Did anyone read this crap?

[davey_magik]

This was an article Trevor Grant wrote the other day about Judd and the clubs after him:

Lasting image baffles
09 October 2007 Herald Sun

AS HE does when he tucks a football under his arm and spears through a pack, Chris Judd has left behind a trail of frustration, bewilderment and ruined dreams on his way to his next club.



No big-name transfer has ever been without repercussions. Melbourne took 23 years to make the finals after Ron Barassi left to coach Carlton after the club's 1964 premiership. When Tony Lockett departed St Kilda for Sydney after the 1994 season, the primal noises from the animal cage at Moorabbin scared even the natives.

There was always going to be major fall-out when Judd, football's most complete package, could no longer resist the call of home.

It is a fact of life, as outlined in Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion, that for every action there is an equal, opposite reaction.

Yet rarely in AFL history has one action brought so many negative reactions, or one intended consequence so many unintended ones.

You could start with the failed suitors. Collingwood limps away, feeling like the Elephant Man at a dating agency after another high-profile rejection. It's best not to mention Lockett, Fraser Gehrig and Nick Stevens for fear of stirring unhealthy feelings of inadequacy at the Lexus Centre.

You don't need to worry about this at Melbourne, where the competition's born loser had its lowly place on the AFL totem reaffirmed when Judd said no.

The Magpies and Demons get on with life soon enough. But how will 20-year-old Josh Kennedy recover his faith in the system, having been told by Carlton that he's bait on the hook to get Judd?

Kennedy is a West Australian boy, so it's assumed he'd be happy to go. But has anyone considered he might be feeling pretty comfortable at the Blues, having signed for another two seasons?

Coach Brett Ratten was doing his best to show the caring side of AFL footy. He told Kennedy they valued him highly and would like to keep him but . . . Significantly, he didn't say how Kennedy felt.

Even if the young man goes willingly, no one should be surprised if he rolls his eyes next time a coach holds up a guernsey and asks him to bleed for it.

Everywhere you look there is fallout for those involved in the mother of all AFL deals. Yet the effect it has had on a club that couldn't even get to buy the great man a coffee could be the most damaging.

Indeed, the hit Hawthorn has taken in all of this is a serious one, even if it has barely been acknowledged.

Colleague Mike Sheahan wrote recently his sources were telling him Judd refused even to talk to Hawthorn because he had concerns about the culture of the club.

Hawthorn has a young, strong list, new facilities, one of the best coaching panels and genuine premiership prospects. So much about it fitted Judd's stated criteria before he chose the Blues.

Yet, we are told, there is a culture there that the best player is very keen to avoid.

Culture problem these days is code for drug problem. Whether Hawthorn has a problem in this area no one can say with any surety, not least because everything about substance abuse in the AFL is cloaked in secrecy.

However, perception is as damning as reality in 21st century elite sport.

Whatever the truth, this is a stunning declaration of no confidence from the game's most respected player.

Hawthorn ignores it at its peril.

I thought this was a poor snipe at us, the guy obviously has an issue, here's an email I sent to the HS AFL section about it, doubt Grant will ever see it but wrote it anyway, this really p1ssed me off:

'Dear Herald Sun AFL Sports staff,
I know this is meant to be a letter to Mike Sheahan, but I'd like to address Trevor Grant, for an article he wrote ('Lasting image baffles', October 9) about why Chris Judd had refused to go to Hawthorn.

I'm a passionate Melbourne supporter, and found the following excerpt from the article quite infuriating:

'You don't need to worry about this at Melbourne, where the competition's born loser had its lowly place on the AFL totem reaffirmed when Judd said no. '

That is poor journalism and a snipe at the oldest and one of the greatest clubs in the AFL. 'Competition's born loser'? We have 12 flags, how many do the Saints have? The Bulldogs? Freo? Obviously you have an issue with our club, but I'd appreciate it if you could take it up privately, rather than a lame attack on a great AFL club?

If you have any balls, you'll reply to my email, and explain why you wrote that.

Cheers, Hugh ****

 

[dutchy12]

This was an article Trevor Grant wrote the other day about Judd and the clubs after him:



I thought this was a poor snipe at us, the guy obviously has an issue, here's an email I sent to the HS AFL section about it, doubt Grant will ever see it but wrote it anyway, this really p1ssed me off:

'Dear Herald Sun AFL Sports staff,
I know this is meant to be a letter to Mike Sheahan, but I'd like to address Trevor Grant, for an article he wrote ('Lasting image baffles', October 9) about why Chris Judd had refused to go to Hawthorn.

I'm a passionate Melbourne supporter, and found the following excerpt from the article quite infuriating:

'You don't need to worry about this at Melbourne, where the competition's born loser had its lowly place on the AFL totem reaffirmed when Judd said no. '

That is poor journalism and a snipe at the oldest and one of the greatest clubs in the AFL. 'Competition's born loser'? We have 12 flags, how many do the Saints have? The Bulldogs? Freo? Obviously you have an issue with our club, but I'd appreciate it if you could take it up privately, rather than a lame attack on a great AFL club?

If you have any balls, you'll reply to my email, and explain why you wrote that.

Cheers, Hugh ****

I didn't realise he said that and good on you for saying that. What an absolute tool. Admitidly we haven't had any success since 1964 but to say we were "born losers" what a rediculous statement.

 

[Deenamite]

Well done Dm.

Used to respect him but that's just pure shit.

 

[Yze13]

The mere fact that Trevor Grant wrote this ,is the reason why it's not even worth giving a response because 95% of his columns are total crap.
If I was Baliey i would enlargen the article and post on the club walls before a game ,just for that little bit of incentive.Then when we win all 22 turn to him and post him an article with the middle finger extended.

 

[TelkoTheGreat]

Trevor Grant is the 'Bryan Seymour' of the Herald Sun apparently he follows the filth ! That might be why .

 

[TripleDee]

Trevor Grant's article just reinforces to me why I don't buy or read that shit Herald Sun newspaper.

 

[jackolegend]

The Editors of the Herald-Sun must be putting extra pressure on him to write something a little more sensationalist now that no-one is reading his articles.

 

[dutchy12]

Is he on any radio shows? I wouldn't mind calling him up and asking why he belieevs this comment to be true? Then totally break down his argument

 

[demonfan9]

I read that too. Good on ya davey_magik.

There was another snipe on the back page of the sport today in the Herald Sun. Admittedly it is a tongue-in-cheek column, but it was still disrespectful. They were talking about each clubs position after Trade Week, and for Melbourne they wrote "no one cares".

F**k 'em.

People love to kick us when we're down, but over the last 20 years we've made 12 finals series, including 2 Grand Finals, had 2 Brownlow Medallists and 1 Coleman Medallist. Hardly an irrelevant club like some people suggest.

 

[CaptainDavey]

Classy DM.

Trevor Grant is just upset he can't be part of the receding hairline revolution down at Demonland...Twat

 

[TJ is GOD]

it hurts but its true

I love the demons as much as the anyone on this forum but when i read this article a few weeks ago I felt he hit the nail on the head.

its up to us as supporters, the board we elect and the staff they employ to change that image

Since when has any team taken melbourne seriously?

 

[CaptainDavey]

Since when has any team taken melbourne seriously?

I don't think it just applies to us. Look at the Bulldogs last year. Made the finals and had a pretty good year. AS WE DID. But the difference was that the Bulldogs were the medias lovechild. Everyone is quick to go on about how much they love the Dogs and sympathise for them because they've done shit all for years upon years.

For one, we don't know how different clubs take a view on us, all we have is the supporters and medias opinion. Who's to say they are taken seriously? Sure they murdered Richmond as you may remember but how good a year did Richmond have last year? We were exactly on par with the Dogs in 06. The media tends to influence that supporter opinion so I think, it's not our fault per se, moreso how we're painted in the wider scheme of things.

I think the only teams that are taken seriously are those that are the major powerhouses of the competition. After that, we're all in the same boat. It's just how the system is

 

[dutchy12]

I don't think it just applies to us. Look at the Bulldogs last year. Made the finals and had a pretty good year. AS WE DID. But the difference was that the Bulldogs were the medias lovechild. Everyone is quick to go on about how much they love the Dogs and sympathise for them because they've done shit all for years upon years.

For one, we don't know how different clubs take a view on us, all we have is the supporters and medias opinion. Who's to say they are taken seriously? Sure they murdered Richmond as you may remember but how good a year did Richmond have last year? We were exactly on par with the Dogs in 06. The media tends to influence that supporter opinion so I think, it's not our fault per se, moreso how we're painted in the wider scheme of things.

I think the only teams that are taken seriously are those that are the major powerhouses of the competition. After that, we're all in the same boat. It's just how the system is

The fact is the only way we can change it is by winning a premiship. No more honorable losses or any of that crap.

 

[CaptainDavey]

The fact is the only way we can change it is by winning a premiship. No more honorable losses or any of that crap.

Ah yes I agree. The only barometer of success in this sport is premierships...Good things come to those who wait my friend

 

[Supermercado]

Further proof, as if any was needed, that the Herald Scum is no more than a comic.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Further proof, as if any was needed, that the Herald Scum is no more than a comic.

And further proof of how the football world sees us. His comments were a poor snipe at the club, but it's up to the club and it's supporters to turn things around so they can't take cheap shots.