Nasher

Yep, I'm in the "have never lived in Melbourne" boat too QC. I felt pretty isolated before I came across Demonology and subsequently Demonland, because up until then I did not know one single other Melbourne supporter.

If I were Adam Selwood and I was genuinely innocent of the games (I'm not suggesting, nor do I believe that he is), I'd want to sue too. His name is completely and utterly mud now.

Yes, that. No penalty amounts to innocent anyway as far as I'm concerned.

Unbelievable. How they can both be innocent defies logic. I just don't understand.

I'd guess that it was because the workload on AFL players is heavier now than it ever has been. Perhaps this is a sign that we're starting to see our athletes reach the upper bounds of what their bodies are capable of.

Damn. And you had been doing so well lately.

Bell is the only bloke in our back line at the moment who isn't causing sieve-like leaks. He has to stay there, he's irreplaceable at present.

For what it's worth, despite having (kind of) defended Selwood in this thread, his dancing around the issue here is giving me the proverbials. I believe he should just take responsibility for what he said and accept whatever punishment comes his way. His and WCE's story seems to changing by the minute. Not a good way to defend your reputation.

Luke Ball may've managed it but who's to say his was anywhere near as bad as Moloney's? If it's severe then you can't manage it. Powell is the best example of that. He could not get on the field without the operation. I agree completely with your assertion that something drastic needs to be done or his career is over. It's getting beyond a joke now. And seriously, the guy must be shattered. It would be wearing him down mentally. It was just your "they brought him back too soon" statement that I disagree with (or at the very least, think is unprovable).

I actually agree with Neale. In the Geelong game we were outclassed in the middle (despite winning the clearances), and up forward we had all the firepower of a cap gun. The linebreakers we have in our side in the moment are ordinary and aren't up to the task. I think we should've done everything in our power to reduce the game to a scrap and try and win that way. Even if we didn't win, it's much less likely that we would've been belted the way we were. We risk the same with Freo, though they've almost got as much class out as we have, except theirs is all self inflicted. Just on Cam Bruce -- he comes across as a pretty polished media performer, but don't be fooled. He comes from the same school of spin as Robbo and White. They talk in cliches and do a lot of talking without saying anything at all. The comment you've quoted above sounds no different.

Yep, it's the

It's OP. There's no such thing as "ready". If they waited until he was 100% over it then they'd be waiting until he withered away and died.

So did I. My mum used to feel so sorry for me that she (as a devout Collingwood supporter) ended up barracking for Melbourne to win just so she didn't have to listen to me carry on after each game. These days she's a Collingwood AND Melbourne supporter.

I was just about to quote that bit myself until I saw you already had. Sums up my thoughts on the matter and everything I've been saying in this thread 100%. I wish I had his words.

Off the cuff remarks by some yobbo footballer is NOT paedophilia and to suggest it is is laughable. It's exactly just that, an off the cuff remark by some yobbo on a footy field. Selwood didn't do anything illegal. Racial vilification is illegal. The two are completely and utterly incomparable. By the way Gardiner I am still waiting for my explanation.

I've got a young daughter (see avatar) and I'm completely with Bob. The "you've gotta be a parent to understand" thing is complete bull. If anyone ever touched my daughter inappropriately I'd knock his head off. What father wouldn't? However, if some yobbo on the footy field made some wisecrack about f'ing her I'd just look at him with sympathy in my eyes for him being such a dimwit. I'd see it for what it is, a meaningless swing at me with no purpose other than to just piss me off. It wouldn't work.

No, why would it be? That'd be even less offensive than the Selwood comment, because not only was I not Jewish (so filed under my definition of untrue sledge), I would realise that there is nothing wrong with being Jewish anyway even if I was. If someone said that to me on a footy field I'd probably pat him on the black and ruffle his hair a bit.

Thank you, I'll agree to disagree also. This is a fairly heated topic and I'm glad most people can disagree without resorting to immature snipes and putting stupid, unfair and untrue labels on people.

Horse crap. If you're going to label me and tell me which part of society I belong to, the very least you can do is offer me an explanation. Either in this thread or by PM.

Erm. Why?

When you meet anyone or speak to anyone for the first time you don't automatically think "gee I better watch what I say, this guy might've been touched as a kid". Of course he would've made that assumption. You're right in that it's not a safe assumption but it would be a human one to make. I just can't understand why anyone would be offended by the words of a guy who was clearly talking rubbish. That's all.

How can you not mean a racist jibe? If he'd called Headland a black whatever, of course he'd be offended, because he is aboriginal. That goes against my point of being "obviously not true". That's a good point, but again if that were the case then it blurs the borders of "obviously not true" and so my point is not covered by that scenario. I'm assuming he hasn't though as I've not heard any evidence to the contrary.

Irrelevant. I have a young daughter and I agree with Axis of Bob's comments completely. If somebody said to me on a footy field something like what Selwood said , when it was quite obviously not true (and that's the biggest point here) I'd laugh it off. If anyone laid a finger on my daughter I'd probably rip their nuts off, but Selwood didn't do that. People here are making it out as if it did. Of course child rape is no laughing matter and nobody is suggesting it is. But given that Selwood was quite obviously just trying to get at Des and his remarks held no truth whatsoever, I don't see why such a huge issue is being made.

*spew* As a player, Michael Voss was as tough, uncompromising and intimidating as they came, without ever needing to resort to thuggery. I have no doubt as a coach that he is capable of the same if necessary. By the way I reckon Paul Roos seems like a very nice guy too. His track record speaks for itself. There's more to coaching than just being able to go ape at your players.

Leigh Matthews please.