespective of what they bring to the team. I like winning games but I like the moral high ground. We are looking at luring drug cheats to our club. For me, it has bad karma written all over it. I would also be concerned with giving away some really good players or those with great development potential. I know trading is part of the marketplace but we are developing a champion team and with that developing stability, mateship and a desire to achieve success together. I mean seriously who would you be happy to trade and what message does that send to our young team.

Royal blue was hideous. Born in the mistaken belief that it would look better on the then new colour TV. But it looked worse. I celebrated when they went back to their traditional colours. I prefer to remember Robbie Flower for the player he was and he finished his illustrious career wearing the red and navy blue. The royal blue has been replaced by our "away" jumpers, also a ridiculous decision irrespective of merchandising reasons.

Forget the past, Jack has become an integral part of the team in 2016 and we need his footy smarts, disposal and goal kicking ability. He has won me over after years of frustration. like children, sometimes the slow developers turn out the best.

Well said binman, love your honesty, integrity and heart. I am only half the man you are. Perhaps I am just getting old and impatient and although I love Jack I also love the young kids and what I see happening to our great club. But your point is well made.

I think we would all love to see Jack play 100 games. It is more sentiment than logic, unless there are injuries or poor form from the current group. It's a tough business and the club has suddenly developed a tough take no prisoners attitude after decades of decay. So after watching the shambles of those decades, Northey and Daniher years excepted, I want to continue to see this tough new attitude predominate both on field and off field, like the top clubs. No-one can be gifted games. The sad reality is that there are great blokes who will not have their dreams and hopes realized and that they will be either depth players or end up playing elsewhere. I love Jack but I think that the nature of our new club means that his window of opportunity has passed unless we have injuries or form problems. No doubt we will, so Jack probably will deserve a game. However, he will not be with us next year when you look at the development list.

Old Dee, the Olympics is no more a farce than any professional sport whether it is team based or individual. Nationalism, team sponsors, individual glory and riches, administrators, and all those who make a living out of professional sport are caught up in a web of duplicity, collusion, corruption, misrepresentation and in some cases conspiracy and fraud. It is not new. There are so many vested and conflicted interests now that make eradication nigh impossible. Perhaps it has got worse but doping in sport has been well organised and systemic since the early 1970s. There is greater awareness of the problem now and we have all become cynical and suspicious. We either choose to follow an event or a sport knowing that this dark side exists. Although perhaps not as bad in this country, it is certainly present both at an individual and team level. The EFC and rugby league are the best examples, but it has existed well before these recent examples. No-one and no country is immune. and we may well be shocked to learn of the dark side of champion athletes that have been considered clean. I will be watching the Olympics and the Tour de France with enthusiasm and interest but with a heightened awareness that there are athletes, teams and countries that are doping. I agree that if caught, they should get their whack. Shame is a powerful force. Also, for those not caught, they have to live with the knowledge and guilt that they cheated. How many sporting heroes of our past have cheated? We will never know but my guess is that the names would fill a book.

Sorry Steve, I did not read your earlier post, my attention is not that good these days, although I do often find myself in agreement with you. You are one of my favourite actors and I use the present tense as you are very much alive in spirit.

can we please stick to written posts and avoid pictures, they are difficult to stomach at times and this one may be doing Uncle Bitters a great disservice, although it did occur that he may be flattered with this one with the exception of the bike and flag.

Jack Nostalgia I was thinking of as you would have known old friend. On re-reading my post it does seem a little tough as i am really quite sentimental although not nostalgic but I do hope he gets to play 100 games. Did you enjoy some suitable refreshment after the big game? I am thinking of a single malt. Laphroaig is my favourite tipple although not taken for some time.

Wagner is the present and the future. He plays like there are no tomorrow's. Let him make mistakes but he represents the new MFC. No going back to the tried, tested and failed. Other than where injury means there is no other choice. Nostalgia or sentimentality should not get a guernsey.

Reckon he is a beauty as is Wagner. Both these kids have got it. Guts, determination, run, tackling machines and great in the contest and open space. They represent the new MFC and what we have lacked for so long. Let them make mistakes but make no mistake, they are the future.