Rab D Nesbitt

Hi BBP. I've got no qualms about those who think the game would be more of a spectacle if there are fans in the ground but the game is skint and our state coffers are empty so unless the size of the crowd was going to cover the cost of all of the logistics to get it done or that Virgin Australia are going to fly everyone there and back for free, the hotel they all stay at is going to lay on free rooms and food and drink for all concerned and the owners of the ground it's played at are going to offer it gratis to the AFL then without Gil having a magic money tree in his back garden I can't see this happening. Not to mention it having the backing of most of the players who could just as easily sleep in their own bed on Sunday and drive to the G the next day.

Two Melbourne based teams so play it at the G, whether on QB in an empty stadium or a week later with the possibility of fans. Moving the game interstate to get some fans in will not compensate for the cost and inconvenience of flying two teams and their support staff to and from another part of the country, paying for hotel accommodation and renting out a stadium. This would only make economic sense if another state wants to outlay a large sum to take the game and it's a buyers market right now. Given that players have already made rumblings about the prospect of hubs again it's likely they would prefer a normal lead in to the game instead of being away. Don't forget there's no certainty that once they leave the state that they'd definitely be coming straight back afterwards. Just like the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal each year we can still donate money to the MND cause online and by phone without having a crowd bear witness to a few celebrities go down a slide.

Hi DJ. I thought that was off the table because of the entry requirements for people arriving from Victoria. Last week GC were due to play Hawthorn in Darwin but the game was moved to the SCG, even though it was a GC designated home game.

Is it reasonable to think that we have no definite decision yet because the AFL are exhausting all possible avenues to getting our game played in Alice Springs ? You'd think that if the only decision to be made is whether we're playing at the SCG or Giants Stadium we'd already have an answer.

Thankfully Jonathan Brown is now completely irrelevant.

I agree with the 'anywhere / anytime' announcement last year coming back to bite us as the AFL took it literally sending us from Alice Springs to Cairns via Brisbane to play 2 games in 5 days. We've been up and about for all of five minutes and the same bullish declaration is back on the agenda. Brisbane are probably our biggest threat to a qualifying and / or preliminary final at the G so if we have to travel on Friday then so can they.

With only four days before we're due to play Brisbane moving the game to Queensland is fast becoming a moot point (thankfully). Giving up a home game to the red centre down the track to recoup our $700k is a can we can kick down the road for a week or three but I'm open to the idea of us playing the QB game a week later (over our bye weekend) in order to get some clear air on the covid situation and hopefully have crowds. We know the Pies are unlikely to turn up (both on the field and in the stands) so should announce a call to arms for all our fans to turn up in numbers to fill whatever capacity is allowed on the day.

They'd probably get away with an actual prison bars guernsey for the rest of the season too if they'd only add a touch of teal to the design. Personally I'd add a horizontal teal stripe just above the white one at the top of the bars.

If Port Adelaide were switched on they could create a 'prison bars' version of their indigenous jersey to wear during the two weeks that cover the Sir Doug Nicholls rounds to get around the rules.

Maybe so but why would they then hand over the (paltry) gate takings to us if they do wear the bill ? The AFL more than anyone need to save money right now.

Hi DL. I agree that we're unlikely to be given a third crack of the whip hosting the QB game but would having 5,000 people pay to attend the game at the SCG (for example) outweigh the cost of flying two teams and their support staff up to Sydney and back (perhaps with overnight accommodation) and renting out the ground for the day ? I'd rather our boys get to sleep in their own bed on Sunday night and have their usual game prep.

With two Melbourne based clubs competing on Queen's Birthday it should still take place at the G. It's just a question of whether there will be a crowd or not. Both Collingwood and ourselves have a bye the following week and both our games in round 15 (almost a month away) are to take place in Melbourne as well. Fingers crossed things improve to an extent that we can get at least 50% capacity by June 14 as that should see our entire membership having the chance to attend.

Hotels inadequate for containing virus. Mask wearing apathy. Vaccine procurement & distribution far too slow. Vaccine uptake apathy. Blood clot media hysteria. QR code check in complacency. Subsequent vaccine uptake stampede closes sites for walk ins. No surprise we're back in lockdown.

Perhaps not be a bad thing to have Carlton win today. We play neither them or Sydney again in the home and away rounds but it could be advantageous to keep the Blues season alive and have something to aim for as they still have to play our finals rivals in Geelong, Port Adelaide & to a lesser extent WC. Then again I can't stand them so either way.

You think it's maybe a transparent mouthguard and he actually is missing a few pearly whites Deever ?

Why would someone wear a mouthguard that makes them look like half their front teeth are missing?

In regards to the discussion about Oskar Baker if he's our designated backup for the wing position and we don't play him when the opportunity arises then surely you'd have to question why he's on our senior list.

My preference for the FF position is Ben Brown but irrespective of who plays that role I think it's worth keeping in mind that to a large extent key position forwards live or die by the service they get further up the ground and the quality of that is going to be higher in the seniors than at Casey. It's also misleading to compare the output of someone playing under a dome to a windswept outer suburban ground. The conditions over in Adelaide last week were also perfect. It could just as easily have been BB kicking two clutch goals on Friday night and Weids with the big fat doughnut down in Cranbourne the week before.

So many clubs now falling over each other to make up the numbers in the bottom half of the eight this year. Even Carlton and Adelaide can join the hoi polloi if they both win today.

Well, it looks like we won't be going to Perth for a final and if we can get the job done next Friday we'll be unlikely to have to go to Brisbane.

As we only play Brisbane once and it's effectively our home game there is no way I would want the game played in Queensland.

Hadn't thought about it that way AF. For that I will hold the opposition responsible.

Today's football has been an absolute dross fest and the GC - Hawthorn game hasn't even started yet. Dearie me.

Hmmm...I'm not really into rugby league to be honest DJ but it could be a nice filler until the EFL championship playoff final tonight and the champions league final early tomorrow.

These two games look sh!te already so I think I'll watch the replay again.