If Bomber Thompson had any class...

[Kildonan]

he would acknowledge how petty he had been Friday night and give recognition to the Saints for a great performance.

The vast majority of cats fans have shown great sportsmanship and class in giving the Saints their due, admitting that the 50/50 decision was there and that it did not cost the club this match.

This was an epic match, it had everything. It started in ideal conditions, The Saints got the first goal but soon the Cats gained the ascendency. Then the Saints turned it on playing the best footy all season and for one and a half quarters they outshone Geelong like a supernova next to a star. Then the rain came, conditions that may not have suited the Saints, but made it all the harder for the Cats to catch up. The latter stages of the third quarter and the first half of the last quarter were all Geelong. Suddenly they were within a goal and hearts were in mouths of both factions. The Cats kept hammering, but the Saints were steadfast, our first inside fifty was like eight minutes to go, but it yielded a goal and given the conditions the Saints looked likely to hang on unless Geelong could pull something almost superhuman out. They did, but Gary got caught and he dropped the ball - he whinged and we all could see the cracks were showing. The pressure on Geelong was immense. The Saints started taking more control. They got it down their end and were just going to hold it there for the duration. With one minute and eighteen seconds on the clock, Geelong gained possession and quickly hurtled it down towards their own goal. Everyone knew there was almost no time left and everyone was desperate. Briefly Gwilt held the ball and under immense pressure from Mooney he disposed of it. It fell loose but the tackler was in his back and rode him to the ground. The whistle blew. The loose ball had been gathered and passed forward. The whistle blew again to signify stopping the clock. One minute and one second to go. The Geelong players had either not heard or ignored the whistle. The ball was dead, but several people didn't know it. To fans watching live it must have seemed like an unlikely victory, there was hugging and congratulations. The whistle bew again to bring the ball back. Then realisation set in. Mooney blamed the umpire repeatedly when he only had himself to blame. The Saints scrambled the ball into the safe forward zone and run the clock down.
Siren. Epic win.

Bomber Thompson speaks and the press follow, as we've seen the same in last year's finals series, in the post match press assassination of Steven Baker earlier this year and again now.

Cameron Mooney should have been cited by the umpires for his insistance that the UMPIRE had just lost them the match when in fact HE had just lost them the match, or rather the match was won by the better team on the night. The team that scored the most. The team that was able to absorb the pressure and hold on for a deserved win.

To compound Mooney's outburst with a post match interview by his coach which (and admittedly the editing of the snippet was not flattering) blamed a single poor umpiring decision (which it was not) for the final result.

Grant Thomas and the St Kilda FC were each fined $15,000 for doing considerably less than this

So instead of the Saints being acknowledged as being a good, tough opponent (and let's face it - they've beaten the cats three out of the last four meetings) and being worthy of praise for such a gutsy win, the focus of attention is how poor that one single decision was.

You said to write the truth, Bomber, well the truth is...

you are a poor loser, mate.

 

[ChrisL#12]

Spot on Kildonan

 

[SA1NTER]

I have respect for what Bomer has accomplished, but I think he is arrogant.

 

[thomas_m18]

I hope it was just a comment which came in the heat of the moment and he's taken back what he's said. Once he sees the footage he'll realize that the free was most certainly there, whether he likes it or not.

 

[Papa Juggs]

Everybody in that team has become a sore loser.

Their fans aren't as bad as Collingwood and they've been humble premiers but when they lose everything just turns sour.

Good winners, extremely bad losers.

 

[Plugger35]

Most of the Geelong players and supporters are OK but a few of them, along with Bomber Thompson, have shown themselves as poor losers with all the whinging about that free kick.

 

[bubblegoose]

I hope it was just a comment which came in the heat of the moment and he's taken back what he's said. Once he sees the footage he'll realize that the free was most certainly there, whether he likes it or not.

has he?

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

With all due respect, Kildonan (and I acknowledge that mods are entitled to have an opinion), but while I thought that your "umpiring mistake that nearly cost us the game" thread was a fair cynical reaction to Mooney's and Thompson's behaviour after the game and the way many papers described the incident, I question whether we really need three threads on this topic ?!

Players like Ling directly after the game or Bartel in "before the game" yesterday, their former skipper Harley during and after the game as well as many Geelong supporters on this board have shown real class by acknowledging that St Kilda was the better team on the day and that the umpiring decision was not the sole reason for the final result.

Shouldn't we rather be gracious winners to highlight the weakness of those making a big fuss about that one decision ? We won the game, let's enjoy our first ever win over the Cats in September and show our own class by not rubbing it in.

And let's be fair about it. While technically the correct decision, we all know that (i) the push in the back rule is generally not a good rule and there is little to no valid reason other than the letter of the law why Gwilt should have been paid a free kick and (ii) there are several incidents in almost every game (including Friday night on both sides) where similar free kicks are not paid.

I think that Lyon is outcoaching Thompson on and off the ground at the moment. He announced Baker's return early and even named him for the game expecting a reaction from the Geelong camp and then used Thompson's comments to highlight Ling's holding tactics against Dal Santo. Baker finally did not play and Johnson (who may or may not have practised the diving efforts he showed all game during the week in the expectation of having Baker on him resulting in free kicks at his will) was kept quiet by Dempster with only one free for him (and two against him).

And while there was only one free against Ling and the free for Gwilt was Mooney's fault, I do like the irony that it was Ling's disallowed goal that allegedly made Geelong lose the game.

Lyon is now playing his cards perfectly again. St Kilda is still suffering from the Thomas talk about the umpires. Umpires are only human and surely noone will argue that Schneider receiving less frees after his clapping incident (note the only 50m penalty of the night was - correctly - awarded against Schneider) has nothing to do with his clapping incident.

Lyon is now watching (and gently pushing) Thompson into that trap while ensuring the umpires that we have moved and will not argue about bad decisions like the GF poster. Geelong have a lot more to lose than fines of $15,000 and Lyon knows that. I for one expect Geelong to beat Collingwood, meaning that (provided we - which is not guaranteed, of course, can beat one of the Bulldogs, Sydney or Carlton) the preparation for a GF started Friday night after the game.

 

[the emergency]

Apparently Roscoe had a bit of a swipe back at Bomber, saying that he could've bleated on about Hawkins' goal which wasn't a goal in the Grand Final but didn't

''I am happy to talk about Tommy Hawkins kicking the ball into the post last year in a grand final and not making an issue of that,'' Lyon said.

''I am really not going to give it [Friday's decision] any credence, because I think it's irrelevant. I think it pays a disservice to the game and how good we were in a lot of aspects.

''I just look back to last year's grand final. I didn't whinge or bleat about a 'poster' being missed, so I think it's irrelevant.'

Source: Lyon Returns Fire on Crucial Penalty

 

[Big Carl]

Bomber Thompson speaks and the press follow, as we've seen the same in last year's finals series, in the post match press assassination of Steven Baker earlier this year and again now.

Interesting point.
I am of the same view, Mark Robinson is a perfect case in point. Bomber says the press should go hard so Robbo falls into line like a sycofantic little boy.
Notice he had backed down a bit on Game Day today though compared to his comments on radio yesterday when it was like he was trying to show how strong a journalist he was by being so forceful (and idiotic) about the decision.

 

[Special88]

Apparently Roscoe had a bit of a swipe back at Bomber, saying that he could've bleated on about Hawkins' goal which wasn't a goal in the Grand Final but didn't




Source: Lyon Returns Fire on Crucial Penalty

He is quick on his toes Ross. Spot on with his comments too and I hope Bomber takes a step back and realises he got it wrong.

All year however Bomber has been losing credibility and respect in my eyes every week with his bullshit comments. He is arrogant and sooks about umpiring more than any other coach and it reflects in his players also.

 

[Special88]

Bomber Thompson speaks and the press follow, as we've seen the same in last year's finals series, in the post match press assassination of Steven Baker earlier this year and again now.

Interesting point.
I am of the same view, Mark Robinson is a perfect case in point. Bomber says the press should go hard so Robbo falls into line like a sycofantic little boy.
Notice he had backed down a bit on Game Day today though compared to his comments on radio yesterday when it was like he was trying to show how strong a journalist he was by being so forceful (and idiotic) about the decision.

David Schwarze just shut him down and Robbo didnt have a come back because he was just simply wrong with his views.

 

[thomas_m18]

has he?

Grammatical error. It's meant to say "I hope it was just a comment which came in the heat of the moment and he takes back what he's said. "

 

[lemons123]

With all due respect, Kildonan (and I acknowledge that mods are entitled to have an opinion), but while I thought that your "umpiring mistake that nearly cost us the game" thread was a fair cynical reaction to Mooney's and Thompson's behaviour after the game and the way many papers described the incident, I question whether we really need three threads on this topic ?!

Players like Ling directly after the game or Bartel in "before the game" yesterday, their former skipper Harley during and after the game as well as many Geelong supporters on this board have shown real class by acknowledging that St Kilda was the better team on the day and that the umpiring decision was not the sole reason for the final result.

Shouldn't we rather be gracious winners to highlight the weakness of those making a big fuss about that one decision ? We won the game, let's enjoy our first ever win over the Cats in September and show our own class by not rubbing it in.

And let's be fair about it. While technically the correct decision, we all know that (i) the push in the back rule is generally not a good rule and there is little to no valid reason other than the letter of the law why Gwilt should have been paid a free kick and (ii) there are several incidents in almost every game (including Friday night on both sides) where similar free kicks are not paid.

I think that Lyon is outcoaching Thompson on and off the ground at the moment. He announced Baker's return early and even named him for the game expecting a reaction from the Geelong camp and then used Thompson's comments to highlight Ling's holding tactics against Dal Santo. Baker finally did not play and Johnson (who may or may not have practised the diving efforts he showed all game during the week in the expectation of having Baker on him resulting in free kicks at his will) was kept quiet by Dempster with only one free for him (and two against him).

And while there was only one free against Ling and the free for Gwilt was Mooney's fault, I do like the irony that it was Ling's disallowed goal that allegedly made Geelong lose the game.

Lyon is now playing his cards perfectly again. St Kilda is still suffering from the Thomas talk about the umpires. Umpires are only human and surely noone will argue that Schneider receiving less frees after his clapping incident (note the only 50m penalty of the night was - correctly - awarded against Schneider) has nothing to do with his clapping incident.

Lyon is now watching (and gently pushing) Thompson into that trap while ensuring the umpires that we have moved and will not argue about bad decisions like the GF poster. Geelong have a lot more to lose than fines of $15,000 and Lyon knows that. I for one expect Geelong to beat Collingwood, meaning that (provided we - which is not guaranteed, of course, can beat one of the Bulldogs, Sydney or Carlton) the preparation for a GF started Friday night after the game.

Exactly what I was thinking. Ross has been as good off the field as he has been on the field the past week, and has played this perfectly.

 

[Squizz]

Grammatical error. It's meant to say "I hope it was just a comment which came in the heat of the moment and he takes back what he's said. "

Tom Harley said the sandwich eater won't take a comment back (even if he is wrong or has over-reacted).

Shame he could not take a leaf from some of the fans - oh well, arrogance is like that sometimes.

 

[THEROO 09]

Most of the Geelong players and supporters are OK but a few of them, along with Bomber Thompson, have shown themselves as poor losers with all the whinging about that free kick.

Billy Bubble Guts Brownless said on the radio friday night the free was there but today on the t.v. he has changed his thought on the decision.

 

[StFly]

Tom Harley said the sandwich eater won't take a comment back (even if he is wrong or has over-reacted).

Shame he could not take a leaf from some of the fans - oh well, arrogance is like that sometimes.

He could star in the next Diet Coke ad, because those puppets are damned freaky.

"Always arrogant? Always coca cola! Now with less premierships!" /swipe

 

[bisazc887]

Billy Bubble Guts Brownless said on the radio friday night the free was there but today on the t.v. he has changed his thought on the decision.

Yeah saw that,,, funny how its so easy for them to have been great sports the last few years but when they lose a final the good sportmanship dissapears faster than it arrived

 

[Kildonan]

With all due respect, Kildonan (and I acknowledge that mods are entitled to have an opinion), but while I thought that your "umpiring mistake that nearly cost us the game" thread was a fair cynical reaction to Mooney's and Thompson's behaviour after the game and the way many papers described the incident, I question whether we really need three threads on this topic ?!

Fair comment Holden. I have been known to go overboard at times.

I was peeved at the lack of respect our club receives and decided to treat this as an entirely different topic.

Bomber is part of the problem, and the press fawn all over him and his opinion and that of the Geelong heirarchy in much the same way as Mick Malthouse / Eddie.

Bomber Thompson was absolutely smashed in almost every aspect as a coach by Ross Lyon on Friday, and in his quiet (often unspoken) manner has earned the respect of the Saints fans. It seems that his understated manner is not appreciated greatly by the press.

The press want sensationalism, they want the Bomber Thompson irrational outburst, the frank lies from Mick Malthouse. These make for easy headlines.

 

[THEROO 09]

Yeah saw that,,, funny how its so easy for them to have been great sports the last few years but when they lose a final the good sportmanship dissapears faster than it arrived

The funniest part of Thompson"s inter view after the game was when he told the press to print want they wanted on the incident then his smug arse smile disapeared off his face great to see.

 

[Plugger35]

Billy Bubble Guts Brownless said on the radio friday night the free was there but today on the t.v. he has changed his thought on the decision.

I like Billy but it's hard to take anything he says seriously, he is as one eyed a Geelong supporter as they come.

Like Bomber he failed to mention all the other soft free kicks that Geelong got that got them back in the game.

 

[saintsownthedome]

To be fair, its really hard on a coach to have to front the media immediately after a game which ended on such an emotional letdown.

Not sure if he'd say the same if he had his time again.

For what its worth, watched the replay today and Lenny Hayes was given a free kick for an almost identical incident with 17.40 remaining in the 2nd quarter, so even if the rule sucks, it was consistently applied on the night.

We all move on. Saints just have an extra week to rest up.

 

[Fred]

Fair comment Holden. I have been known to go overboard at times.

I was peeved at the lack of respect our club receives and decided to treat this as an entirely different topic.

Bomber is part of the problem, and the press fawn all over him and his opinion and that of the Geelong heirarchy in much the same way as Mick Malthouse / Eddie.

Bomber Thompson was absolutely smashed in almost every aspect as a coach by Ross Lyon on Friday, and in his quiet (often unspoken) manner has earned the respect of the Saints fans. It seems that his understated manner is not appreciated greatly by the press.

The press want sensationalism, they want the Bomber Thompson irrational outburst, the frank lies from Mick Malthouse. These make for easy headlines.

Why would you care what others think?

 

[Kildonan]

Why would you care what others think?

Because bad press impacts heavily on public perception and together these are unneeded distractions for our club, its supporters and especially the players.

 

[dg102]

I think the question of class went out the window when Bomber and Malthouse made public statements about Baker before he went to the tribunal. They play the media game when it suits them, and Ross dont degrade yourself to their level and get caught up in thier bullshit games. Your way above thier scum in respectability.