Mazer Rackham

We're in no position to criticize. Good luck to them. But we have Big Jim, who brings with him an enormous amount of goodwill and respect. That helped a hell of a lot with Debt Demolition. Can't think who Richmond have who's the equal of Jim in social standing. Jim made it seem like a nation building exercise, rather than a tin-rattle.

Trengove = future captain.

Davey is always doing cute kicks from anywhere on the ground, which in old-fashioned language were called "widow makers". They either result in turnovers, or kill momentum going forward. It's one thing holding him back from being "elite".

Jurrah is going to bring people though the gate. Even people who don't barrack for the Demons. Jurrah will be the one kids talk about in the schoolyard; the one the kids will barrack for. They'll follow the Demons because that's who their man Jurrah plays for. Jurrah = increased support, increased membership.

'Twere Yogi Berra that said that. Barassi is innocent. The actual quote: "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical."

Good luck to the guy, but tell me how he can get on their list as a "rookie"? Age, games played ... he's as un-rookie as you can get.

Adrian Battiston?

Fabulous Phil Carman

So it's you, Jack! Take one for the club and barrack for C'wood instead.

Urgh. Can we have a scenario where we dominate by ourselves?

No. It's a conceit based around the need to disguise man-management issues. Club A wants to depose the king in favour of the prince royal. But maybe the king isn't too happy about that. Create a "director of coaching" position to keep him happy (maybe). Club B appoint the best man for the job, in the full knowledge that he might not be the best man for the job. Create a "director of coaching" position as a safety net. We have a good coach and a good football department, and don't need these mirages.

Roy Morgan do a survey every now and again identifying the characteristics of supporters from each AFL Club. From the 2005 survey: Melbourne supporters 17 per cent more likely to have a diploma or degree than the average person. (Collingwood supporters were 35% more likely to have a maximum year 11 education and 62% more likely to have purchased something from The Reject Shop in the last four weeks.)

When I look at Jamar, I see Clark Keating in 2002/03. In the first quarter of a grand final, when pressure is high and skills are low, a powerhouse who is all "do, don't think" is very valuable to have on your side.

I reckon he just hung on to it too long when he had options. One where he could have kicked to the square, didn't for some reason, and went to ground to avoid a tackle, lost the pill. Credit to the tiges for applying the pressure for so long, and credit to us for weathering the storm until finally we got some sunshine in our forward line.

A flake and a loose cannon. We don't need him.

Calm down. All he will do is take up one valuable spot on their list. Go Dons! Ha! I wouldn't mind seeing him succeed, but it seems unlikely. Having said that, the marketing value to Essendon will be a fraction of that for GC/GWS provided by Hunt/Folau, so I don't see why they (Ess) should get $500k from the AFL, or anything near it.

Betting odds are not probabilities. They reflect the way the punters are betting. If the bookies were taking bets on Sav Rocca winning gold in the Olympic luge, the more the punters plunged (just in case), the more the odds would wind in. Even though the actual probability remains fixed.

Yes. See: http://wlv.openrepository.com/wlv/handle/2436/8014 also: http://www.wip-online.org/downloads/Dohmen_Thomas_2005_a.pdf There are lots of studies like this. Basically, the noise of the home crowd seems to be the thing that influences the umps' decisions.

Bailey is doing what he said he would do. Giving everyone a game to find out who can and who can't play. At the end of the season there should be no surprises. Go Bailey! Go Demons!

The drafting of Cousins was list management by mob rule. I have a feeling that this will somehow backfire on Richmond.

Bailey is not an "empowering" type coach. Daniher was, to some extent. What we are seeing is what happens when a disciplinarian comes after an "empower-er".... rebellion.

Although it was the players who decided on the curfew, the fines, etc, the thinking behind it is clearly at the instigation of Bailey. He's working out who cares enough to do everything required to win a flag. At a talk by David Parkin a couple of years back. He used to impress on the Carlton players that every single thing they did had to be with the goal of a flag in mind. Every single thing. They were about winning. Are our blokes single minded enough? Do they think it's reasonable to break their own rule two days after it comes into play? Bailey is working out who is fair dinkum and who isn't. Some of our blokes are slower on the uptake. I wonder if it will sink in before it's too late for them.

Collectively, the media have feeble minds. They are easily swayed by whatever comes along, they have little consistency in their views. They have trouble remembering what they said last week. They are like kids at a fireworks night. Oh, look at that! Wow, look at that one! Easily seduced by the exciting colours and noises.

The AFL have forsaken the Roos. It's death or glory for them now, with no in-betweens. It might be drawn out, but that is up to the Roos. If they fall over in the short term, they will be offered the re-locate again, at drastically inferior terms. Otherwise, it's a new club up in Qld. And hostile relations between the AFL and the Roos.

But Andy got $780 mil over 5 years! Sounds very fair to him!