Hird

The sheer will and belief and determination that make up James Hird's approach to football is what sets him apart from the rest and these are the exact qualities that the young Cats need to acquire before we can be taken seriously. So Bomber, any chance of maybe having a chat to your former team mate?

regards,

REB

Nice try Westy but not even Chrisso was ever going to bite on that one, or the 2004 Anglers Dream award would have been all over.

Hird shot his mouth off and deserves his arse kicking, but a suspension of even one match is still no certainty, and a life ban might be considered a shade excessive in the circs, even by Scott McLaren.

Essendon supporters would swap Hird for nobody. His heroics are the norm, we shall miss him when he gets rubbed out for a couple.

Haven't seen the replay of Bombers and Eagles yet but listened to the last 10 minutes. Very impressed the Eagles cam back so strongly, weren't they 49 points down at one stage?

1. Scott McLaren's Press conference and the "My family is very hurt and leave us alone" statement has got to be the biggest over reaction of all time. I mean, I know the Vics are a bit wierd when it comes to footy but who is going to hang around McLaren's house waiting to get a glimpse of his wife hanging out the laundry so the footage can be shown on the News at 6.

Give me a break! I wonder who put him up to that? Demetriou perhaps?

2. Fat Eddie's "Goal umpire from Hell" statement on Thursday night is the other. If Hird gets a please explain then why doesn't the Mouthpiece get one as well?

Goal Umpire was standing his first game and probably nervous as anything and made a mistake. Big deal. First game footballers make mistakes all the time and that is not met with derision. Rather, the general comment is along the lines of " It's only his first game, he'll get better with experience". Why not an Umpire?

I'm glad I watched (and listened) to that game on Thurs night. Just to hear the Fat Prikk squirm and suffer was great.

And one has to wonder if the continual screening on 9 of Hird and his statement has anything to do with the Fat Prikk having a go at the Bummers?

There is no indication what he will say. Notice of the confence came from Hird himself, not from Essendon FC.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire could face AFL sanction after he labelled an official in Thursday night's match between Brisbane and Collingwood as "the goal umpire from hell".

McGuire made the comments on Channel Nine during the three-quarter-time break.

They followed two separate incidents where controversial decisions were made by the umpire.

AFL Umpires Association president David Howlett said last night: "As I understand it, there are rules that relate to club officials."

Howlett said McGuire could not absolve himself of his responsibilities as Collingwood president merely because he was calling a game on television.

"It's probably no different to the James Hird situation with him being a player and he is also operating in the media," he said.

"I suppose the AFL have to make a decision on where the line is and I suppose Eddie has to make a decision on where the line is on a regular basis and it wouldn't be easy for him."

McGuire did not return calls from The Age last night

eddie fined and ordered to watch 2003 grand final

again and again and again and again and again and again ... LOL

As soon as anybody drags that one out the argument is lost.

Lee is 100% on the money. Our umpires need to be protected for the good of the game, shite or not.

regards,

REB

Aren't the umpires judged on every game by a revue panel? You would hope the reviewers are as hard on the umpires as the selectors are with players and also show the same considerations. You can't have players, coaches, and elected officials criticising umpires in the media, proper channels need to be used otherwise it just become a free-for-all.

Absolutely spot on, chrisso and I don't think you were even aware.

I shall review my spelling in future.:-)

regards,

REB