Mel Bourne

A buddy of mine is one of the fitness trainers In the Tigers hub right now. All things considered it’s a pretty calm atmosphere there, and they’re all getting on well. I wouldn’t read much into Hardwick’s outburst. He’s got a colourful mouth when he’s peeved, but apparently does an incredible job of keeping the mood pretty light there, generally speaking. I’ve been privy to a couple of Tiger functions, and I can tell you they have a very enviable club culture there.

Do you think there’s more to the story?

Obviously hoping for light traffic on “Is Goodwin The Right Guy” tonight. But expecting gridlock.

Dropping Fritsch for being late is dumb, dumb, dumb. Fine him. Make him clean the showers. Do anything else that sends a message APART from harming the team’s chances of a much-needed victory. And dropping Lockhart is ridiculous. But who knows? Maybe he’s also being punished for something. Falling asleep during one of Simon Goodwin’s inspirational team addresses, perhaps.

The specific discussion being had was centred around how to police social media effectively. It was suggested that a degree of government oversee could be employed, but the point was made that certain politicians, with their predilection for authoritarianism, could not be trusted with that kind of power. I didn’t see it as any kind of gratuitous political tangent.

How can you have a discussion about racism in this country without any mention of politics?

Honestly have no idea what anonymity on social media brings to society except generally ****ty vibes. The only example I can think of is being able to express controversial political opinions in countries that offer no protection to dissidents. But in countries and societies as fortunate as ours, if you can’t put your name to your words, then chances are you just shouldn’t be talking.

Nah. He’s our next match-winning small forward. Stick to the plan. Let him learn.

C’mon. We know who the pretenders are.

Indeed. Like they were trying to clone Tim Robbins but something went wrong.

I’ve met Tom Lynch. Not the sharpest blade in the drawer.

Past: Yze, Grinter, Farmer and let’s say for depth, Mark Jackson. Current: Max, CP5 and increasingly Ed Langdon.

Interesting first post. Let's hope they improve a little.

6. Langdon - exciting to discover more and more what a gun we have in this fella. Get that kicking a little better and we have a legit star 5. Oliver - Just keeps getting better. I think Brayshaw and him connect far better than he and Viney do. Nothing against Viney. You cannot fault his commitment to the ball, but he almost has a "me vs the world' aspect to his game that isn't easy to read and doesn't always benefit those around him. On other occasions though, you're so glad to have him busting through 4. Brayshaw - such a relief to see the colour come back to his face. Thought we'd lost him for a while there 3. Trac - Not his best game, but his average games are still a big asset, which is a true hallmark of a star player 2. Spargo - would have put him at the top if his second half was like his first! 1. Preuss - just a really impressive season debut. You can tell by his fitness and ruck-craft that he's been a really committed player away from the action. Players deserve more credit for this.

Naughton is threatening to regain some form too. That kid is good.

I really needed that. Thanks Dees.

You bet your sweet asss!!

Ha. I think we all know what it is, but it’s an odd distinction.

Tom Mac is a bit of witches hat out there.

Hannan’s been solid. Not always impactful but has been winning the hard ball and providing much needed poise. A couple of clangers here and there, but whatever. VDB has been bloody average. So much for Goodwin’s policy of playing the best team at every opportunity. Edit: Hannan out with illness. My bad.

Let’s go Preussy! The guy has one wish*. Let’s hope he can make it come true! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/90168/pocket-profile-braydon-preuss *see final question

And some people have no capacity for nuance. The global economy need not be doomed to a choice between “capitalism” or “socialism”. Most economies operate on a hybrid of these systems. If Australia decided to suddenly abandon it’s socialist policies (health care, high minimum-wage, education, housing, old-age pension, jobseeker/keeper, emergency services) I guarantee you would suffer the consequences, even if you’re of the naive opinion you don’t personally rely on these things. You may very well be some sort of successful capitalist who doesn’t need a “hand-out”, but all wealth is built on societies that function cohesively. And no society does that without an aspect of socialist policy.

Fair enough response. Thanks. But I have to say I disagree about the “very insulting” nature of questioning an AFL coach’s integrity. Surely a coach’s integrity is wrapped-up in the judgement and decision-making that you mention. The lines are very blurred between these things, anyway. I don’t mean to assert that the move to play a sore Gawn against the Crows, was solely to ensure Goodwin’s safety. But the guy is only human, and any suggestion this didn’t play a part in the decision made, either consciously or subconsciously, is hard to swallow. I also think his strategy of playing the best team at all times is inherently flawed, especially if it means we lack members of said best team in clashes against in-form teams, because we cooked them playing against the minor threats.

If he didn’t play and we lost, it would tell you that we are stupidly reliant on one player. Taking no chances and playing our best players - whether they needed a rest or not - to beat a club as pyss-poor as Adelaide are, tells you how little confidence we have at our club right now. Those saying words to the effect of “it was crucial we didn’t lose to Adelaide, and everybody had to step up”, man, how embarrassing for us to find ourselves in such a position. I think this next game is the most important game of our season, and winning it, our biggest challenge. The top six teams have had our way with us so far. We lose this and that’s the top seven, and any talk that we might be anything resembling serious contenders goes out the door for the season. For this reason it obviously would have been ideal to have Gawn in the team, but if we don’t it’s because we cooked him defending our honour against a basket-case team. That just sounds like poor player-management in the face of fear, to me.

I'm curious to know then, why you think he wasn't rested. I already posed an admittedly-cynical question; that it was to shore-up as much of a guarantee as possible that we wouldn't go down to a club who are in an astonishing amount of disarray, and go to unnecessary lengths to prevent the humiliation of our team and the future of our coach. Some here seemingly thought the question was preposterous and insulting to the integrity of our coach, which I find a tad oversensitive. We can't ask these kinds of questions? Goodwin is above criticism of his integrity? If we lost that game, there's a very, very good chance that talk of his removal would be no longer talk. Tell me I'm wrong. So I don't think my asking of that question was out of line. Those who do, must have momentarily-forgotten that we are supporters of the most unsuccessful club in the AFL, and no question is too cynical.