iv'a worn smith

Nothing to do with being a "spell nazi". If you want to go on with such convoluted drivel, then take the time to get it right. As MikeyJ said the post was unreadable. It made no sense at all and the hashed spelling only made that worse. Happy to read anything on this forum, but if you want to engage in some cerebral examination of a player, at least make it readable

Then don't invite the criticism. OK, OK, I have nothing better to do. But for goodness sake............. Firstly, my given name is Michael. It is spelt M-I-C-H-A-E-L. Not that uncommon a name I would have thought. If you wish to embark on some treatise on the pros and cons of Juice Newton, then at least apply some rigour and check your copy before sending it to "press". B59 said it all and was much more concise, without the need for inaccurate and mispelt hyperbole.

As far as the media is concerned, there are at least 3 axioms they live by. 1. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. 2. Good news never sells. 3 An individual media performer needs to be inflammatory and controversial to keep the ratings up and therefore that individual keeps his/her job. Thankfully, there are articles which are written by more balanced journalists. Martin Flanagan has written some great stuff about us recently and I was particularly impressed by Samantha Lane's article yesterday. I thought she summed up things pretty well, regarding the twilight zone game on Sunday. Almost certainly, in a few weeks time, someone else will cop a hiding from the tabloids and neanderthals like BT. I suspect, before the year is out, the Kangas may well be in a lot of doggy doo. At the risk of incurring RR's wrath, there is perhaps another apt cliche, relevant to this topic. "Yesterday's newspaper, is tomorrow's fish and chips wrapper."

That's what I'm talkin about!!!!! This happens before you rise like a Pheonix

Ah, my comments were a tongue in cheek reference to the Hawks members who were actually family pets (not the Bulldog and Geelong Cats). I went yesterday, but given the circumstances as I outlined above, I can understand why others would have stayed away in their droves. The combined circumstances yesterday were exceptional. However, R&B has also hit the nail on the head.

Agreed. Can something be done about this?

3 things affected the attendance and in no particular order: 1. The appalling weather. 2. The time of the game, given it was the last of big weekend of footy in Melbourne. 3. An overriding expectation that we would lose. And we certainly did not let anybody down there. Those 3 things combined led to a crowd which was so low. Even the Hawks 25,000 cats and dogs members would not have turned up in those circumstnaces

A player misses shots on goal he supposedly should kick. Let's say, for arguments sake, the player concerned kicks a goal from his first set shot. The ball goes back to the middle, a ball up follows...........different play ensues. This argument that, if only we kicked those 2, 3, 4 we should have got, we could have won, does not hold water. Kick one of them, and its a different play as a result.

I think the point being that we are sick of this attitude, "we will get beaten anyway, let's just stem the bleeding as much as we can" That is not a good mindset. I would rather some positive action and get smashed, than this negative mindset.

Certainly the crowd was disappointing. I drove up from the peninsula to be at the game. The southern end of the peninsula was diabolical and I have to say, it took quite a bit of self motivation to make the trip. Having arrived at the 'G, things did not look much better......but to me, things only got worse. As was said on the Morning Glory on SEN this morning, Melbourne played an 18 player flood, at least for 3 quarters. I know we have a young and inexperienced team, that we have to be patient with. I have no beef with that, but if you want to play a stacked zone defence and short game, then you have to have the players with the skill to cope with the precision football needed to find targets in that situation. I have read some postings that have said " we only got beaten by 3 goals, but in that weather and under the circumstances of the flooded defence, I think the final margin flattered us in actual fact. I will say it again, if we do not have a discernible attacking game plan and simply rely on pinch hitting when it comes to scoring, then we run the risk damaging the already fragile confidence of the young blokes. Turnovers killed us, yet again today. Accepting the weather and the time slot, we will continue to get small crowds against interstate sides, while we choose to serve up crap like that. Again, while I accept that we are re-building, we have players on our list who should know and do better. Yesterday's performance in no way earns the respect of the footy public. Let's be brutally honest here, we are happy to make excuses, but if we want to play in this competition, then at least lets not make ourselves a laughing stock. As happy with the backline as I am, our midlfielders are 2nd tier at best (including McLean and Beamer). Cale Morton seems as soft as butter, despite his virtual full season last year and our ball skills, including from our more experienced players are sub-standard. To me, that comes from a lack of confidence, not only individually, but in each other. What is the game plan and where is it?

Just a thought and accepting all the other scenarios floated above, but the Connolly/Schwab connection might come in to play, if Pavlich really wants out.

Maybe an announcement on the footy show tonight?

I was hoping the win might have kicked this along a bit more. Hopefully we will; have it by the end of the week.

I haven't had such a good laugh in ages. Perhaps the Freoloader should re-name his post, "people in grass houses should not get stoned". Your facts are totally wrong re the merger debate, by the way and I would rather our 12 sanctioned AFL premierships, than the Duckers nil. By the way, how does the Freo Duffers theme song go again. One thing I will say for you though, you've got guts, even if your prattle is mindless.

Well done HT. Did you get on with Sportsbet?

I love it. Great to see the fellas embrace the young indigenous players in the middle of the circle. There is some real spirit there, which I admit I was worried about after last week. I know I am biased, but I still reckon it's the best song in the league.

I am not sure why we are even talking about this. OK.....OK, I know it is a forum for discussion on all footy topics, but to paraphrase Malcolm Blight, I couldn't give a rat's toss bag about Richmond. The only observation I make is that the media try and grind us down as a club and we get a raw deal on fixturing, while the Toigs - a poor excuse for an AFL club - go through 12 coaches in 27 years, continually under achieve, re-cycle has beens and yet still get Hollywood Wallace to get lot's of publicity for them. Let's just focus on the Dees eh?

I'm sure he will come back via the 2's, but does anyone know how far off Wona is?

Not such a bad example really. Riewoldt was injured because wasn't ready to absorb the hits he received. He was a young player, with an immature body, that was targeted by opposition CHB's. I think the management of JW is more than appropriate and I would rather he stays focussed on school, continues to build his body and is eased into the tempo of AFL footy. There are no surprises here and BT is a dill. The club flagged its strategy to manage Jack's welfare on draft day. When he does play, he will be a marked man. He needs to be fully prepared for the inevitable physical attention he will receive. Having said all that, I am sure the the young man will be more than equal to the challenge, when he is ready. I am sure the wait will be well worth it.

Another great post and I am with you all the way with this one WYL.

Because the club has a duty to the other players on the list, its sponsors, coteries and supporters in general. If there is a high cost employee, despite the fact that they are undoubtedly blessed with natural talent, you don't persist after 5 years of under achieving, when it affects the whole "business".

Then it is up to the club to deal with that.

When was he drafted RR, what....... 5 years ago?. Of course there are others responsible and they are the people, over that time, charged with the duty to manage the list appropriately. We are paying the price for that list management...or lack of it, right now. Apologies if this has been covered on another thread I may have overlooked, but I have been away on business. It was interesting to listen to Mark Robinson last night on SEN, discussing the Burgoyne/Davey incident. Robinson commented that the Burgoyne incident was a low act, but what was worse was that after it happened, not one Demon player flew the flag to defend Flash. What was lacking was that no steel or resolve was demonstrated as a result. Colin Sylvia epitomises that lack of steel and that is why he will never deliver what his high draft selection suggests he should have. List managers should be able to identify that lack of a character trait and move on it sooner rather than later. I suggest it is way too late now.

That reminds me of the story of the guy who has a one night stand. After a night of mad, passionate love making, he rolls over in the girl's bed and notices a framed picture of a guy on her bed side table. Curious, he asks if it is her husband? She answers, "no, I don't have a husband". He says, "well, is it your boyfriend then?" And she replies, "Your so cute when your jealous (and she snuggles into him), but no, its not my boyfriend." He then asks, "So, is it your brother?" She says, "no, I don't have a brother either". To which he says, "I don't get it, what woman would have a framed picture of a bloke, next to her bed, if she was not close to the guy, or at least related to him?" And she says............................................................................ ................................................................................. ........................... "Don't worry, the picture is only of me, before I had the operation."

RR, You're right, I do fly the flag for the current Board and their initiatives in terms of sponsors and attempting to shore up our financial position have been great. BUt I am talking about something that is far more intangible than that and that is the spirit of the footy club. There is one thing that is more contagious than confidence in a footy club and that is the lack of it. Again, I have no question about the need to re-build the list. However, mine is an observation and that is all. Regardless of how we rate their skill level, we still have enough "senior" players, who, themselves, need to fly the flag more. Sorry for the cliche, but the one percenters are just not there at present. In terms of Hawthorn and Carlton??? Since the 1996 merger debacle, Hawthorn have regularly attained over 30,000 members, even in their lean on field years. Carlton (who I think everyone on here would agree) have manipulated the system terribly, but as low as they got, the club itself was always viewed as strong at its core and again, its membership was always at the higher end for Victorian Clubs. As bad as they were, they had a core group of players, around which the gun recruits could be moulded and supported. RR, it is the spirit of the Demon I want back, that's all. The kids will be great, but I want them to understand we are proud and at our heart, we are strong.