The Panglossian

The better side lost on Friday due to a diabolical decision on Smith by Margetts(proven to be incorrect by the MRP). Yes , if we'd kicked a third of the gimmes we missed, we'd have won, but that's not the point!

With a competent, sensible ruling on the Smith incident, I'm sure we'd have won,and no-one would be whingeing. But some posters get a warm, fuzzy, "I'm fairer than you" feeling, by ignoring blatant, game-changing errors by the officials.

Lack of depth!!!??? We had a moral victory against the premiers , over there, despite hostile umpiring, and 8 - 10 of our best 22 unavailable. I think that suggests our depth is surprisingly good.

It’s not a matter of the umpires hating us, it’s just that they can’t help but be swayed by the crowds. Unfortunately , Melbourne almost NEVER have the “ fortress” style atmosphere that Perth, Adelaide, and Geelong have. When we do have a home game against Perth or Adelaide sides on the MCG, there’s a pathetic crowd, no atmosphere, and no chance to influence the umpires by yelling “ ball” every time the opposition gain possession etc. I think the AFL are aware of this, and try to educate the umpires not to be affected by the crowd. Unfortunately, that directive was forgotten on Friday night.

Duh

Great mark by Ryan, but I thought it was pathetic sportsmanship by the Cokeheads the way they gave it to the punch drunk Gawn ,who had courageously stood his ground knowing the players behind him had the sit.

The better side lost. I know bad kicking is bad football, but we did so well to get the ball to players dead in front. I think we missed 7 absolute sitters. i reckon one of their goals was touched. Another came from an obvious throw. The umpiring error where Smith nearly had his neck broken ...no free... 2 goal turn around.

TOUCHED!!!!

We’ve missed 5 gimmes. The game should be over.

Lots of pressure on umps from crowd Result??? Succumbing

They duck on every tackle

Free kick count being kept quiet

Three umpire goals to WCE

OMac limped off very gingerly on Sat. night

That'd be great!

I wonder if May and Morris are in the same social circle,and that’s how Morris found it out. They both went to. Melbourne Grammar, and are probably a similar age.

Wasn't that Wojinsky breaking Viney's jaw? I think Kennedy broke Sylvia's without penalty(?in a preseason match)

We played pretty well on the MCG in the Finals against Geelong and Hawthorn....remember that? A possible week's rest would have helped after our hard lead up to the finals,too.

Home prelim.would have helped ,in the form we were in.

But didn’t he have Andrew DAFF sacked.?

In theHaw/ Geelong game today, there was an incident where Sicily and Hawkins clashed, and there was blood spattered conspicuously on both players. There was no intervention from the umpires, and play resumed immediately after a stoppage, with the umpires close to the incident. At Kardinia Park last year, with seconds to go , and us in front,Gawn was sent from the field with a microscopic split on his lip. McDonald had to ruck up forward instead of rushing down to defence,which was the obvious tactic. We therefore lost the game, fourth spot, and possibly the premiership. Where is the consistency?

He’s done it again! So predictable! Also predictable was that Kent would play the first. four quarter game of his life( and probably the last)

Essendon,Collingwood,Richmond, (usually) are spared the handicap of playing at Geelong,the venue that Victorian taxpayers funded, but only Geelong members can fit in.

Membrey usually kicks a bag against us....but not against anyone else. He’s remarkably accurate against us, but normally an unreliable shot for goal.

Umps?