sue

What effect on you would it have been if Max came out with the usual platitudes and for example boasted that we moved up from 17th to 9th? I expect you'd be spitting chips. Perhaps absence of a negative effect is a positive effect?

I should preface this by saying I haven't followed this closely and don't know what lies Bennell may have spun etc. But I note that for whatever reason he did not return to the hub. Is it too cynical to think that if a star player from a big club had done this, the AFL would have loudly announced the penalty was reduced because he did not return to the hub and put the season in peril.

We’re all doomed. So many misery guts on here. Hunt trac nothing to see there. Bennell yet to know full facts. Don’t deserve finals. (Nor do dogs if they lose. Final 7 required).

Sorry to those posting we don't deserve to be in the finals - but if Dogs lose today, presumably they don't deserve to be in the finals either. I wonder how the AFL will manage a final 7.

Looking at his recent performances it doesn't surprise me much that he wouldn't get a game. Almost always runs or is pushed under the ball. Trouble is we have noone else.

Sometimes I think MFC has shares in a medical practice specialising in thoracic surgery and depression.

More TV interest in the Freo vs Dog's game?

Yes GWS are hopeless but the umpiring is even worse. Dropped chest mark paid by remote umpire, several 50m missed but paid when a player runs from behind to man the mark which happens all the time with no penalty (another example of poorly worded rules BTW)

and you post on demonland? Weird. (But welcome.)

I was drafting a broad agreement with you when I think I was clobbered by the name of the thread being changed. But that was based on IF what happened at the end of 2019 was as you say, ie. if he and the club had already agreed 2020 would be his last year and sadly the 300 was cruelled by Covid and injury. But he seems to have a different view: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/814841/jones-hopes-to-continue-career-in-2021

If that happens we may well lose a match we might otherwise win. Once players feel we won't smash them by enough they may start to throw in the towel and lose.

Reasonable points, but will our year suddenly not be wasted if we beat bombers and other results go our way?

I reckon if the players at training were hit by an asteroid, you'd be screaming 'excuses, excuses'. Are you aware that excuses and reasons are not synonyms.

Just like they thumped us?

That probably requires exactly same for and away points for both teams to make sure the % are the same to 1000 decimal places. I think seeing which team beat the ones above them the most (good in a season with everyone playing others only once) etc. But I'm sure the AFL would come up with some forumla to put whomever they prefer into the finals.

It's depressing that this happens over and over. We can rely of the AFL/tribunal to be breathtakingly inconsistent and the commentators to get sexually excited over a bit of biffo. Have the commentators ever called it out as a bad example to kids?

Frankly I don't think the commentary is any worse when the commentators are not at the match. (That is not meant as a compliment). But even so, there are grades of deplorable with Chanel 7 taking the prize by a long way. But I have to give some praise to the directors for at long last giving us more wide angled views, something I've been banging on about for years. But more please! Still too many shots where a handball goes out of frame to god knows where and whom. And the shots allowing us to check how well the player taking a mark or free had shaved that morning when we'd rather see his options downfield. That is the perfect time for a wide shot since the situation at the actual ball is very simple (unlike when a disputed ball is bouncing around a pack).

$$$$$

New rule. If tackled drop the ball.

Think positively! Getting finals experience is always worthwhile. Playing in WA would be more like a normal final since crowd restrictions are likely to be looser and there'd be a bigger crowd .

Doubtless over on the Saints' board similar scenarios are being listed and similar moaning can be heard of "if only x had snagged that goal" or "how did we lose to..." We are our own worse ..." It's just particularly painful in our case because those should-have-wins are so recent.

Get tackled drop ball to feet no free

I blame Kennett

They do if you change direction. You can run 25m straight but 15.0001m with a hesitation or change of direction and you are pinged.

I didn't know that "the Opposing Team is accompanying or following within two metres of their opponent." As little as that! Must be broken at almost every mark or free. And the rule doesn't seem to mention that is OK as long as you run at some unspecified angle away from the area with your hands in the air. Once again a poorly worded and poorly enforced rule trying to achieve a reasonable objective. How about leaving it to the umps to decide if the player running through is any real threat to the player or his options in taking the kick? Most of the time the 50m is paid they are no threat at all. And the penalty is enormous. Similarly for paying 50m for tackling when a player clearly plays on but the ump hasn't got around to shouting play on in time. By all means shout as it makes things clear to the player with the ball. Occasionally they do this, but it is rare. Use discretion rather than a wooly rule.