waynewussell

Martin had 20+ possessions. When was the last time Jamar did that?

For mine, today demonstrated why we didn't take Sheedy. It took us a while to navigate through to Neeld but I think we will be counting our lucky stars as time goes by. Sheeds... eventually [censored] blows back in your face!

Jonesy objected to the way a GWS player thumped Grimes over the line to spoil a mark. I loved it... and congratulate all the Demons who got involved. There should be more of it, a s*&tlo^d of it as we go forward.

I b-o-o-o-o-o-d Scully at every opportunity! It was necessary and it was expected. I told him that he had the makings of a good umpire!!!! When we cheered Macca I told Scully that's what it's all about!!!! However, I doubt I will ever feel the need to boo him again. He is not a great player. He is a good running, link man.... We are probably fortunate they took him off our hands. I wish him a long, mediocre career!

Am I right in saying you rate Bail as effective as Jamar?

Magner regains his freedom when Batram returns!

Got there nice and early to discover a groundsman spreading a wheelbarrow full of dyed green turf, sand or sawdust around the centre circle.

6-Rivers 5-McDonald 4-McKenzie 3-Clark 2-Blease 1-Nicholson

If I told you the Dees will win one of the next three, which one would give you the most pleasure, Carlton, Collingwood or Essendon? For me it would be the Bummers!

Dr Gonzo and Range Rover have come up with outstanding ideas/suggestions. We should embrace the stereotype, in the same way European immigrants embraced the "W" word to disarm most of the negative connotations. And, yes, the bugle-boy should stay in the stands and lead the supporters into party-time when a win is assured... a bit like the fat lady singing. If he makes a wrong call then its 100 push ups in the centre circle after the teams and officials have departed. The angry female official who reported him last week would be employed to oversee this public humiliation.

I think there are two trumpeters, so as long as our second bloke comes on through the interchange we should be right v Pies. The incident with the AFL official (a ferocious looking lady) happened right in front of me and my son. We had a giggle at the time because this woman had really played up her ire (in that stage-manager style) over the fact that the coin had been tossed and regulation 326b, regarding tempo of theme songs, had clearly been breached. Mr Trumpeter looked embarrassed, after all, he had landed the gig and he had started on cue. I think I heard him say to the lady official "Where were you when Meatloaf outstayed his wecome!" before trudging off.

RobbieF you are entitled to your view on Jolly. I liked him from the time I saw him doing some ruck training at Sandy with White and mentor (at the time) Stynes. I was frustrated by his inability to grasp the opportunities he was given with both hands. That's probably why I am sympathetic to Daniher's alleged indifference. I suggest to you that Daniher thought Jolly had immense natural gifts but wasn't prepared (at the time) to do whaever it takes. Remember, Daniher battled a series of serious knee problems to etch out a handful of games over a decade of pain... He may have thought Jolly was a bit soft. At this point in time, I still rate the N Daniher contribution to football ahead of DJ's and I found his article lacked class.

Jolly played 48 games for Melbourne, all of them coached by Daniher. Interestingly enough, that's more games than Jakovich, Vardy & Croswell, all players that seem to have left a better impression. This is also more games than Grimes, Trengove and Watts... It would seem to me to be enough games to establish your credentials. On the issue of not being given a fair go, Jolly played 18 games in 2002 and 19 in 2003. Not a bad achievement for a bloke whose coach didn't have the time of day for him! I think the game I referred to earlier v The Bulldogs was round 3, 2004... The stats sheet for that game shows Jolly had 1 hitout and 1 free against. I'll dig up a replay to review my memory of the incident v Darcy, but I remember coming away with the feeling that Jolly was sucked in by a bloke I thought was full of bluff. He went down precisely at a time when the club needed him and I got the impression that he contributed somewhat to the injury.

The final straw for Daniher re Jolly came when he was finally given a go against the Bulldogs at the G (in the days when the construction workers had taken over the Ponsford). He had a (brief) altercation with Darcy at the City end and Darcy slapped him around like a puppy. Jolly went down awkwardly and did a knee... missed something like 8 weeks. At that stage Daniher's preconceptions were vindicated. Jolly went on to bigger and better things but he can't complain about not being given a go... he blew the opportunity he was given by looking a fool against a wily (but hardly intimidating) foe.

Finally a thread on the issue that seems to make sense! I fully support most of the views expressed here. We need to support the Neeld regime 100% until we drag ourselves up from the floor, climb the ladder and banish the lack of belief that has engulfed the players (whether the brutal honesty of Neeld contributed or not). The whole club, including the supporters, need to stick fat and go the distance... I will accept a change of direction if we show no growth by the beginning of 2013.

Has the yips, Big Time!!! That's why he handballed into trouble after taking MOY. Just needs to settle a mite... A great pick up. You don't take those one touch grabs week after week if you haven't got something special. The reason he is a keeper of the highest order is his pace and endurance. An inspired draft pick... amongst the gloom

Surely, you jest! That's been the gameplan for 8 weeks. Expect a turn around when we play GWS.

Howe is the only newbie holding his place. Great hands, either foot, real pace and HEART!!!! He will be here for a long time.

To all the enthusiastic analysers posting here. Where do you think MFC managed to improve by 146 points over our showing at this venue last year?

Ok, I'll come clean... I still believe that the 15 metre penalty against Jimmy should not have been paid. I have seen upward of 100 examples over the 50 years that were not paid. The umpire in that instance chose to make a technical decision that was not in the spirit of the game. Why? I do not know, but I suspect that it was because he was influenced by the fact that Hawthorn was a power and Melbourne were battlers. I have witnessed at least 30 Interstate games where the umpires were influenced by the home town crowd to the extent where the result hinged on 50/50 frees to the home team. I was in Mauritius for the 2012 game against WC... but am I right in saying the home team had 22 to very few frees in the first half? I am certain that umpires get caught up in the momentum of a game. I am certain that many umpires over the journey have been influenced by the media personalities that are competing. I am asking for an impartial, and fair system of adjudication. You are dreaming if you think the MFC have had that in the the past 50 years

Do you wonder why we don't have the following statistics? Inside 50 frees per team per year Inside 50 frees per umpire per team 50 metre frees per team per year 50 metre frees per umpire per team and here's a donkey stat... frees per team per umpire

Yes... and I believe that Ben Johnson won the 1988 100 metre sprint and Lance Armstrong is clean and the Spaniards para-olympic team were all disabled... and Rosie Ruiz won the Boston marathon. What is systematic? What is an umpire that was got to? What is a poor decision that resulted from a conflict of interests? What is a pattern of poor decisions against one team in a competition? What is a system that protects poor decisions by referring to broadcast rights?

I still have no explanation offered for the free kick against Clark. I have placed this as the central contention to my remarks about poor umpiring, I also contend that this changed the momentum of the game. I also suggest that I have other evidence, over the half century, that leads me to believe that umpires are influenced by more than what happens before their eyes. I stand by my contention

By the way, have you ever considered applying for Geishan's job?