Rodney (Balls) Grinter

I never saw Dixon play, but when I asked my dad about him, his recollection was that he wasn't a great kick, but always got lots of the ball.

Don't think Pig Dog was underrated really. I think the club put alot of priority into managing him to let him recover from injury properly and kept him on ice for the back end of season, precisely because they rated his value to our defence in big finals so highly. Also, did we really retire him or was it more of his call wanting to go out on a high and move onto other things in life?

Recall my Essendon supporting mate saying that Melksham was 'just a player'. He's had a few ups and downs, but he's never been 'just a player' in the time we've had him. Always had that bit of X factor and rare footy brain about him as far as I'm concerned.

Also, within a week or two of Chol breaking May's ribs, I'm pretty sure he planted a knee into the back of someone's head in a similar manner to De Koning - no suspensions resulted. Of course knees to the head aren't a concussion risk though and flying for a mark in this manner is a football act, so play on.

What would be even more interesting is to ask some of the retired umpires about this

So alot of the comentator noise around May getting suspended seems to be because he has a history of rough play (is also applied to Kossie any time he's involved in something). All these comentators seem pretty ok with overlooking this side of his history though: Two fracture ribs. afl.com.auBreust goes bang after May gets crunched on wingLuke Breust drills a much-needed goal for Hawthorn after Steven May cops some heavy contact from Mabior Chol Fractured eye socket, concussion. afl.com.au'Freak accident': May to miss a month with fractured eye...Star defender Steven May escapes a lengthy stint on the sidelines despite nasty eye injury Add Tom De Koning to that list now.

That's the absolute irony here isn't it. I actually think that Steve and the MFC should play it up for all it's worth to highlight to all what a bunch of idiotic hypocrites the AFL are.

Nope, but wouldn't surprise me in the least. It's OK though, we know the ratings system the AFL for head high contact to determine suspensions - it's THE TV RATINGS STUPID!!

So Maysie might as well stay in his seat at the tribunal for when Tom De Koning gets called up to answer for the careless high contact that left Steve with concussion.

10 days or whatever of concussion protocols isn't what I'd call a holiday.

The media and AFL bias and lack of logic on these issues is astounding. We'll see what happens to Maysie at the MRO this time, but the comentators cries for blood for Steve and relative silence on his own concussion are enough to rile me right up now. If the AFL is serious about reducing concussions and serious injury potential, then all actions need to be looked at, not just the bump. Steve himself has been the victim on at least two previous occasions and the perpertators walked away scott free. I love seeing a good screamer as much as the next person, but the AFL has got to stop the amnesty on players recklessly flying for the with total disregard for their fellow players. Knees can do just as much damage as elbows and shoulders, particularly when they belong to giant 100kg + players. I can find it on the net, but my recollection is pretty much the next week Chol almost took off someone's head and/or fractured a cheek after he'd injured May like this. Similar action from Moore left Trac in a critical condition - what's it going to take for these morons to act. Two fracture ribs. afl.com.auBreust goes bang after May gets crunched on wingLuke Breust drills a much-needed goal for Hawthorn after Steven May cops some heavy contact from Mabior Chol Fractured eye socket, concussion. afl.com.au'Freak accident': May to miss a month with fractured eye...Star defender Steven May escapes a lengthy stint on the sidelines despite nasty eye injury Xerri's act deserved way more than 3 week, yet we didn't hear the commentators asking for any more than that. Xerri's act was way more careless and much less of a football act than what may did. If Maysie gets rubbed out for this, then [censored] you AFL, you brain dead ****whits

I often bemoan the polished yet guarded and vanilla responses that many players pump out to the media, so Clarry is a breath of fresh air in this respects. It was his bang in the bang bang bang that really put the exclamation mark on the play and probably also broke the back of the Bulldogs spirit. It's a pity that Sparrow, who nailed the bang before in a great moment won't be out there to celebrate with Clarry today. Any assertion that Clarry doesn't deserve to be at the MFC now is totally misguided. I remember (as many here probably do too) Clarry's humble beginnings at out footy club. It was a struggling shambolic mess of a team on the feild. Clarry came in as an underrated 18 yo kid and quickly stamped his mark on the comp as one of, if not the best young players of the competition in a bottom four side. He could have easily walked to another club after two years like that $cully bloke did before him. Him sticking around helped us build a core midfield team around him, Trac and Viney. Even in subsequent years 2018 - 2020 when he was an undoubted top 10 player in the comp, he could have sought out success at one of the power clubs of the time. But Clarry stuck fat with the MFC and played a key part in the only flag in my lifetime. As a supporter I highly value loyalty in our players, but it cuts both ways. The way the club leadership including Goodwin, Gawn and Brad Green 'put its arms around' Clarry in his darkest times is something that I'm proud of. Clarry is also known as a manic trainer, with the bigger problem at times being holding him back from training too hard- he'llget back to his best, don't worry about that. Congratulations on 200 games Clarry. Red and Blue through and through and really hope we get to celebrate his milestone with a great win ❤️‍🔥💙❤️‍🔥💙

Maybe, but seems T Mac, May and Disco can all play in the same team - well at least sometimes (Carltons plethora of tall forwards may have something to do with it).

Largely Agree Re T Mac Vs Lever. I understood the rationale at the time, but in hindsight, it was a bit of a punt that didn't pay off. Lever has looked underdone and struggled to get back to his best form since he returned. Also at the time T Mac was dropped, we still had a sniff of finals in our season and he just might have made enough difference to get us a few more wins and we'd still be in it. But everything is clear and beautiful in hindsight hey. The calculation these days is that quality players like Lever, Viney, Trac etc don't usually need a run in the twos to get back in form, but I do wounder if it wouldn't be a prudent move sometimes in marginal circumstances. It's also somewhat disappointing that T Mac may well not get the opportunity to get to 250 games, when in alot of ways I think he deserves that honour, but will likely fall just a few short. Conversely I'd also like to see Adams blooded before the season is out.

When I played juniors I recall assistant coach who had played U19s footy for Collingwood back in the 70s (Bruce Armstrong I recall) who gave us the advice based on his playing days that if you can't reach to punch the ball, then punch the inside of their arm, such that even if they hold the mark, at the end of the day they will have a sore/brused arm. That's pretty much the Collingwood way right?

Totally agree. The other aspect is when the ball spills free and is taken away by the team that incorrectly disposed of it and becomes part of a quality forward ball movement chain. The tackling team is actually disadvantaged in these instances, which is counter to what should be the case. With respect to holding the ball in general, I feel that the AFL has also let it slip on two aspects: The time allowed to dispose of it has gone up drastically from the 80s; Players are being allowed to dive on the ball and being penalised in very few instances, which is also a significant relaxation from when that rule was bought in. Only if it gets raked back in blatantly are the always called or at others its a lottery; The impact of 1 & 2 is to slow up and bottle up the game more.

Great article. My favourite quote Re his preference for playing forward or back: "I love playing both positions, so as long as we're winning games I honestly don't mind where I play," Turner said. Top attitude, which I really hope is shared by all our players

Typical. Clarko is a C [censored].

If Lever isn't right physically, then it's well time to rest him and/or get him operated on and get him right for next year. He doesn't need more exposure at AFL level to be a great player. Give the opportunity to those that need it (Adams) or those that deserve it (T Mac). If he's just out of form, then he needs to suck up a few weeks at Casey like anyone else. He's always been painted as a great leader, so that really shouldn't be beyond him. If it is, then trade him for someone with real leadership qualities (but I don't think that's the case).

Never ...in ...doubt

Seriously for the love of God, just play T Mac every game between now and the end of season if he's fit. Way more impactful than Lever is at the moment and deserves to end his career on a high if he doesn't go round next year (which I feel he possibly could, but probably won't).

I honestly thought both Fritta and Tracs lack of defensive intensity in the first quarter was woeful. Did think they somewhat redeemed themselves by the end of the game, but seriously when we were on a hiding to nothing after 4 losses on the trot, you'd hope they would have showed a lot more endeavour and despiration - it's almost like they think that's beneath them. If they want inspiration, just look at T Mac up the other end of the ground.

Kozzie got 3 weeks for something that was a clumsy footy act. Xerrie should get 4 - 6 weeks. But he won't.

Go figure right! The joys of following the MFC. Lol

Just about BOG for us at this point.