nedleg

Do you believe there are really questions to be answered in terms of how we’re treated by the umpires? Does the club need to officially make some point about Max getting clobbered on and off the ball, or the severity of our suspensions, etc etc. Does it need to appeal these suspensions more vociferously? Is this really an issue just against us? Or is the umpiring of the game more generally in trouble and all supporters of all clubs feel they’re hard done by. (The ARC is obviously a whole separate issue that everyone is unsatisfied with). Or should we just straighten up our kicking in which case we win most of the games we lost this year, umpires be damned…?

Exactly. Why don’t they just go for broke and trade him to Collingwood for one of their premiership defenders? Oh wait…

I would have Stuart Little in ruck over T-Mac.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

I always think about this, and struggle because I really think they're a good bunch. I can imagine people think Clarry's a bit of a punk, and maybe Viney because he's hard at it. Very far from villains though. Weirdly a couple of people I know can't stand Fritta, who to me has always been the most quiet of achievers. Only one that annoys me is old conspiracy Tom, but as a friend of mine once commented, "He's our [censored]head".

I grew up in the Carlton of old, ten minutes walk from Princes Park in the Demon wilderness years (which ones!), so would often take advantage of the free last quarter to see the Blues play some decent footy – a trick I learned from my old man who'd been doing the same since.... well... there was a lot of wilderness.... Always had a soft spot for 'em, great song, used to drink at Percy's once I came of (under)age, and my sister rues that I could have joined her side of the family in blue if she'd only seen the opportunity and put a bit more pressure on. That's unlikely, but they're way down my list of teams I like to see lose. Except on Friday.

Eddie has the moral standards of the man he increasingly most resembles.…. Jabba the Hutt.

Be this the whetstone of your sword…

Just watched tonight’s 360 (on delay obvs). Did I miss something with Howe? Sure he defended his teammate (against what most of us feel is indefensible, I get it) and said he felt bad for what he’s been dealing with (which I think any of our team would do for a teammate in similar circumstances), but I also saw him more than almost anyone who’s fronted up to the media about it stating over and over his concern was for Gus and what he’s going through. I thought that was genuine. Incidentally I also noticed he posted a pretty heartfelt message to Melk when he did his knee. I hate what’s happened this week and I feel sick for Gus and the team. The tribunal result is not only unfair but defies all logic, but I dunno about the pile on on literally anyone who’s not in the red and blue and doesn’t unequivocally say Maynard should be taken out and shot. (6pm here in Germany, no I’m not thinking about this at 2am. Though I have).

It’s true. Also, to excuse our US brethren I’ve always chosen to accept their version as saying “Well I supposed I could care less… (but I don’t)” Anyway to paraphrase Binners on the pod I just can’t wait to see Claz play footy again. Not so concerned about him being a goose in front of the camera. As an antidote, does anyone remember how in his debut game they pulled him up for an interview afterwards and he was absolutely flying!? Think we had a win and he was clean jumping out of his boots with excitement at how good it was to play AFL. I’ve searched for that footage but never found it again…

Reckon you can’t have the arrogance of taking on the Tiges in a shootout without the “arrogance” of Clarry being fed up he hasn’t been there for 11 weeks. He’s a competitive beast that’s been chained up for a loooong time now.

Pedantic, but we didn’t play an elimination final last year.

Maybe we could somehow add FFS to MFCSS ? Would be particularly handy for this sort of nonsense: https://www.afl.com.au/news/987149

Interestingly Buckley did say on the couch today that if we're going to celebrate Collingwood and Pt Adelaide for pulling out the crucial close wins, then Melbourne deserve to be celebrated as well. I don't think he's necessarily anti-Dees, I get the feeling he kinda likes us but wants us to do better. And hopefully he'll be eating his words from a few weeks back. Brown's hilariously pro-Brisbane but gives a fair enough go to all the others. Barrett's completely ignorable. I remember Sam Pang from RRR Breakfasters days. Good egg. I once managed to peer-pressure him into singing on air, in front of a crowd, at 7am.

I believe this is POTY. Probably of the decade. Someone should alert the media.

Nah that was Lou Richards.

Two words: Anthony Burgess. Wait no not him, the one who went to Adelaide. I wonder if a 10% lack of fitness and stamina plays a big role in us always looking like we’re desperately chasing, crowded, always in a flap, never any space or time to lower the eyes or make decisions. When we were clearly very fit in ‘21 it always felt like we were in front, with an extra metre on the oppo. Whilst it looks like individual skills have gone out the window this year, all the desperate hospital passes etc, I wonder how much has to do with never really having the speed/endurance to create space, consider options, time to execute, execution to someone who also has enough strength to get in/find position etc. You can’t execute well with someone always breathing down your neck. it’s not everything, but it could be something…

Sure I'd give him a boo, but fondly with tears in my eyes...

We need to get these cars together!

It’s a baffling choice. If you enjoyed watching in black and white you’d be rooted.

Got it from me dad, but his story is he emigrated here in '62 – times were still good for the red and the blue, and he saw a guy named Ron Barassi on a kids footy show of a Saturday morning and the deal was done. Later in his work life he got to meet Ron and compare codes – AFL and opera – and Ron apparently commented on the athleticism of the latter, being a fan, apparently. As a dees fan I've always felt we were somewhat the outsiders wherever we were based (though maybe not in the inner south-east, which is a part of town I've never really had a lot to do with). A mate of mine was spotted in a photo at a game wearing dees colours and someone commented something like OMG I never knew! His response: "That's because I'm a classic Melbourne supporter." To this day my car is the only one I've seen in Germany sporting a Dees sticker. Not a heartland. 'cept at my place. Been grateful to get to the two home games this year whilst back in Oz, my little one was disappointed not to get Maxy's hand at the race in round 1, but I told her "s'alright, I got him". Then I got Maysie's Round 3 so the kid in me is satisfied. Hot tip, bring a kid so you don't look like a dork at the race, plus you'll have the longest arm.

Looking forward to seeing his first game for the red and the blue in person for once…

Petrakka.mov Petracka f'f••k's sake...

Gill just pronouncing it Petracka, Petracca mouthing to Max, "Petracka for [censored]'s sake..."