FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Saturday, May 14, 2011

Herald Sun

Trengove unlucky but system is OK
By Michael Warner

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says Jack Trengove was unlucky to get three games for his sling tackle on Patrick Dangerfield. However Demetriou has defended the system that delivered the penalty. "I think in some ways he's unlucky that he got three weeks for that," Demetriou said yesterday. "But he could have taken the two (weeks) and then we wouldn't be talking about it as much. "Everyone is made aware of the rule. If you pin someone in the tackle and then they get thrown to the ground and there's a head-high consequence out of it, you're going to run the risk of being suspended." But Demetriou confirmed the league would review its handling of behind-the-play incidents such as Campbell Brown's elbow to the face of Bulldog Callan Ward, which led to a two-game ban only.

Bailey won’t change tackling tactics
By Michael Horan

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says his players won't change their tackling style despite failing to have Jack Trengove's three-game ban overturned. Melbourne's 96-point win over Adelaide last week was a product of ferocious tackling and pressure. But while one tackle in particular cost midfielder Trengove dearly, Bailey said he would not change a thing. "Our tackling technique is what it is and we believe it's in accordance with what's expected," he said. "Our technique won't change and our attitude, like every other club, is to tackle to win the ball back off the opposition. That won't change." The Trengove saga, combined with the loss of trump ruckman Mark Jamar and defender Jack Grimes to injury, make the Demons' task against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium today difficult, to say the least.

Twitter critics cop suspended fines
By AAP

FOR AFL players on Twitter, there is a new pitfall to using social media - the threat to your hip pocket. The AFL has issued suspended fines to both Melbourne and two of their players who "tweeted" their disapproval of teammate Jack Trengove's ban. Ricky Petterd and James Frawley were among several players critical via social media of the three-match suspension given to Trengove for his slinging tackle on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield - which the Demons failed to overturn on appeal. They received $2,500 fines suspended for two years, while the Demons were given a $5,000 suspended fine. AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he didn't understand the attraction of Twitter to players, whose SMS-style messages can reach the mobile phones or computers of anyone who wants to read what they have to say.

Demetriou’s Twitter tips
By Al Paton

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou admits he doesn't understand Twitter but says players can't use it to criticise the tribunal. Melbourne players have been asked by the league to explain tweets venting their frustration at the Jack Trengove tribunal decision this week. Among the players who jumped on Twitter after Tuesday night's hearing was Demons skipper Brad Green who declared Trengove's tackle on Patrick Dangerfield "the perfect tackle". James Frawley, Colin Sylvia, Ricky Petterd and Jack Watts also voiced their opinions. Demetriou said today just because Twitter was a new and "fashionable" form of media it didn't give players the right to attack the tribunal. The AFL chief executive said he didn't have a Twitter account and asked if he understood it, he answered: "Not really."