Tony Tea

Moaning about non-existent problems has become rife in the media. That (and straw men) is what deceitful issue-mongers all too often hang their articles on.

Speaking of the VoN. Last Saturday night, if I were a neutral supporter I would have been pretty confident Melbourne would run over the top of West Coast. But I'm not a neutral supporter, so while I had a gut feeling we may get up, the VoN told me we wouldn't.

The AFL had to overturn the Schofield decision. If they hadn't and he'd been bumped up from one week to two weeks, he would have had the same penalty as Houli, which would have been insane. Now that the AFL is appealing the Houli penalty, they should also bump Schofield back to two weeks.

Adam Papalia is one of the best commentators, if not the best. Calls the game properly. Dermie seems to know what he is on about... but has no idea how to say it. Gets himself tangled up trying to sound intellectual. Ling is abysmal.

Big and fast - a very handy combination. He is football craft is getting better by the week, too.

Hawthorn have demonstrated the danger in paying big for a player who can't get on the park.

"Bugg was 'ere"

How did Bugg get the two cuts on his face?

Neville Jetta says hello. Mind you, it's the rest of the comp who underrates Nev. The Herald Sun footy writers who keep writing rubbish about Kelly versus Tyson, Salem and Hunt certainly underrate Salem.

That was to Lewis. Hannan absolutely drilled the ball over Lewis's head. I don't mind Hannan going the millionaire kick, but a little less oomph would have got the ball to Lewis, who was well clear, just as effectively. How often did the Hawks, when they were in premiership mode, find easy targets in the forward line? It wasn't just their kicking ability, it was their forwards' ability to find clear space. Part of that is quickly turning zone defence into a potent attack. It is all very well to get players behind the ball, but it is just as important not to rob yourself of attacking options. Clarko was a master at getting players free forward of the ball. That's why I'm wary of us starting 8 players in defence. Going forward short of options makes us bomb the ball too often. The more often you get extra players ahead of the ball, the less often you have to bomb it to a contest.

It's easier for backmen running out of defence to hit a target than it is for an onballer running into attack. There is more space around the defender, more space for the defender to kick into, and more space free for players up the ground. (The defender can also kick backwards and switch, which are both reasonably safe kicks.) Unless you more the ball really fast, the player running across the centre is operating in heavier traffic as the opposition concentrate back into defence, and less space available to pinpoint the ball into a zone defence. That's why we need a little more pace. When you have speedsters you can open up space ahead of the footy into the forward line.

Eddie will try anything to escape Neville Jetta.

I usually listen to the AFL stream with Poida Donegan. No shenanigans.

Seven once tried Ablett senior. Once. He was completely hopeless.

The trouble is Ling is not too long out of the game, and he talks utter twaddle. Same for 7's last experiment, Tom Harley - hopeless. There aren't too many recent retirees starring with the microphone, if any. This Sunday morning, off the top of my head, I can't think of one special commentator, old or new, who makes me go "hmm, good point".

Call it Oaf Demographics. It's the same for Nine and the cricket.

Out of all the special comments experts who have ever been on tv, you could barely count on one hand those who have been any good. Ling is just another pathetic special comments expert in a long line of pathetic special comments experts. ("Experts" used purely for nominative purposes.)

We probably have a spot for all three. Rohan for outside pace, Tippett as a big marking target and backup ruck, Reid as another key defender. Guess it all depends how much they cost. Probably most comfortable with Rohan, least comfortable with Tippett, and neutral about Reid.

If Sydney is all set to jettison players, it will free up cap space, so I don't like our chances of pinching Jones.

When's that, then? (I mean, apart from when he plays Melbourne.)

Tippett?!? For the tip, more like.

Robbie getting 5 bulls in a row to win is like Larry Bird sinking 3s to win the three point comp on all star weekend.

Robbie Flower for the win against Footscray in 1981.

The worst part was Neitz jumping into Farmer's back.

Never should have left Melbourne.