wisedog

I've just got back from Tasmania, and it seems so unfair that they don't have an AFL team as there's so much support down there. Every town has there own footy club and the grand final was huge. The problem seems to be that the population is too small, but surely Hobart could sustain a team. To be honest I'd rather see the AFL sure up the territory it already has rather than push into Queensland. In 20 years time I'd love to see both a Launceston and Hobart team in the AFL.

I think Edward's mark was better than Chapman's and probably Newton's aswell, but they were very similar.

In fairness to Bizz he was a very good player for us, at the time we weren't to know his career would be cruelled by injuries. He was never really the same after that hit he took to the face. I reckon he was probably our best defender, maybe just behind Whelan. The word from the club was that although it was a bit of a risk, we'd rather have him playing good footy for 2 of 3 years than not have him at all.

Newton Edwards McVeigh McGuane Chapman Croad Brown I can't go past Newton. The camera angle it's mostly shown in doesn't do it justice.

What are you talking about? The Bulldogs are on the slide big time. Who are their far better and younger players? Coony? Everit? Higgins?... I'm struggling to think of too many others. Despite how terrible this season has been for us, they only just pipped us the first time we played, and we thrashed them in the return game. In both games we had key injuries. Jones, Mclean, Sylvia, Bate, Newton, Dunn, Maloney, Bell, Bartram and Buckley.... I still think our future's bright.

thanks for clearing that up..

I think it would be hilarious if we fielded an extra player right at the end, it would be right up there with the Chappell underarm bowl. The Blues fans would be livid! All that tanking for nothing... But if they're going to play it like this, I'd like to annhilate them, it would be pathetic to see us limp over the line against that side. I remember reading that Melbourne have the highest supporter defections in the AFL, I just wonder how many Carlton have lost over the past 5 years, or the damage this has done to the culture of the club, where losing has become acceptable. They used to be a powerhouse.

So Richmond will get picks 1 and 3? How does this work? If we win tomorrow will that mean our earliest pick is 5?

You just can't ignore Sheedy's record. The way I see it, you give him 2 years, if it doesn't work out, we're in exactly the same position as we are now, and we pick up another young coach. But we have the chance to land one of the best coaches in AFL history. You can't tell me our players wouldn't respond to the authority he commands, maybe that authority had worn out after over 20 years at Essendon, or maybe their list just isn't that good.

I think Green would make a great captain. But why has Robbo been overlooked? He probably has about 3 years left in him, after that Mclean or maybe even Jones could take it on. He's our best media performer, loves the club and has stood up when the team hasn't and won quite a few games off his own boot. He's been struggling with injuries over the last 2 seasons and was dropped from the leadership group, so I don't know where that places him. As for Bruce, he's a great player, but I'm not convinced he gives everything to the club. McDonald does and plays like a captain, but he strikes me as being a bit too quiet. Does he have the leadership skills? Mclean has said all the right things, and up until 6 weeks ago was a lock. At the start of the season he was just behind Judd as the most damaging player in the league, so maybe we forget how good he was for us last season, but I still think he's about a year off. So for me, it's either Neitz for another year or Robbo or Green. But I still think Mclean is the long term choice, he has all the attributes you would want in a captain.

haha nice find..

Sheedy or Ratten. Would love Viney as an assistant.

lol it would be funny if he hated the MFC so much that the only reason he took the job was to run us into the ground.

lol..please don't take this away from us. I wouldn't be surprised if Staker won on percentage, but it would have been farcical if Newton's mark didn't go through. I think there's a panel who decide the actual winner, so as long as he's still in contention he should still win.

There's a better version on bigpond site. Best Marks Round 16 edit: ... even better Without a doubt the best of the year. With only 6 rounds left, he'd be quietly confident.

Whether or not you agree with the decision. Gardiner lied to the club, why shouldn't he be held accountable for that? If you go back on your word, you lose trust. So I think Neitz as the captain, was entitled to say what he did. Besides, they were hardly explosive comments. Gardiner was aware of what he said, but he obviously thought it was a decision that needed to be made. So maybe the end will justify the means.

Just a question.. We have state of origin being proposed for the mid-season break or as a pre-season comp, but why can't it be played at the end of the season? I know people would like to finish the year with the cilmax of the grand final, but who's to say the state of origin couldn't become soemthing similar? It just seems with the injury concerns it's the most sensible option, it would also reward the representing players for a full season of good form. As for the football public, it would give people who's team wasn't in the finals something to look forward to.

I don't understand why we don't play it. It really makes no sense. There’s no World Cup equivalent for the AFL… so this is it… This is the highest level the game can be played. It should be seen as a privilege to be asked to represent your state. With the interstate domination of recent years, there has never been a better time to reintroduce state of origin. The rivalry between the states is simmering, and with a half decent promotion, this could and should be a huge success. I understand injuries are a concern. So why coudldn't it be played after the grand final? It would give people whose team weren't competing in the finals something to look forward to. Even if serious injuries were sustained, there would be 6 months to recover. The problem is, in the AFL there is only one thing worth winning. Each year the vast majority of fans will inevitably go away disappointed. As well as state of origin, I really think more should be made of the minor premiership. Just that wording… ‘minor’ premiership. It's a big achievement to finish top of the league after 22 rounds, but no one cares.

He didn’t admit he won’t be there next season, but he wasn’t exactly staking his claim to the job. Daniher has always put the club first, and I believe what he said was for the betterment of the club. He realizes he’s in a bad position, and after 10 years, a position that’s hard to defend. He said he loves coaching Melbourne, but if at the end of the year he feels the players are no longer responding to him, then he would be honest with the club. For the rest of the season, he said he would be putting all his energy into coaching, rather than being Neale Daniher, ‘the reverend’.

Basically, I think the loss of Neitz and Robertson has been a big shock to the sytem. 1998 was the last time neither of them were in the same side. This has been compounded by the loss of Rivers and Mclean, and the form slumps of Davey, Charrol and Johnstone. In the absece of these key players, responability has fallen on players who just can't match what these have brought to the side, and not just in terms of skill. Robertson and Neitz are our 2 biggest targets. Now when we get to the forward line, we fall apart. If I recall correctly, last week's centre-breaks were well in our favour. There were no natural forwards in that team, except for Green and an out of form Davey. With the exception of Green, no one has come close to filling the void. Therfore I think it's time for either Dunn or Newton to take their place, Sylvia would be very handy.

That being said, it would take a player with a fairly big ego to be so certain that the result hinged on their performance. I doubt even Daniel Ward holds himself in that regard.

Now they're all aware of the repercussions, what's to stop a player from getting someone else to place their bets, even if they are betting against their team? It's impossible to police. So it will always be a matter of integrity.

The Pearce tackle? Well it was an obvious free kick, but it's not a big deal. How many times do you see that in the AFL? Had he not lost the ball in the tackle, and fallen the same way it would have been totally legit.