Jumping Jack Clennett

It was an unbelievable clash of jumpers yesterday. I don't know what it was like on television, but at the game it was terribly confusing. It's hard to imagine a worse choice of alternative gear. I'm dead sure some of our errant passes were due to players mistaking the outfits. Our normal guensey would have contrasted so much more, and looked so much better. What's our record in the siver strip? Pretty abominable, I'd say.

He was in Sandy's best last Sunday.

Watching the game live, I thought Davey's late bump was justified and unavoidable...it was only very slightly late. Seeing the replay, I now admit it was worth 50(not 75). Davey's tackle in front of goal in Q4 , I would describe as a "clanger" by Flash. He was in the desirable position of being directly behind a big, slow-moving opponent who'd just received the ball. He should have pinned an arm while pulling him to one side . He just jumped on his back....a silly error.. I know players tackled from behind do their best to fall forward simulating" in the back", but Flash should have done better. We may have won if he had. The Umps were consistently generous in allowing players ages to dispose when tackled, but overall, I thought Hawthorn fared better in their judgments on this decision.

"Our only game against a team outside the top 9 was a win." You have made significant points, S T.

"I say keep it up Doctor." They say "any publicity is good publicity", but I think Rothfield is going too far. I think his vitriolic potting of our Club in the media is so severe it's damaging. I have no doubt he has a personal axe to grindf, probably because his brother is no longer on the Board. His belittling of our Club is more damaging than the half-hearted support of the Demons expressed by Neil Mitchell and "John" of "Ross and John " on 3AW in the mornings.

The few times I've seen Sandy play(on TV), Valenti has been in the best(usually ahead of several other MFC listed players). Conventional wisdom has labelled him as "too slow" for the AFL. I remember this tag being given to Austin Wonaeamirri. I remember hearing that VFL young player of the year, Aaron Davey wasn't up to AFL standard, since he"couldn't take a mark over his head"He didn't stand out enough with his pace to be selected, except in the rookie draft. Paul Johnson also was a write-off for the same reason. Matthew Egan also won VFL young player of the year, yet went right through the draft and had to be re-rookied by Geelong, or he'd be in footy wilderness(if un-injured). I contend that good VFL form is a good pointer to AFL potential. Being not fast enough in VFL is less significant in AFL where most players are over 188cm, and smaller players run rings around them. GOOD LUCK SHANE!!!

"THE LOST WEEKEND" George, do you remember that movie of the same name, starring Ray Milland? Very moving 1940's film.

I was never going to leave, but I must admit, I'd lost all confidence in one of my favourite players, Matty Bate , by half time. As far as I was concerned, he just didn't have it as a league player, after those repeated fumbles. My mate kept saying "give him a go, he's in his first game back!". But I wouldn't listen! The second half.....what a transformation!!! Bate was brilliant, skilful, and inspiring! I hope I've learnt to be less hasty in my summation of a player's potential from that!

[quote 'Demonster' date='Apr 17 Really well put, Dee-monster.

[quote ='bandicoot' "You can not have an AFL competition without a team representing the capital city where the game was founded." That's not written in stone. I wish I could be confident thinking that. The current Tasmanian push worries me,since there'll be 18 teams with the new NSW and Qld teams. The Tas. govt. is making a concerted push. Someone would have to go out of us, Footscray, North, StK, Rich or Hawthorn. There's no sentimentality at AFL HQ. It's all about the filthy lucre.

Just a minute!! 12 months ago "Bomber" Thompson was right under the pump. Alister Clarkson was on the nose two years ago. The sunlamp king at Richmond will be a hero tonight! I'm sure DB will turn it around later in the season(probably Q. Birthday!) It's all about player confidence!

[quote name='calabreseboy' "That statistic wreaks of mediocrity". Your negative comments "wreak".

[quote'Redleg' Exactly my sentiments, Redleg. We should have an official whinge. It seems to help! You'd have thought the Umps would have had a grudge against "Johnny come" Laidley after his strange diatribe last week, but no, an armchair ride the next week. This has happened before. I think Essendon started to fare(even) better after Hird insulted McLaren. There are numerous other instances. So go ahead, Footy Dept, tell the AFL what you thought about McInerney and his ignorant neophyte colleagues on Saturday. You CAN"T have been happy. OK, it looks like an excuse for playing poorly(which there's no doubt we did), but if it improves our chances against the Pratt crooks, let's go for it.

I think it's time to forget the cocept that Miller can play either end. He always looks more comfortable as a leading CHF. And there's nothing we need more. If he plays a few more improved games like today's, let's not upset his momentum, as we have so often in the past, by putting him down back on Hall or Brown.

Again, AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!