Fremantle is determined to ignore its dismal form in Melbourne as it prepares to face Essendon at Docklands on Sunday.
The Dockers are buoyed by last week’s upset victory over Adelaide and do not plan to let disappointing statistics ruin their preparation.
They have a 7-29 record at Docklands and 0-8 against Essendon at the venue but, according to assistant coach Barry Mitchell, the team has not discussed those figures.
“We haven’t looked back at any of that, we just look at it as a new year so we haven’t mentioned the previous record,” Mitchell said.
“It’s just us coming to terms with it – and what we want to do is win more games in Melbourne, regardless of who the opposition is.”
Mitchell also said coach Mark Harvey quickly moved the players on from basking too long in last week’s win.
“It was good to get off to a good start but we’re very mindful of the fact that we had to get onto this week,” he said.
“Our big thing is backing up and going from week to week.
“We were happy with the game and by Monday we’d gone through our reviews and moved on.
“I think when you do move on from the game quickly, start to look at the opposition straight away, start to focus for the following game you can do that.
“If you start to talk about the weekend and how good it was for three or four days you can probably lead down that way and we definitely didn’t do that this week.”
Former Essendon key position player Adam McPhee is back at the Dockers after seven years with the Bombers but Mitchell said he was capable of handling himself if he became a target.
“I don’t know what you can do these days with that sort of stuff – it might be a bit of push and shove and that might be about it,” Mitchell said.
“Any player who’s played AFL footy for eight or 10 years knows how to handle most things so I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Melbourne citizens express anger over display of `Naked Woman on Cross’ sculpture before Easter
Melbourne, Apr.8 (ANI): Sculptor Neil Mitchell’s move to display his work “Naked Woman on Cross” in Melbourne ahead of Easter has sparked anger and accusations of mixed messages, reports the Herald Sun.
The 40,000 dollar artwork is being displayed at a Melbourne gallery at the holiest time of the year for Christians, and Mitchell said it was meant to portray women’s suffering.
However, church leaders and art lovers have described it as a desecration of Christian beliefs.
St Michael’s Uniting Church chief Minister Dr Francis McNab said Mitchell’s message had backfired.
“I think it’s supposed to say we have crucified women in society,” Dr McNab said.
“But it’s a shame he chose to sexualise it by the use of a young female. Older women had to suffer longer and much more.
“He takes our focus on to the sexual side of it more than the social commentary.”
Living Way Church Pastor Lanil Gunasekara was outraged by the sculpture.
“It is a blasphemous insult to the image of Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross,” he said.
“There is something wrong with an artist who produces something so insulting to Christians.”
New White Gallery owner Melanie Thornton said some visitors were dismayed at the aluminium and wood sculpture.
“It is very powerful because it is life-size and displayed on its own,” she said.
Mitchell, known for his sculptures of sporting heroes, defended the work.
“It is the duty of an artist to question society’s beliefs in religion and to test people about those beliefs, which this sculpture will do,” he said.
“I’ve travelled through 35 countries and found down-trodden women in them all.”
Mitchell’s bronzes of Sir Don Bradman, John Landy and Ron Clarke are outside the MCG.
Dr McNab said he did not find the work offensive, “but I wouldn’t go to see it”. (ANI)