kev martin

I think the fees are far too high. However, if these clubs want to claim sole occupancy of the field at the expense of other uses then they have to pay. As a social sports person who regularly plays pick up games, these organised clubs have regularly shunted me from pillar to post. I can understand that when they have a scheduled game the need for sole use of the facilities but they become very protective of "their field" and "their infrastructure" when they aren't in actual use. I have always thought, how can a club with 300 to 1000 members exclude the 40 000 other rate payers and numerous others. All because they can pay for access as a collective. I think bad luck, should have been more willing to share. Though I believe all the council facilities should be at cut price; swimming pools, tennis courts, gyms, basketball courts, halls, theatres, child care, etcetera. Make some of our world egalitarian and create equal access to facilities beyond our socio-economic abilities. Stop running the place as an economic cow. The benefits of a fully active community can not be underestimated. Not just for the organised, but for all. This money need or paying for access is such a dampener for us people. No more exclusionary activity on council properties open the door to all.

Tell them training is optional

Play them all in the backline. Except for Pickett, who will tear through any hole and opponents to snag goal after goals. Maybe put Ben Brown in our goal square when he comes back.

Play them all as mids. Get ball and move it down the paddock, with everyone within a 60 meter radius. Make it like an NRL game.

This could be our angry game. In the past we couldn't trust. Give us something Dees to say, they have the supporters backs. Be ruthless, determined and courageous, play smart and please no unforced errors. There is plenty of room for improvement and I want an A grade hit at the GWS. I think it could be decided in the first quarter. If we jump them early, I doubt they have the belief and desire to fight. If they jump us, then they may believe they can resurrect their season. No change, be ruthless and sink their season. Go Dees.

You are right. Those fine lines, patronising or needed, (The asking of 'are you OK'). Genuineness is required, intention is to help and prioritise that person right now. Make yourself available both as assisted or the assistee (if that is a word). The reach out for professional help should always be encouraged. No more sitting with the anguish, no more silence, too many have been lost when it could be just getting over the next bump in the landscape of life. Let's make that call for help an easy one. No more stigma, or going it alone. Find a friend who will be available 24 hrs. Keep their network number or web link close to you. Use it, when those times are tough, like a mental health emergency call. It is hard, but we don't want to lose you. Take a deep breath and call out, we will listen.

The mental health system in Australia is inadequate. Often, it is impossible to get an admission unless you are very unwell. Probably, only if you are actively suicidal. Most beds are taken up by those who are involuntarily admitted. Of course there are general practitioners who can refer you to psychologists. Though that is for a waiting list. Getting psychiatric help is limited as there aren't enough psychiatrist. If you can get admitted, the wards, can be a difficult place for recuperation. Often, there are people with personalities problems that are not the best to be around (manipulators, aggressive, selfish). All the variety of diagnostics are in the same ward. The paper work of the staff can lead to less face to face assistance ànd leaves the client feeling ignored or alone. The people making decisions on your behalf are rarely seen. It all becomes a bit like just a boarding house and time with medications becomes the healer. Our mental health programs require a complete overhaul, with a massive funding boost to create better facilities, in patient and outreach, better housing and supports, more education of staff and developing more target specific medications. Social conditions for the suffering causes a "revolving door", where adequate basics such as housing and safe living conditions don't exist. Often the mentally vulnerable are placed in the same substandard accommodation as the criminal class. They then become a pharmaceutical outlet, as criminals use standover tactics or manipulation to deprive those with a disease or disability, their means to stability. Pretty soon they end up back in the hospital, filling those much in demand beds. Until we get our system right, then friends and community are our best bet in keeping us safe and sound

Our finals draw is pretty good. Freo after a loss to North. They had to play out the game and they now travel to Vic to meet a team that beat them in WA. If they are slow out of the box again, they will have no hope. Also, Casey is not an easy field to play on. We had to play out the game against Brisbane but we got the lollies and the emotional surge. Prefer Adelaide if we get through, as it is less travel. Though will be a different team at home to the one we beat at Casey. Good luck Dees, train smart.

Sorry for the love icon. The love icon was sent as support for you, for having been through the three months of dealing with mental anguish (courageous and admirable). I thought you meant last post on this subject. Don't give up on us. You have some excellent thoughts for me to digest.

They also have one less day to recover than us after travelling back from the west. Tthe temp is 30 at Freo, and they need to travel to Canberra. Tough draw for them.

Hoping the same against GWS. One day extra, hot conditions and further to travel (WA)

I think, he thought, Max would be there,

Agree, though not the "worst". May was using his body to get a mark and protect the ball drop. If Max wasn't there, he marks it. He let Max attempt it instead of going two up.

I was feeling down. Coincidence had me at a time with a doctors appointment. Mentioned it to him. He said, "that is a bit of an exaggeration". So, basically fobbed me off. Changed doctors pretty quickly. Some professionals know it is a complicated issue to treat. Others, prefer the simple 15 minute consultation (physical) to addressing mental health and the associated psychological, social and spiritual components. Self harm is a terrible symptom to be suffering. Silence is not the way to deal with it. If we had a broken arm we would be straight off to get help from the appropriate services. Wishing mental health services could be as easily accessed by all who may need them. Stigma, uncertainty of outcome, medication targeting inaccuracies, poor quality of assistance, all lead to us having to use the most compassionate and effective solution, that of a friend.

We have so much upside. They could continue to develop and deliver as the season progresses. That first twenty minutes from the start of play, shows me we are heading in the right direction. Oliver on song. Backline doing the wall. Max helping out brilliantly. Lever, smart plays, Tomlinson his best game for us, May a bit off. Salem and Hunty stepped it up this week. Stay switched on Dees. Great that we are starting to show some confidence, in that we can haul in an opponents lead. Pickett on a steep learning curve. Getting clean ball and so dynamic. Keep building, could be anything. Jackson development is a bit slower though still exciting. Go Dees. Enjoy the 2 and nil, and then refocus for another one

Resent an already posted riff. They know how to win!

Full time, hard fought win. Heath big time plays, made for the pressure. Hore and Gay, so composed. Cunningham doing enough in the last. Downie faded a bit, our backline kept tackling and pushing it out. Hanks, Scott, great goals. Paxman what an effort in the last. Doesn't take a back foot. Need to fix up a few dinky handballs that didn't hit the mark and cost them in turnovers. Great team win.

3 quarter time. 4. 1 to 6. 0 Brisbane way Hard gut running football. Melbourne don't give up. They are trying to construct a win, they are almost. Hoping Brisbane fade in the lat. Paxman back to midfield, Scott in the forwardline.

Half time 3. 1 to 5. O to Bris Brisbane made the most of the opportunities. Good quality game, hard run. good pressure, backlines of both team repelling the play.

Good quarter. Ahead by a point. 1. 0. 6 to 1. 1. 7 Bannan, Hanks, Hore, Zanker, Mithin, Paxman doing well. Backline is a wall. Wind was against us. Daisy is out injured leg, Paxman playing forward.

Heard him say, if they test negative then the game goes ahead. Uncertainty, doesn't help either side, though a bit more for the travellers. Smash them at home Dees. We have been pressurising the opponents and playing like we want to win. Keep that, include the connection and don't miss the easy goals. Gay, Daisy and Hore to fire. Hanks to improve after a bad one in Freo. Ball getters Paxman and Zanker with Mcnamara outside to control the play. L. Pearce, will power and leadership. The backline to repel them.

I want Brayshaw to step it up on the wing (dominate) and Langdon to keep up the good work, I think it will be won in this area of the game. Gut running, creating defensive pressure, attacking possibilities and connections. Trac, Oliver, Viney, Sparrow and Jordan to dominate around the stoppages. Hopefully, we can honour the leads and hit our players "lace out". No unforced errors please. Support each other, do the one percenters, keep it simple doing the basics and take it on when it's your time. Go Dees.

It can't help them. I imagine they won't have that extra time to work on deficiencies and their muscle could feel the burn. Possibly made a bit more difficult since it is the start of the season. If mid year I may agree. We had better get our act together. They look like a team that will punish turnovers. A real test for our backline. King is a difficult match up. Will need lots of body contact so he can't get a run at it. Viney should make a difference to the mids, he has a unique connection with Gawn. Hoping he plays smart as well as tough. At least he will help at the stoppage contests and hopefully win some clearances with Oliver and Sparrow (if selected). Picket is getting closer, a little bit more experience and he will take those marks and be less fumbly.

From the threads and other media, it seems there is no grey area, it is or it isn't a malicious attack. One lot see the bump, using controlled aggression, part of the game. Though concede the rules stipulate that there will be a mandatory suspension, based on the outcome. The other see it as an aggressive act that shouldn't be tolerated, especially when performed with undue care to the recipient. I believe they should do all in their power to protect the players brain. The game is in trouble when there are so many opposite views of the incident. It is very difficult to protect the players from themselves. Seems, head trauma will remain a problem into the foreseeable future. We need to change the culture of old school, aggressiveness. Hoping soon we unite and see that controlled incidences that cause a hit to the head, should not be part of the game. The tribunal and administration will be dammed with whatever the decision is. Hope in the future we can get on the same page.

I think it is a bigger picture than suspension, If Kelly develops any brain injury further down the track, he should be able to sue both the AFL and Danger. Make the head sacrosanct. Middle and older ages are great to live. He shouldn't be denied that because of the actions of Danger.