No Oppo Supporters General AFL and other clubs discussion thread. **Opposition fans not welcome**

[Neville Bartos]

If I was a journalist, I would be so incredibly biased that I'd be shot in the face by the sub-editor after my first submission titled "Geelong AIDS epidemic spreads to Essendon" lands on his/her desk.

You have to respect someone with a passion for footy being able to even slightly temper their bias when writing articles. I have no idea how someone like Anthony Hudson or the late Clinton Grybas managed to come across as almost entirely impartial when commentating. Much respect

 

[Ram-Man]

Mark Robinson is the worst out there. Whenever a team is about to play Essendon he highlights any possible infringements by players of that team in an effort to get them rubbed out. It is so blatant it is disgraceful. And as he hates Hawthorn the most I expect he will be all over the R17 game v Bulldogs to rub out as many Hawks as he can for the following week against Essendon. After Essendon lose he can act magnanimous and impartial in the dissection of the game analysis, but that is after he has done everything possible to influence the game.

Russell Holmesby has also ruined Inside Football. It was a great paper from 1971 until the mid 90's. It would now be just a St.Kilda tribute if it wasn't for a bit of balance from the other contributors. Inside Football is now only worth getting for the pre and post draft issues and if you are interested in the stats for the pre-season comp as that is the only print media that publishes them.

Interesting that Emma Quayle is named as a fanatic Essendon supporter as I had never been able to work out who she followed.

Should I upgrade Mark Robinson from Moderate to ... Insidious ?

 

[Hawkas1988]

I actually think Mark Robinson is very good at being impartial and is very fair when discussing other teams and also digs into his own side when it's needed.

 

[Ram-Man]

What has been the best part of pre-season thusfar?

Woodward's knee ? Kilkenny going home ? Buddy putting contract talks on hold ? Brian Lake's indiscretion ? Paul Chapman stating he has had the best pre-season ever ?

They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Go Hawks !!!!!!

 

[Agent Smith]

What has been the best part of pre-season thusfar?

Woodward's knee ? Kilkenny going home ? Buddy putting contract talks on hold ? Brian Lake's indiscretion ? Paul Chapman stating he has had the best pre-season ever ?

They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Go Hawks !!!!!!

The sun is still shining reasonably well from my side of the world. There have been distractions (re: unfortunate occurances) but still we've had no major setbacks physically to anyone in the senior group (sorry Woody, you may have gotten some game time but you're no regular yet) and most players have enjoyed a full pre-season. If guys like Hodge and Whitecross can get a move on in their rehabilitation then everything else pales into insgnificance if we can retain a strong, deep list throughout the year. It's all about the chocolates at the end of it. Only then will I have any great concern for contracts and other periphery stuff.

 

[Flukey!]

I actually think Mark Robinson is very good at being impartial and is very fair when discussing other teams and also digs into his own side when it's needed.

I agree. I quite like listening to Robbo.
David King is a closest Hawks fan.

 

[spudmaster]

Couldn't find the preseason thread so will chuck it here. Not really necessary to start a thread about it.

Minor corkie to Rioli. Could even have just been an excuse to keep him out of the all stars match but who knows.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/mor...out-from-nab-cup/story-e6frf9jf-1226570358567

Rioli's corked thigh, which was aggravated at training yesterday, has made him the latest casualty for the Richmond-indigenous All-Stars game in Alice Springs on Friday night.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Call to ban all gloves

Date: January 25 2013
Jon Pierik (Carlton fan)

NORTH Melbourne full-back Scott Thompson has called for a blanket ban on gloves, claiming their use gives forwards an unfair advantage.
The AFL has rejected six types of gloves for providing too much grip and has so far approved only four for the new campaign.
Thompson, one of the competition's premier defenders who typically has to match up on the likes of glove-wearers Travis Cloke, Chris Dawes and Quinten Lynch, said a wholesale ban was required.
''I think [that] would be a good rule because it means everyone is on a level playing field,'' he said. ''There is nothing enhancing anyone's performance. I know in the wet it really helps to have a glove.''
As revealed by Fairfax Media, the banned gloves are Under Armour Blur II, Ironclad Box Handler Safety, Nike Vapor Jet 2.0 Football Receiver, Nike Magnigrip Elite Remix 2.0, Nike Superbad and Gilbert Rugby.
''I have actually got a few of those gloves,'' Thompson told the Kangaroos' website.
''We use them in America when we are [high-altitude] training. They definitely help you mark the ball.''
Cloke's father David has criticised the AFL's decision and has asked Nike, the brand Travis uses, whether it can still provide a glove.
''Obviously Cloke wears one and he has some good hands,'' Thompson said. ''It will be interesting but he has got a whole pre-season to train without one. I will be looking forward to playing him.''

Is this Thompson challenging Cloke to a duel via the old glove slap ?

I sir .. demand satisfaction ..

Well done Thompson. Needs to be said. Gloves have been a bug bear of mine since they first burst on the scene.

 

[Pessimistic]

I actually think Mark Robinson is very good at being impartial and is very fair when discussing other teams and also digs into his own side when it's needed.

His speech and intelligability is deteriorating badly. Worse than my typing

 

[Off The Couch]

His speech and intelligability is deteriorating badly. Worse than my typing

Drink will do that

 

[Argy]

Well done Thompson. Needs to be said. Gloves have been a bug bear of mine since they first burst on the scene.

I hate gloves.

 

[cryptor]

With all this Essendon performance enhancing drugs hoo-hah going about at the moment it makes me wonder what ramifications this has for the 2012 Brownlow medal if it turns out the allegations are true. Even if Watson isn't one of the players who was on the gear you could say in part his ability to gather so many votes (20 in the first 11 rounds) before his team mates broke down was due to their performance enhancing drug use.

Surely there's a case to be made that if the above allegations are true then the 4 vote difference between Watson and equal 2nd place finishers Cotchin and Mitchell may not have occurred? Especially if you were to consider Essendon's entire 2012 season and any achievements attached to it as being tainted.

Will be interesting to see how the AFL deals with this aspect (if at all) if the allegations against Essendon are found to be true. Cotchin and Mitchell had outstanding seasons which were worthy of Brownlow medals. Watson was also outstanding but it stands to see just how tainted his achievement may be.

 

[Off The Couch]

Do you really think that's how Sam wants to win a medal

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Off season so far:
Tippet scandal
Melbourne tanking
Third party deals cancelled
Collingwood rec drug admissions
Essenon PED accusations
We got Brian Lake

 

[Off The Couch]

And maybe still one to come

 

[Hawkas1988]

Off season so far:
Tippet scandal
Melbourne tanking
Third party deals cancelled
Collingwood rec drug admissions
Essenon PED accusations
We got Brian Lake

I wish there was 1 more point at the end saying Buddy re-signs with Hawthorn! It would just cap off a entertaining off season

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Us long term Hawks supporters can taste a delicious irony with this Essendon doping allegation. We recall Essendon's ill-founded allegations about the Hawks in the 1984 Finals series.

Karma.

 

[Messenger]

And maybe still one to come

Geelong?

 

[Off The Couch]

Geelong?

Would love that to be the case but it's going to be difficult to prove that 6 years on.

 

[QuietB]

Us long term Hawks supporters can taste a delicious irony with this Essendon doping allegation. We recall Essendon's ill-founded allegations about the Hawks in the 1984 Finals series.

Karma.

Any chance they can scrap the last quarter of that GF from the record books? Seems a fair punishment.

 

[cryptor]

Do you really think that's how Sam wants to win a medal

Certainly not, but if the allegations are true then he and Cotchin should at least be recognised in the history books.

 

[hawker11]

Alan Jeans will be up in heaven, smiling.

 

[Ram-Man]

Alan Jeans will be up in heaven, smiling.

Angels are like sausages laddy , you can fry them , grill them or bake them , they're still angels.

 

[Cyrilyouchampion]

With all this Essendon performance enhancing drugs hoo-hah going about at the moment it makes me wonder what ramifications this has for the 2012 Brownlow medal if it turns out the allegations are true. Even if Watson isn't one of the players who was on the gear you could say in part his ability to gather so many votes (20 in the first 11 rounds) before his team mates broke down was due to their performance enhancing drug use.

How would they have fared in 2012 if they HADN'T been on the gear???

 

[Messenger]

How would they have fared in 2012 if they HADN'T been on the gear???

They would've been healthier.