Jumping Jack Clennett

[quote name='Ash 30' "It was frustrating, and had the game been closer, it would have been worse." With fairer umpiring it WOULD have been closer, but not worse.

Once again,v. the Bombers no movement, no options, no penetration, no change of tactics. Never the quickly taken kick, catching out the opposition zones. Meanwhile their kick-ins consistently set up attacks. Did anyone else note the similarity between Friday's third quarter and the second quarter of the 2000 Grand Final?? After holding our own and looking as good as Ess. to that point, we suddenly became unable to clear the ball from defence after points. Time and time again the pressure mounted as we kicked in to contested situations. Eventually, the pressure told, and the floodgates opened.

On at least two occasions on Friday night, I saw Melbourne players stand still, waiting for an accurate pass to hit them on the chest. It was obvious to observers in the stands that an Ess. opponent was closing in. If our player took just 2 steps forward, a clear mark would have resulted, rather than the effective spoil. It's probably a result of a lack of confidence, like the hesitancy to play on after a mark, or to take a quick kick-in. Did any other Demonlanders notice these incidents?

I also wish to pay tribute to Brad for a great act of courage. Certainly the equal of Reiwoldt and J. Brown's legendary great marks, except in Brad's case, he actually got clobbered(virtually tunnelled, anyway, by a guy who saw him coming and ducked....didn't want the ball as much). Though Brad was running with the flight, he was the one who kept his eye on the ball. The on-coming Essendon player , in my opinion, infringed, because he elected to protect himself, and took Green out, legs first. Yes, too technical to be definitely defined as "dangerous play"(tunnelling"), but I reckon worth the mark being paid or a free to Green. And what an inspiring goal it would have resulted in! This act of sheer guts was perpetrated by a guy who's already suffered a severe head injury this season! I'm full of admiration. I'll admire Ablett, Franklin, Pavlich ,Fevola , Didak etc in the same way when I see them do it, but I haven't yet. With experience, it's possible to foresee and avoid such incidents. I have the same respect for Bartel, Reiwoldt , Rivers and J. Brown as I have been developing for Green. He should be skipper for 2010. He's been setting the example for years now.

[quote='DangerousDemon' I reckon you've made an accurate point very eloquently. The free kick tally at the end of an otherwise pretty equal first quarter was 7:1. (22:9 at the end) Their first 3 goals came from dubious frees. What a great start! All night they were influenced by a totally Essendon crowd, who screamed "BALL' a split second before Melbourne players took possession Robbo got one ridiculous free for a goal, but apart from that, 50:50 went their way 80:20. On one occasion Lucas absolutely scragged Martin in the goalsquare before marking"unopposed". No free. Add that to all the goals they got. Thank heavens for the biased umpiring....we might have won and wrecked our drafting.

That's a brilliant article, Randy. It sums the whole situation up so succinctly. The AFL should never have let this situation arise. The Round 22 WCE v. Rich game could eclipse rnd. 22 ,2007 as the silliest game in AFL/VFL history.(actually the 2007 game wasn't as silly as it should have been, due to our naivete.) We might have two teams thoroughly (and logically),committed to losing ,playing each other. And it's the AFL's fault. This possibility was predicted by posters on this site early in 2007(and probably before). It's our last chance to reap the rewards of an ill-conceived system. Let's not be naive again!

How did my boy, Jordie Mc Kenzie go? Well, I'll bet.

I'm very worried about our chances in the Ashes. My main worry is our poor technique and approach against the spinners. I can see Monty and Swann causing us lots of bother. I reckon our guys should attack them from ball one. Blocking and waiting for the loose ball is doomed for disaster. The Poms will provide Spinners' pitches. We should have picked Jason Krezja(?spelling). We have no-one who'll trouble them. Hauritz isn't bad, but Pietersen will hit him off his length. Bopara looks a danger with the bat. The big x-factor is Hughes. If he comes off in a big wAy, as well he might, that'll help us a lot. Don't know what he's like against the spinners. I'm worried.

Rhino, I don't think I've seen Brad out there playing for Sandy in any of those GF wins. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I reckon it's worth hearing Cleary's comments as a nostalgic link with the old days of the VFA.

Emma Quayle was interviewed on the Marngrook Footy show last Thurs night(SO much more informative than TFS). She impressed me greatly with her deep knowledge of the modern game.

Did any other Demonlanders notice the fantastic run Carlton received from the Umps last night!? 5 goals from frees and every 50:50 went their way. It blew my theory about non-Vic teams getting a good go at home out of the water. But I guess there was a good number of Carlton Fans in Brisbane making their presence felt, so it's probably a bit different from Adelaide or WCE at home.

Exactly the point of my original post, MP. Unluckily for us, despite drought conditions over the last 6 years, the bureau repeatedly predicts rain on QB Monday. Only a couple of times has rain eventuated. While it doesn't affect passionate supporters like us, it's the occasional attenders who are put off. They're the ones we want to attract. My point is that the BOM's inaccuracy has cost the MFC a significant amount over the last decade.

[quote name='Clint Bizkit' date='Jun 5 2009, 04:32 PM' " what do you want the BOM to do exactly?" Just be a bit more accurate. And a good start would be to predict rain a bit less often....since it rarely happens.

I think there have been a few pretty thoughtless responses to my post. Of course the prediction of bad weather won't stop ME from going to see the Demons But it's naive to suggest that it doesn't affect the less dedicated fringe of supporters(eg the types who are joining MFC NOW, when we've been pleading with them to join since the end of last season. ) And don't forget, more than half the supporters will be going for Collingwood. They may not be as stoical as us long-suffering Demons. As for your condescending remark, Clintbiskit, I'm not suggesting that the BOM is responsible for our low attendances every week. I'm just saying that the QB game is very important to us, and it's bad luck that we rarely have a prediction for pleasant weather that day, though we usually get it. Surely you don't disagree with my contention that crowd attendances are affected by the weather. I reckon people are very tolerant of BOM inaccuracy. Have a look out the window now(2:30pm). The bureau predicted rain this afternoon. It's a beautiful day!!

Every Queen's Birthday, the BOM predicts rain. They've only been correct a couple of times. I estimate that a prediction of rain reduces the expected crowd by 10 to 15 percent. I think the bureau takes a very conservative approach as "insurance" against criticism from people venturing out without rain-wear and umbrellas. However in Melbourne their predictions of rain are almost invariably incorrect. If it DOES rain, it's barely drizzle for 3minutes at a time. This inaccuracy costs the MFC significant dollars every Q. Birthday.

No-one's mentioned Jordie McKenzie. He seems to be playing pretty well, though I don't know what happened last week. Could he debut this year?

Collingwood are starting to get cocky again, and are talking about winning their next 4 games. They think they can make the top 4. It's our responsibility to thwart their plans. For this game we must pick our best team, including experienced players where they're the best bet. I don't want to win any other game this year.....JUST THIS ONE!!!!!

Apparently Jack's younger brother (?Aaron, playing for Hurstbridge last weekend )was crashed while taking a brilliant courageous mark running with the flight. He was still holding the ball while unconscious, while the ambulance was called. This is the sort of fearlessness that is required of League footballers. He's a dedicated Demon man. Is there any way we can keep him under wraps(a la WCE), and make him a Demon?(eg exaggerated shoulder weakness, like Judd pre-draft, which dropped him from an obvious pick one to pick three)(?correct).

I'm pretty sure that very little film of that muddy Grand Final(where Collingwood only scored TWO GOALS) exists. Graeme Smith, on Demonology has some ABC audio of Grand Finals. I'm not sure if he has 1960...I think he does. Do I correctly remember that "Wrecker"(Brian) was publican at that Pub on Punt Rd just before StKilda Junction until quite recently?

I remember that incident when Lloyd pole-axed Caracella right in front of us on the members' wing. Mouth wide open like a gobbling gold-fish, Lloyd lined up Woey from about 10 m. and ran straight at him. Woey saw him at the last second and baulked out of the way. Caracella couldn't see Lloyd ,who was obscured by Woey ,till too late. He had to be helped off.

I vividly remember some terribly unjust umpiring decisions during that ill-fated prelim final. At the 15 min mark of Q4, Hawk John Kennedy had a set shot from 40 m. which hit the goal-post halfway up. The goal umpire was interfered with by the pack trying to touch the ball, and paid a goal. Jimmy pointed out that it was a poster, but naturally he took no notice. Field Ump Howlett(who had it in for us all day) didn't see it hit the post, either(or chose not to over-rule it). Simon Eishold took an excellent mark about 7 m. from goal, near the edge of the goal-square. The Ump who was(understandably), miles away, ran in and deemed the mark to have been taken near the goal line halfway between the goal and point posts. He erroneously put Eishold on a very acute angle, and he kicked a shocker. Had the mark been put anywhere near where it should have been, it would have been unmissable. In Q3, Sean Wight broke away brilliantly and hand-balled over the top to a loose man running straight up the centre, with forward options abounding. As Wight hand-balled, a Hawk jumped on his back(the same way Grinter did to Buckenara at the end of Q4). The free? ......AGAINST Wight for an open hand handball.The result...goal to Buckenara(who'd done nothing up to then).The throw decision was correct, but ultra- technical. The tackle was rugby-like and unsubtle. There were numerous other 50:50 decisions that went Hawthorn's way. They were an experienced side, who knew how to "milk" the decisions their way. We were a young side fuelled by adrenalin. We were desperately unlucky to miss that Grand Final. The next year, we beat Carlton 3 times, including in the Finals, so I'm dead sure the '87 Premiership would have been ours.