hemingway

bobby one last story. what struck me about Tunna was that even in old age he looked an unlikely type to play league football, still thin and almost awkward in his movements. However, he had a quiet fierceness and intensity about him that you could imagine would translate into one very determined footballer. He also gave the impression of not suffering fools gladly. He told me a story that some years past he applied for a teaching job at a very well known private school nestling in the leafy suburb of Hawthorn. He was upset when the school turned down his application in a very dismissive fashion. However, he had the last laugh. Some weeks later the school discovered his illustrious football career and rang him to offer him the job with the added bonus that he could coach the school footy team. It was an ingratiating approach that he did not appreciate given their earlier attitude towards him. He said with a wry smile that it gave him great pleasure to tell the caller that he could "stick the job up his a...."

Always thought he was 23 when he played his first game, but DemonWiki tells us that he was 25. Quiet remarkable when you look at his record which include 3 premierships. Also another era when players had jobs, trained twice a week and playing VFL was an option and not mandated by dollars. Also a reminder that players over 18-20 years of age can still make it and should always be a consideration (a la Vandenberg)

Very sad news.I was lucky enough to talk to Tunna over several years at my local licensed grocer before he moved down Hastings way. He was a lovely bloke who was always happy to talk about the Demons. He was modest unassuming and had a wicked dry sense of humour. At times he was quite grumpy but never rude. RLike many from that era he felt that players today were overpaid and spoilt although recognised that times had changed He talked about how happy he was when Melbourne paid his petrol money to drive to training from his teaching job in Ballarat. He talked with reverence about Norm Smith and his love for the man. He talked about his great mate Ronald Dale. He often talked about his hate (perhaps strong dislike is more diplomatic) for Collingwood and Carlton. At the time of our meeting he enjoyed going to the MCG to watch the Demons often with Ron and enjoyed the get togethers with his mates from the glory years. The mateship that survived from those great years was very special. Sad that Geoff did not get to see the rise of the Demons. He was a great fella. T

To be honest Deano, its more a case of filling the gap he left in the team. Based on last years form when he played up forward I don't think its a major loss. Even when he was down back he had days when he was no more than serviceable. To me a leader is someone that plays his heart out irrespective of the scoreboard, runs and chases all day, can lift his game when required, and can inspire his team mates. The obvious example is N.Jones. Our problem is that Jonesy is our only true leader on the ground. Chip Frawley was never a leader.

wow i felt depressed after the game. after reading these posts on demonland I feel even more depressed and the season has not even started.

lord travis truly tragic, but you deserve a medal for being at that morgue. it smells of death. I will not go.

praha, i commend you on point 1. however, on point 2, alcohol and depression do not go. i know all about it.

really don't care about this game at all. the only thing I care about is that we don't getting any injuries that will derail the real stuff.

rpfc never have truer words been written. absolutely spot on in every respect.

Have no problem with Wolfmothers post. Last two paragraphs are the most interesting and have validity. AFL will always be hopelessly conflicted. Money, revenue, profit are their reason for being. Everything else comes a distant second. And for mine, Dr Reid is totally discredited. What he says does not matter.

Should be ignored. There are a few excellent sports writers ie martin flanagan, but the general mill of sports journalists and footy media scrum are not doing the job because they are intelligent talented professionals. They are doing the job because they don't have much else going for them. They were not top of the class at school or university. They are at the bottom of the pile. The standards are low. Their talent, ability and integrity are low. Barrett is at the bottom of the pile. Same thing could be said of the footy show and all those who do their bidding.

which makes me want to see him down the back half particularly given his height, run and carry (and his relative inexperience). Still team balance is the issue and the coaches will make that call.

On Viney, I agree that he needs to make it as a mid. Other comments a bit harsh particularly for a 20 year old. As mentioned on another thread, I see Viney very much in the mould of his old man. You know what you get. Its about attitude, effort and never say die. Would rather have a guy who may not have the silky skills but will play until he drops rather than the other way round.

Unfortunately criticism and negativity will continue until we have some sustained success. When we do start winning games the mindset of demon supporters, the football public and the media will change. The top sides have lots of issues going on within their clubs that could be viewed negatively, but winning footy games protect them from close scrutiny. Like wallpaper, winning games of footy papers over the cracks. The footy media are like a bunch of hyenas.

We want to win but NAB games are practice matches and a time for experimentation. It is going to take time to settle our side.

Peter Jackson and his team quietly and professionally going about their business. And our young guns signing on. Confidence building

I assume SEN is a radio station. My old wireless only gets 3AR and 3LO. I think I can do without this new station unless it has literary reviews and interviews with avante garde writers. Does it cater for modernist writers or free exchange of radical or revolutionary discourse?

Perhaps true Ron, definitely poorly coached and pushed from pillar to post. Don't know about the contract negotiations but I suspect there were a number of reasons for Rivers decision to move and as we know the lure of playing in a successful side at the end of your career after years of soul destroying thrashings is very strong. Think Alves, think Wells, think Frawley. You cannot blame the player despite supporters call for loyalty. No-one wants to play year after year in a losing side. That's what makes Jones exceptional but I suspect he has been very well looked after in his recent contract negotiations. Also prefer we don't expunge this period from our history. Important to learn from history and ensure we never go back there.

a little harsh old dee ?

oh beezle I love your work and am enlivened by your positivity but why do I feel depressed thinking about the outcome?

Like father like son. Not silky smooth skills but effort, intensity, and guts cannot be questioned. Never say die. We need a team of jack vineys or at least 21 others with the same attitude.

prodee your last sentence is the most telling and summarizes the Garland dilemma.

I am a fan of Joeboys post and accept them on face value understanding that they are opinion. they are a quick easy read that give you an immediate viewpoint of players performance. my humble suggestion is that all posters should comment on other posters as if they were addressing the other person face to face. its just to easy and almost cowardly to throw mud around from behind a keyboard. so often posters get derailed due to bruised ego's and really what amounts to childish indignation. personal slanging matches are just tiresome and take away from the good information and opinions provided on this site.

Inconsistency and lack of ruthlessness tells us that we have a developing side. A developing side also means an unsettled side. Inconsistency will remain whilst we have an unsettled side. When we have a settled side it will mean that we have the talent, experience and confidence to consistently win matches. All top sides have a critical mass of stars or match winners. There is still a big gap between our best players and our worst players. As we all know, we have few if any star players, Nate Jones aside, and we still have too many fringe players who would not get a game with a top side. Currently, the team does not have the evenness in talent, capability and experience. This year will be a work in progress. However, the acquisition of players like Lumumba and Garlett, together with our young talent gives me more optimism than I have had for a long time. But it will be a bumpy ride in 2015.

agree RB. starting to worry that this has become a chronic injury. bit of a concern given his age and footy years. he is going to be underdone when he returns despite the amount of running done over preseason. a really important player for us but better that he return mid season than return too early and suffers a recurrence. a difficult balance to get right. management so far suggests a conservative approach by the medical staff which has to be good thing.