Tim

Just looking at the home page, I see Brock is, fittingly, the poster boy for "Drafting and Trading". I guess Jack fits that bill too after the Travis affair.

Immediate product warning..... Plus, I'm not big on it as an idea anyway. Collingwood used to do it as well - #1 was capt, #2 vice-capt, #3d-v-c.

Is there anything else about Darren Cuthbertson you'd like Liam to emulate? Fortunately he can't follow Brent Grigic, whose best footy was played in #48 before going to #4. Players performing well early in their careers moving from #48? "Bad call, Hutchy!"

RM - I'm not sure it's about outlawing the bump, it's about where the bump lands. And that shouldn't be recklessly on the head. As for the rule changes - there have been a lot of good ones, I reckon. Chopping arms, hands in back, Kevin Bartlett style throwing ball out in front of him when about to be tackled (an oldie, but goodie!, as too is out of bounds on the full). The conceded behinds change seems to be having a good effect, even though no-one seems to know how it works. Most of the complaints on these come from the retired coaches, full backs etc who have exploited the absence of these rules in the past. How often do you hear on a telecast something along the lines of "that's harsh on player X - what else could he do but chop the blokes arms/push the opponent under the ball/head for the boundary line?" The answer is - well don't (insert relevant infraction of rules that has just been adjudicated upon).

I know this is already a pinned topic, but just to get past the "wall-paper" effect and attract attention - here it is again. Apologies to Mods for duplication. Event is in the upstairs bar. The Demonland/Demonology Sponsorship group announces its first official function for the year - an informal get together at the Mount View Hotel (once owned by the great Ronald Dale Barassi) 70 Bridge Rd, Richmond, VIC 3121 on Sunday 16 August at 11 (game is a 1.10 start). The event includes: • Update on what we may be able to do on the Sponsorship front - remembering previous post-draft events with Barry Prendergast/Craig Cameron, • Panel including RudeBoy (mentor and Victorian host to Liam Jurrah and one of Australia's foremost exponents of ska music), Whispering Jack (Dylan fan) and Redleg (Doobie Brothers fanatic but please don't hold that against him) - discussion: Liam Jurrah's journey from Yuendumu to the MCG; drafting for the future at the MFC after the recent Under 18 National Championships and a match preview of Melbourne v Fremantle. And the good news is that the function is FREE (but you pay for your food and drink). AND, we are certain winners on the day.

The Demonland/Demonology Sponsorship group announces its first official function for the year - an informal get together at the Mount View Hotel (once owned by the great Ronald Dale Barassi) 70 Bridge Rd, Richmond, VIC 3121 on Sunday 16 August at 11 (game is a 1.10 start). The event includes: • Update on what we may be able to do on the Sponsorship front - remembering previous post-draft events with Barry Prendergast/Craig Cameron, • Panel including RudeBoy (mentor and Victorian host to Liam Jurrah and one of Australia's foremost exponents of ska music), Whispering Jack (Dylan fan) and Redleg (Doobie Brothers fanatic but please don't hold that against him) - discussion: Liam Jurrah's journey from Yuendumu to the MCG; drafting for the future at the MFC after the recent Under 18 National Championships and a match preview of Melbourne v Fremantle. And the good news is that the function is FREE (but you pay for your food and drink). AND, we are certain winners on the day.

The Demonland/Demonology Sponsorship group announces its first official function for the year - an informal get together at the Mount View Hotel (once owned by the great Ronald Dale Barassi) 70 Bridge Rd, Richmond, VIC 3121 on Sunday 16 August at 11 (game is a 1.10 start). The event includes: • Update on what we may be able to do on the Sponsorship front - remembering previous post-draft events with Barry Prendergast/Craig Cameron, • Panel including RudeBoy (mentor and Victorian host to Liam Jurrah and one of Australia's foremost exponents of ska music), Whispering Jack (Dylan fan) and Redleg (Doobie Brothers fanatic but please don't hold that against him) - discussion: Liam Jurrah's journey from Yuendumu to the MCG; drafting for the future at the MFC after the recent Under 18 National Championships and a match preview of Melbourne v Fremantle. And the good news is that the function is FREE (but you pay for your food and drink). AND, we are certain winners on the day.

Jello Biafra and DOA - great album from early nineties.

As I said in another post - don't tempt fate! If I recall correctly, the previous bombshells to arrive on the scene with #48 were Darren Cuthbetson and Brent Grgic. Both arrived with a bang; both wore #48; and both changed to a single digit number. End of story for both of them. Seemed like cutting their numbers was the footy equivalent of Samson cutting his hair. Make #48 your own Liam!

It's spooky the way the careers of Grimes and Johnstone have mirrored each other at the same time. Grimes's first game was the weekend TJ was first dropped by Brisbane; JG rising star and BOG is the occasion for TJ's swansong, it would seem. The Ottens/Johnstone comparison waxed and waned there for a while, with Ottens out of the blocks early (AA 2001), but after TJ's great 2002 season I can still remember turning to my mate in the old Ponsford at 3/4 time at the Adelaide SF of 2002 and saying words to the effect of: who wants Ottens now. In a development that was typical of his career, sadly TJ's next quarter provided an almost instant answer to that question, which has pretty much been emphatically reiterated since. And by the way, giving TJ away for nothing would have been a good trade. That we got Jack Grimes for him is just sensational. Jack Grimes - hereinafter known as "the anti-Trav".

Hi - there's been a late change. One of our panelists is unable to attend, so we are not going ahead with the event this week. At this stage it is proposed to have the event on Sunday 16 August, before the Freo game. More details to follow, but at least there is more time for people to organise themselves for the day.

Well done! DN 124309

Cerise and mauve polka dots - with frills. If they can perform I'll forgive just about anything. However, I reckon that white jumpers in general are anaemic looking. The red one we saw earlier in the year is far superior. Can't understand why we weren't wearing it last night - there would not have been a clash with the other side's livery.

I think it's more a case of home coming to Mitch - isn't he a native Sandgroper?

Sylvia - too much cameo.

Brings me a topic that I was reflecting on last Sunday afternoon as I felt myself noticeably ageing waiting for the umpire to bounce the thing after a goal. If the game's on Foxtel, there aren't any ads. If it's on delay, they can delay "rejoining" the match after a goal (or point!) as long as they like. Question: why does the umpire wait interminably for the light? Apart from the very few direct telecast free to air matches.

Meanwhile, down at the Cattery yesterday, 15,580 turn up to see the premiership faves play a team that has a traditional Victorian base, and nary a comment about the low crowd. Yes, smaller venue, and there may be a lot of booked seats - but the bums still didn't go to sit on them for whatever reason. Also note in Age article that Hawthorn "drew" about 11,000 in 2004 against Port, and recall Carlton having about 15,000 a couple of times 2005ish against Port and Freo at the G - again without much comment. And I don't think any of these games were twilight. And it doesn't seem to have stopped these teams from rising and attracting the fair weather followers. So - lay off the wringing of hands, the media has already adopted us as a soft target in this regard compared to the way they treat others.

you'd be a fool to pass up on Scully based on 'needs' Why do the words Luke Molan come to mind, closely followed by Nick Dal Santo..... (Btw, that means I agree in principle with the italics).

Talking to my mad Demon mate last night re Healy comment of how Chris Johnson had blossomed in the great Carlton environment ("Role Models R Us") compared to the lack of anything at Melbourne. My mate pointed out to me that in Inside Football this week, Johnson's total rating after 3 games is 11/30, putting him 18th on the list of Carlton players, which rating probably flatters him from what I've seen, and from what some Carlton supporters I know have whinged to me. But why let facts get in the way of a good bagging of the Demons, eh, Healy and Russell? Btw, my mate has rung up 3AW a couple of times to lock horns with Russell, under the name of John from Trafalgar, and has done the Demons proud with strongly put cogent arguments. Sure, doesn't change the minds of the broadcasters, but if you let garbage stand uncontested you can't complain if it gets currency.

Good call DD - and don't those three symptoms remind me with a chill of our club post 1987....

I was more concerned with things during the game than after, although I know how annoying it is to be feeling gutted as a supporter, and seeing bonhomie amongst the gladiators. In particular (and would welcome comment as to whether my observation is correct) half way through the last quarter as a Hawthorn player was steaming through half back, Col came at him from the side and just in front of him. He had "Big Hit" written all over him; accelerated, tucked the shoulder in and delivered a fair cruncher just at the point of kicking. Trouble was, the Caroma player got the kick away. My take was that if Col had've directed the same energy toward a smother, his hands would have arrived at the scene about a metre before the tucked shoulder, the ball would probably have been knocked down, and the ball would have stayed in our zone, etc., etc.....Not smart, sated Col's blood lust rather than giving an advantage to the team. Did anyone see that, or did I not see it right?

Rogue - brilliant. A pet hate of mine is hearing the command to "Kick the thing long!!!". Followed by "Why did you kick it there???" with equal indignation when the unfortunate servant of the club has followed the shouted instructions to the letter, and provided the almost inevitable turnover. Still - they have paid their money, and they have turned up. That bit I like.

It seems that Rohan Bail is playing today, and I'm glad to hear that. From what I've seen of him I reckon he's a chance to develop into a "good ordinary player" - seems to do a lot of things well, at least at QAFL level. I like the look of him. Raises the interest level a little for today's game anyway.

Heard interesting piece involving him overnight on, of all places, Radio National ("Indian Pacific" program on www.radioaustralia.net.au). Said that he was moving to Melbourne with his parents and girlfriend, I seem to recall - I was half asleep at the time. Would seem to bode well for settling in to such a different environment to that of Central Australia.