THE GRAND FINAL
The Doggies delivered the impossible dream
For the past five weeks, I have been living in Phnom Penh. I spent one evening watching kids play their kind of football: the ball was small and made of woven cane, and the kids were agile, barefooted and clearly enjoying themselves. I was reminded of another scene in Derby in 1981 when agile Aboriginal kids were playing AFL in bare feet on a field carved out of the hot, red, Western Australian earth. On Saturday I watched another team with the same characteristics of those boys in WA and the Cambodian kids: agile, determined, anticipating each others' moves and enjoying the spectacle they had created. I then read another piece of Greg Baum's admirable writing, "AFL grand final 2016: Western Bulldogs deliver the impossible dream" and the day felt complete.
Christine Spratt, St Leonards
Part of my heart bleeds red, white and blue
Football refugees are those supporters who adopt a team when their side again fails to reach the pointy end of the season - the finals. This year Bulldogs' coach Luke Beveridge flung open the doors at the kennel and we all crossed the Maribyrnong River with the hope of supporting his team to do the impossible – break the longest premiership drought in AFL football. When the final siren went, we were satisfied and content that our temporary and honorary allegiance to the Dogs had been the right one. But then Beveridge saluted us all when he selflessly presented his medal to the injured – yet ecstatic – Bob Murphy. As a football refugee, a small part of my heart will always bleed red, white and blue. The Dogs have given us permission to dream. Next year we will enter a new season knowing that miracles are a real possibility.
Andrew Dowling, Torquay
Doggies, here and abroad, united in victory
You can't hear it from the parks in Hackney. If you put your ear to the air, you only catch the incoming flights to old London town. You can't quite smell it on your beanie: the icy winter, the Western oval grass, the tears and the hope. But somewhere inside every Bulldog, whether they are at home or far away, is a sense that finally our ship has come in.
Samuel Burt, Hackney, England
The underdogs beat the pundits' favourite
Melbourne versus Sydney, Victoria versus New South Wales, the western suburbs versus everyone, underdogs versus the pundits' favourite, true grit versus an armchair ride. The 2016 grand final had the lot. All stars came into alignment at the MCG on Saturday. It was a privilege to be there to witness great football played to the max. The Bulldogs' win gives hope to legions of Demons' fans.
John Simpson, Melbourne
At last, someone else who can't bear football
Leunig, your cartoon – "Prayer and Confession" (Spectrum, 1/10) – is on my fridge for easy reference as we spend this week inundated with replays of the grand final, repeats of the highlights, in depth discussions from experts and the many comments from ecstatic fans.
Carolyn Reynolds, Lake Boga
Jumpers, beanies, scarves and footy fans
The grand final public holiday was a family bonanza, judging by the thousands of people of all ages who thronged the roadsides and MCG surrounds. The tri-coloured and red and white footy jumpers, scarfs and beanies made it a day for the ordinary people. It was a chance for fans to express their tribal allegiance in a once in a year public display. Was it worthwhile? A resounding yes. You would have to have a heart of stone not to approve of us showing our footy colours.
Rex Condon, Ashwood
A heartfelt gesture
The AFL should do two things as a result of this remarkable grand final: commission a statue outside the MCG (or Whitten Oval) showing Luke Beveridge giving his premiership medal to Bob Murphy, and award a special medal to Beveridge for this gesture and his achievement of coaching the Bulldogs from seventh place to a premiership.
Morrie Kiefel, Donvale
An informed citizen
Criticism of former MP Wyatt Roy, who visited Iraq, by Liberal and Labor MPs was uninformed and condescending. He is now a citizen who can travel where he wants for the most part. His interview on 7.30 (ABC TV, 30/9) revealed an intelligent man who was concerned with the work done by non-government organisations in Kurdistan, the right of Kurds to self-determination, and concern about our travel warnings and lack of diplomatic presence in Kurdistan.
Perhaps MPs should travel to places such as Kurdistan, Gaza and Niger on fact-finding visits instead of comfortable junkets to Washington, London and Europe. Their reports back to parliament often read like they were sourced from Google. Taxpayers are paying for these trips, whereas Mr Roy funded his own.
Adrian Jackson, Middle Park
No, an immature man
One can only assume that Wyatt Roy's foray into Iraq was an audition for a position as a war correspondent or a tour guide for extreme risk takers. Either way, it makes one question how Malcolm Turnbull could have appointed such an immature person to his ministry.
Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach, NSW
Right to an education
Parents fear a surge in international student enrolments has shut local students out of popular Melbourne state schools, with some sought-after schools knocking back the siblings of existing students if they live just outside the zone (Saturday Age, 1/10). Some schools also "cull" difficult students to maintain their international reputation. It is time this behaviour was investigated. Education should be available for all students.
Tom Vanderzee, Coburg
Have the fees dropped?
When John Howard, in his wisdom, decreed that private schools should receive large amounts of taxpayers' money, it was supposed to be so that ordinary Mums and Dads could choose where their kids went to school. Please tell me of one public school which has lowered its fees to accommodate this idea. No. As I thought. But these already wealthy schools have been able to add further luxuries to their elite institutions.
Pamela Pilgrim, Highett
Come on, cough up
I am sure I will see pigs flying before I witness one of the many over-funded religious schools, which espouse charity, compassion, civic values and community service, refunding their extra government funding to ensure poorer schools can provide a reasonable standard of education.
Luigi Soccio, Daylesford
Excusing themselves
If some politicians' children are enrolled in private schools, should they not excuse themselves from influencing whether taxpayers' funds are allocated to said schools given that these appear to be "for profit" in the broadest sense of the word?
Ian Button, Mount Eliza
Abyss of nothingness
Wendy Squires, thank you for your article (Forum, 1/10). It will be reassuring for many a lonely soul. However, loneliness and emptiness can also be reflective of a poor sense of self. When this is not well developed, being alone can be a torturous experience of being stuck in a abyss of nothingness. People can feel lonely in a crowded room. Suicide and/or self-harm can often result. Thinking about suicide can provide a sense of relief from the torture. Self-harm can make people feel numb or alive, but at least there is a sense that they are there. Psychological therapy that helps the person develop a sense of self is helpful. We are wired to need and want people, but to need others too much is when loneliness and emptiness are problematic and distressing.
Ilona Zagon, clinical psychologist, Glen Iris
More guides, please
What a pleasant surprise to see the Age follow its sister paper the Sydney Morning Herald and publish a comprehensive form guide on Saturday. For us punters, let us hope it becomes the norm rather than a "Spring Delight".
John Tingiri, Mornington
Once bitten, twice shy
I admired Nick Xenophon for many years for his stand against unfettered gambling and hissensible approach to public policy and the greater good. I even gave Nick Xenophon Team a Senate preference at the election. However, his foolish and intemperate response to the South Australian power blackout has destroyed my confidence in him and his party. I would guess I am not the only one who feels this way. Never again, Nick.
Mark Freeman, Macleod
A question of risk
Electricity transmission problems in South Australia, and on Friday the 7am train from Spencer Street Station to Albury was delayed for 90minutes when a tree fell over the tracks near Seymour. Maybe we should be questioning risk assessment and efforts at maintenance rather than drawing red herrings about renewable resources, etc. Why was a tree allowed to be that close to a major transport facility that it would delay the service should it fall the wrong way?
Garth Mitchell, Strathbogie
Stand up, Mr Turnbull
The calamitous blackout in South Australia, and memories of Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, should prompt calls for federal funding to put all power and telegraph lines underground. Admittedly this would be enormously expensive, but it would create many jobs and bring about much future saving as global warming threatens to create similar disasters. Many people who rejoiced to see Malcolm Turnbull become prime minister have been disappointed in his performance. Funding this proposal would give him an opportunity to show resolute leadership.
Judy Bayliss, Brighton
Impossible to defend
Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg, energy security is not your government's "number one priority". If it were, you would be encouraging solar panels on rooftops and community micro-grids. This is distributed energy generation. Distributed generation means there is no centralised generation target for hackers or terrorists (or storms). Please stop defending your fossil fuel sponsors.
Andrew Gemmell, Glenroy
Matter of compromise
We expect our electricity systems to be secure, with power available on demand. We expect to slash carbon emissions by increasing the deployment of renewable energy. And we expect electricity to be as cheap as possible. We cannot have all three.
Zero carbon emissions are vital to address climate change, and most people want this achieved with renewable energy. So how about system security? Large-scale power blackouts are something that all governments dread. Yet my suburb experiences blackouts every few years due to distribution line faults. Can we live with less reliable power? Then there is cost. Reliable renewable electricity systems require major expenditure. The challenge is to ensure that poorer households do not bear the brunt of price increases. So what do we value the most: sustainability, security or low prices?
Andrea Bunting, Brunswick
RIP, our car industry
On November 25, 1948, Prime Minister Ben Chifley launched the first mass-produced Australian-made car at the GMH factory at Fishermans Bend. It would be appropriate if Tony Abbott and members of his cabinet who have overseen the death of the local car manufacturing industry were on hand to see the last Holdens, Fords and Toyotas roll off the assembly lines (BusinessDay, 1/10).
They could explain the difference between annual subsidies of around $5billion to the fossil fuel industries and manufacturing industry support. They could also explain why it is now vital that we have a local submarine manufacturing industry, apparently regardless of cost, but car manufacturing is expendable. Rhetoric about agility and innovation is cold gruel for workers grappling with the intricacies of Centrelink's processes.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
Pain of new cuisine
Having learnt to live with the violence of mashed potatoes, shredded lettuce and wilted spinach, I am reluctantly coming to terms with pulled pork and smashed avocado.
Russell Jackson, Newtown
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
The plebiscite was dreamed up to placate the Liberals' rank and file. Let them pay for it.
Jonathan Lipshut, Elwood
Wyatt Roy was aware of the risks when he went to Iraq. Get rid of the nanny state.
Graham Reynolds, Ballarat North
Roy should consider a career in the army – if he passes the IQ tests.
Les Anderson, Woodend
Wyatt Roy has the grandiose notion that he's morphed into Wyatt Earp.
Jeff Wright, Sandringham
Grand final
Miracles happen. Congratulations to the Bulldogs and their humble coach.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
As Teddy Whitten would have said, the Bulldogs "stuck it up" Sydney and the AFL.
Russell Hawken, Surrey Hills
Ross Oakley, who's laughing now, eh?
Donald Hirst, Prahran East
The crowd were well behaved and security kept everyone safe. It made for a great day. Go, Bulldogs.
Howard Mitchell, Mount Eliza
Certainly no bull from the Dogs.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
The Doggies were the better team on the day. So, did they really need the ratio of 20 free kicks to eight?
John Cain, McCrae
I thought I was the only person who wasn't interested in football. Bravo, Leunig (1/10). Now I know I'm not alone.
Yvonne Mc Bean, Glen Iris
I'm not the world's biggest footy fan but come on, Leunig. You're being a wet blanket.
Lesley Hollands, Warragul
Now there are 17 teams with a longer premiership drought than the Bulldogs.
Philip Henseleit, Glenlee
On the retirement of the "Den": truly, a "Cometti of One".
Philip Bunn, Beechworth