MORE BURGERS NOT BLOGGERS
FOR ROBBO
Christos Bomberopoulos - TBR

MARK "Slim" Robinson of the Herald Scum, has come out...Days after arrogantly trading Bomber Great, Scott Lucas in a Dim-Sim fuelled orgy of ignorance.

What did the parents of Lucas (& the other Bomber boys) think about such an article, not hidden amongst thousands of blogs on the internet, but PLASTERED on this city's BIGGEST selling Rag?

WHO cares, eh Robbo?

For balance (remember that Fat-Boy?), surely you could have asked Stanton's Mom what she thought about a fat-fuck, loser like you, wanting to push HER son out of the Club he plays for & loves!

For a man with a massive belly ROBBO, how IRONIC, that you have NO GUTS!

IT is okay when a pathetic journno has a "crack" at a player - BLASTED IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA - but who holds these Slime-Buckets accountable?

WHERE is the story of the distraught & angry FOOTBALL MOM - at the Media?

Surely we have had many articles from Carro, Sheahan, Walls, Patrick Smith and even your (Robbo's) last article - that belittled her boy - to the biggest possible audience in the STATE?

"Ricky Dyson, Jason Laycock, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Adam McPhee, Angus Monfries, Andrew Welsh, Jason Winderlich and Courtney Johns should be assessed
as trade material." - Mark Robinson

WE can safely assume that "Donna" is NOT the Mother of Dyson, Laycock, Lovett-Murray, McPhee, Monfries, Welsh, Licha and DEFINATELY NOT Courtney Johns! Infact why would ANY Essendon Mother, give you 2 minutes of her day, to whack her boy next? Ever wonder how Monfries or Johns "self esteem" is, after your article Slim? I have heard that, you would not dare go down and knock on any Essendon players Parents front door...Aside from the fact that you would have to get UP on your feet, there could be a punch in the nose or two awaiting you!

Now it is true that the soft-cock Robbo, has busted a valve or two, after reading a few reviews of his own insipid & pathetic diatribes on several blogs. ANYONE that calls, to trade Lucas, deserves a real grilling - whether at Work, the Pub, local Cafe or BLOG!

What is the best way to deflect Robbo's own poor judgment and lack of football knowledge, attack the minority "mindless" Bloggers - who admittedly may be overweight & dumb - but are not being paid big money to write the same tripe for a daily rag.

The real story here is the insecurity of the Media.

Blogs ARE here to stay. Get over it. By the time the Media realised their real value & jumped on board with their own "versions" of BLOGS (HYPOCRITES!), millions of Bloggers in the World already had daily visitors, loyal followings and become relevant.

Blogs play an important part of our modern life, providing a new source of information.

Where once we would read the rubbish served daily, by both our Daily papers and find no way to voice the errors and ignorant views of Journo's.

The Web provides US with a forum - for EVERYONE - where the true expression of Free speech and thought is put down for all to see.

Let us not forget, Blogs have an instant "RIGHT OF REPLY" for ALL!

Newspapers have ALL correspondence fettered and checked before selecting the "choice" few to publish the next day. ONLY after careful consideration - wouldn't want to make Robbo look like a Fat Dill, would we?

COULD it be that opionionated fat-cats like Robbo, don't like the fact that the Media Dinosaurs are slowly dying out and everyone is running with the Neanderthal Bloggers...

STOP blaming everyone else for your own failings "BLOG-BUSTER" Robbo.

LOOK within. Slim!

AND ask yourself this: "Do I really need the 21 piece bucket from KFC, or would 20 pieces suffice?"

The Hallways at Bomber Land aren't big enough for the two of us - so take some advice - fuck off and don't come back!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

sumthink ESSENDON
IMPORTANT news for our Club.

WE are about to change our Sponsor down at Windy Hill!

ALTHOUGH I can not betray my source, nor confirm whether it is 3 or PUMA, stand by for sumthink NEW!

MY all time favourite sponsor, Dons (SMALLGOODS)!

Cheers,

Christos Bomberopoulos

Journo's cop a blogging
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

Mark Robinson's Journo Career ruined by drunken Blogger.

AFL Journalists and Reporters have been banned from scouring fan websites, for fear the vicious Journalist appraisals could lead to depression.

At one Newspaper, staff have been threatened with the sack if they are caught blogging or leaking valuable "inside" information to the websites.

Labelled "cyber balling" and "big bollocks" blogging by the AUSTRALIAN Journos' Association, media outlets have taken the drastic step of calling for a boycott of the popular fan sites.

"I wouldn't encourage any Journalists to use them. I think it's for bloggers, and I think it's mostly for titillation rather any decent feedback," AJA General Manager of psychology, fashion and culture, Klappa Phappa said yesterday.

"It's more your big sister-type of bullying.

"I would agree with Managers telling Reporters not to look, but I would also encourage the Reporters not to think of it in any way as criticism - it's just a random sample of people with not much better to do."

Most "Football" Journalists are criticised by - independent supporter websites, including Saintsational, TalkingCarlton, Demonology, The Bomberopoulos Report, Punt Road End, Nick's Collingwood Page and and Bomberblitz.

One of the most popular is BigFooty.

On them, anonymous bloggers ritually attack Journalists for their lack of knowledge, weight, looks & performances, and the criticisms sometimes carry factual and sexual overtones.

One Supervisor, who did not want to draw attention to his Reporters, yesterday said: "They get real nasty."

The Supervisor said he was aware of one Journo receiving "particularly scathing" criticism and he had approached the Journalist and asked if he was aware of it.

"Thankfully, he said it didn't matter because he can't read, but bloody oath, it could affect the Journalist," the Supervisor said. "It's a serious issue, a major issue.

"Even if one Journalist gets depression, or his words fall away, it could end his career."

One Newspaper official last night confirmed the Manager had directed some of his Journalists to stop reading sites.

"Yes, we have suggested to some Journalists they avoid online fan sites," the official said.

A Newspaper Manager from down the road said he had addressed the issue with his precious Journalists, Cartoonists and Headline Editors.

He also revealed he had warned support staff that if they leaked information to websites, or people knowingly connected to the websites, they would be sacked.

"We have said, 'Whatever you know is not to be passed on to people outside the Newspaper'," he said.

He said Journalists had to avoid any scathing critiques.

"It's like critical fan mail, it could do your head in, and it's the same thing with websites.

"You should read some of it, it's rubbish.

"You've got to understand the ego of Journalists and fragility comes with that as well."

KLAPPA yesterday said FOOTBALL Journalists were in the "culture of celebrities".

"And there's a lot of nasty stuff out there," she said.

She likens it to cyber bullying at schools, where there are alarming cases of bullying bringing on forms of depression and even attempted suicide.

"There's no restriction of what people are able to do with the internet," Klappa said.

"Blogging on websites about Journo's is a form of bullying, it's public bullying of people in high celebrity positions.

"And the footy Journo's, unless they personally take some course of investigation, have got absolutely no comeback!"

Klappa said public criticism of Journalists had been addressed, although cyber criticism hadn't specifically been on the agenda.

"We talk to the Journalists & Reporters about building resilience about feedback and what they need to let through to the keeper, and what's actually value for them and how they make a choice about each," she said.

"We don't specifically focus on websites, but that's going to happen with our digital lifestyle at the minute."

More serious, she said, were Journos' identities being taken by bloggers.

"The biggest thing I've encountered in my role where it's been a problem is where people take the identity of the Journalist and claim to be making comments on behalf of the Journalist," she said.

"They get obviously quite upset about that."

Poor FAT-BOY SLIM...


Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

BACK TO SCHOOL

QUICK-FIX mentality leaves Essendon in torture chamberMike Sheahan
May 20, 2008LIKE the once great Roman empire, the Essendon Football Club is a great power in a sad state of decline.

Unlike the Romans, the Bombers will come again, yet the resurgence will be slow and painful.

Essendon is a mess. It's no one's fault, yet it's everyone's fault. Everyone in authority at Windy Hill in the past 5-7 years, including the recently departed Kevin Sheedy, is culpable.

Matthew Knights, Sheedy's successor as coach, will oversee one of the worst seasons in the club's history, but a first-year coach can hardly be blamed for a deep-rooted problem.

The Bombers have won 23 of 74 games since most recently finishing in the final eight (sixth in 2004).

That reflects the quality of the list, recruiting strategy, fitness and conditioning, and direction from the top. From the administration.

Essendon will miss the finals this year for the fourth year running, the worst stretch for the club since 1974-78. Pre-Sheedy.

The Bombers languish in 13th position, with two wins from eight rounds, and a percentage of 69.5.

They have conceded more points than every other team (yep, Melbourne included), with an average losing margin of 65, again worse than the Melbourne figure.

My favourite indicator rounds off the picture. They have won 10 quarters of football, 10 of 32, as have Fremantle and West Coast, with two wins between them.

Essendon was beaten by 91 points in Sydney on Sunday after trailing by 12 points nine minutes into the third quarter.

Yes, it was good enough to remain in the contest until after halftime, yet it conceded the next 13 goals.

No B. Hall in the Sydney line-up, either, with Tadhg Kennelly out of the contest before halftime.

Essendon had an embarrassing 41 possessions in the final term, the lowest by 10 in the competition this year.

The Bombers can boast they fielded the second-youngest team of the weekend (behind Carlton), but it's hard, strong bodies that prevail in the modern game.

Youth is a priceless commodity at a football club, with one proviso -- the kids have to be able to play.

Essendon is paying the price for short-sighted list management after the 2002 season when the reality hit home the "best team ever" of 2000 was going to produce just one premiership and not three.

Sheedy, with the implicit approval of management, or meek acceptance, invoked the "quick-fix" mentality that has been the downfall of so many clubs.

From 2002-07, the Bombers brought in a dozen players from other clubs.

Players discarded by other clubs.

Names including Matthew Allan and Justin Murphy from Carlton, Mark Alvey, Ty Zantuck, Richard Cole, Scott Camporeale and Chris Heffernan (returned from Melbourne).

Mal Michael was another, taken pre-season in 2007. He's been a great player, Michael, but he arrived in the year he was to turn 30 and with a questionable appetite for the game.

He has run out of gas, Big Mal, and is nowhere near the player so important in the Brisbane Lions' three premiership teams.

Matty Lloyd, the other bookend, also has his problems.

Admittedly, Essendon does not venture forward as often as it used to (37 inside-50s on Sunday), but he isn't the commanding figure in front of goal he was from 1997-2005.

Lloyd kicked eight goals against Sydney in the opening round of 2006, including six in the first quarter against Leo Barry.

He was in career-best form then, with 12 goals in the first two rounds before tearing a hamstring from the bone in Round 3. Season over, career diminished.

He had three kicks at the weekend for one goal.

Delivery was deplorable and he played on Craig Bolton, but he's not what he was. He's a long way from what he was.

Then there's the ruck pair of David Hille and Jason Laycock. It amazes me that Hawthorn's Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor are a far more competitive and consistent combination than the Essendon pair, yet it's fact.

For yet another year, Laycock plays as if he is playing kick-to-kick with mates in a local park at lunchtime on a nice day, content with the occasional speccy.

Scott Lucas, Essendon's best player of recent years, is injured and leaves a huge void, but Essendon has a problem one man won't fix.

Not even with the help of Alwyn Davey, Jobe Watson and Adam McPhee, all missing on Sunday.

The future lies with Watson, Paddy Ryder and Brent Stanton, and kids named Scott Gumbleton, David Myers, Tom Hislop, Jay Neagle, Leroy Jetta, Bachar Houli and a few others with little or no exposed form.

A minimum three years of pain, we suspect, three years' more pain, actually.

"UNIVERSITY OF ESSENDON" Tees - WINDY HILL CAMPUS - $25.00 for REAL Members & Supporters. AVAILABLE at the South Melbourne Market (Ailse E), by the end of May 2008...

"VERITAS FORTIS ELEGIT"

SINCE 1872

MARK my words...THE Bombers will turn it around and sooner than the scribes would have you believe!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

Painful path to a richer future

That's not a path you Fucking, Dick-Head, that's a 500m fall to oblivion - Christos Bomberopoulos (in Red) - TBR

Supporters practice patience

Mark Robinson (in Black) HERALDSCUM

ESSENDON wants to be like Hawthorn and be aggressive at the trade table.

NO MR FUCKING "SLIM" ROBINSON. HAWTHORN WANTS TO BE LIKE ESSENDON. EVER SINCE '84 & '85 - FACT! EVER SINCE EL PREZIDENTE DICKO CAME DOWN TO NAPIER STREET, TO SEE HOW THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE LAND DOES BUSINESS, YOU MUST HAVE A SHORT MEMORY! EVER SINCE THIS INDIGENOUS GAME HAD IT'S FIRST PREMIERSHIP WINNER - YEP EVEN YOU GUESSED IT TURD - ESSENDON NOT FUCKING HAWTHORN! WHAT ELSE WOULD WE EXPECT FROM A HERALDSCUM JOURNO?

NOW, FATBOY, PUT DOWN THAT DOUBLE WHOPPER WITH CHESSE, WIPE THE CHOCOLATE OFF YOUR CHIN - PULL UP YOUR 7XL SUSPENDER VELCRO PANTS AND COME ALONG WITH ME - YOU FAT FUCKING EXCUSE FOR A PISS-WEAK, SO CALLED, SUPPORTER.

Chairman Ray Horsburgh said so to the Herald Sun yesterday and did not, as coach Matthew Knights believes, reveal that Jason Johnson and Damien Peverill had their papers stamped.

THANKS FOR THE FUCKING PROPAGANDA NEWS FLASH, WE WILL BE THE BEST JUDGES FOR WHAT UNCLE "FOOT IN MOUTH" RAY DID SAY, YOU SLIMY-FUCKING, MOUTH-PIECE (HOLDING UP THE TRAFFIC) AT THE FLEMINGTON McDONALDS DRIVE-THRU!

That leaked from elsewhere, and by whom, and how, is not the news anyway.

FUCK OFF ROBBO. HOW LONG YOU BEEN SLURPIN' & CHEWIN' THE FAT? IT SEEMS TO BE MESSING WITH YOUR MIND. THERE'S AN ALLEGED LEAK (SO SAY YOU) AND YOU CAN'T BE BOTHERED GETTING OFF YOUR FAT ARSE - GRAB YOUR MOBILE AND CHASE UP A REAL STORY? ME SMELLS A K-FC-ONSPIRACY/RED-HERRING BEING CONSUMED...

How ruthlessly Knights is orchestrating to build a premiership team, notably without Johnson and Peverill, will become clearer at the end of the season.

By that stage the Bombers will be bottom four, possibly bottom two, maybe even wooden spoon.

WOAH, YOU SICK FUCK!

HOLD UP, DOUBLE CHOC-CHIP BREATH, THICK-SHAKE BOY. "WOODEN SPOON?" YOU MUST BE ON FUCKING SERIOUS MEDICATION! OR NOT GETTING THE DAILY METHODONE DOSE, YOU NEW-AGE NOSTRADAMUS. DO YOU GET PLEASURE IN WATCHING THE BOMBERS GETTING SMACKED IN HDTV YOU FAT, FUCKING, SICKO?

THIS PROUD CLUB HASN'T WON A WOODEN SPOON SINCE, WELL BEFORE YOUR LOVELY GRANDFATHER, DROPPED HIS STRIDES AND DID THE WILD PONY THING - 'TIS A PITY CONDOMS WERE NOT IN VOGUE BACK THEN.

IF ESSENDON FINISHES LAST, I WILL STAY AWAY FROM MY BELOVED CLUB 'TILL I AM 50, PUT A PHOTO OF YOU UP ON MY BEDROOM WALL AND READ THE HERALDSCUM EVERY FUCKING DAY! READ BETWEEN THE LINES ROBBO - IT 'AINT GOING TO HAPPEN, GET 'YER HAND OFF IT FLABBY...

That means one early draft pick. They need more. And they need to trade.

THIS WILL BE GOOD STUPID-COACH...

And not just so-so trades, but big names to attract high draft picks. Names such as Scott Lucas and Brent Stanton.

LUCAS?

FUCK OFF YOU KNOB. YOUR BRAIN HAS TURNED TO JELLY.

HOW ANYONE WITH ANY FOOTY SMARTS, "HORSBURGH" EXCLUDED, CAN SERIOUSLY CONSIDER TRADING SCOTT LUCAS - THE ONE AND LONELY SHINNING LIGHT IN THE FORWARD LINE, THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND STILL HAS MUCH TO OFFER THOSE COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM - IS CERTIFIABLY FUCKING INSANE!

WELCOME TO BIG RAY'S WORLD CHOCCO!

Indeed, the Hawks did it with gusto.

AGAIN WITH THE, MIGHTY "(WE) ALMOST MERGED WITH THE PATHETIC DEMON" HAWKS, FUCK FACE? MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A MEMBERSHIP WITH HAWTHORN AND TAKE KENNETT OUT TO DINNER & DRINKS. I SUPPOSE YOU WERE DROOLING OVER THE CATS - LIKE A 4AM SOUVLAKI - LAST SEASON ALSO ROBBO?

Amid massive protestation from fans, in 2001 they off-loaded Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin to Fremantle for the No. 1 draft pick.

UNLIKE SCOTT "LEFT-FOOT SUPERSTAR" LUCAS. AT THAT POINT IN TIME CROADY WAS WHAT YOU WOULD CALL, ALFALFA ON THE MAIN DISH, ALL OVER THE PLATE, BUT GOOD FOR NOTHING. TRENT WENT TO FREMANTLE - THIS NATION'S SHITTIEST TRADERS & POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE GLOBE -SO YOUR POINT IS?

In return they got Luke Hodge and the fans, have you noticed, have stopped their whinging.

THE FANS STOPPED THEIR WHINGING, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE "TEAM" IS PLAYING GOOD FOOTBALL, DICK HEAD - THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A NEW COACH, YOUTH & STICK TO A PLAN. NO DISRESPECT TO BUDDY! NOT THE COKE "BUDDY" VARIETY, YOU WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH, IN 7ELEVEN STORES BLUBBER GUTS.

Since Al Clarkson took over at the end of 2004, he has departed with favourites, Nathan Thompson, Peter Everitt and Jonathan Hay and in return harvested picks 18 (Hay), 26 (Thompson) and 33 (Everitt).

THOMMO - HACK - SACKED! EVERITT - EX-SAINT/MERCENARY - "I WANT TO BUY A PREMIERSHIP" - LEFT WITH A SELF-IMPOSED HEFTY PRICE TAG ON HIS HEAD! HAY - HOW DO I PUT THIS, WITHOUT BEING INSENSITIVE, WAS WORSE THAN THOMMO - SACKED!

He also managed to alleviate pick 14 from Port Adelaide for Nathan Lonie, which they used to nab Grant Birchall.

Significant culling of players not good enough, plus retirements, plus high draft picks for finishing low on the ladder, meant the Hawks turned it around inside three years.

THREE YEARS, EH?

YOU AREN'T EVEN PREPARED TO WAIT THREE MONTHS, TO SEE HOW ESSENDON ARE TRAVELLING (HOLD ONTO YOUR ANAL-INSERT, WOODEN SPOON, ROBBO) - HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ALL THE FERAL HAWKS FANS THAT KEPT CALLING FOR CLARKO'S HEAD IN THE FIRST TWO SEASONS? ANOTHER BRAIN FADE, MUST BE TIME FOR A QUADRUPPLE SUGAR FIX ROBBO - STRAIGHT TO YOUR LILLY-WHITE HEART.

At Round 8, the Bombers are not in crisis, but they will need to be aggressive at season's end.

THEY NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE NOW FUCK-WIT! (THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE SEASON HAS A LONG WAY TO RUN YET.) STARTING WITH TRAINING AND TAKE THAT ATTITUDE INTO ROUND 8 AGAINST THE SWANS. CAPTAIN LLOYD WILL KICK 8 AND THE BOYS FROM WINDY HILL WILL HAVE A GREAT VICTORY. FUCK THE END OF THE WAR/YEAR YOU FRENCH-HUGGING, CREAM-FILLED, POOR-MAN'S BRANDO IN PARIS, SOFT COCK.

Injuries have ravaged Knights' club, but equally as observational has been the disappointing performances of players adapting to Knights' fearless game plan.

THE KEY WORD IS ADAPTING. OUR KEY PLAYERS HAVE NOT HAD 1 SEASON PLAYING TOGETHER UNDER KNIGHT'S "FEARLESS GAME PLAN" - LET ALONE A MAJORITY OF THE TEAM! YOU WOULD BE LAUGHED OUT OF THE ESSENDON CHANGE ROOMS, WITH THAT ONE, YOU FUCKING MORON, OR USED AS A TEAM PUNCHING BAG - STOOGE.

Similar to Hawthorn and Clarkson, the Bombers and Knights need to be bold.

JUST INCASE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN WATCHING ANY OF OUR GAMES (PRE-SEASON INCLUDED), NO-ONE CAN ACCUSE US OF NOT BEING BOLD - NOT EVEN JENNIFER HAWKINS & SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT FOOTY! ACTUALLY RAY KNOWS LESS, BUT THAT'S JUST BETWEEN YOU & ME LARD-ARSE.

Ricky Dyson, Jason Laycock, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Adam McPhee, Angus Monfries, Andrew Welsh, Jason Winderlich and Courtney Johns should be assessed as trade material.

SO YOU...THE GRUBBY JOURNO...KNOW'S BETTER THAN MATTHEW KNIGHTS?

THE HEAD COACH!

LISTEN DOUCHE BAG. MATTY HAS NOT EVEN BEEN, IN HIS NEW POSITION FOR HALF A SEASON. HE HAS HARDLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THESE MEN PLY THEIR TRADE, LET ALONE WARM HIS OWN SEAT. YET A SWEATY, FAT FUCK LIKE YOU, MUNCHING ON FRIES FROM THE OUTSIDE - HAS PUT HIS GREASY "2 DOLLAR SHOP" PLASTIC PEN THROUGH SEVERAL HONOURABLE NAMES, THAT ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFULL FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE LAND! STRANGE BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT DYSON, LAYCOCK, MONFRIES, LICHA AND JOHNS ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR CLUB. TAKING A POT SHOT, BEHIND YOUR STICKY LAP-TOP, AT THE TOUGH AND COURAGEOUS WELSH AND LOVETT-MURRAY IS LAUGHABLE. AS FOR ADAM. EVEN I KNOW FOR A "F - A - C - T" (NOT FAT!) THAT McPHEE IS CARRYING AN INJURY AND I'M NO JOURNALIST - THANK THE FOOTBALL GODS - SHOWS THAT YOU REALLY SHOULD (ASK FOR ASSISTANCE TO) GET OFF YOUR CHAIR - MORE OFTEN!

Lucas and Stanton are the marlins. Lucas might not want to leave, but at 30 what more can he achieve at Essendon?

A ONE TEAM PLAYER - THAT IS A MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN MODERN FOOTY!

WHAT PLAYER WOULD NOT WANT TO FINISH THEIR CAREER IN 3 OR 4 YEARS TIME AT THE SAME CLUB? THE GREAT CLUBMAN LUCAS, IS A QUALITY PERSON AND GREAT FOOTBALLER.

The pluses are strong for both sides.

Lucas can get a two or three-year contract at, say Sydney, or Collingwood, of somewhere between $500,000 and $600,000, which is wonderful money for a father of three.

And he might win another premiership.

DID I NOT MAKE MYSELF CLEAR YOU DRIED-UP & SHRIVELLED SCUMBAG? YOU CAN GO WRITE WITH CARRO FOR MORE MONEY OR SIT - ONTOP OF/OR BELOW - PATRICK SMITH (NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT) I'M SURE YOUR BOSS IS PLEASED TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ON LOYALTY! JUST GET ONE THING RIGHT, YOU JOURNO HACK. LUCAS HAS NEVER - EVER - CHASED MONEY!

IF YOU RECALL, LUCAS LAST SIGNED A TWO YEAR CONTRACT - AFTER SHEEDY HAD MADE THE NEGOTIATIONS VERY PUBLIC IN YOUR FUCKING RAG - WHEN SCOTT COULD HAVE EASILY WALKED AWAY, SNAPPED UP A TRUCK-FULL OF CASH & THREE YEAR DEAL ELSEWHERE. BUT GUESS WHAT STUPID? SCOTT DIDN'T!

NOT EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT FEEDING THEIR INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR MONEY, FOOD AND BBW FILTH!

The Bombers in return get a top-five pick and, hopefully, a 10-year superstar. And they already have Scott Gumbleton to play.

SCOTT GUMBLETON WILL LEARN JACK SHIT FROM THIS "PIE-IN-THE-SKY" 10 YEAR SUPERSTAR, BULLSHIT, THAT YOU'VE JUST PLUCKED OUT FROM YOUR SWEATY OVER-SIZED, ARSE! WHEREAS IF YOU GOT YOUR SAGGING BUTT DOWN TO TRAINING, YOU MIGHT REALISE THAT PREMIESHIP PLAYERS LIKE MICHAEL, FLETCHER, LLOYD AND even LUCAS - HAVE MUCH TO OFFER THE KIDS! EVEN MICHAEL VOSS CAN UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT, BUT I'M PREPARED TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU FURTHER, IN PERSON FUCKER!

SO ROBBO, IF AS YOU THINK GUMBBY WILL LEARN MORE FROM A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK THAN A CLUB GREAT? YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE ANOTHER JAM DONUT, FATBOY, BEFORE THE NEXT MEAL BEFORE YOUR MAIN MEALS.

Stanton is Essendon's best midfielder and he could stay at the club for the next 10 years and still be Essendon's best.

MY OWN BOY WILL BE NINETEEN AND MY LITTLE GIRL THIRTEEN - WHO THE FARK ARE YOU, TO TAKE AWAY A POSSIBLE CHILDHOOD HERO FROM THEM? FUCK OFF WANKER! YOU WORK FOR A RAG - YOU FUCKING, FAT EXCUSE OF A SCRIBE - THAT'S ALL YOU DO! I BET YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE WANKERS THAT WANTED TO GET RID OF SIMON MADDEN, WHEN HE LOST THE CAPTAINCY AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HOWLING TO GET RID OF HIRD, EVERYTIME HE WAS INJURED...

WE - THE PUBLIC. MAKE FOOTBALL WHAT IT IS! NOT THE GLORIFIED COCK-HEADS, THAT MASTURBATE DAILY AT AFL HOUSE OR THE GUTTER TRAWLING FILTH, THAT FILLS UP THE DAILY PAPERS, WITH BULLSHIT THAT NO-ONE BELIEVES. WELL MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RAY?

But is that good enough?

IF STANTON IS ONE OF FOUR QUALITY MIDFIELDERS, YES. THAT MEANS OTHER TEAMS WILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHO THEY WILL TAG, RATHER THAN STANTON BEING AN AUTOMATIC WALK-UP START. HOW CAN YOU BAG A GUY FOR PLAYING WELL - WHILST GETTING THE BEST TAGGER WEEK-IN WEEK-OUT?

At just-turned 22, he has struggled with the weekly tag.

He is getting the ball less (ave 20) to what he was last year (ave 24) and has fallen into bad habits re: kicks hitting targets.

HIS AVERAGE HAS GONE DOWN FROM 24 TO 20. WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO! THAT'S 1 POSSESSION LESS PER QUARTER FOR AN ENTIRE GAME.

WOULD YOU STARVE IF YOU WERE SERVED 1 CHIP LESS, AT McDONALDS, ON YOUR NEXT FOUR VISITS? I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, IT WOULD JUST MAKE YOU HUNGRIER THE NEXT TIME YOU PLAYED AWAY AT THE DRIVE-THRU.

AS FOR STANTON, YOU FAIL TO STATE THAT HE IS SECOND ON THE GOAL KICKING LIST AT ESSENDON, BEHIND MATTHEW LLOYD (18 GOALS).

AND ANOTHER FACT THAT YOU SO CONVENIENTLY MISSED.

BRENT STANTON IS SECOND BEHIND JOBE WATSON (157), WITH 142 DISPOSALS AT WINDY HILL. RICKY DYSON IS RATED FIFTH WITH 114 DISPOSALS - ANOTHER PLAYER IN YOUR SIGHTS.

HARDLY THE KIND OF PLAYER THAT YOU WOULD BE CONSIDERING TRADING, EVEN IF YOU WERE PLAYING SUPER COACH, STUPID!

He is a difficult one. As trade bait, he is Knights' best option for a low single-figure selection.

DID I MENTION THAT STANTS IS ALSO RATED 1ST WITH 90 KICKS...'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T LARD-ARSE!

As a leader, he is perhaps Knights' best option for the future. Of the others, Adam McPhee's career is at the cross roads.

His statistical returns are the worst since 2003, but he is playing as a hit-up forward. However, he has kicked just five goals in seven games and landed just six goal assists, well behind competition leaders Nick Riewoldt and Cyril Rioli on 17.

He has been hurt by the absence of Lucas, which would allow him to roam, but still his talents deserve greater reward.

IF McPHEE AS BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION, IS PLAYING AS "A HIT-UP FORWARD" - HOW THE HELL CAN HE BE "WELL BEHIND" RIEWOLDT - WHO IS A FUCKING KEY FORWARD DICK HEAD??

ADAM McPHEE IS FILLING GAPS AND BEING BLAMED FOR THE LEAKS AS WELL!

THE ONLY FREAK BEING HURT HERE, IS YOU ROBBO.

McPHEE IS RATED NUMBER 1, WITH 47 MARKS AT WINDY HILL!

NOT BAD FOR A STAND IN FORWARD. 2ND TO THE TALL TIMBER IN FLETCHER AND HILLE BOTH ON 41. LLOYD HAS 36 AND ROUNDING UP OUR TOP 5 IS THE OTHER BLOKE YOU WANT TO CLEAR, BRENT STANTON ALSO WITH 36! YOU'RE RIGHT, WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT SOMEONE THAT CAN MARK THE PILL OUT OF OUR CLUB? KNOB-HEAD!

Jason Laycock and Angus Monfries are the major disappointments this year.

Laycock was dropped two weeks back. He appears not hungry enough for the contest and, this year, averages two marks a game in 91 minutes playing time.

HENNEMAN AVERAGED THREE MARKS A GAME, FOR HIS ENTIRE CAREER AND WE CARRIED HIM FOR SEVEN YEARS - BIG MEN NEED TIME -FUCK OFF TO HAWTHORN!

Monfries is not cutting it, as a half-forward, nor midfielder. He has heart, but no genuine leg speed, and to this stage, can't accumulate possessions in the middle. When 16, he had 42 touches in a state rep game, but hasn't been able to translate that to the big time.

And when he does get it, he murders it. His kicking efficiency this year is 46 per cent and the league average is around 70. He's only 21, but the next 15 games are crucial.

Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Dyson and Winderlich are the in-between men. Collectively, they've played half-forward, half-back, midfield tagger, defensive stopper, offensive midfielder and have limitations in all positions.

That's not to say they can't play, but Horsburgh was adamant that they are looking for premiership players.

WELL MAKE UP YOUR MIND DICK-HEAD, ARE YOU SAYING THEY CAN'T PLAY OR CAN? RELYING ON ANYTHING THAT HORSBURGH MIGHT HAVE SAID, LEAKED OR APOLOGISED FOR - WHETHER ADAMANT OR NOT - YOU REALLY ARE CLUTCHING AT STRAWS. 'NUFF SAID. VERY WEAK, PUTTING THE FOUR BOYS, COLLECTIVELY IN THE ONE MEANINGLESS PARAGRAPH LATTE BOY. DID YOU EVEN READ THIS SHIT BEFORE SUBMITTING IT, TO THE GUY THAT HELPS YOU WIPE YOUR ARSE WITH IT?

So is Knights, and with that group we'll find out how ruthless he can be. To be fair, he's already begun...

THANKS FOR FUCKING WASTING, MY FUCKING EVENNING, YOU FAT G-CUP WEARING LOSER. HERE'S A TIP. EAT MORE FOODS FROM THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID, THAT'S THE POINTY BIT UP TOP, KNOB-HEAD. SWITCH TEAMS AND SAVE US ALL THE TROUBLE, MAYBE YOU CAN WRITE-UP A SUGAR COATED, CLARKSON OR "BUDDY" PIECE - WHERE YOU GET TO CRAWL UP THEIR COLLECTIVE YELLOW BELLIED & BROWN BACKSIDES! I'M SURE YOU WOULD FEEL RIGHT AT HOME THERE.

NOW FUCK OFF TO GLENFERRIE/WAVERLEY OR WHICH EVER TEAM WINS THIS WEEK.

TRADE LUCAS! WHAT A FUCK-WIT, SERIOUSLY!

YOU FUCKING WOT - WASTE OF TIME!

LUCAS!!!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

DEAR RAY,

SHUT THE FUCK-UP!

As one of your biggest supporters, out on the streets and in the real world.

SHUT THE FUCK-UP!

I don't know if I can put it, any other way...

NOPE!

No amount of spin can help you this time.

It really isn't rocket science Ray boy. Look here.

Coach Knights looks after ALL Football Matters.

Peter Jackson takes care of the Bling-Bling, Money Side of our Operations.

And ALL you have to do is keep your BIG, FAT, MOUTH SHUT!

GET IT?

That can't be too hard, for an inteligent bloke like you Horsey, can it?

Now, don't make me come down there and shut it for you!

It really is quite simple.

JJ and Pev deserve much better treatment than this, so does our new Coach, the day's of criticising players in the Press - a la Cupido & Sheeds - is DEAD AND BURIED!

KAPISH?

Ray, Ray, Ray.

Don't let it happen again, because next time (there better NOT be a next time), I wont be so polite.

Here is a tip Horsburgh.

Next time you want to say something to the Gutter Press, run it past "The Smooth Operator" Peter Jackson, Simon Matthews or for fuck's sake - give me a call - you know that I put the interests of the Club above EVERYTHING else.

Here's the tip HR.

SO SHOULD YOU!

Now most of us would have heard, on the hour - every hour - on Radio Peter Jackson stating that the Horsburgh-Knights impasse has been resolved.

If Jacko has really said this, then I would expect Horsburgh to never comment on coaching matters. EVER.


"He (Knights) was disappointed, I was disappointed," Jackson said of Horsburgh who confirmed that Johnson and Peverill would play little senior football for the rest of the season - as the club looked to youth.

"We had a chat the three of us. Ray said he was disappointed as well and wished he hadn't said what he did." Jackson said.

"The coach will talk about coaching matters and that's it, we'll move on" said Peter Jackson "I support everything that Matthew said."

MATTHEW Knights does have the Balls to make the number one Coaching Job in the Land, HIS own. Good stuff Matty.


AND to get Peter Jackson on side, as well, Ray might do well to start looking over his shoulder from today onwards.

And I'm not talking about the Essendon Mafia here either...

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

$150,000 GOLDEN COINS

It has taken me this long to acknowledge the fact that, a Living Legend of the Great Essendon Football Club, Mr Kevin Sheedy has been instrumental in promoting and celebrating the 150th Anniversary of our game for the AFL.


Finally I understand.

THE Power of Money in SPORT.

If only Sheedy had asked for money from the Essendon faithful, when I and others approached (and needed) him to promote, celebrate and preserve a unique part of our Club's history - our consecutively worn guernsey - to SAVEOURSASH!


For a fist full of money, Sheeds has taken it upon himself to be the Town Crier - more like Court Jester - for the AFL and worse for the Melbourne Football Club...



General Sheeds, extolling the Tradition, History and Courage of the mighty Red and Blue?

SACRILEGE!

The Essendon Army could have collected $300,00 Gold Coins - or more - had we known, that is all it would take, to get the "Greed is Good" side of Sheedy's nature to be interested in our History & take on the AFL.

WE all eagerly await the Kevin Sheedy Diaries, the tell-all autobiography, that Sheeds is currently working on and nearing completion .

As soon as it is released, I will turn to the very paragraph that mentions why Mr Kein Sheedy WOULD not take on the AFL - in regards to the Clash Guernsey Farce and attempt to preserve an important part of our Club's history.

The usual tripe about having his hands tied, or being gagged by someone or anyone at the Club, just wont cut-it.

NOTHING short of the truth will suffice on this betrayal of the Spirit of the Essendon Football Club.

I want to know the real reason that Sheedy thought it, of no historical or cultural value to SAVE OUR SASH!

FUNNY how no-one has spoken out, in regards as to WHY no team was wearing an away strip in Round 5 - St Kilda's home game - is it possible we no longer clash...

UNLIKE last Season!

Every time I HEAR the Ex-Head Coach, of Essendon, I can't help but not LISTEN anymore...

What do I think of the AFL Tribute Match?

The Big V versus Kevin Sheedy's Wet-Dream Team - what a yawn...

Bring on Round 8!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

Get off Jobe Watson's back

Gerard Healy

AS PREDICTABLE as it was disappointing, some Bomber fans couldn't get on radio quick enough to verbally whack Jobe Watson after Essendon's Anzac Day disaster.


Why?

"Too slow" and "too many turnovers" have taken over from "too fat" as the focus of their anger against the man some describe as the Butcher of Bomberland.

This reputation is completely unwarranted.

While Watson remains a whipping boy at Essendon, it is a perception based on an assessment that must have been made some years ago. Not on the output we have seen in the past two years.


Watson has improved dramatically and is pivotal in balancing the rapid-fire movement of those around him. He is the only player at the Bombers who can successfully play slow.

To survive, slow players have to be good distributors, to use those around them to complement what they do well: win the footy.

The best slow players in the game are Sam Mitchell, Simon Black, Cameron Ling, Daniel Cross, Lenny Hayes and - although he's been under the radar for most of the year - Scott West, the daddy of them all.

Watson isn't yet at their level, but he's tracking them hard, and before you committed Watson sledgers reach for the phone, please consider some facts:

1.) Watson is the best contested ball winner of your midfield, with 47 for the year. Next best is Brent Stanton with 38.



2.) He's the best clearance player at the club by a country kilometre with 28. The next best is Mark McVeigh with 13.



3.) He's the best at the club at scoring from stoppages.



4.) Last week he had 12 of Essendon's 30 clearances. That's 40 per cent from one player.
The bottom line is that the Essendon engine likes to operate in overdrive, but if Watson wasn't there to kick-start it, it would be coughing and spluttering but never really turning over. Things would be a lot uglier than they were last week, particularly with McVeigh out.



All turnovers hurt and, yes, Watson has had the most handball clangers (nine) in the competition.



But put it in perspective. When you are getting the ball where, and as often, as he does, the raw number of clangers will be high.



But as a percentage it is still acceptable and will no doubt improve.



Speaking of possessions, consider some further Watson facts:



1) He's clearly the best score-assist player at Windy Hill with 12. He should take more shots himself and that will make him an even more potent player.



2.) He finds the footy better than anyone else at the club, be it uncontested, contested, hardball or looseball.



3.) He's making David Hille a much more efficient ruckman. Hille and Watson have combined effectively at takeaways 12 times, which is the best ruckman-player combination in the league.



The next best is eight, and the next best at Essendon is three.

Without trying to overstate the case, Watson is fast becoming a quality midfielder who can successfully play slow and should be given some wider acknowledgment - as Mick Malthouse did in the coaches' player-of-the-year award this week - not derided when a handball misfires.

When Watson entered the league, his kicking let him down too often because he was uncommitted to it. Now it's at a more-than-acceptable level and improving, both in decision making and execution.

Yes, Watson, like every player, will still make errors. But when he does the shrill cries of anguish and claims of "ball butchery" are relics of the memory of a developing junior, not the current player. It tells you more about the critic than the bloke wearing No. 4.

The handball mistakes come from, at times, going for too much in extreme pressure situations.



Having greater confidence in finding another way through congestion by foot will develop if he has similar faith in his feet as he does in his hands.

Having dominated juniors as a handballing genius, I suspect his awareness receptors are trained on the immediate 20m surrounds. Like many players, he needs to work hard to better compute long options before instinctively dishing off the handball.

Some handball errors, particularly a couple of intercepted shockers, were as much the receiver's fault as Watson's.

He can still improve in everything he does. But at age 23 and effectively in just his fifth year, that is simply stating the obvious that is eluding too many Bomber fans.

He is developing rapidly into a quality player who will be limited only by his own view of his capabilities, his work-rate and how much he's prepared to broaden his radar when he has the ball, even if some mistakes still occur.

Maybe you disagree - and can't see past the odd clanger as he works out how good he can be -- so you already have picked up the phone.

Well, while you are waiting on the line, digest one final point - the Dons average 10 fewer contested possessions than their opponents.

So imagine what it would be like if Watson wasn't there...





WE step back in time with 3 FAMOUS names of Windy Hill, in Watson, Daniher & Neagle, set to take the field against Port.



Don't be surprised if we upset the Power...even if it is only by seven points!



Cheers,



Christos Bomberopoulos

3 TO DEBUT

Knights: No risk in Bomber selections

Angus Morgan

Sportal

Essendon has set its focus on the future with the selection of three first-gamers for Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome.

Key forward and father-son selection Darcy Daniher, the club's top pick at last year's National Draft, David Myers - a key defender from Claremont - and mature-age rookie Jarrod Atkinson, promoted in place of Alwyn Davey, will make their AFL debuts.

Seated alongside the trio at Windy Hill on Thursday morning, senior coach Matthew Knights denied their selection was simply a reaction to the club's growing injury list.

"There's no reaction in my coaching, it's about where this club is headed for the future," said Knights.

"Sure, we've got a few injuries … but that's irrelevant as far as I'm concerned because we’ve got 44 on our list and that's what they're there to do, play AFL footy."

"(There's) no risk at all - not a bit, not a risk where the club is heading and what our vision is for the future."

"Whoever we put out on the ground we expect to win footy games and the team we put out there against Port Adelaide on Sunday we expect to win the game."

With four players who took part in the Anzac Day loss to Collingwood - Dustin Fletcher (groin), Jason Winderlich (groin), Adam Ramanauskas (gastro) and Kyle Reimers (foot) - unavailable this week, Knights flagged the prospects of further changes for Sunday.

Already ruled out are Damien Peverill (broken jaw) and Alwyn Davey (knee reconstruction), while Knights confirmed that defender-midfielder Courtenay Dempsey who's in rehab with a torn hamstring, has been diagnosed with stress fractures which will extend his time on the sidelines to up to eight weeks.

Scott Gumbleton would have been right to return from his hamstring tear this week but Bendigo has a bye in the VFL, though Leroy Jetta, who has missed three matches with a hamstring, is a chance for senior selection this week.

Knights said he hoped that Fletcher would be available for the club's Round 8 clash with Sydney the week after the break for the Hall of Fame Tribute match.

"Sure there's some casualties, but we can’t do a lot about that, we can only look forward to playing Port with these three young men and the other guys who will come into the team," said Knights.

Knights agreed the mounting injury list had presented challenges for him as a coach, but that he believed he was coping well.

"I guess it makes you more steely as a person, as a coach, and what comes is opportunity," he said.

"It's probably strengthened my resolve about where we're heading as where the club's going and it's a bonus that we’re going to get game time and experience for our young people this year."

Knights said his expectations for the club and himself hadn't changed over the first six weeks of the season and his immediate focus has always been to win the next match.

"I don't think as a coach you can get caught up in the week-to-week cycle of ups and downs," he said.

"If you do that you take your eye of the ball and you lose courage to make quality decisions for the betterment of the club moving forward."

Related Links

• Bombers include three debutants

• Matthew Knights announces 3 Bomber debutants
• Darcy Daniher on selection for his Essendon debut

Myers and Atkinson to join Daniher

Thursday, 1 May 2008
for essendonfc.com.au

Essendon coach Matthew Knights promised youth in season 2008 and that is what he will deliver this weekend when the Bombers take on Port Adelaide at the Telstra Dome this Sunday. Knights today announced that David Myers and Jarrod Atkinson will also make their senior debuts along with Darcy Daniher on the weekend...

THREE TO DEBUT

ESSENDON will hand debuts to three youngsters in Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights announced today that Darcy Daniher, David Myers and promoted rookie Jarrod Atkinson would all make their senior debuts at Telstra Dome against the Power.

Daniher is the son of former Sydney and Essendon star Anthony Daniher.

The Bombers have lost their last three matches and are in the midst of an injury crisis.

Fullback Dustin Fletcher and pacy utility Jason Winderlich both have groin problems, Kyle Reimers has a foot injury, Damien Peverill has a fractured jaw and Adam Ramanauskas is ill.

To make matters worse, promising youngster Courtenay Dempsey has been diagnosed with stress fractures in his right leg.

Daniher, 18, was picked up by the Bombers under the father-son rule in the 2007 national draft.

He kicked four goals last week for Essendon's VFL affiliates Bendigo.

INJURY BLOW FOR DEMPSEY

Emerging Bomber Courtenay Dempsey has again been sidelined with inury after developing shin splints in his right leg.


Team Manager, David Calthorpe, said the club will monitor him over the next six to eight weeks and, following that, will know if he can resume playing or needs further rest.


"This injury has only just been discovered and it's disappointing for Courtenay because he was at the end of his hamstring rehabilitation and was ready to resume playing," Calthorpe said.

"He is naturally very disappointed but he has a good attitude and will now put his head down and focus on getting his body right.

"We expect him to be close to playing within that six to eight week period and look forward to him stringing some games together which is the most important thing for his development."

In other news, Damien Peverill will miss the next 3-5 weeks because of a fractured jaw.

The injury, which occurred during Bendigo's VFL game on Saturday, required plates being inserted in his jaw.

Despite the latest injury setbacks, Calthorpe said the club is starting to turn the corner with Scott Gumbleton, Dustin Fletcher, Sam Lonergan, Leroy Jetta and Mark McVeigh all expected to be available within the next two weeks.

GOOD LUCK to Darcy, how exciting to see another Daniher kit up, for the Red & Black...

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

FAIRWEATHER SUPPORTER #1

This is an email that is currently doing the rounds. It may be a fake, but then again maybe it isn't...

Essendon Football Club - Justin Shannon
Attn: Matthew Knights - 7/284 Barkers Road
PO Box 17 - Hawthorn VIC 3122
ESSENDON VIC 3040 - Ph: 0400 516 334

Dear Matthew,

RE: Essendon Football Club Membership 305761

I’ve had occasion to write to your predecessor over the years and I must say that I feel as though I became a close confidant of Sheeds. He came to me when he needed someone to tell things exactly as they see them. And I didn’t mince my words, Matthew, I gave it to him straight. You haven’t needed me yet, but after the insipid debacle and abysmal coaching performance I unfortunately endured yesterday, I thought you might need a few home truths.

Firstly, could you give me some idea of what was going through your mind with your initialmatch ups? Johns on Pendlebury? Michael on Lockyer? Windydick on Medhurst? One could only assume that you had a piece of the Pies at 73+ with TAB Sportsbet.

I must say I appreciate that you’re attempting to introduce a fast attacking style of football.But I think what you don’t get is that you can’t do that with the muppets still on our list - a) they have to be quick, b) they have to be able to sustain that quickness for more than 30 minutes and c) it helps if they don’t call for the saw dust when they get the ball.

Let’s take a look at a few of my favourites: Jason Laycock – 5 years for 50 possessions. I wouldn’t call that a great return on investment. He is a big, lumbering, useless dope. He just plain doesn’t care.
Sally Robbins has more of a go than this dud. Remember that Aussie classic David Williamson’s The Club? Laycock is Geoff Hayward. I’d actually get him drug tested just to ensure he hasn’t seen any golden winged seagulls. He should never play for Essendon again. Full stop.

Courtney Johns – do I even need to say anything or did the article in today’s Age just sum it up? Another who should never play for Essendon again. Cut your losses. He should be embarrassed to earn money for that performance. He should be offering to pay Essendon back for the money he’s thieved off them over the last four years. Just to add insult to injury he’s not an attractive man and really doesn’t have a lot going for him.

Jobe Watson – also known as the Butcher. I do like the fact that Jobe at least has a go but his skill and pace are deplorable. Do you think there’s a reason why he gets 30 touches a game? The opposition coaches don’t bother manning up on him as they want us to use him.

They know that he’ll turn the ball back over to them more than half the time. Trade bait.

Brent “The Running Man” Stanton – he might run all day but he couldn’t run quickly out of sight on a dark night and he only knows how to run one way. Generally it’s away from the ball when the opposition have it. Or around the back of a mark or free kick to get a cheap kick and rack up a few stats. It’s a slight on every Victorian that he’s been included in the state squad. The worst culprit in our disgusting lack of defensive nous. And probably just nous in general – he’s got less awareness in traffic than a Moroccan mini cab driver.

Have you got the barbie fired up yet Matthew? Cos there’s plenty more chops we can throw on it. Ricky “Sleeps With The Light On” Dyson, Jason “Should Have Been Traded Last Year” Johnson, Damien “Back In The 2’s Where I Belong” Peverill, Angus “Too Small, Too Slow, Too Shit” Monfries, Henry “The Hack” Slattery. I won’t continue on but let’s just say I hold grave fears for the crippling lack of ability shown by any number of other players on our list. Unfortunately despite whatever you say the reality is we are in more of a world of hurt than my poor receding hairline. The list assembled is not going to be
going anywhere in a hurry and despite 5 years of rebuilding we’re in a worse position now
than when we started the whole process. Thank goodness for small mercies though. The small
mercy is that Melbourne are pretty bad too. It’s unfortunate that we don’t meet them until very late in the year – I have a feeling that might be our next win. I don’t say “might be our next win” because we’ll win one before then, more that there’s a better than average chance we won’t even beat them!

Just in case you’re interested, from my perspective there was at least one positive to come out of yesterday. I went to the Foo Fighters last night and they were pretty solid so I at least managed some entertainment for the day. I got none from the MCG.

One last thing before I sign off. You’re obviously aware that Jonathon Brown’s out of contract at the end of the year. How about we put together a package for him to see if we can prize him off the Lions? Let’s start with Laycock, Johns, Watson, Stanton, Dyson, Johnson, Peverill, Monfries, Slattery and even Lloyd at this stage as he couldn’t get a kick out of 2,000 volts. When they’re not interested in that, tell them we could even offer them a lazy $2 mil on the side as well. That might at least get them to stop laughing. Then ask them who else they’d like and give them away too as the cherry on top.

At the end of the day, I have no say in what goes on. All I can do is protest in my own way.

I’m not happy, not impressed and not attending another game this year.

Yours in football,

Justin Shannon.

AT least we can agree on one thing, with the above personage, that he should not attend another game this year or EVER!

Go to Richmond next season, me thinks you'll fit in well with that type of supporter base, if even they will have you...

Cheers,

Christos Bomberopoulos

ANZAC DAY BLOCKBUSTER

THE Greatest Game outside of the Finals, the one that every Club in the AFL want to be a part of (but never will), our tribute Match for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for us - and those that are currently serving overseas...

WE Thank-You.

THE Traditional Guernsey's will be worn, by two of this Nation's Most Powerful Clubs, on the Greatest Stage in Australia - The M.C.G.

JAMES Hird - our onfield Anzac Day specialist - may play one more role in the Bombers' preparation, with Matthew Knights considering inviting Club Legend to talk to the players about the biggest game of the home-and-away season.

"James and I speak on the phone every two or three weeks and I will give him a call at some stage this week," Knights said.

"Whether he'll be involved in Friday, we'll leave that to Friday. But someone (of) the ilk of James, the legacy he's left and the iconic figure he is, you never know, we may get him involved."

ESSENDON will start the underdog and, for Knights, who has five senior games as coach compared to Magpie Mick Malthouse's 569, the day can't come soon enough.

"It's an amazing stage. I've been looking forward to it all week," Knights said. "Our young team is really up and ready to go. They're really looking forward to it. They can't wait to get amongst the action."

ESSENDON has recalled forward Courtney Johns for tomorrow's Anzac Day match against Collingwood at the MCG.

Johns, 23, has languished in the VFL with the Bendigo Bombers since being dropped after Round 18 last season and has made just two senior appearances in the Bombers' past 20 matches.

But with injuries to key personnel, Essendon coach Matthew Knights said he was looking for a bigger presence inside the forward 50 against the Pies.

"With Scott Lucas and Scott Gumbleton on the long-term injury list, we're probably looking for some more firepower, some more size," Knights said yesterday.

"I really wanted to bring Courtney in when he had three full games at Bendigo, and he's had that, so he'll definitely come into the line-up."

The 192cm Johns has kicked 17 goals in 19 senior appearances.

Johns was a direct replacement last night for underperforming forward Nathan Lovett-Murray.

Knights was not falling for the comments of Collingwood vice-captain Josh Fraser, who said on Tuesday the Magpies were jaded and sore after two six-day breaks in a row and successive defeats.

"I don't think they're struggling too much," Knights said with a grin.

"I've got Scott Lucas, Scott Gumbleton, Sam Lonergan, Mark McVeigh, Courtenay Dempsey, Leroy Jetta (all injured) -- they'd play at the moment on one leg, off a three-day break.

"All our players just can't wait to get into this game.

"I'm not sure Collingwood is too beaten up, to be brutally honest. They were one kick away from beating the Kangaroos last week, so they're in pretty good shape.

"Collingwood will run out with the majority of the players who played in the preliminary final against Geelong and ran Geelong right to the wire."

Knights said there was no concern about the form or fitness of Matthew Lloyd, who has booted just 10 goals in his four appearances this year.

"I'm not concerned at all. Matthew didn't play much in the pre-season. He's had some decent games this year," Knights said.

"What he's got is a lot of pride. He would like to do better, but it's all about his role as captain and playing for the team.

"It's not about Matthew kicking five, six, seven a week, it's about him contributing and us developing as a team and getting better."

The Bomberopoulos Report can state categorically that Essendon will be victorious over the Carringbush by 5 goals or more.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse views the Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon as a key test for how his players handle big-game pressure.

Malthouse will coach the Magpies for the ninth time tomorrow in an Anzac Day game and he said these matches were almost as important as finals when it came to rating his players.

"It is different - it's a judgmental day, I will certainly be judging players on their capacity to play before a big crowd and the occasion," he said.

"I've always rated finals as a precursor to whether you keep players on your list or not, whether they can hold up, and I don't really see a great deal of difference, quite frankly, in this game.

"Players are expected to hold up on this day."

Collingwood key forward Anthony Rocca did not train today, but Malthouse expects him to play.

The Magpies lost Brodie Holland and Ben Reid with leg injuries, while regaining Nick Maxwell from suspension and recalling Ryan Cook.

BOTH teams go into this big game, having lost their last two matches, with a 2-3 record. COLLINGWOOD to lose THREE straight!

Collingwood v Essendon
MCG, Friday April 25, 2008, 2.40pm

TEAM COLLINGWOOD

B: Heath Shaw, Shane Wakelin, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Harry O’Brien
C: Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Tarkyn Lockyer
HF: Alan Didak, Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst
F: Cameron Wood, Travis Cloke, Dale Thomas
Foll: Josh Fraser, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Martin Clarke, Ben Johnson, Ryan Cook, Rhyce Shaw
Emg: Sharrod Wellingham, Chris Bryan, Shannon Cox

In: Maxwell, Cook
Out: Ben Reid (injured - quad), Brodie Holland (injured - ankle)

TEAM ESSENDON

B: Andrew Welsh, Mal Michael, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Bachar Houli, Patrick Ryder, Kyle Reimers
C: Angus Monfries, Jobe Watson, Ricky Dyson
HF: Henry Slattery, Adam McPhee, Andrew Lovett
F: Matthew Lloyd, David Hille, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Jason Laycock, Jason Winderlich, Brent Stanton
Int: Courtney Johns, Jay Nash, Tayte Pears, Adam Ramanauskas
Emg: Darcy Daniher, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Damien Peverill

In: Johns
Out: Lovett-Murray (omitted)

2008 Anzac Day Medal Prediction: Paddy Ryder

Matthew Knights is leading his Essendon team into its first Anzac Day clash against arch-rivals Collingwood at the MCG without the inspirational backing of Kevin Sheedy and James Hird.

Sheedy, the Bombers' coach for a record-breaking 27 seasons prior to this year, was the architect behind what is now clearly the biggest game on the home-and-away calendar and one which, in many ways, outstrips even the grand final for its pre-match build-up as it combines football with paying respect to Australia's landing at Gallipoli in World War I.

And since the fixture was first staged in 1995 - when the Pies and the Bombers drew in front of a crowd of 94,825, the second-biggest home-and-away crowd in league history - former skipper Hird virtually made the day his own.

The Pies and Bombers stand at six wins apiece and one draw from their 13 Anzac Day meetings but Hird was so often Collingwood's tormentor such as when had 29 possessions and kicked two goals in a 40-point win in 2000 and when he kicked five goals in a 66-point thrashing in 2003 as well as finishing with 26 touches and three goals in the Bombers' last Anzac Day success in 2004.

"Kevin Sheedy and James Hird had such a magnificent foundation with this day and have left such a great legacy and I just feel really proud to be following in their footsteps," Knights said ahead of Friday's clash.

"It's an amazing stage and I have been thoroughly looking forward to it all week and our young team are all up and ready to go and they are really looking forward to it."

While the Pies are likely to be without skipper Scott Burns and are coming off two straight losses and facing their second successive six-day break, the Bombers have a long injury list with key forward Scott Lucas, star midfielder Mark McVeigh and talented youngsters Leroy Jetta, Courtenay Dempsey, Scott Gumbleton and Sam Lonergan all sidelined.

Knights knows the Pies will have a crucial edge in big-game experience but is hoping his team's younger and fresher legs can overcome that.

"Sure they have got more experience and they ran Geelong to the wire in last year's preliminary final but maybe (our) youthful exuberance will overshadow that," Knights said.

LATE NEWS:

Anthony Rocca OUT

Alwyn Davey OUT

Cheers,

Christos Bomberopoulos

THE 17th LEGEND OF WINDY HILL:

KEVIN SHEEDY

essendonfc.com.au

Essendon Football Club today announced that former coach, Kevin Sheedy, will be formally inducted as a Legend of the Club on Wednesday, July 9.

Sheedy, who coached Essendon to four Premierships in his 27 years at the helm, will be the 17th Legend inducted by the Club.

Under Club policy, coaches and administrators can be inducted the year following their completion of service. Players need to have been retired for three years before being considered for induction as a Legend of the Club.

“This Club places great importance on recognising the people that have made great contributions. Kevin has arguably made a greater contribution than any and it is only right that he be honoured in this way,” Essendon managing director, Peter Jackson, said today.

“I have spoken with Kevin and he would prefer an intimate function to be held in the Club’s Hall of Fame to celebrate the occasion. It will involve family, friends and the people that worked closely with him during his time as senior coach.

“The size of the event may be small but we think the significance is enormous given the names he will be joining as a Legend of the Essendon Football Club. We know how much this Club has meant to him and this award is about the Club recognising how much he has meant to it.”

The current 16 Legends of the Essendon Football Club are:

1. Bill Busbridge


2. John Coleman


3. Tom Fitzmaurice


4. Bill Hutchison


5. Dick Reynolds


6. Jack Clarke


7. Terry Daniher


8. Simon Madden


9. Tim Watson


10. Ken Fraser


11. Frank Reid


12. Albert Thurgood


13. Barry Davis


14. Bill Cookson


15. Alan Hird (Snr)


16. Alex McCracken.

Congratulations Coach.

You will always be remembered for the great times at Windy Hill, by many generations to come, Hail Emperor Sheedy...

Cheers,

Christos Bomberopoulos

THE CLASH TO COME

THOSE that know me can vouch that there is not much that irritates me more than, some imbecile trying to re-write history or change the past for no rational reason.

These days I hardly have the time to do this blog justice, all of my time is being taken up with, my Fashion Label "sumthink".

Sure I managed to get to the Concrete Dome on Friday night, not only did MY CLUB lose the game to the St Kilda Streetwalkers, but I also lost my voice...Let's just say that all those cocky Saint supporters that kept giving me heaps, leading up to the start of the 3rd quarter, I managed to hush them up - by screaming - "HERE WE COME!" Which I continued during each and after every one of our six goals in the third term - the silence coming from all the surrounding St Kilda losers at the time was GOLDEN!

MAKE no mistake. NONE!

No-one at the game - at the time the BOMBERS were making their run - had any trouble distinguishing between the Guernseys of the Saints rabble and our 134 YEAR OLD GUERNSEY!

WHICH brings me to the reason for this post.

Certainly I had heard a few whispers, leading up to our AWAY game, as to why we did not HAVE to wear our "CLASH STRIP".

SHOULD I name, names?

DO I reveal the content of private conversations?

SOURCES can be over-rated. Only time will tell, but...

IF, as has been suggested - and the cynic in me has been aroused - the Esendon Football Club was NOT fined for NOT wearing it's ALTERNATIVE strip (like Carlton, Liverpool and Panathinaikos have) - is this...

We are enterring the next phase of, THE ESSENDON CLASH GUERNSEY, which has been pre-planned by the AFL.

To push for the new Essendon "WHITE" "GREY" or "SILVER" Alternative Guernsey...

READ THIS.

THE AFL will hold talks this week in a bid to resolve the ongoing jumper clash between Essendon and St Kilda.

The two clubs both played in their traditional strips at Telstra Dome on Friday night, often making it difficult to tell the teams apart.

Supporters and commentators were not the only ones confused by the similar guernseys in what made for an often ugly spectacle.

Umpires Scott Jeffery, Mathew Nicholls and Michael Vozzo told AFL ground operations manager Jill Lindsay at halftime that they were having trouble distinguishing between the teams.

The trio said it was particularly difficult when the players converged before ball-ups and boundary throw-ins.

"We all recognise that when you've got the same colours in the uniform that's the problem, so we'll have to revisit that and that will be an issue discussed this week and how we address it going forward," Lindsay said yesterday.

The Saints and Bombers play again in Round 22, with St Kilda expected to wear its white clash jumper as the "away" team, which it has done previously.

Essendon was not required by the AFL to wear its alternative strip on Friday night, donning the customary red and black jumper, white shorts and red and black hoop socks.

But even the club's clash jumper, which caused similar confusion in the corresponding game last year, only has an enlarged red sash and red shorts as variations.

Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne all wore clash strips at the weekend.
But the AFL remains concerned about the Essendon-St Kilda match-up.

"That's something we've got to work on, certainly with St Kilda and Essendon. We're pretty right with everything else but we've still got some way to go sorting that one out, that's for sure," Lindsay said.

"It's an ongoing issue and we are going through what we think are clashes all the time.

"In tight contests when you've got colours that are the same, it's very hard (to spot the difference)."

Anger has again surfaced this year over AFL-enforced clash guernseys.

Carlton chief executive Greg Swann vowed earlier this month that yesterday's game against Melbourne would be the last time the Blues wore their reserve white strip after receiving numerous supporter complaints.

Carlton was upset after it based its marketing campaign this pre-season around the slogan "We are the Navy Blues", then with little warning was forced to wear a white jumper in Round 2.

Clubs are threatened with a fine of $110,000 - $5000 for each player - if they fail to wear the correct uniform.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS TURD