Demonstone

Silver has been won by reynolds46, leaving just third place up for grabs. Another clue: today's answer is purely football based.

QED.

Because he retired in 1998 and is now a rotund 57 year old?

Just like 1964, Neil Crompton has come up with the winner and takes home the gold medal today. I'll take pity on everybody else and reveal that, as opposed to my usual method, the answer has nothing to do with the players' surnames.

We can eliminate the following incorrect suggestions that the players share a surname with: boxers bushrangers cricketers brain surgeons (or rocket scientists!)

Hoist by my own Ricky Petard, it would seem! I've had that album since 1978 and in my mind's eye I always thought they'd misspelt the title as "Greivous".

You're saying that she IS a sports journalist amid a sea of mediocrity and you don't rate her. That's fair enough. As far as Martin Flanagan goes, he is one of the very best writers I've had the pleasure of reading.

It's time to saddle up the old grey matter and take it for a gallop again, cowboys and cowgirls. The team below is a far from star-studded line up of players all from the AFL era (post 1989). What do they have in common (apart from that)? I've tried to make this teaser easier than recent ones. Then again, I already know the answer. Prizes are of an alliterative nature in keeping with today's tortured thread title (another alliteration actually). First: Nowt Neil Crompton Second: Nihil reynolds46 Third: Nothingburger Dee Zephyr As always, answers to me in a PM please, or you may send in your responses written on the back of a $50 note. B: Matthew Hogg Darryl Wakelin Glenn Manton H/B: Shane Morwood Craig Bolton Brent Montgomery C: Sean Denham John Blakey Dean Laidley H/F: Peter Wilson Barry Hall Tyson Stenglein F: Paul Williams Paul Barnard Doug Barwick R: David Hale Shaun Grigg Kym Koster I/C: Martin Mattner Dean Rice Shane Biggs Ted Richards

"Greivous Angel" is one of my all-time favourite albums and still sounds great today. It's a shame that Gram Parsons is not more widely recognised.

Factually incorrect, I'm afraid. Caroline Wilson has been a Sports Journalist for 40 years including 18 years as chief football writer at 'The Age'. She has also appeared on radio and TV and has won several awards for her journalism. These are facts, not opinion.

MFCVM.

Their percentage would have dropped slightly. I'm tempted to say "by a whisker".

I said he wouldn't receive LESS than two weeks in response to those sooks who posted he'll only get a week and be back for our game because everything's stacked against us. Four sounds right to me.

Never let it be said that I'm an apologist for the AFL, sue. I'm talking about that whiny element of our supporter base who tell themselves (and us) that Melbourne get picked on and treated more unfairly than other clubs.

It seems that MFCSS has mutated and there is now a strain called MFCVM (Melbourne Football Club Victim Mentality) which manifests itself by sooking about the umpires being against us, the AFL working to bring us down, the media having a vendetta against us and the MRP handing down decisions which are not in our favour. There is no chance of Tom Stewart receiving any less than two weeks for that hit.

Won't even play for me, nor the highlights on the AFL site. Just getting the spinning wheel of death.

I was asked that question once. You're meant to nominate one of your own. I know that now.

Make sure mum tucks you in nice and tight, now.

Younger posters may not be aware that when Caro was growing up, her father, Ian "Octa" Wilson, was Richmond president and a very powerful man in the football world. She has always had an excellent list of contacts in the industry and her sources are usually sound. I think some people criticise her journalism on the basis that they don't care for her personally. I get that she can be abrasive and tends to be soft on her beloved Tigers, but her articles are on the money more often than not.

What was the point? (Asking for a friend)

What was the typo? (Asking for a friend)

Looks like about 50% support for Freo and some love for St Kilda, Gold Coast and Brisbane. Nobody has voted for Collingwood or Richmond which is heartening. Those outliers who have nominated Carlton and Geelong should be thankful that their vote is anonymous.

I know just the place. They're having a sale, too!

In the unlikely event that Melbourne don't win the flag this year, who would you like to see as Premiers? I've only included those teams that I think still have a chance at this stage of the season. My preference would be Fremantle because they've never won one, followed by Gold Coast then Brisbane. Voters are anonymous so don't be afraid to add your choice.