Dappa Dan

Thanks to Chook (I think) for pointing out his record on the gameday thread. He's the first ever to crack 1000 in a home and away season. If we play a couple of finals and he does what he normally does, he'll go from second into first over Goldy. Thought it needed it's own thread/bump.

And that is, by far and away, our weakest third on the ground. ?

How amazing have the last two games been? Everything we could have hoped for and more.

Watch the final two rounds of this year over and over. Seriously, two of the best games we've played back to back in my lifetime. I have to go back to 2000, off the top of my head, for anything better. Blues/Crows earlier this year when we were smoking them by 100 points wasn't anywhere near as good. The media are on us now, and for once I feel like they're entitled. You put that sort of effort up when it counts and people should talk about you.

I've been going oh god oh (something) for 98% of his career. Something about how he'll gather and automatically run off his man at every opportunity. TMac actually did this a lot too when he played as a defender... So I guess what I'm saying is... Frost to kick 50 goals a year in a few seasons?

Oh boy what do we do with him now?! Lever and OMac can't be moved... And he has earned his spot in the 22 for next year.

"Frosty #17" ?

People getting excited on here about Harmes is great. I wanna see a few seasoned posters break it down though, how good he's been, why and in what ways... He was Ablett like today. Viney, Harmes and ANB as the negating forward... Against Danger, Ablett and Selwood. Viney-Selwood, ANB on Danger when he's forward and Harmes on Ablett all day. We're ready.

Super. It's one thing to say he's offering a target inside fifty... another altogether to say he's giving Gawn a chop out, who ALSO can go forward now.

Yeah, I guess. I'd have liked to have seen some of the backups push. The Eagles injury list is massive at the moment, so many will be pressed into service. But whatever. 3 weeks is an eternity.

Good Eagles. Not one point. Oh well... At least the D showed up I guess.

Oh man. No Wentz as it turns out.

Here we go Wentz... Pass for 0/10, 3 sacks, 4 picks.... I don't care. Just leave the ground on two legs.

I really wish we could do that in the AFL. The team-specific calls, that is. I've let my gamepass lapse finally. Too expensive, not worth it.

- We sure are. And that's great you have that view. I won't say I'm envious, but I certainly respect that view. - I do watch them, mate. Almost all of them (you know how much fantasy footy I play). - You're wrong. I DON'T see it as you see it. I've soaked in all the data the same way you have, and I've come to a DIFFERENT conclusion. The more "other" games I watch, the more I see there are variances in umpiring you're not accounting for, for some reason. And yes, I've heard your view as well (maybe not 1000s of times, I'll grant you that)... You're not Robinson Crusoe. And while I respect your view, I think you're wrong. TRY not to crucify me for it, or better yet, try to assume it's possible I've CONSIDERED my view, and haven't made it ad-hoc like seemingly everyone else. You should know better than to think I've come to my conclusions because of a lack of forethought, or a lack of experience. - Absolutely. Like I've said over and over. I'm not trying to tell you you're wrong. I'm just saying we don't agree. Shall we leave it at that?

Might be a good time to PM.

I know it's a pipe dream mate. That's what I said. I'M AWARE Nicholls umpires an unumpirable sport. They ALL do. But they don't seem to make the same types of mistakes he does. What I don't think you're hearing is that we all know it's a tough job. We hear it. And we all have a threshold of bad decisions we can cope with. You might be right that people on here are a bit aggressive when it comes to umpire abuse. I dunno, I don't stick around here long enough to see it. But there is a large proportion who point out specific umpires mistakes and are entitled to do so because they see a difference in the way he umpires to the way other umpires go about their work. In other words, I'M WITH YOU on defending umpires, but not 100% of the time. SOMETIMES pointing the finger at them (or more often, the AFL rulesmakers) is appropriate. I understand you don't agree, but my view isn't wrong. It's just different. Same as yours. And perhaps you think we do spend too much time concerning ourselves with it. That's your view, and that's fine. But it's also not wrong to suggest that in the changing world of AFL footy (and it is chaging... rapidly) staying on top of what makes umpiring "good" and what makes it "bad" is something that should rightly preoccupy the greater football public. One thing, for example, is the suggestion that some umpires want to control games more than others. To reel in players' behaviours and try to prevent them from falling outside the rules. That's a good example of something Razor's been accused of for years, that I'd like to see stamped out. Way too often the players break the rules and the umpires try to control them like school children. I worry that the AFL has given them that instruction, rather than it coming from themselves... either way though, it's a superfluous thing that COULD be controlled a bit better.

Again mate, we have differing views. I think he umpires worse than others. You don't have to agree, I'm just putting out my view. And I don't agree that having a specific view on a specific umpire automatically is a problem, or makes someone "wrong." But yes otherwise I'm with you. What would be nice is if fans pointed out when an umpire did well. Not that that'll happen. But at least you could see some balance. Yeah I always try to resist using the block function. I worry that I'd end up coming to dland and seeing nothing but "you've chosen to block poster X" over and over again. lol

I didn't say you should be turned away! You're the one that proposed everyone just get over it. For what it's worth I think this thread makes sense. It was a controversial game umpiring wise. Not THAT controversial, I guess, but certainly notable. Only reason I posted was because it's interesting how usually you do get a leaning one way or the other... this is a weird one in that impartials seemed to think WC got the rub of the green. Seems odd to me. Not really that important going forward, but still odd. Yeah fair enough if you're over the umpire talk taking over all threads. I tend to leave game day threads alone these days because of the targeting of every player's mistakes. Seems to be a lot of absolute views, like Tyson should never play another game, we'll never make finals, we can't win this (and then we do). re: Nicholls. I dunno mate. I don't think I'm seeing the same threads as you are. He's certainly been targeted, and I'm comfortable with that. But I haven't seen the hysteria. I'm very picky these days about what threads and posters I read. Demonland was, once upon a time, a spirited place to go. It's so big now I reckon it's got a bit watered down in terms of quality posters. I'll just have to take your word on the hysteria thing. Bloody hell. Pre-season really is dragging.

Well, that's true. I do think there's something to noticing patterns in the umpiring when they're there. But beyond noticing, as you say, there's not much more to do. Maybe you're not trying to, but insisting - "What I've never done is jump the shark and play victim - you should do the sensible thing and do the same." Is perhaps a little overkeen. If it makes no difference to you, then why not ignore it? I'm not trying to argue with you! I've heard your case, I understand you believe your opinion is the correct one and i'm comfortable with that. I just don't agree. I've seen all the data, and watched all my footy and come to a different conclusion. I won't pass out advice on what other people are supposed to do with it though. I think if you're trying to calm them down as you say, that's going about it in exactly the opposite way if you wanna get anywhere. lol Like I said already, I'm not expecting perfection. Barely anyone ever is. But there's howlers. And there's a threshold you get to with umpiring where you want it to be within a reasonably tolerable amount of predictability. I think they've fallen outside it this year. But like I said, you get good games, bad games. Good years, bad years. Or you're Hawthorn and you get good decades. lol I'm interested in your 70% correct? Was that a rough stab? I reckon if anything, you're being unkind. I reckon they're better than that. Classic case was Dom's headbutt. The WC supporter I was with swore black and blue he deliberately headbutted Shuey's knee. That one I don't have a problem with one way or the other. You have to call it in today's climate. But if it didn't get called, I wouldn't be spitting chips. I'm not as red and blue biased as you've assumed I am. Ah. You've been doing this 2 days? I see. That explains your tone. I only just noticed the thread. And for sure, if you're trying to influence people, then go for it. I'm not trying to influence anyone. Pointless exercise.

I think Saints game was one. And there was another earlier that I think we got up for, but I forget which. Like I said Macca, each to their own. I'm not trying to campaign to change anyone's mind. Not looking for the rub of the green sometimes. Just for it to be as close to 50% as possible, within reason. I'm fully aware, and I suspect most on here are, of the wider implications of umpiring in footy. What's the old Axiom, you can't ever improve the kicking or umpiring in footy? Yes, yes, yes... we've heard all that and have factored it in. You should too when guessing at what we're all thinking. Yes I'm aware all fans complain. Pies fans are classic ones. Tigers fans don't complain all that much considering they're in the negative by -100s. Bombers fans back in the day took the free kicks against and still enjoyed success. Yes, yes, yes. We know. Moaning about it won't change, but then cheering doesn't change anything either. This is a supporter website. Most everything we DO here doesn't change anything. And no, I shouldn't do the "sensible" thing. I don't think it's sensible to turn a blind eye to something when you see it's out of whack. Playing victim would be to just go "oh well, I guess that's just our lot as Melbourne supporters." No-one's playing victim, Macca. I'm well within my rights as any poster is to point out that this year, the umpiring has been worse than most. If you want my ACTUAL position on umpiring, then you can have it if you ask. Like you I think they do an impossible job and don't deserve the disgusting behaviour they cop. Doesn't mean you can't point out faults, or point out biases. A lot are umpire-fault, more are umpire coaching and AFL guidelines getting all screwed up. What's a footy forum for but to discuss these aspects of the game? Come to terms with it all? You're being over-dramatic on this one, and disrespectful to your fellow posters. People are complaining because it's the only thing left to do. I've pointed out a couple of times that we do seem to get overlooked by Nicholls a lot. He, like Razor, over-officiates. That's just my opinion. I think the hometown bias does happen too, over in the West, that's been pointed out a lot. I watched last weekend's game with a WC supporter and he's sure there's been a shift since the home-town bias stuff was being talked about. You don't have to agree. You can take an opposite view if you're like. But no-one's wrong about it. The whole thing is subjective. Actually, I think that's become the biggest issue in my view. They've taken to trying to read the minds of players. Umpires are dealt such a harsh hand, and are being expected to guess at the intentions of footballers. The end result of that is that everyone's subjective view is given more importance. It's a worry for sure. I reckon they'll see that pretty soon and improve it though. You get good years and bad years. It can't be like NFL unfortunately.

No, only one was. You know better than to make presumptions. And yes, I stand corrected. I jumped right off us. I think I only got back on before the NFC Championship game.

It'd be the first time... lol Well... second. (Hundley)

Not sure where to put this, as it's not really a selection thing... But going into finals, Hibberd being back and being in good form, with one game and then a fortnight to keep himself cherry ripe... No doubt our defence and it's injuries is our big, big weakness... Him being there, and just being able to defend AND rebound, even if only effectively for a couple of quarters a game... makes a huge, huge difference to any success MFC has this final series.

I reckon they have. On 3 separate occasions (games) this year I thought we were badly hurt by them. And that's after I adjust for my own Red and Blue bias. And in general in games I see a lot of Selwood type stuff happen that oppo teams get that we don't. All part and parcel of following a young team who aren't wily. Each to their own though. Other people can see it as they want.