Downie thought it was "funny"???

[luthor]

"THE AFL LIONS
WITH SALARIES TO SPARE
FIX 'EM UP PIES
MAKE 'EM LOOK LIKE BEARS"

I have watched the Fox replay of the game.

At the beginning of the replay, Eddie claims that he "ran the wording of the banner past Graeme Downie on the afternoon before the game. He had no problem with it and found it very funny"

"Seems like everyone was in on the joke except the AFL" according to Eddie.

I find it very hard to believe that our club President would see any humour at all in such a derisory and public reference to our club being made to look like "Bears".

The clear meaning of the ditty is that without the salary cap allowance, the club would be an object of fun and its on-field performance would be similar to that of the Bears in the bad old days.

Pretty much what Eddie and his cronies would like to see happen to us.

Could there be any truth at all in McGuire's claims or is this just another instance of Eddie-speak to suit his own ends?

I would be extremely disappointed if Graeme Downie or anyone else in the Lions hierachy found that stupid crappy little ditty in the slightest way "funny".

[Calamity]

My own personal opinion is that Eddie 'hears and sees what he wants to '.

Where we might see G.Downie grimacing through gritted teeth *Yeah, Ed. That's REEAAALLY funny You W***er*(similar to Leppa during the post-match interview ;) )... Eddie would see a full throated belly laugh at his own wittiness.

You know the old saying...

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil ...

[Roylion]

According to Caroline Wilson on 3AW this afternoon, (and I have no idea how accurate this is) apparently the Brisbane Lions complained about the banner in relation to being called the "Bears". According to Wilson, the Lions have worked hard on their image as the 'Lions' in Queensland and Victoria.

The AFL in turn were annoyed at the reference to the salary cap. Wayne Jackson was also interviewed and alluded to McGuire's conflict of interest in his discussion of the banner issue on the broadcast. I recall the word "childish" being in there somewhere.

[BrisGirl]

The thing that is really getting to me is that he got in on anyway through TV technology.

What he wanted wasn't physically on the banner but he had the vision of it on the TV, so he won in the end anyway.

Channel 9 really have to address Mr McGuire, as he is not impartial when it comes to commentary with regards to his position on the commentary team.

[Doggiesrule1020]

Hey bris girl i hadnt seen the start of the game but ive heard about the banner i mean who hasnt.But if this is the case than that is wrong.As much as i respect everything that he has done for us (the doggies) that is just wrong and it shouldnt be allowed to happen.He really should make up his mind what hes going to do barrack for collingwood (oops i meant comentate) on the radio and on tv or be the president because it is verry clear that he cannot do both.

[Slax]

Although I don't agree with his ideas on football I do not believe that the AFL should silence anyone in the game from saying what they think if they do not make personal attacks against people. Fitzroy got fined for a banner and the AFL below its stack over a player having NO WAR written on his arm for the offical team photo. But it is just taking things too far, you need to hear the players express an opinion from time to time to re-assure yourself that they exist and have a brain. Because at the moment the AFL is taking out any personality out of the game and it will kill the game.