Jumping Jack Clennett

At half time... I remember saying to my wife....."this is torturous hell". At the end of the game it was ecstatic glory!

Did Bradtke really get enough of a chance? There was very little VFL footy since 2020...even that season was limited. Melbourne has been a breeding ground for ruckmen the last 20 years, and Jackson is the first to develop so quickly. (think Jamar, Jolly, Gawn, McInerney,Martin....any others?) I was hoping Bradtke would eventually prosper,having had the advantage of a top class mentor in Gawn. Perhaps he was proven not to have the hardness,or willingness to attain fitness of the necessary standard.

Not a tough stadium for everyone. Collingwood,Richmond, Essendon, ,....don't have to play there. Huge advantage.

They came out snarling, and went home sniffling!

Chunk probably had a vasectomy!

The players make it well known who they think are the best umps. I have heard it said that the players all think Stevic and Rosebury are the best umpires. I'm sure this influences the AFL Umpire selectors in their choice for the Finals. It probably should. Stevic seems like one of the best to me, but I feel strongly he let down all umpires by not being more critical of Toby's act. There's no doubt junior footballers copy what they see on TV of footy at the highest level. Stevic's done nothing to make umpires in lower grades safe.

I reckon Stevic deserves a reprimand for his virtual "sticking up' for Greene in his post-incident interviews. By not "lagging" on players, the umpires know they'll be highly rated by them, increasing their chances of Finals selection etc. But Stevic let down his umpiring colleagues at all levels by not renouncing Greene's behaviour . He shouldn't have been selected for Finals this year.

I think the scar visible on Gary Lyon's chin is a result of a behind-the-play elbow from that animal, Ablett. Lyon was holding Ablett almost kickless that day on the MCG, till Ablett did a "Matthews", and knocked him out when the ball was 100 metres away.

I feel so sorry for him when watching the immediate post-siren rush of players on to the ground. He was as rapt as anyone..Then to be delisted the next day.....I hope they'd given him some prior notice, perhaps suggesting he try again after getting some experience elsewhere. It was also noticeable that Nev Jetta had tears in his eyes as he came on the field...he so much deserved to have been there.

Where's your analysis?

............."He maketh Dogs lie down in green pastures"

I'll never forget our '64 GF win. I was 14,so could use one of my Grandfather's MCC Ladies tickets. We got to the MCG about 10 o'clock, but the best seats we could find were on the top level of the Olympic stand. We assumed we'd kill Collingwood, having slaughtered them by 89 points in the 2nd Semi. We were pretty worried at half time(down by a point, I think), and memories of the '58 disaster(I was also at that), were flooding back. Our hearts sank when Gabbo kicked that goal. We didn't know how long there was to go. Hassa Mann, normally a reliable drop punt kick, missed a sitter from dead in front. We were ecstatic when Froggie put us in front, but there seemed an eternity after that before the siren rang. Coll. had the ball in their forward line a couple more times, but didn't score. I'll never forget the triumphant feeling as we filed out of the ground. It took ages to get over the railway bridge to Swan St, where we'd parked, but we didn't care because we were surrounded by happy Demon supporters. I want to feel that way again tonight!

NO...it was Donlon,Williamson and Fleer....who all should be ashamed of themselves after that debacle.

This excellently researched post worries me a lot. Especially in view of HB's next post, where he mentions that Stevic was involved in the reprehensible pro-Dogs umpiring in the 2016 Grand Final between Dogs and Swans. I also referred to this in my (much ignored) post on.."how do the Bulldogs do it?" I know it's no use worrying about the umpires, but these facts revealed by "Hells Bells" should be made as public as possible to make sure such gross inequity is not repeated in the Grand Final. The argument that you get the frees if you're in first for the ball is fallacious. There was little difference in total disposals in 2016 GF, but a huge difference in frees .Ditto in round 19 between us and Dogs. I just can't help worrying that the trend of the Bulldogs getting an armchair ride will be continued on Saturday night, and the better side will lose, as in round 19.

In the knowledge that the Dogs usually get an armchair ride from the umps, I'm a bit worried about the appointment of Stevic for the Grand Final. He umpired the 2016 Grand Final, where the umpiring was so one-sided for the Dogs, that the Swans submitted an official complaint in the week after the match. I think Stevic should have been reprimanded for his attitude and statements after the Toby Greene bump. He let down his peers, and all umps, in all levels of football by virtually sticking up for Greene. Of course that's how you become popular with the players, to not "lag" on them. If it's known the players like you( as we know they do with Rosebury), it increases your chance of being selected for finals.

I wonder how GWS would have gone against Port.. I think I'd rather be playing them, now.

I noticed even the US Open tennis ladies champion wore Demon gear. It's catching on!

Hey Jack....can we watch the first Semi on some sort of streaming?

We finished above the Dogs, so we should get choice of umps!

It hasn't!!! But I hope we get the same umps in the GF that we had last Friday! They were hardly noticeable... but I always feel embarrassed on the rare occasions we get more frees than the opposition!

Isn't it in Simpson St, near Albert St? I haven't noticed it in Lansdowne St.

Please can we have the same umps we had on Friday!

Does anyone know how you can tell what priority one, two, three ...etc means? Does it depend on how long you've been a member? I'm a platinum member(41 years). Am I in tier 1, or is that the same as priority 1? Does ticketmaster have access to the MFC's list of members and their eligibility for GF tickets? (I'm hoping to get a ticket for my nephew in Perth) (Freo supporter but will be flat out for the Dees)

This thread will really fire up if it's a Dees/Dogs Grand Final!!!