Still the Bloods?

[mcs]

The thing that hurt so much about the GF was not so much that we lost but the way we lost. Gary might be onto something.

That's what still eats at me about the Grand Final. I can take that the thought that you can't win them all (look at 1933-36, we made 4 grand finals, only to get 1 flag), but it was the way we got beat that hurts. Never gave a whimper after the first 10 minutes, and just let the wees and poos run all over us as they please.... that feeling will hopefully drive the players all season long.

[DamY]

How can the trade ban affect our performance on GF day? Jono that is one thing I'm struggling to understand

[jono2707]

Lyon, like many, is treating our crappy GF performance as a portent of our immediate demise.

I don't agree with that view.

Anyway a more balanced article would have cited the AFL trade ban as one contributing factor to a potential slide down the ladder in 2015. Lyon didn't cite this and relied upon the GF performance plus some of the conjecture and speculation that's been floating around since the start of last year.

[chalbilto]

Twelve months ago the Melbourne media and experts were sprouting about the instability that would occur because of Buddy. So take these comments about the potential slide as bull crap. The only way to silence the experts is by results, so bring on next Saturday.

[DamY]

Lyon, like many, is treating our crappy GF performance as a portent of our immediate demise.

I don't agree with that view.

Anyway a more balanced article would have cited the AFL trade ban as one contributing factor to a potential slide down the ladder in 2015. Lyon didn't cite this and relied upon the GF performance plus some of the conjecture and speculation that's been floating around since the start of last year.

Ok that I understand

[graemed]

Anyone who was at the ground last september and had the misfortune as I did of sitting amongst a crowd of Hawthorn fans, felt embarrassed and harrassed by that performance. It was so out of character, so timid and so overwhelming that I still have not recovered.
I agree with much of the criticism in the article in fact I find it hard to disagree with anything at all, except for the points made by Liz, wrt to the recruitment of Franklin and Tippett being unusual.
There were some efforts, that need to be redeemed and some reputations that have been tarnished, yet that is why we love this game. Anyone can turn themselves around and this club is a great club because we have always believed. I still believe.

[annew]

I still believe too.

[Cardinal]

It's good to be back on line - I too think it was a long off season.

We may win or we may lose in 2015, but with our list, we will be at the pointier end of the season. Furthermore, if there's one thing that's for certain, it's that cutural change is long term - it does not happen overnight. And I would have loved to have shipped Patful in.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Interesting article.
The point about the tackles to 1/4 time gives credence to the article, however I would think from the coaches down it would be a bitter pill to swallow and hopefully give them motivation to succeed.
Last year was a fantastic year for the club for all but 1 game.

And the first three of course ????

- - - Updated - - -

How can the trade ban affect our performance on GF day? Jono that is one thing I'm struggling to understand

Didn't the AFL advise the club of the ban during GF week? I do wonder whether this could affect the mindset of those who knew. It's one thing to say that the players and coaches should be professional enough to "forget about it" but actually doing that wouldn't be easy.

[jono2707]

BTW Lyon has tipped us to finish 5th this year....

[mcs]

Anyone who was at the ground last september and had the misfortune as I did of sitting amongst a crowd of Hawthorn fans, felt embarrassed and harrassed by that performance. It was so out of character, so timid and so overwhelming that I still have not recovered.
I agree with much of the criticism in the article in fact I find it hard to disagree with anything at all, except for the points made by Liz, wrt to the recruitment of Franklin and Tippett being unusual.
There were some efforts, that need to be redeemed and some reputations that have been tarnished, yet that is why we love this game. Anyone can turn themselves around and this club is a great club because we have always believed. I still believe.

I was embarrased by the performance, but not harrassed by it. There was a lot of harrassment going on from the Wees and poos fans towards those in Red and White unfortunately.

I still believe also..... bring on 2015 - lets knock those Dawks off their arrogant perch.

[goswannies]

I was embarrased by the performance, but not harrassed by it. There was a lot of harrassment going on from the Wees and poos fans towards those in Red and White unfortunately.

I still believe also..... bring on 2015 - lets knock those Dawks off their arrogant perch.

My girlfriend (who is was in the fledgling stage of her love of the Swans) & I were subjected to it by an obnoxious, rotund, drunk younger boof head in front of us ... all day

[mcs]

My girlfriend (who is was in the fledgling stage of her love of the Swans) & I were subjected to it by an obnoxious, rotund, drunk younger boof head in front of us ... all day

There was a family a few seats down from me in our bay that left at around midpoint of the 3rd quarter - with the two kids (probably around 10 years old each) in tears, due to the unrelenting abuse from a group of Hawks fans sitting at the end of the next bay.

What made it worse was that a number of us in the area reported the group to the phone number you are supposed to, and one guy went and spoke to stewards at half time about them, but absolutely nothing was done to try and address it (not suprising). By the time I left (mid 4th quarter), they were continuing at full chorus, off their faces on booze and intent on baiting and abusing swans fans, rather than celebrating the achievements of their team. They got a fairly nasty spray from me on the way out, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one letting out a bit of frustration in their direction (they made a terrible day utterly unbearable). It really was awful.

[AnnieH]

He's an idiot.
Tipoff's not on a long-term contract. His contract was for two years only.
Bad journalism.

[goswannies]

There was a family a few seats down from me in our bay that left at around midpoint of the 3rd quarter - with the two kids (probably around 10 years old each) in tears, due to the unrelenting abuse from a group of Hawks fans sitting at the end of the next bay.

What made it worse was that a number of us in the area reported the group to the phone number you are supposed to, and one guy went and spoke to stewards at half time about them, but absolutely nothing was done to try and address it (not suprising). By the time I left (mid 4th quarter), they were continuing at full chorus, off their faces on booze and intent on baiting and abusing swans fans, rather than celebrating the achievements of their team. They got a fairly nasty spray from me on the way out, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one letting out a bit of frustration in their direction (they made a terrible day utterly unbearable). It really was awful.

Yup, we SMS'd the number too. No one came ????