Mydee

I was lucky enough to be present at the 1964 grandfinal. From memory,my father brother and I were sitting halfway up the old Northern stand. In those days you got tickets for each of the finals your team was involved with and we were sitting next to some older Collingwood supporters, who, given the circumstances were almost civilzed. We beat Collingwood in the second semi and we had a rematch in the grand final after they beat Geelong in the preliminary. So we rocked up and the Collingwood people greeted us amicably. I am very hazy about most of the game but I recall John Lord taking the boundary throw ins in the forward pocket. My recollection of the Gabelich run is that it seemed to take forever and the Collingwood fans were ecstatic. In contrast Cromptons reply was sudden and I I recall it from the celebrations. Needless to say the Collingwood people were absolutely gutted.

I did read a certain Mr Baum's report on the incidence, he too mentioned movements and whether certain body parts were closed or open. From what I could ascertain from the report wasthat the major contribution that was made by Mr Baum was that certain bodilyorifices that were well and truly open. Mr Baum If you can't discern something shut up.

Why not suspend the Essendon football club for a year and give their current innocent players one year transfers to clubs of their choice. it would be a fitting punishment in line with the penalties handed out to its employees.. My view is that it was the club that should bear most of the responsibility not the players. I am not suggesting that their punishment wasn't warranted, like any other drug cheat they brought the game and themselves into disrepute. But they are young men, often teenagers, subject to enormous pressure to both perform and conform in an occupation where the odds of making a successful living are low. The Essendon club let them down. As it stands, Essendon, will be allowed to play matches and field another team when the club has quite clearly shown no responsibility to the young men to whom it had a duty of care The club will be able to keep its playing personal and develop new players while the players themselves may have had their careers terminated. Can't see it happening though.

Try the Checker Hughes Paul Roos comparison, probably more valid

I am presently in the orient and have been trying to watch the game from the British Club. Do you know the blighters wouldn't change the channel. Now that is uncouth.