Michael's Mailbox-Question that needs answering !!

[Eastern]

I know that the club is "selective" with which questions it DOES & DOES NOT answer and I have sent the following off hoping for a positive response;

Hi Michael,

Firstly, congratulations on the design of our 2011 home jumper (It looks fantastic). Now on to an issue that has bugged me since Rd 8, 2010 and that is that we were required to wear our clash strip at a HOME game v Essendon because "Our traditional strip clashed with both Essendon's home & clash strips". My thoughts are; As the HOME team we are entitled to wear our TRADITIONAL strip and that for these games our opponents should be required to wear a strip that DOES NOT clash with our TRADITIONAL STRIP.

My Question is;

What, if any representation has the club made to the AFL to ensure that we get to wear our traditional strip at our home games in 2011 and beyond?
Cheers

Eastern !!

[ausfatcat]

Yes I agree we should be waering our traditional jumper for homes games regardless of who we are playing. But I suspect the club cannot answer this as it is the AFl forcing the issue and with the club trying to repair a broken relationship with the AFl for the last couple of years........

[Eastern]

It matters not if it's an injustice on the part of The AFL/Essendon or if it's some arrangement that the club has made with Essendon/AFL. What matters is that if we, the fans are informed of the reasons we are more likely to accept the reasons. At present, the silence coming from the club is deafening, and all that does is feed the conspiracy theories !!

[Enrico_Misso]

No !
we need to stand up for ourselves.
We are not doing a Collingwood and trying to intimidate the AFL to change the rules to suit us.

We are simply seeking that they enforce their own policy.

Westaway needs to inform the AFL NOW that we will be wearing our home jumper at all our home games.

Then the onus is on the AFL to enforce their own policy instead of looking for an easy out and not having to ruffle Essendon's feathers.

[stinger]

It matters not if it's an injustice on the part of The AFL/Essendon or if it's some arrangement that the club has made with Essendon/AFL. What matters is that if we, the fans are informed of the reasons we are more likely to accept the reasons. At present, the silence coming from the club is deafening, and all that does is feed the conspiracy theories !!

you go get 'em boy..

[Life Long Saint]

We are simply seeking that they enforce their own policy.

I admire you guys for your principles but we all know the AFL have consistently shown a flagrant disregard for their own rules and processes. I think we can call it "policy on the run".

Now my understanding of the rules is that all teams must have an AFL approved clash strip. That means that either the AFL approved the current Essendon clash strip which actually clashes more with teams than their home strip or the AFL have made an exception for the Bombers.

Now, it would not be the first time that the AFL have disregarded their own rules to suit a, seemingly, higher agenda. Remember 2006 at Launceston...The rules state that a game ends when the umpire signals the end of the game (or when he hears the siren). Well...we all know what happened to that rule...

We all know what the AFL SHOULD do but I bet we all know what they WILL do...and the two will be diametrically opposed!

[plugger66]

I hope we win the game. What we wear is irrelevant.

[satchmo]

I hope we win the game. What we wear is irrelevant.

What we wear IS largely irrelevant. But the same is also true for other clubs isn't it? Or is the important thing that we get bent over and shafted ?

The ability of some clubs to avoid playing by the rules is at least disturbing.

It's pretty simple really. There is a rule. Apply it. That's what rules are for. Why shouldn't we expect the same rights as other clubs?

[stinger]

I hope we win the game. What we wear is irrelevant.

What we wear IS largely irrelevant. But the same is also true for other clubs isn't it? Or is the important thing that we get bent over and shafted ?

The ability of some clubs to avoid playing by the rules is at least disturbing.

It's pretty simple really. There is a rule. Apply it. That's what rules are for. Why shouldn't we expect the same rights as other clubs?

good post.... sums it up really.

[plugger66]

I hope we win the game. What we wear is irrelevant.

What we wear IS largely irrelevant. But the same is also true for other clubs isn't it? Or is the important thing that we get bent over and shafted ?

The ability of some clubs to avoid playing by the rules is at least disturbing.

It's pretty simple really. There is a rule. Apply it. That's what rules are for. Why shouldn't we expect the same rights as other clubs?

Well I dont have the chip on my shoulder mentality. The fact is there are huge clubs, medium clubs and the rest. We have just got into the medium club area and hopefully with hard work we will end up like the hawks. That doesnt mean we worry about our jumper. The pies and Dons have always worried about it but other huge clubs like WCE, Blues, Hawks and Adelaide havent. IMO the jumper isnt even a slight issue but of course even one is different.

[ChicagoSaint]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

[plugger66]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

I dont see what that has to do with a home or away jumper?

[ChicagoSaint]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

I dont see what that has to do with a home or away jumper?

do you think before you post?

[plugger66]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

I dont see what that has to do with a home or away jumper?

do you think before you post?

I do but after your efforts lately I have my doubts about you. Just for your info the Hawks had a win at all cost mentality on 2008 but still had an away jumper. How do you explain that?

[ChicagoSaint]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

I dont see what that has to do with a home or away jumper?

do you think before you post?

I do but after your efforts lately I have my doubts about you. Just for your info the Hawks had a win at all cost mentality on 2008 but still had an away jumper. How do you explain that?

we have an away jumper you moron! we just don't want to wear it against essendon in round 3, capitche?

[plugger66]

P66 we're all here because we love the Saints and want to win a Grand Final.
In order for us to win the Grand Final we/you/all of us need to adopt a win at any cost mentality.

I dont see what that has to do with a home or away jumper?

do you think before you post?

I do but after your efforts lately I have my doubts about you. Just for your info the Hawks had a win at all cost mentality on 2008 but still had an away jumper. How do you explain that?

we have an away jumper you moron! we just don't want to wear it against essendon in round 3, capitche?

Why? Does it matter? Will it help us win the game? Many more important things to worry about. After losing 3 or 4 in a row to them I think we should be trying to beat them. Could you please go away now.

[satchmo]

Well I dont have the chip on my shoulder mentality.

That's quite a hobby-horse you have there.

The fact is there are huge clubs, medium clubs and the rest.

Sure. But doesn't the rule apply to each club regardless of size?

It doesn't take a "chip on the shoulder mentality" to expect that the rules are applied fairly.

[plugger66]

Well I dont have the chip on my shoulder mentality.

That's quite a hobby-horse you have there.

The fact is there are huge clubs, medium clubs and the rest.

Sure. But doesn't the rule apply to each club regardless of size?

It doesn't take a "chip on the shoulder mentality" to expect that the rules are applied fairly.

Every club has an away jumper. Some still clash with other clubs which shouldnt have occured. It does though so the other clubs changes just like our home jumper has changed probably 10 times in 113 years. Matter of fact in our 8 GF we have only worn the same jumper 3 times. In 1965, 66 and 1971. Of course unless you include twice this year. That is why it isnt an issue to me.

[ChicagoSaint]

john albert, give away the blow and start again.

[plugger66]

john albert, give away the blow and start again.

You have serious problems. I am glad they didnt ban you. At least everyone can have a good laugh at your expense with some of the crap you write. The only issue that I have is that MM should have been given one free punch to that tiny brain of yours.

[ChicagoSaint]

john albert, give away the blow and start again.

You have serious problems. I am glad they didnt ban you. At least everyone can have a good laugh at your expense with some of the crap you write. The only issue that I have is that MM should have been given one free punch to that tiny brain of yours.

[satchmo]

That is why it isnt an issue to me.

The jumper isn't so much of an issue to me. But the ability of others to avoid complying to the rule is.

I forgot 65 as well!

[ChicagoSaint]

The jumper isn't so much of an issue to me. But the ability of others to avoid complying to the rule is.

hegzakery

[Eastern]

I know that the club is "selective" with which questions it DOES & DOES NOT answer and I have sent the following off hoping for a positive response;

Hi Michael,

Firstly, congratulations on the design of our 2011 home jumper (It looks fantastic). Now on to an issue that has bugged me since Rd 8, 2010 and that is that we were required to wear our clash strip at a HOME game v Essendon because "Our traditional strip clashed with both Essendon's home & clash strips". My thoughts are; As the HOME team we are entitled to wear our TRADITIONAL strip and that for these games our opponents should be required to wear a strip that DOES NOT clash with our TRADITIONAL STRIP.

My Question is;

What, if any representation has the club made to the AFL to ensure that we get to wear our traditional strip at our home games in 2011 and beyond?
Cheers

Eastern !!

I don't know whether this is a HOT topic or a COLD topic with Mr Nettlefold and his censorship team. It didn't make it into the latest round of Q & A in the Michael's Mailbox. Perhaps I should ask it at the AGM where the censorship team don't get to pick & choose !!

[bozza1980]

Matter of fact in our 8 GF we have only worn the same jumper 3 times. In 1965, 66 and 1971. Of course unless you include twice this year. That is why it isnt an issue to me.

How did the jumper we wore in 2009's decider differ from those of 65-66 and 71??

I think the club should receive an explanation from the AFL why they deem both sides wearing clash jumpers as being preferable to having Essendon design a clash strip that actually stops rather than exacerbates the clash.