Pates

It's funny I just had a look over the comments on The Age's reporting of Viney getting off and I cannot for the life of me believe there are people that actually believe he elected to bump. One bloke even went so far as to call Jack a liar and a coward (would love to see him say that to his face!), and argued he accelerated at the last moment. There really are some idiots in the world. Anyway I think he can keep the momentum rolling into Saturday night, I reckon the crowd will be pumped for this one and hopefully there'll be some neutral there to support BCNA.

He doesn't need to ease into the game, he has a thirst for the contest I haven't seen in a Melbourne player since his dad!

If Chip doesn't get up you'd think we'd have two options. One, we go for a direct swap. Bring in Gawn, send him to the forward line as tall timbre and also gives Jamar relief ruck that can hold his own. Two, a little left field. We send Garland to the forward line and bring in Clisby who's had consistent form at Casey. I can't think of too many big targets in the dogs forward line so it might be a smaller defender could work. Col might enjoy being given the chance to kick some goals this week. Riley will get his chance soon enough, but bloody tough to drop anyone after beating the crows in Adelaide.

Yeah you've to laugh at those comments, the entire basis of our argument was that it wasn't a bump it was him bracing for collision.

This has gotta be one of the best weeks of the MFC for a long time. We made a stand on and off the field.

I can't believe it, I was sure he was going to be suspended. Common sense has actually prevailed!!!

God I'm waiting on updates as I would for a game!

So I went to training, first time for a long time, so I'll give you a little rundown of what I observed. They did a few different sort of match simulation drills; running the ball out of defense, passing to leads etc. Not really too much to tell, some were cleaner than others, a couple of times the usual suspects butchered the ball but players like Salem were a standout at hitting targets. Watts and Dawes came off a little early but neither were concerned, just management it looks like. Watts will play. Frawley was nowhere to be seen but it wasn't unexpected, he'll be selected to play but whether or not he does is another story. If he doesn't I'd like to see Garlo given a crack up forward or bring in Gawn for a tall target. The only downer for me was Fitzy didn't seem into it, I don't know if he's carrying an injury of some kind but he was probably the only one a felt dissapointed by. I kept forgetting who no. 27 was but once I realised it was Reilly I was excited. If Viney ends up being sent to the gallows I reckon he should be given a crack, he looks good. The last drill I saw was where a player had to pick up the ball and then bounce off 4 teammates with the collision bags. Naturally Nate Jones loved this, and he copped a good whack from someone so he demanded the bag for himself, he was the last impact player so needless to say he put his full body in it. The boys were laughing it up, when Viney went in there comments like "good spin" and "two weeks" were being thrown around. The highlight though was when Tyson stepped up and bounced off everyone and then evaded Jonesy with him ending up falling flat on his face. Ended up in a "brawl" with everyone sort of piling on top of Jones. Atmosphere was really good, chatter was up and everyone was in good spirits. A pies fan walked up to Dawes and suggested we should get NikNat, Dawes said, "nah we don't need him". I didn't stay till the end but there wasn't much media presence which surprised me a little. Maybe they turn up afterwards though so I'm not sure.

Didn't hear the what, but he said it felt like someone had stuck a taser into his back so sounds like a nerve issue (with zero medical knowledge!). But he said he'd be "good as gold" for the weekend.

A question I have about the tribunal is why do they need a prosecution? I would've thought a tribunal hearing could just hear and view the evidence in front of them and make a deliberation without having someone on the otherwise arguing that he should be found guilty. It really feels like an innocent before guilty system. Even the prosecution left the door open for it to be thrown out! I think we have a good case to argue but it feels like an uphill battle, even with the negative public pressure. I think the AFL will look at this one in the future in shame but they feel painted into a corner. Common sense doesn't seem to enter into the debate with the tribunal.

I'm thinking I might head to training tomorrow, go via the demon shop first and pick something up for mothers day (what says "I love my mum" more than MFC merch!) then head on over. I'm also keen to see what sort of a circus will be at Gosch's Paddock (I really think it needs to be renamed!).

Very different players though, if anything I would be giving Salem a crack at the starting 22.

Pretty much the changes I'd go for as well. A good opportunity for Riley to get his first crack if Viney gets done, a like for like scenario and I reckon he'd relish the chance to get out there on the G. Probably play him as the sub. Frawley's going to be named but Roos didn't seem to want to commit to saying he'd play, he's not going to train tomorrow so no one take that to mean anything. Gawn provides a tall target up forward and gives Jamar a chop out option in the ruck, although Pedo's actually doing a decent job of that currently. Col Garland has to come in for someone and I'd say Georgio would be the most likely to come out, I'd even be up for giving him a week off after his collision. The other option would be to play Garland forward and keep Georgio in Chips place should he not get up.

Could you refer us to the article/evidence. I think Jimmy has a lot of talent but has just been a bit mismanaged in his first year. Roos and co are trying to make up for those mistakes by letting him develop without a microscope on him at every turn, I think I read somewhere that the coaches felt like he's trying to hard and isn't letting his natural instincts take over.

Is this a known fact that Neeld overruled Viney on taking Toumpas instead of Wines?

Certainly shouldn't stop going to games, and definitely attend this week in particular. Show support to the club for supporting it's player, and show support to BCNA by wearing pink. I'd suggest banners are the way to go, although I know the G does take banners off people even if they are tasteful. I'd love it if someone funded a #freeviney campaign where someone printed signs ala "No Merger" and handed them out for people to hold up before/during the game but it would need to be a fair amount to make an impact. Can someone contact AHG or another of our sponsors to assist? Another suggestion if someone or a group of people were game is to turn up with pink ballerina outfits, referencing the comment Gleeson made and showing pink support for BCNA (two birds one stone). Although I have to say I've softened my opinion of him, it sounds like he was actually giving the tribunal an out to clear Jack. I couldn't not watch a game, but if people wanted to turn their backs i'd suggest the moment our song ended all fans turn their back on the ground until the start of play. Of course all of this is assuming he doesn't get off, which is still a possibility with the current backlash hitting the AFL.

I see a definite distinction with the Trengove case, and I'm a big enough person to admit that the sling tackle rule has worked out. They over-adjudicated it in the beginning (some absolutely farcical suspensions came from it) but they have found a middle ground now and the players have stopped using as a natural course of action. The difference is that there is a clear choice available, if you get someone in a tackle you can do the second action to sling him onto his head. In Viney's case there is no choice, he ran hard to get to the contest and a collision was inevitable. He braced to protect himself and an unfortunate injury occurred. Barrett's article is such typical attempt to rile fans up and get his name front and centre in the papers. Such an ego.

Evans would never appeal his own tribunal, it would send a bad message that they're not on the same page. At best they'll look at this at the end of the year and amend the interpretation. Thankfully it sounds like we're appealing it.

TBH it's unfair to look that far back in MRP/tribunal cases, hell it's probably too far to look back as early as last year. The AFL have said from the start of the year, bump the head and you're gone. Accident/incidental or not. BUT that is if you elect to bump. Which most people agree is not the case here. Brace not bump. And yes Col Sylvia was given a broken jaw vs WC pre-season a few years ago and the WC player was given a free pass despite clear video evidence showing the deliberate illegal action causing Sylvia's injury. It is a case that every single person in the footy world agrees was a total farce and a baffling decision. BTW how the hell did they deem Delidio's elbow reckless instead of intentional? HE WALKED UP TO THE BLOKE AND ELBOWED HIM IN THE CHIN!!!!

Fair enough for defending Gleeson, what I would like to know is how they arrived that their decision. How did they characterise this as a bump and not him bracing to protect himself? What were his options? What specifically did he do wrong? In such a landmark case for the game I think transparency is important here, otherwise the theory that he got a serious facial injury therefor Viney had to go will last forever. To me it felt like they had gone into this case with their minds already made up.

Really, it was my understanding that it's the opposite (at least for the AFL system).

It's exactly what Bomber was saying yesterday, if a player is injured and it was cause by an opposition player, accident or not he is suspended. Total bull.

From what was said on 360, there doesn't seem like there are grounds for an appeal. They'd have to prove that it was a brace and not a bump, and I believe it would be the same people.

Tyson's goal. Seeing someone burst out of a pack and finish such a clutch goal is something I haven't seen from a young player in a long time.

Next years addition to the coaching group.