Rab D Nesbitt

Our forward 50 issues are still a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

You'd think that with one WA trip already out of the way and us having been being scheduled to play Freo at home on the previous fixture that the AFL would have other clubs in their sights when it comes to potential trips across the Nullarbor. I'd be happy to play both Qld sides away back to back if we can do the same at home against GWS and Sydney, if that makes things a little less complicated.

Surely any of the WA and SA sides relocating to Queensland will be playing home games whilst up there until they can start playing back in their respective states? I read something recently suggesting that it would be Victorian side that forfeit their home games to play up there which can't be right. I understand that from a training and playing perspective that the weather conditions might be more conducive if they're based up there for a period of time but they can't have it both ways where potentially everyone else travels up there to play them before then returning home to get a run of games at the back end of the year where they don't have to leave their own states. To me it would make more sense to have at least some of them based in Victoria where they do something similar to Gold Coast when the Commonwealth Games were taking place at Metricon by having away games at the front end of the season and genuine home games at the back end when restrictions are hopefully lifted. If they haven't been then they can make a decision to nominate Queensland as a home base for those games when they would have had plenty of time to work on the logistics to get their set up just right. Playing genuine home games at the back end of the year would then see them having the advantage that Richmond had last year in the run up to the finals which has got them all jumping up and down. Whilst based in Victoria at the front end of the season they could perhaps stay in relative isolation from the public at one of the accommodated wineries down on the peninsula where they could take over the entire place whilst it's effectively mothballed during winter. They could then be bussed to Sorrento to train for example.

Hi DJ. Yeah, fair point. I just thought that those three weeks might create just enough wriggle room for the border situation over there to end and avoid any hubs.

I just saw that the WA premier intends on keeping the state border closed to prevent possible infections arriving from NSW, Queensland and Victoria. No mention of SA there so perhaps playing a round robin between their four sides plus a local derby might see that state open in time to avoid their sides having to move to a temporary Victorian hub.

The police officer responsible will probably go down for longer than Laidley. If you pardon the pun.

I remember watching the first series and being happy to see them go down after seeing how toxic their fans were. I've just started watching series 2 and now that they have Jack Ross sitting in the dugout I'm cheering them on. He did a good job at both Alloa Athletic and St Mirren in the lower divisions in Scotland and is one of the better young managers north of the border. I know Sunderland ultimately let him go but he's now back managing Hibs where I'm sure he'll do well.

As much as I thought Waverley to be a soulless, windswept paddock in the [censored] end of nowhere (and I lived within walking distance of the place) I don't think it played much of a part in the finals we lost there. Didn't Geelong thump us by ten goals at the 'G one year (1989?).

Yup, and the fact it was Eddie that mentioned it is a plus as it would be his team that stands to gain if they get to host back to back QBs. On balance I'd take the early trip across the Nullarbor if it means we get our two home blockbusters back. If the Tigers get the chance to host Carlton again in front of a home crowd they should also be amenable to us hosting Anzac Eve. I'd just have to change the dates on my flights to Hobart for round 23.

Yup, fair point. I guess it depends on how much of a mickey mouse season 2020 ends up being in regards to draft picks.

Had a look at the latest episode of Footy Classified this morning and I'm pretty sure that Eddie McGuire suggested that we should use this years fixture for the 2021 season and that sides still get the opportunity to host their blockbuster games, hopefully with the idea that fans would be able to attend. It's an interesting idea as it would nullify ladder positions in whatever ends up being a 2020 season and yes, it would probably then mean a return to Perth for round 1. I don't know who hosted the Richmond v Carlton season opener but as no fans were present you'd think the same side would be given the opportunity to host the game again if that were the case. On the face of it it sounds like a good idea but there might be other issues that could stymie it I guess.

Yup, that for me was definitely our best (worst?) missed opportunity. Pretty much everyone inside the club at the time were super confident that we'd see off Hawthorn in those back to back games and then getting the week off courtesy of the West Coast - Collingwood draw set everything up beautifully. Then we failed to turn up at Waverley against the Eagles. 1990 was a free hit with no dominant force that year, unlike our two recent Grand Final appearances. I think it might also have been the year that big bad Billy Bennett kicked six at Windy Hill to see us storm home.

After much deliberation on possible hubs it appears that the AFL have now narrowed the field down to ....erm...every state in the country.

Class act from the skipper ?

Here you go DJ. I'm a Rangers man myself but have no time for this sort of sectarian rubbish. It's the same tune as the Adelaide song though and is the only reason for me posting it. It's also been a while since we we're league and cup champions ?

Love our song. I can't get through the Herald Sun firewall to read about the background of the other songs but I remember on hearing the Adelaide one my first thought was that it's the same tune as the controversial song called The Sash (my father wore) sung by both Rangers supporters and unionists in Northern Ireland. Usually accompanied by a flute.

For some reason a game against North at the 'G back in 1985 always comes back to me when the subject of close losses comes up. I remember we were up by less than a kick late in time on when the umpire waived on two or possibly three stick on holding the ball decisions against them on the members wing only for them to squeeze the ball down to Wayne Schimmelbusch (I think?) to kick straight and beat us by 1 point just before the siren blew.

You're not wrong. That really is vomit inducing.

I was living overseas when all that stuff went down and coincided with a time when footy wasn't at the forefront of my mind. I'm glad that it all fell over though. Supporting a club is an emotional investment first and foremost and an opportunity to ride the highs and lows with the rest of your tribe. Nothing beats that. As the Melbourne Hawks who's to say we wouldn't now have Jeff Kennett as our president and be playing four home games a year in Launceston.

"I think most players would choose to play the game (midweek) rather than train." Damien Hardwick thinks the AFL could expand the fixture with more frequent games - permanently. Having been conditioned to watching football for ten months of the year I was surprised on moving here to find just how short an Australian football season actually was. A 34 game season, albeit with shorter quarters therefore sounds normal to me. Considering that all the Melbourne based clubs play out of two stadiums however I'd expect to see a lot more wear and tear on their playing surfaces. It may also make further expansion of the competition more problematic. Do you then go to a 36 or 38 game season or do we go back to a 34 game compromised draw? Jeff Kennett would love it as he could then sell eight home games a season to Tasmania and still have nine more in Melbourne. Ditto for North, negating the need for a phoenix club down there. If Gold Coast also increase their presence in the top end there may be no need for expansion at all.

Essendon knock back AFL assistance in bid to remain independent. Dons knock back cash injection would've made a better headline.

I'd imagine Alan Richardson will be asked for his two bobs worth on the subject.

The Mark Neeld episode should be worth the wait.

I tend to agree with Gerard Whateley on this one. It's all starting to smack of desperation and is only about saving the broadcasting deal now no matter how they try and dress it up. It all goes to show how close to the wind the AFL actually sails really but thankfully they can at least borrow at a low rate on the back of now owning the docklands stadium to try and ride out this sh@tstorm. At least we're not in the shoes of the NRL which really is a case of all fur coat and no knickers.

Hawks president Jeff Kennett has proudly revealed they have the war chest to survive 2020 and told struggling clubs to lift their game. I'm not sure what pride there is in raking money in from gambling and depriving your membership of four home games a year for a big cheque from the Tasmanian government. It might have been more appropriate if he'd told struggling clubs to lift their gaming.