Pates

We’ve committed to Casey and I don’t mind that, it’s better that we have an alignment that is secure and both parties working together than one where the other wants larger autonomy (which I believe was one of the major issues with the Sandy alignment). It does make sense from a geographical sense to have Port Melb as our club but I think that ship has now sailed and the Melbourne/Casey connection is strong (and I feel getting stronger). We were one of the few AFL clubs to actually commit early to our VFL affiliate being a part of our post-COVID future.

Whoever made the initial comment the MFC are referring to I just hope they don’t spawn more offspring. Baffling that people feel the need to denigrate others in such hurtful ways.

For anyone that has been to Alice for a match are there any conditional things that we may adjust to quicker given our experience with playing there in the past? I’d really like us to have any kind of advantage to exploit.

I find it interesting that almost universally the AFL media community agreed that Burgoyne was lucky to get away with a fine, why aren’t the same reporters holding them to account on Failhouse given the obvious similarities with ANB and the potential to cause injury being high. @Lucifer's Hero I agree that typically Whateley has actually been a decent voice of reason but if he’s ticking this off then I don’t know anymore. Seems everyone was happy to put Nibbler up as an example but no one wants to do the follow through.

We sold games to Brisbane for years which really annoyed a lot of clubs (that win in 2002 was something special though!). Never in season though, I suppose it’s all compromised so whatever.

The way the Tuggers are carrying on is reminiscent of the likes of the Hawks and Cats when they became the league leaders. I remembered the Cats getting up in arms about people questioning the “Buddy Arc” and Chris Scott whining about people talking about Selwood and Dangermouse’s ducking. So congrats Richmond, that’s what you’ve become. The team that is so used to getting their own way that when people question things about them they stoop to the lowest of lows.

A few weeks ago Bartlett was publicly disgusted by the poor effort against Port particularly with the lack of fight. It’s time he stepped up with this and publicly asks for a please explain from the AFL and make the club known as a club that won’t stand for this biased [censored]. I’m absolutely seething from this.

I’m beyond filthy, the same f-ing tribunal that hung out Nibbler has let Failhouse off. Please please please someone from the club HAS to say something. I don’t care if the AFL cuts of money from us, sanctions every player at the club, fines the president, I DON’T CARE!!!! I can’t fathom how the hell Nibbler gets 4 weeks and only a couple of weeks later, the same bloody action gets downgraded to nothing but a fine. The system the [censored], the AFL are [censored], and they can all get [censored]. I usually try to avoid the censorship from Demonland but this is an absolute disgrace.

The AFL should be pushing for a two week ban, Geelong should be kissing the MRO’s feet for only giving a week.

It won’t happen but I really want someone from the club to comment on this, it can’t help Nibbler now but it should shine a light on the blatant inconsistencies surrounding the MRO. He should’ve got 2-3 week straight off the bat from Christian, but the obviousness of them making an example of Nibbler because he’s not a name player was disgusting. With Failhouse getting one week it spits on the comments from Gil earlier in the year where he said that the potential for injury from the action would be taking into account and add further weight to suspensions. But of course it’s Geelong and a name player so the AFL will shrug their shoulders. Please someone from the club make a ****ing comment about it.

I know we’re talking about different incidents but the more disturbing handball(s) that Petracca did against the Bulldogs was the nothing 1m handballs that just puts us further back. It’s not handballing to space to create, its palming off responsibility. There was one in particular in the last quarter from the goal we had kicked to bring it back to 20 points, we actually had a clear clearance with Petracca running forward now instead of continuing his run and pumping it in there quickly he chose to short handball it I believe to Clarry who then did another short handball again and it ended up in Sparrow’s (I believe) hands who got tackled. Turnover - forward entry to the dogs - I think they scored from it and that was the game. It was the exact issue we’d had when losing games, no one taking responsibility and saying “I’m owning this footy and I’m going to get us across the line”. Bit of a diversion from the thread so I’ll pull it back by asking how a finger injury occurring in the gym can result in missing 4-6 weeks????

Glass houses and throwing stones. We have been an embarrassment to the AFL many times in the last decade, we were an embarrassment against Port a few weeks ago (a rare prime time slot).

I think that’s why this should actually be a breakaway competition with 14 clubs no more no less, I don’t get this idea of spreading out across multiple clubs, this could actually be an opportunity for as close to a reserves competition as we can get. Sucks but the clubs that don’t get an alignment should just exist in the VFL or perhaps they look at merging the the VFA with the remaining VFL clubs. With 14 teams surely they could play each other twice so they can remove the frustrating scenario of a team that has a bye in the AFL doesn’t have a bye in the reserves comp.

Who do you have us losing to in our run home out of interest? I have GWS and Saints.

Maybe it’s my MFCSS but I have us finishing on 9 wins and finishing 9th-10th. That’s at the bottom end of where I rated us and it shows how costly it was not being able to get over the line against one of the Lions or Cats. I expect us to lose this week, thought maybe just maybe they will be a little bruised up and tired from the game against the Lions, and you would hope the players want to pull their finger out to provide a better showing than the second half last week. This and the GWS game make or break our season, we win this week I think we make it.

Posted this in the Non-MFC thread, Nibbler should take the AFL to court for loss of match payments: This was what Gil said after Burgoyne got away with the first tackle this year: AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the change would ensure the potential injury of a hazardous tackle would be taken into account by the match review officer when grading an incident. “We want to be clear; protection of the head is our highest priority and we want all players at all levels and age groups to better understand that these tackles shouldn’t be part of our game. “Dangerous tackles have the potential to cause head injuries, and it is essential that this is taken into account when assessing an incident under the AFL Tribunal guidelines.” What an absolute load of bull?! Corrupt is the only word

Nah he didn’t do anything in that game it was all the players. ?

This was what Gil said after Burgoyne got away with the first tackle this year: AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the change would ensure the potential injury of a hazardous tackle would be taken into account by the match review officer when grading an incident. “We want to be clear; protection of the head is our highest priority and we want all players at all levels and age groups to better understand that these tackles shouldn’t be part of our game. “Dangerous tackles have the potential to cause head injuries, and it is essential that this is taken into account when assessing an incident under the AFL Tribunal guidelines.” What an absolute load of bull?! Corrupt is the only word.

Couldn’t care less if it’s the worst match in the history of the game, if North get the win that’ll be awesome on so many levels!

Main difference? No concussion, which was pure luck. This time the player put his hand out to protect the fall, Nibbler’s didn’t. I also thought ANB was done in by the medical staff saying he would be on reduced duties for at least a week before returning, but the injured player had battled concussion issues earlier in the year so of course they were going to do that. Of course the other obvious difference is that it’s a name player who doesn’t play for Melbourne. The MRO/Tribunal is the most biased piece of ? involved with the AFL.

Really glad he’s getting recognised for his work, he’s having a stellar season and was copping unfair whacks early in the year. Top 3 B&F will surely be May, Trac, and Gawn. Possibly even in that order.

I think one of the major problems was the “when will he go home?” It became a distraction for the club where players had to constantly trot out the usual line of “we love Jesse and we hope he stays a Melbourne player for the rest of his career”. You’d think if he were to return to us that would be one issue gone. The others are well publicised: attitude, off-field “interests” (won’t elaborate), and depression related issues which I have no doubt were cause mainly by the loss of his father, his own battles with cancer, injury issues, and being isolated from his family. He’s an older head now and perhaps like Bennell a change of scenery, but perhaps with familiar faces, could be of benefit to him. This is of course all speculation.

Seems like an interesting choice, I know there have been VFL clubs that haven’t been able to continue to operate following Coronavirus but how will flights and accommodation be paid for if clubs are struggling? Definitely shouldn’t be called the VFL; EFL, EAFL (Eastern Australia Football League), or ECFL (East Coast Football League).

I think that's harsh on Bennell for this year, he's had some decent games without lighting the world on fire but certainly his last game wasn't up to scratch. It's intriguing that we haven't really heard much about him since his last game so my thoughts are that they probably aren't looking to push him back into the line up any time soon. I think we could see him bob up towards the end of the year and who knows he could hit his 2020 peak at that point which would make him a weapon to unleash. I also personally agree with the point on Tom over Preuss, I think TMac would give us more across the ground and get to more contests. But jeez he must be close to being dropped for Brown.

I struggled to get though most of it, there were points I had tears in my eyes it's such a sad read. You can't help but wonder how many other players experienced this sort of awful treatment and how many amazing players were not only lost to the game but struggled to get themselves out of worse situations. The "defense" by his advocate at one of his tribunal appearances made me want to vomit it was so full of racist vitriol and bile. I'm glad his story got told, it needed to be heard to ensure we are always looking to do better. I hope this prompts St Kilda (and all clubs) to continue to reach out to their past indigenous players.