hemingway

And don't forget the media. Manna from heaven. Getting worried, someone is going to dig up some dirt on poor old Ernesto soon.

People do make things up, every day, all the time. Sometimes its complete fabrication, sometimes there is an element of truth that is then misused to support an opinion. You also have liars, mischievous types, stirrers, and sometimes folks who believe a story but on incorrect or flimsy grounds. However, if you believe the story, you should provide a little more detail as to how or why you think the story true.

Early days but you would think so.

sure did Redders, but I am a day to day man. at a stretch week to week. I do not plan only hope to get to the next day or match. I must go to the Temple soon and seek redemption.

how depressing Biff. hope you are well and glad that you have resurfaced.

I never like wishing defeat on another team, in this case, on-going misery. Maybe wish a little but not too hard. Perhaps Essendon but not others. Bad Karma. We have been there ourselves and know what its like. Better to celebrate our wins.

The media is the media. Nothing is going to change. We can jump up and down but will anything change. In the short term.....no, as we have few friends in their ranks. For years we have been one of the whipping boys and that's the way it is. Added to that is the stereotypical remarks about top end of town, members, snow, go number 9, and all the other crap that just gets regurgitated every year. Only long term sustained success and a hard nosed club that takes no prisoners is going to change the perception and attitude of the media and others. I must admit, like a few others, I would prefer Goodwin to take a stronger stand on behalf of his players, although my guess is that he does not want to give the media any more ammunition.

You can tell that Brayshaw really wants it. He wants it bad. Petracca is a mercurial talent but whether that is fully realised depends on how much he wants it and how hard he is prepared to work.

Timmy for all his wonderful qualities, is such a lightweight in terms of his footy commentary. Of course he is not on his own, but somehow I always expect more from Tim however his utterances are always disappointing! Very much a case of not living up to expectations , his own or others. Strangely he pops up year after year, looking a little more self important but nevertheless ridiculous with his tight pants, brown shoes and heavily rimmed glasses.

Think your right in regard to structure. We have three mobile marking forwards. Good in the air and on the ground, reasonably good in applying defensive pressure and good goal kicking accuracy.

What has always impressed me about Brayshaw is his intensity and work ethic.

good point Chief

A very good summary.

Every week we have the media beating up a story, whether it be a story on the successes or failures of a particular club (Richmond is the success and St Kilda the failure ) or a story coming out of a match (Hogan/McCartney). Everything is dramatized and exaggerated for purposes of footy talk shows, journalists etc). We really have to try and ignore it because the media circus relentlessly moves on from week to week. I guess they achieve their objective by folks watching shows, reading articles and talking about it. But so much of it is nonsense and just a waste of time. Despite their healthy remuneration, I do have some sympathy for the coaches and players who have to absorb this bilge and have to defend or justify their position.

what a storm in a teacup. just ridiculous.

Very happy and relieved with the win. Yes, it could or should have been more because the Saints are terrible. But we are a work in progress and there are very positive signs, and a group of players beginning to make their mark. Every win no matter how it is attained helps to build confidence and belief.

A very unimpressive commentator on all sport. You would expect him to be very knowledgeable about footy but his commentary never suggests that he has any additional knowledge over the average punter. Adds very no insight or makes little comment that adds to the value of commentary. He is there for his special comments but makes no special comments. He appears to lack objectivity. And he certainly damns Melbourne with faint praise.

How romantic

Agree, it was freaky at the time. Remember watching him kick a banana goal for the first time on the forward pocket boundary line at Carlton or South Melbourne and the crowd was simply stunned. No-one else had ever done it before, Likewise, I can't remember him missing. He also played cricket for Victoria as a spin bowler.

Got that wrong, although Bill Stephenson practiced the place kick, it was Bill Young not George Young who played with the Saints in the 70s. Bill played in the late 50's early 60's and was credited by some for creating the banana kick, later credited to Blair Campbell of Richmond and later Melbourne. Campbell suggested that he got the idea from Bill Young.

The place kick is as dead as a dodo and has been for a long time. Back in the early 60s two St Kilda forwards George Young and Bill Stephenson practiced place kicks at training but never tried it in a match. On the other hand, the well executed drop kick was a thing of beauty and extremely effective particularly from defence. It could be penetrating, accurate and used for breaking the lines. A great loss to the spectacle of the game.

No genuine contrition. Bit like Bank executives apologising without any genuine feeling or meaning. Heard CBA CEO say he was ashamed but he could have used any word as it had no meaning.

It happens a lot in life. In Bomber's case, clearly everyone knew. Even the humble old spectator watched Bomber appear on TV looking (at times) in terrible shape. Sleepy, bags under his eyes, appearing depressed. Whatever, in bad shape. Now you can imagine how many times this would have occurred at both GFC and EFC, indeed even within his own social circle. There are always opportunities for intervention. Not just to ask the question and accept the denials. As a father, you may accept your children's denial of a misdemeanor but if that misdemeanor is as obvious as the nose on your face or persists over time, you do something about it. Not always easy, but if you care, you do something. You intervene and find a solution or get assistance to deal with the problem. You don't accept "no" as the answer. Now that is perhaps a bit simplistic, but it reflects a tendency in today's society. To accept something at face value and not to go the extra yards to do something meaningful. Even if offers were made and rejected by Bomber, it does not appear that anyone took that extra step. If someone is accused of stealing, a simple denial is not satisfactory. You investigate and do something about it so that you have a satisfactory answer and solution to the problem. Bomber may have failed society, the folks who trusted him, his family, indeed himself, but somehow I feel that there are a lot of people, particularly those close to him in both clubs who have failed Bomber.

Yes I agree Doc, I was really talking about the problem of addiction. But I have said my peace and will let it rest.

I understand your position and your comments have validity. However, believe me, not everyone has choice due ....well to life circumstance, personality and mental health. In this case, you have pricked a nerve. I'm not just talking about Bomber and the scourge of addiction but the whole community of addicts that are trapped in a vicious downward spiral. I'm not sure I like the term addiction but rather that folks who are caught up in this world are trapped because of their physiological and physiological dependence. It does not matter if you have money and fame, the addiction is the same. Yes, I have sympathy because the future outlook is not good, and I'm not going to state the obvious. Fundamentally, addiction and mental health go hand in hand. We do need sympathy and compassion irrespective of the person.