Feel for you blokes

[purpleblood29]

Okay, whilst I am in a state of utter ecstasy it is certainly clear to me and many others that Fremantle were very, very lucky to snatch that. We simply didn't deserve to win, missed to many opportunities and where very reckless. Although we did play in passages some fantastic, hard, fast moving footy! By god the umpires didn't pay a couple of touchy ones. I thought you guys played some fantastic football and kicked some unbelievable goals. Your young-blokes where simply superb and played out an extremely tough game of football.

Great game guys, the best of the year.

You will go far this year!

 

[Boppo]

Yeah, me too. Best team didnt win tonight.

 

[Tim the Toolman]

Thanks for the candid and kind words guys. That's why everyone likes freo supporters!

 

[drummond2fevola]

"Great game guys, the best of the year."

big call

 

[purple_hazey]

I agree 100%, although happy to take the points, the best team on the night did not win.
If anyone was in doubt about the toughest man in the AFL I demand they look at the Brown incident. Perfect example of a true champion!

 

[cotter101]

thanks guys nice to see some honest and good sports around here but yes we should have won but i think most lions supporters are still happy in how we played, we played like 2009 but better you guys did play some greast passages of play through the centre. im happy in our youngsters stepping up and happy we kept pav goaless i think you guys will be a better team than last year you had quite a few players out. just like we did last year. good luck congrats on the win

 

[Freo Shark]

Bad luck guys, you deserved to win this one!

Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[shibz_1989]

Agree, but I've said numerous times, that's footy for ya.

 

[leeloo]

As a Freo supporter and having been at the wrong end of a close game (many a time) I feel for you guys.

I hope you guys go far this year. When Brown went off I felt sick

 

[Gibbsy]

Really feel for all of you tonight, especially when I saw Vossy walking off the ground shaking his head. Injustice. Below is a little rant that I wrote for my blog - feel free to comment

I watched the Brisbane Lions get a win stolen from their grasp tonight, and as the saga unfolded I felt worse and worse for a team who are quite clearly in a struggling era. However, it was by no fault of the young Lions in the last quarter that lost them the game. The umpiring and the controversial substitute rule will surely come under harsh scrutiny as everything comes out in the wash.

A close game throughout, the match seesawed throughout the second half as Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown was sent off with concussion after copping a heavy knock. The substitution rule was used because of the injury. The big men then began to fall, and with Staker and Clark both having to depart the field, the young Lions were benchless and holding on for dear life.

Time ticked under four minutes and the Dockers needed to kick a goal and fast. Speedy midfielder Stephen Hill went for a run towards goal and a courageous chase by James Polkinghorne dispossed him and surely a free kick for incorrect disposal was in order. Yet, I sat shocked as the umpire called play on. Watching in real time, Hill clearly dropped the ball as it missed his boot. In slow motion, the free kick became even more shockingly obvious.

A big clearing kick from Ryan Crowley after the ball hit the deck found Nathan Fyfe in the goal square who slammed it home to reduce the margin to four points. Fyfe was to be commended for his efforts, clearly one of Freo's best and the best game of his career stats-wise with 29 disposals and a goal.

Fremantle kept pressing and just a minute later Mundy sent the ball long to Michael Walters in the pocket, who in the marking contest was spoiled by Pearce Hanley. Again, on first look the free kick was not there. Ten years ago, a free kick paid here would have been laughed at. Now with the chopping the arms rule, the brave umpire decided that Hanley had infringed. The slow motion replay may have shown a free kick for some, and play on for others. The problem with these types of rules is the difference in interpretation between umpires, as well as the speed the game is being played at and the viewing angle that the umpire as.

Everyone is familiar with the old adage of the "benefit of the doubt," and in this case there should have been a boundary throw-in. Walters' mercurial skill was never in doubt as he converted with a banana kick to seal the deal for the Dockers.

What could have been a famous victory for Brisbane ended up in a steal of a victory for Freo. By no means am I attacking the Dockers - I applaud the way they played all night - but this sort of stuff just makes you feel sorry for the losing team.

BigFooty member "Last of the Roys" posted on the Brisbane Lions forum that "...it feels like the greatest injustice in a single game since Fitzroy was robbed in Adelaide." As the commentator remarked in that 1991 game, "this is murder... absolute murder." Whilst tonight's match may not have had as many as contentious free kicks, you can understand the pain that the Lions supporters feel.


I felt utterly sorry for Vossy as he stepped off the ground tonight, shaking his head and looking very close to tears. He was gallant and defeat. For a man who is on thin ice with his current position as coach, a win tonight would have been a real shot at the critics. What the Lions can take out of it is an honourable loss, with a hard run of luck which saw the game slip away.

I'm no Brisbane supporter - I had even tipped Freo - but as a neutral supporter it was hard to watch.

http://www.aussiesportsfan.com/2011/03/no-substitute-for-win.html

 

[ozziekano]

As a Freo supporter and having been at the wrong end of a close game (many a time) I feel for you guys.

I hope you guys go far this year. When Brown went off I felt sick

He's as tough as they come, and that was a hell of a knock.

Surely a hard result to swallow, but that's footy. Good luck for the season.

 

[shibz_1989]

Good blog. But having been on the end of so many close losses so many times...what would people have said if Freo had lost?

 

[grammarwar]

Actually feels strange ppl not sinking the boot in on what was a pretty gut-wrenching loss. Great game , plenty of positives for both teams. Some impressive young players out ther tnite.

 

[MadMac]

Most Freo fans won't ever sink the foot in simply because losses like yours tonight we went through in abudance in our short history. So most of us know exactly how it feels.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[PurpleGreenRed]

Yup..both teams played well in patches and you were unlucky with the knocks your boys took. Don't know if we would have made it over the line had Brown, Staker and Beams not all had to come off.

Very unlucky guys. Good luck for the rest of the season exccept round 14. You'll finish a lot higher than last year if you have the same intensity all year.

 

[karix]

I want to know why the reckless play that resulted in Brown copping a knee to the face wasn't reported...

The second player came in late, with no intent to go for the ball, no capacity to alter the contest AND made contact with the head... call me naive but why wasn't a 50m paid? That gift goal that would've been the 4 points to win it.

Brown had a far better chance of kicking that goal than his replacement and on top of that his contact was so late that even without a contest for the mark contact that late (of any kind, let alone head contact) would've been a free kick. The fact that violence like this goes unreported sends a clear message that star players can be targeted for injury with no consequence.

 

[leungtl]

I thought you guys showed unbelievable heart despite having no bench and your leader rushed to hospital. We got away with murder in that game, but I was very impressed with Beams and Bewick in particular - look to be a couple of staples for the rest of the season

I want to know why the reckless play that resulted in Brown copping a knee to the face wasn't reported...

I guess that's why the MRP reviews every game - the umpire may have had his view obscured by our two defenders but I'm sure they'll take the appropiate action if needed.

 

[youtwo]

Pretty easy to be diplomatic and friendly when you have the four points in the bag. I don't feel so generous.

 

[MacMum]

Understandable, but nevertheless its good manners to at least be gracious to people offering kind words etc..

The Freo supporters don't have to come on our board and say nice things but they have..

So cheers to all of them, and good luck for your 2011 season

 

[Freodoc]

Just to add my thoughts.....

As has been said, Freo truly got out of gaol in this one.

Really sorry to hear about the injuries to Jonathon Brown, whom I admire immensely, and also to Brent Staker. I do not believe there would be any intent on behalf of McPharlin, whom I'm sure will be feeling really ordinary atm.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

I'm sure the substitute rule has to come under review... it must have been so frustrating to have a fit player sitting on the pine, and unable to take the field.

 

[Football Pope]

I thought you guys showed unbelievable heart despite having no bench and your leader rushed to hospital. We got away with murder in that game, but I was very impressed with Beams and Bewick in particular - look to be a couple of staples for the rest of the season



I guess that's why the MRP reviews every game - the umpire may have had his view obscured by our two defenders but I'm sure they'll take the appropiate action if needed.

Yep past years it was protect the head at all costs...and If the match review do nothing then they'll have to drop Farren Rays charge..

It would surprise the crap out of me if they cite McPharlin...