Opinion Commentary & Media VII

[king of the road]

I’ll take both for $1,000.

 

[DuckYeah]

The judges decision or sense of self that feels the need to participate in physical violence for validation?

I’ll take both for $1,000.

Jack went outside looking for em. He wasn’t in the footage in the club and he is their captain. There is no doubt in my mind.

If someone can get the transcripts from
Court that would prove what happened. There has to be a reason that incident wouldn’t be mandatory jail

 

[DuckYeah]

Not being an insufferable douchebag for the most part is what stops someone else from snotting me. And having the ability to de-escalate I guess because my ego isn't tied up in weird-ass macho behaviour.

There's no winning from being in a street fight. If you feel the need to fight do it in a martial art in controlled conditions. All the adrenaline and none of the consequences.

Sometimes you need to go. You have no options. But you can just dial 000 if you are frightened, nothing wrong with that either

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Sometimes you need to go. You have no options. But you can just dial 000 if you are frightened, nothing wrong with that either

Promise me son not to do the things I done...

 

[desie]

The Law has spoken

I fought The Law and The Law won.

He too got off with a fine.

 

[ferball]

The law don't mean shit
If you got the right friends
That's how this county's run
Twinkies are the best friend I ever had
I fought the law and I won

 

[krakouers]

I fought The Law and The Law won.

He too got off with a fine.

I left my baby and it feels so bad,
Guess my race has run…

 

[StiffArm]

Sometimes you need to go. You have no options. But you can just dial 000 if you are frightened, nothing wrong with that either

It hasn't been my experience.

I've only ever been in organised fights. 2 minutes never feels as long as when you're in a full contact bout.

Do you find you "have to go" because you're the insufferable campaigner? Or because you surround yourself with them?

 

[The Talent Scout]

Called it last week. Out of pocket a few dollars, slap on the wrist, and a "don't do it again".

Justice system down there is absolutely ****ed! Disgraceful

Not just Victoria but S.A as well and probably other places around Australia, why do think so many police officers are leaving?
They are sick of doing their job only for our outdated justice system letting people back on the streets, and I'm talking about a variety of different actions, eg: Domestic violence, criminal matters, paedophilia, with people saying their cured only for them to get out and once free, to do it again, there is no cure, its a sickness, and the urge will always be there.

There are others but you get the point, a lot of them have children, girlfriends/wives and friends so to have the above plus killers and so forth our legal system is long overdue for a change, but I fear that's a long way away. I know early last year there was a new system of federal of administrative review done and some things presented but our justice system must be changed, simple as that.

I don't usually like to compare America but in the "states" you can't get away with stuff over there, even little things, the police officers don't f*ck around. Over here our police officers do there best only for the courts to let them out, what do you think happens next? If their system over there replaced our stone age system here there would be no "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" or Yeah, "I did such & such, so what, I'll be out quicker than you can blink". They would be in for a hell of a shock! Though, we must never lose hope.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Not just Victoria but S.A as well and probably other places around Australia, why do think so many police officers are leaving?
They are sick of doing their job only for our outdated justice system letting people back on the streets, and I'm talking about a variety of different actions, eg: Domestic violence, criminal matters, paedophilia, with people saying their cured only for them to get out and once free, to do it again, there is no cure, its a sickness, and the urge will always be there.

There are others but you get the point, a lot of them have children, girlfriends/wives and friends so to have the above plus killers and so forth our legal system is long overdue for a change, but I fear that's a long way away. I know early last year there was a new system of federal of administrative review done and some things presented but our justice system must be changed, simple as that.

I don't usually like to compare America but in the "states" you can't get away with stuff over there, even little things, the police officers don't f*ck around. Over here our police officers do there best only for the courts to let them out, what do you think happens next? If their system over there replaced our stone age system here there would be no "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" or Yeah, "I did such & such, so what, I'll be out quicker than you can blink". They would be in for a hell of a shock! Though, we must never lose hope.

The US is too far to the other extreme, very litigious country, people sue for the smallest issue, usually for a cash grab. They also have way too many gun related deaths.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it; the system here in Singapore is the best I've seen anywhere. Guns, drugs, violence, are all illegal. You screw up, there is no mercy and you are put in jail, or put to death for serious drugs charges. Because of such harsh consequences, people very rarely screw up, and as a result it's the safest place in the world. As the only guy in a family of girls, this is important to me, knowing they can walk the streets at any time of the day or night and won't have an issue.

When our daughter was 10, we started putting her in cabs and ubers by herself to get to school, sports, etc. This is normal here in Singapore and no one bats an eyelid. I would never do that in Oz. My sister in Melbourne freaked out that we could do such a thing.

EDIT: I'll add that some here would say our drugs laws are too draconian, because it's illegal for residents here to consume illicit drugs domestically AND while abroad. I don't necessarily agree with the while abroad part but doesn't really bother me because I don't do drugs.

Misuse of Drugs Act

Welcome to Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore

www.cnb.gov.sg

 

[Roo316]

Not just Victoria but S.A as well and probably other places around Australia, why do think so many police officers are leaving?
They are sick of doing their job only for our outdated justice system letting people back on the streets, and I'm talking about a variety of different actions, eg: Domestic violence, criminal matters, paedophilia, with people saying their cured only for them to get out and once free, to do it again, there is no cure, its a sickness, and the urge will always be there.

There are others but you get the point, a lot of them have children, girlfriends/wives and friends so to have the above plus killers and so forth our legal system is long overdue for a change, but I fear that's a long way away. I know early last year there was a new system of federal of administrative review done and some things presented but our justice system must be changed, simple as that.

I don't usually like to compare America but in the "states" you can't get away with stuff over there, even little things, the police officers don't f*ck around. Over here our police officers do there best only for the courts to let them out, what do you think happens next? If their system over there replaced our stone age system here there would be no "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" or Yeah, "I did such & such, so what, I'll be out quicker than you can blink". They would be in for a hell of a shock! Though, we must never lose hope.

Far out, I dunno if we want to adopt their system. I’m all for change but didn’t they just privatise the prisons, which essentially means more prisoners more $$$.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Far out, I dunno if we want to adopt their system. I’m all for change but didn’t they just privatise the prisons, which essentially means more prisoners more $$$.

Correct.

That’s why there is so many innocent people in prison over there.

It’s about ‘winning’ in court and securing custodial sentences.

 

[DuckYeah]

Not just Victoria but S.A as well and probably other places around Australia, why do think so many police officers are leaving?
They are sick of doing their job only for our outdated justice system letting people back on the streets, and I'm talking about a variety of different actions, eg: Domestic violence, criminal matters, paedophilia, with people saying their cured only for them to get out and once free, to do it again, there is no cure, its a sickness, and the urge will always be there.

There are others but you get the point, a lot of them have children, girlfriends/wives and friends so to have the above plus killers and so forth our legal system is long overdue for a change, but I fear that's a long way away. I know early last year there was a new system of federal of administrative review done and some things presented but our justice system must be changed, simple as that.

I don't usually like to compare America but in the "states" you can't get away with stuff over there, even little things, the police officers don't f*ck around. Over here our police officers do there best only for the courts to let them out, what do you think happens next? If their system over there replaced our stone age system here there would be no "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" or Yeah, "I did such & such, so what, I'll be out quicker than you can blink". They would be in for a hell of a shock! Though, we must never lose hope.

Lol coppers are leaving the beat because they do “hard work” that isnt rewarded through the judiciary? ****ING LOL Coppers are the laziest ****ing pricks going round. They do they easy work and not the hard work. They want more money for less work. They’re lazy bums

 

[The Talent Scout]

Far out, I dunno if we want to adopt their system. I’m all for change but didn’t they just privatise the prisons, which essentially means more prisoners more $$$.

Yeah, probably so Roo316, they do go a bit overboard, maybe somewhere in the middle if that's possible.

 

[The Y Factor]

Not just Victoria but S.A as well and probably other places around Australia, why do think so many police officers are leaving?
They are sick of doing their job only for our outdated justice system letting people back on the streets, and I'm talking about a variety of different actions, eg: Domestic violence, criminal matters, paedophilia, with people saying their cured only for them to get out and once free, to do it again, there is no cure, its a sickness, and the urge will always be there.

There are others but you get the point, a lot of them have children, girlfriends/wives and friends so to have the above plus killers and so forth our legal system is long overdue for a change, but I fear that's a long way away. I know early last year there was a new system of federal of administrative review done and some things presented but our justice system must be changed, simple as that.

I don't usually like to compare America but in the "states" you can't get away with stuff over there, even little things, the police officers don't f*ck around. Over here our police officers do there best only for the courts to let them out, what do you think happens next? If their system over there replaced our stone age system here there would be no "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" or Yeah, "I did such & such, so what, I'll be out quicker than you can blink". They would be in for a hell of a shock! Though, we must never lose hope.

You get away with whatever you want in the US if you have money. It’s incredibly corrupt and the poor pay the price.

An appalling place

 

[Roosurgence]

You can look at it like that. Or a ******* top bloke who would give his shirt off his back to someone and not take s**t. If you dont stand up for your team mates, then how can you expect them to put their body on the line on a footy field?

Team mates are mates and stand up for em, even if you dont like em.

I actually agree with this. While I don’t agree with fighting in the first place, sometimes you need to stand up and have your mates back. Standing up doesn’t even have to be punching on, but simply protecting your mate.

I had a similar incident in my later years of footy. I used to play in the country where blokes were pretty good at giving you one when the umpire couldn’t see. I remember one day a guy picked me off while I had my head over the ball and one of the older players in the side came to me and said don’t worry he will get his own back. About 20 minutes later the sniper was sent from the ground with blood pouring from his nose. I can tell you everyone at that club had each others backs and would run through brick walls for each other. We weren’t the most talented team but our strong culture meant we were able to make grand finals (sadly we couldn’t achieve the ultimate, but it was a great achievement with the talent we had).

Conversely when I moved to the city I played my finals years for an Ammo’s Club. A player in our team was getting hit by two guys, so I jumped in to even the fight. Now I am no fighter, but if your teammates in trouble you need to have his back. Not one other player on our team joined in, while 3 more of the opposition did.

After that incident I never really gave a shit about that team and never felt it was a tight group of players. We had talent, but never got anywhere because we were never a team.

So I do agree with your point, strong teams are built on a culture of having your teammates back and standing up for them when they are In trouble, even if you don’t like them. In a sport where everything counts that feeling of knowing that everyone has each others backs and will do what they need for each other is what can make the difference.

 

[The Talent Scout]

You get away with whatever you want in the US if you have money. It’s incredibly corrupt and the poor pay the price.

An appalling place

Yeah, there's no easy answer, but it has to be fixed, we are so soft in this country for different forms of crime, no wonder those people are pretty much laughing when they get caught.

 

[king of the road]

I actually agree with this. While I don’t agree with fighting in the first place, sometimes you need to stand up and have your mates back. Standing up doesn’t even have to be punching on, but simply protecting your mate.

I had a similar incident in my later years of footy. I used to play in the country where blokes were pretty good at giving you one when the umpire couldn’t see. I remember one day a guy picked me off while I had my head over the ball and one of the older players in the side came to me and said don’t worry he will get his own back. About 20 minutes later the sniper was sent from the ground with blood pouring from his nose. I can tell you everyone at that club had each others backs and would run through brick walls for each other. We weren’t the most talented team but our strong culture meant we were able to make grand finals (sadly we couldn’t achieve the ultimate, but it was a great achievement with the talent we had).

Conversely when I moved to the city I played my finals years for an Ammo’s Club. A player in our team was getting hit by two guys, so I jumped in to even the fight. Now I am no fighter, but if your teammates in trouble you need to have his back. Not one other player on our team joined in, while 3 more of the opposition did.

After that incident I never really gave a s**t about that team and never felt it was a tight group of players. We had talent, but never got anywhere because we were never a team.

So I do agree with your point, strong teams are built on a culture of having your teammates back and standing up for them when they are In trouble, even if you don’t like them. In a sport where everything counts that feeling of knowing that everyone has each others backs and will do what they need for each other is what can make the difference.

All examples on the footy field, which is great.

Very different at a pub at night with intoxicated, unpredictable, violent twats.

 

[Masked Avenger]

I'm assuming the thug that king hit Ziebell was the same individual who rained punches on Comben earlier in the evening.

The thing that would have saved him from jail would have been his age, at 21, but the DPP should appeal regardless of that.

The sentence fails the pub test

There were some real clues in the Comben footage to this thug's make up.

If you watch the Comben footage, the thug hangs back until his mates confront Comben from the front and he makes a beeline to get behind Comben so he could attack him when he was completely defenceless.

It's a miracle than none of those blows did any damage.

Any benefit of the doubt to the thug in the Ziebell attack should have evaporated watching the Comben footage.

It was a real indicator as to this thug's disregard for other people and he should have been slotted without question. Also shows what a coward he is.

Rehabilitation is a factor in sentencing but so is general deterrence. What does the sentence say to the young immature smart arses amongst us that it's okay to break facial bones at a whim?

I know it's been said before but it makes a mockery of the one punch initiatives - they must be thinking why bother.

He's a lucky boy - and I bet the Magistrate will be reminded of his softness.

 

[ferball]

I'm assuming the thug that king hit Ziebell was the same individual who rained punches on Comben earlier in the evening.

The thing that would have saved him from jail would have been his age, at 21, but the DPP should appeal regardless of that.

The sentence fails the pub test

There were some real clues in the Comben footage to this thug's make up.

If you watch the Comben footage, the thug hangs back until his mates confront Comben from the front and he makes a beeline to get behind Comben so he could attack him when he was completely defenceless.

It's a miracle than none of those blows did any damage.

Any benefit of the doubt to the thug in the Ziebell attack should have evaporated watching the Comben footage.

It was a real indicator as to this thug's disregard for other people and he should have been slotted without question. Also shows what a coward he is.

Rehabilitation is a factor in sentencing but so is general deterrence. What does the sentence say to the young immature smart arses amongst us that it's okay to break facial bones at a whim?

I know it's been said before but it makes a mockery of the one punch initiatives - they must be thinking why bother.

He's a lucky boy - and I bet the Magistrate will be reminded of his softness.

Honestly not really.

If he knew how to hit someone he wouldn't be jumping them from behind.

 

[Masked Avenger]

Honestly not really.

If he knew how to hit someone he wouldn't be jumping them from behind.

Dunno Ferbs.

He knocked Ziebell of his feet with a single blow and broke his nose amongst other facial injuries. He connected then.

 

[ferball]

Dunno Ferbs.

He knocked Ziebell of his feet with a single blow and broke his nose amongst other facial injuries. He connected then.

Wasn't that a similar thing tho? Hit him from behind or when he wasn't looking?

 

[blackshadow]

25 grand is a few dollars? How much money you got.. I cant buy a beer with a few dollars.

The punishment was too light. Do we know what Order he was put on?

You watch he'll be on some pissy payment plan of $50/month or something. It's bullshit.

 

[justroyal]

I mean, half the article is about us

Why this young Bulldog DM'd one of the AFL's toughest mids

Already turning heads at Whitten Oval for his inquisitiveness and work ethic, Ryley Sanders is ready to take the AFL by storm in his debut season

www.afl.com.au

 

[CURVE]

North is ‘sick of being at the bottom’. Fixing one key flaw could finally help start a, slow, rise

North is ‘sick of being at the bottom’. Fixing one key flaw could finally help start a, slow, rise
February 5th, 2024 1:02 pm

North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin last month succinctly summed up the emotions of every Kangaroos player and fan after a tough four-season slog.
“Everyone on the list now is getting sick of being where we are,” Simpkin told reporters.
“The coaches who have come in, they don’t want to be down the bottom either so I think it’s just a combination of the whole club being sick of being at the bottom and I think we want to make change.”

It was an admirable declaration from Simpkin, who’s been a key figure both on and off the field for North so far this decade. And it’s been a painful one at that, winning just 12 of its past 84 games and finishing in the bottom-two for four years straight.

Simpkin suggested there’d been a significant mindset shift among the playing group over the pre-season, which had them believing anything is possible in 2024.

But to emerge from the bottom-end of the AFL ladder this year, they’ll have to overcome some significant odds.

At the end of the 2023 season, four players retired — including Jack Ziebell, Aaron Hall and Ben Cunnington — four more were delisted and two free agents – Todd Goldstein and Ben McKay – joined Essendon, leading to the Kangaroos attacking the top-end of the draft for a fourth consecutive year.

Subsequently, North enters 2024 with the youngest and least-experienced list in the AFL.

Triple All-Australian and ex-Kangaroos star Nick Dal Santo says those list rankings “put it in a little bit more in perspective – even for North Melbourne supporters who are just eagerly waiting for this thing to turn around”.
As determined as Simpkin and his teammates are to push up the ladder this year, Dal Santo said a surge is “realistically still a couple of years away”.
“You ask yourself: ‘Well, where does that growth come from? Who’s going to replace some of these senior players, even though they weren’t at their best?’ It’s Harry Sheezel, it’s George Wardlaw – it’s the guys that they’ve got. But you can’t expect them to be able to go head-to-head with the likes of even a mid-tier midfield. These guys are still learning their craft,” Dal Santo told foxfooty.com.au.
“Yes Sheezel won the Rising Star and North’s best and fairest and all that, but his best football should start maybe in two or three years’ time, really, and then be able to sustain that at a really high level throughout the course of a full season.”

The Kangaroos last season finished second-last on the ladder and were ranked second-last in all of points for, points against and points from turnover differential, leading to the AFL’s second-worst percentage.
The Roos’ percentage, however, did improve to 71.5 last year – up from 55.8 in 2022. That was primarily due to their offensive improvement, averaging 72 points per game – almost two goals more than the previous season.
But they still conceded, on average, over 100 points per outing. Dal Santo said: “Sometimes last year their team defence was diabolical where they were just walked though.”
While Dal Santo said Roos fans have every right to be optimistic for an increase on three wins, he said the coaching group would more likely be looking for the team to be more competitive more often.
“How do you measure improvement? From a coaching perspective, it’s got to be more than just win-loss – because if that’s your only measurement, it’s going to be another really tough year for the Roos we would expect,” he said.
“I think it’s got to be percentage … That might mean they only win four games in a year. But instead of getting thumped by at least 60 points and having massive losses, you only have the odd one.
“Yes, they will have natural growth, but that natural growth won’t fast-track three years for them.”

STRENGTH
Midfield and clearance improvement. The Kangaroos’ determination to pick the best midfielders in recent draft classes began to really pay dividends last year. North improved at the contest, going from being ranked 14th and 18th in the competition in clearance differential and clearance efficiency respectively in 2022 to 11th and eighth in 2023. Luke Davies-Uniacke, who polled 13 Brownlow votes last season, was central to that improvement — and at just 24 years old, he’s only going to get better in 2024. George Wardlaw made an immediate impact on the ball, too, in his limited matches, while Will Phillips began to show signs he could influence matches at the coalface. Add No. 2 pick Colby McKercher — who’s stunned teammates in his first pre-season with his professionalism and work ethic — to that midfield mix, along with co-captain Jy Simpkin, and the Roos should be just as competitive at stoppage this year.

WEAKNESS
Inexperience and lack of continuity. As has been well documented — and as extremely patient Kangaroos fans would tell you — the North Melbourne rebuild has been brutal in its slow pace and consequent on-field results. Eleven delistings at the end of the 2020 season signalled the start of the build, but the drop in experience at the end of 2023 can’t be underestimated. There was seemingly another changing of the guard, with four players retiring and two free agents joining the Bombers. Oh, and another four players were delisted. It meant North Melbourne was aggressive at the trade table, acquiring Dylan Stephens (traded from Sydney), Zac Fisher (traded from Carlton), Bigoa Nyuon (traded from Richmond) and Toby Pink (delisted free agent) before selecting five young guns in the first round of the draft to boost their lengthy rebuild. To some extent, it feels like a renovation on the run mid rebuild. So should Roos fans expect more of the same? Or is a decent rise up the ladder, Adelaide-style, realistic?

WHERE ARE THEY ON THE PREMIERSHIP CLOCK?
1pm: While the Roos are in good hands with Alastair Clarkson at the helm, it’s quickly become apparent they still have a lot of work to do. You sense the worst of the list ‘gutting’ is over, but Clarkson’s will have a young best 23 to work with this year. Finals still seems a few years off, let alone a flag.

PREDICTED LADDER RANGE
15th-18th

PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM
B: Toby Pink, Aidan Corr, Luke McDonald
HB: Harry Sheezel, Bigoa Nyuon, Colby McKercher
C: Dylan Stephens, George Wardlaw, Bailey Scott
HF: Zane Duursma, Cam Zurhaar, Eddie Ford
F: Paul Curtis, Nick Larkey, Jaidyn Stephenson
FOLL: Tristan Xerri, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke
I/C: Callum Coleman-Jones, Tom Powell, Zac Fisher, Darcy Tucker, Will Phillips (sub)