Mazer Rackham

This reminds me of Melb v St Kilda (last & second last), round 13, 1981. God the chips were good that day.

Are these guys AFL standard footballers??? (Apart from Langdon that is)

Ed Langdon kicked that!!?!? And on his wrong foot !?!?!?! The football gods are smiling. Get on us for the flag now.

The difference between a hapless coach who fails to show passion in press conferences and is dishonest with his own fans, and a masterful one who is crafty with the footy media and gives them nothing to chew on, is the frequency with which their teams win.

If I recall my Nostradamus correctly, the old fellow said "in the year of the plague but one, the son of Fos will consort with demons and deliver a flag." For centuries, no-one understood what it meant ... they thought it might be about JFK, or maybe Elvis ... but I'm starting to think it could something much more pertinent.

Bennell got the chop for sticking it up the club and costing them $$$ in the soft cap. Goodwin wasted an entire year of the club's time and money, and of the playing group's careers. (Arguably it's been than just one year)

Majak in his 2 quarters might actually put on some scoreboard pressure. Something which Tom is highly unlikely to do, sadly. We just don't do this. Our pigeons are constantly upset by other coaches' cats.

I can think of a remedy for this situation.

Because it's like watching an alcoholic. He swears he's off the drink, this time really off it. He's seen the damage it's caused. He regrets it all and swears it won't happen again. He's sorry he bashed the missus and terrified the kids. It's happened for the last time. Next week he goes out, gets smashed, bashes the missus, terrifies the kids, and next morning says how sorry he is and THAT was the last time. That was really the last time. No more. He's had enough of hurting the people he loves. THAT was the last time. No more grog, ever. He's off it for good. Next week ... We're the battered wives and kids and it sticks in the craw to hear the alcoholic swear he's off it for good. (Another parallel: we loves ya too much to leave ya!)

My ratings: vs Adelaide: Goodwin has little idea of how to stop them or what unfolds out on the field vs Brisbane: no idea vs Carlton: little idea vs Collingwood: break even vs Essendon: break even vs Freo: no idea vs Geelong: absolutely no idea vs Gold Coast: little idea vs GWS: no idea vs Hawthorn: absolutely no idea vs North: little idea vs Port: no idea vs Richmond: no idea vs St Kilda: no idea vs Sydney: little idea vs West Coast: absolutely no idea vs Dogs: absolutely no idea So that's 2 break evens, 5 little ideas, 6 no ideas, and 4 absolutely no ideas. Last time he "grew" through the year was when Hirdy had him on stuff where you couldn't "ungrow" for 3 days.

Oh wow. So they'll be angrier than after 2019 when they didn't fire a shot. Which was angrier than after 2018 when they grabbed their ankles for WCE. In turn angrier than after 2017 when they let Collingwood give them a lesson in pride and spirit. Angier than after 2016 when they gave Carlton a taste of what it must be like to play on the winning side of 186. Can a man be that angry and not have his head burst? That small mountain you see behind me is made of all the grains of salt I took this latest mission statement with. Don't [censored]ing tell us. Shut up and play. The scoreboard will tell us how "angry" you are.

"I'm perfectly fine. What's that? What day is it? Friday. Who are we playing ... Everton. Stop asking these questions and let me get back to the game. Who are you? You're me, you fool. But who's this guy right here? This one, right here."

This is your early storm warning signal that's it's open season on the MFC in 2021. The footy media smell blood and are already sharpening the knives. Prepare for a series of attacks, culminating in the the old faithful "what does Melbourne stand for???" Only one way to stave off the onslaught, and that's by winning games, and lots of them. GO DEMONS!!!

It's only a practice match! It's only a practice match! But ... 1. We looked like fumblers with sh*t disposal who are second to the ball. Good judges of footy tell me that's not an encouraging state of affairs. 2. If Jones, Tommy, AVB, etc, get regular games, whether it's because of injuries of just because the selectors like them, we're in deep trouble. 3. I like Fritsch, but it's a danger sign if he's our most dangerous forward in more than an a few odd games here and there. 4. The Sparrows, Jordans, Bakers, etc, did not really give any glimpse that that they're anything more than the next Gysberts, Mortons, Tapscotts, Bleases, etc.

Anyone who chucks on the son of Phil Scully is bottom of the list in my book. Beyond redemption.

Mueller anyone? How about the 55-60 era? Might have been a few semi decent players going around then.

Gil and Shocking have lost control of the adjudication of the game. They think the rules are something you can tinker with, to definitively control the "entertainment experience". It always gets away from them with unexpected consequences. They're killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Take a capital S and a vertical line and put them together and that's your hint.

Translation: COVID has hit us in the guts money-wise. Don't stop the money. Keep spending money. You'll never get a Tassie team but I'll never say that out loud. For chrissake don't stop spending the money. We need the money!!

Channel 7: "first the lowest scoring season in 600 years, then the covid thing with short quarters ... we're trying to sell ads here, guys. Just remember the rights are up for renewal after this year. Give us more goals or you might find your product, your entertainment experience, whatever s*** you want to call it, isn't as valuable as you thought." Gil: "Yes Mr Stokes. I'm right on it, Mr Stokes." (back at AFL house) Gil: "Steve, find a way for these [censored]ers to score more goals or your [censored] is finished." Hocking: "Hmmm ... is that open slather?" Gil: "Yes" Hocking: Does it have to make sense?" Gil: "No" Hocking: *thinks* "finally!!!!" *aloud* "I've got one or two ideas, Gil. Leave it to me."

Here's where I found them: https://www.yarrajfl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-Laws-of-the-Game_Web.pdf It's a joke that the one place where you can't find the laws of the AFL web site itself. In past years I have found the rules on the umpires' web site, on (I think) the VAFA site. See for yourselves what is available on the AFL page named "AFL Rules - Laws of the Game" : https://www.afl.com.au/about-afl/laws-of-the-game All demonstrating the AFL's deep commitment to publicising and promoting understanding of the rules. If you search for "laws" on the AFL web site, the most relevant thing available is this: https://www.afl.com.au/news/524846/game-adjustments-for-the-2021-toyota-afl-premiership-season

It is true. It's not in the rules, yet the umps allowed it. (Like Murali.)

This should clear things up. 2021 Laws of the Game. 20.1 STANDING THE MARK AND THE PROTECTED AREA 20.1.1 Standing The Mark When a Player is awarded a Mark or Free Kick, one Player from the opposing Team may: (a) stand on The Mark; or (b) otherwise be directed by a field Umpire. For the avoidance of doubt, all other Players from the opposing Team must be positioned behind The Mark or otherwise outside the Protected Area defined in Law 20.1.2. 20.1.2 Protected Area (a) The Protected Area after a Player is awarded a Mark or Free Kick is a corridor which extends from 10 metres either side of The Mark and five metres behind, to 10 metres either side of, and five metre arc behind, the Player with the football, as illustrated in Diagram 4. (b) No Player shall enter and remain in the Protected Area unless the field Umpire calls ‘Play On’ or the Player from the opposing Team is accompanying or following within two metres of their opponent. Any Player caught in the Protected Area must make every endeavour to immediately vacate the Protected Area.

Is the new law published?

The AFL have lost control of the officiating of the game. Bandaid after bandaid, when fans on all footy forums can easily see better ways to do it (eg third man up). Meanwhile the standout neon blinking light travesties such as throwing it and dropping it are waved through ... nothing to see here. So one week over their allowed quota? Surprised they weren't all sent up the bush.

10m !! Now consider how many times you've seen oppo players within 10m of the player with the ball, and not get pinged ...... except randomly once or twice a match and especially when they're not even impacting the player with the ball. Stupid rule.