I know coaches, at least publicly, like to put a positive outlooking on close games; however to see experienced players kicking and hand-balling so poorly under pressure, must anger them. Essendon played very well, Collingwood should have done better.

I think Luke Beveridge has tolled his own bell. The dice sign held up in the last quarter was a staggering instruction to a side that looked shot. Even delusional.

Rubbish. Essendon fumbled the ball trying to play chaos footy. StKilda bumbled their many chances to put the game away by not kicking goals.

It was tight game and an enjoyable one for the winner. Collingwood applied the pressure and Brisbane will in the future or fail their talented line up. Past Injuries can bring pressure as well, or simply make a player think when they wouldn’t have previously. Young or old, they either sink or swim.

You’re right again, Les. I think its in the Club’s interest to be ruthless with selections. Cop the wins and losses as they come and see who can still stand up.

There will undoubtedly be those online who will attack Brayden Maynard over this retirement. That’s the way of the world and the downside of the Internet.

If you examine the footage of the incident Brayshaw doesn’t seem to react quickly, or at all, the approaching danger. That, I think, is the key to what occurred. Brayshaw would have done so when he was younger I submit. It’s the damage that is akin to a boxer who no longer can evade the punches. Assessing that and making an informed opinion to a young man doing what he loves must be a terrible job. There is so much for the individual, the club and even casual supporters to lose from such a professional opinion. The best doctors are required and it must become mandatory that they take preventative action in the form of assessments at all practice and competition games. That must be as an independent assessment. Expensive? Yes, but its better than suffering.

As I have said, I do not intend to make any nasty comments about great players. My first memory of Barassi, is of him walking down the outer wing at Junction Oval, yelling instructions to the players ahead. He was intense on and off the field. From a kid I listened everytime he spoke football.

If you recall the look on Matthews’s face when played, it could only be described as morose and aggressive. He concentrated fully on what he was doing.

Both of these great players made great coaches in their own way. As true greats of the game they were able to make the transition. It’s not to the detriment of any other great player who failed to achieve what they did.

Eddie made a mistake. It’s as simple as that for me.

I believe Eddie should be credited with all that happened before 2011 and accountable for everything after that period. The reason? Hubris. Hubris is an age-old determining throughout all of human history. The Treloar, Stephenson, and Phillips trades were, in my opinion, the lowest point in the Club’s history. Were the boned, Eddie?

I have never believed that Bucks would make a good coach. I think great players see a game in relation to their own self-interest. I say that, not intending it to be a nasty comment. It is simply their appetite for the competition that drives them. And, of course, a God-given talent.

Role players, to use a current term, can see the game in relation to the whole. They are the watchers, who observe in a global experience. They see the greatness of some and the determination of lesser talent.

Big Mace has demonstrated his instinctive ability from the beginning, the rest was persistence, support and encouragement. That’s all any son, prospect or junior champion needs. His personal qualities reflect greatly on his family and I am sure they admire him as I do.

Mace is, I believe, the most infringed upon player in the AFL. He attracts multiple opponents. I don’t believe his eye injuries were deliberate, but part of his opponents attempts to distract him.

As much as I want him to succeed, I am also worried that he have further injuries to his eyes.

Even hubris brings good writing from you, Les. To prove your theory the media has concentrated on a minor error in advantage. Why? It involves Collingwood in a close finish. Spare us that please, of all clubs, you shouldn’t try that one on Collingwood.

It’s just the umpires squaring up for last year, when a barrister got Cripps off on a hard cheap shot.

I grew up listening to everything that Ron said about football. Right back to the fifties and sixties, he was football. Even though he was an arch-enemy of Collingwood, I recognised how great he was for the game.

This is a poisonous article. It’s a vile use of modern communications to send false and misleading information abroad, where others can join in the cowardice. It’s not worthy of any further comment.

I think you are right again, Les. We’ve all had injuries in footy and still love the game. The reactions of the Seven commentators surprised me; they started out on Maynard’s side and then wavered. Which seems to be consistent with their unnecessary boosting of the trailing teams. Sacrificing the call in order to encourage continued viewing. We don’t want to see a return to the cowardly attacks of Dipper, but at the same time not overreact to what Maynard did.

It’s appalling to read commentary like this about a game. Regardless of the money in the game and the intense interest by us supporters, it’s still a game. Without umpires the game cannot played, it can’t happen. This goal umpire should not be sanctioned in any way, what so ever.

He had to make a decisions and based on his experience and human senses he did so. No amount of media hubris or perceived bias should be tolerated.

If the system can be improved, then improve it with technology. But, if you can’t accept the umpires decision then its not a game.

I am astonished at the gall of a Carlton supporter having the temerity to wail about their present predicament. Why? Because in that era that you mentioned, when you won eight premierships, you were the worst kind of winner. The constant, non-stop arrogance of players, club officials and supporters will never be forgotten by Collingwood supporters, ever. Not ever. It is with great delight that I have watched the worst Carlton teams of recent times lose. It’s a pleasure. I hope it goes on forever. Michail Voss is the best footballer of the last 25 years, but still, I wish him no success.l
Carlton had some wonderful players in the ’70s; I admired them. Collingwood seemed at times to beat themselves. But such was the hubris, the self-love and the superior attitude that I will never wish them well. Not even the little league kids in Carlton jumpers at halftime. Such was the offensive nature of their winning. To hell with them all. It’s with Churchillian resolve that I would like to see the defeat of the Carlton Football Club.

All valid points,, Les. Although I like the stand rule because it gives the kicker a good chance of moving the ball. I hate the short kicks that barely, if even, go past the man on the mark distance. The Ginnivan rule is an indictment on the AFL because it allowed Joel Selwood to get away with it for his long career. The AFL responding to controversy is proof they are covertly interfering in the umpires discretion.

There is no way this booing isn’t racist-inspired ratbags. The first nations players are fantastic athletes. Their ancestors were on the move all the time, so why wouldn’t they have great agility and endurance? The Lake Mungo footprints turned to stone are 40,000 years old. One set is of a male about Buddy’s size and moving at near Olympic pace.

The moronic behaviour of our Collingwood supporters goes too far, it’s racist, bigoted and should be stamped out. Who the hell wants to go to the footy and listen to that sh*t.

I’m glad you raised this issue Macca. The behaviour of some soaked groups at the footy is just disgraceful. Some of them think they are funny. The language and alcohol consumption reduces the enjoyment of the game, and I think these people know they can get away with it. As long as they are able they will.

So. you argue that they are both vibrators or transiting somewhere from something?

Firstly, I would like to admit to a Collingwood bias. It’s a birth defect.

Brisbane was outstanding, and they denied Collingwood time and space all over the ground. Rayner set the tone early with his high mark and strong running goal. Daniher decided to be part of the team at last for them, regardless of what the Coach said later. His attitude to his peers has been on display to his detriment. With such a positive inclusion, he bought in other players, and as so often happens in good teams, others were able to reap the rewards. Very good teams, such as the triple premiership Brisbane team, have a greater percentage of dominating players within them than other teams. Brisbane is not there yet, but time will tell if they can perform at a consistently high level.

I thought Brayden Maynard was outstanding. He played hard as always, and he was a leader and an inspiration. Ash Johnson gave it his all, and he has class. Mihocek has an indomitable spirit to compete. The old skipper was as always.

I know it’s sacrilege; however, the Daicos brothers didn’t impress me, especially during that period of ten unanswered goals, regardless of their statistics. I thought Nick let the pressure and aggression from the likes of Zorko get to him. He’s young, we know, and he’s a high-quality talent, so he is more likely to learn from examining his game. Significantly, I think that the flag wasn’t flown in support of him. The other players had their hands full, but this must not be allowed in the future. The ghost of Murray Weideman must have rotated at the lack of protection provided in the game.

In response to the article with the editor prior to the game, I suggested that Ash Johnson and young Reef McInnes share the rucking duties off the bench and have Markov or young Steene. I was pleased with Markov’s input. But not the way the hole caused by the lack of a specialist ruckman was covered. It caused the team structure to be deconstructed. I don’t particularly like the use of the word structure in football, but it is applicable when you see what happens to the rest of the team.

I haven’t found criticism of what the coaching panel has done since they took over; however, I think their tactics and strategy were mistaken and resulted in the deconstruction of the team. Whether it was Johnson and McInnes or any other combination of those in fixed structural positions should only have been used when there was a lack of an alternate for a short period. A selfless effort may have exhausted those players used, but the service may have proved to be invaluable. I feel it should have been approached with the intention of creating a straw man ruckman competing with the intention of the midfield rucking to the opposition.

Other sides will look at the tactics and plan their assault on our side. Whether it’s Brisbane or any other team, the method used didn’t work, and they need to readjust their, dare I say it, structure.

That’s a pretty good analysis, Tim. I thought my eyes might have been deceiving me. Discussing the handling during the game I thought they were not doing well with the ball, while others disagreed.

I watched the VFL game on Saturday night with the idea of choosing a replacement for Darcy Cameron. The opposition ruckman did us a favour, he blanketed our young. fella, but not to his detriment in the long run.

Not having the wisdom or insight of those in charge at the Club I can only speculate with a long shot. That is, bring in Reef McInnes to ruck with Ash Johnson off the bench and have McStay and other pitch in where needed. Then select a player as Markov or Steene as the sub.

They’re just what Collingwood needed, after the dismal, negative days of Buckley.

I would rather see GWS fade from the scene than the Gold Coast. GWS has no bedrock at all. The Coast is growing, Southport have been good club for decades. With the Lions moving out to Ipswich it will eventually cause a development that joins with the Gold Coast. Fold GWS and bring in Tasmania.

The Club should honour the contract with Brodie Grundy, to display some integrity in dealing with our players. If they made the mistake they should wear it.

I agree the cohesion between Grundy and those supposed to be roving to him has been almost non-existent. I have no doubt that training could correct that. There have been some great Ruck and Rover combinations.

If Brodie does go, it may well be our loss, but he doesn’t deserve to have his private behaviour discussed here by supposed football Gurus. Mention of his fingernails and coffee preferences are beneath where the conversation should take us. Grundy is an asset.