Nasher

They are, but under the current model the broadcasters don't know which ones would be the dead rubbers until the season's about half way through, so they've got to buy the lot, warts and all. Under the tiered system they'll know in advance which 50% of the games are dead rubbers and the TV deals will be weighted appropriately. Not to mention that some of the biggest drawing games, like Essendon vs Collingwood for example, would disappear out of existence some years. No showdowns some years? The people of Adelaide wouldn't have a reason to get out of bed. I see the tier system as being the ideal way to greatly diminish AFL revenue and obliterate interest in the game for supporters of half the sides.

This. Though Gold Coast and Port aren't going much better. But if we do somehow make the finals by default, I'll be extremely embarrassed.

It was never in doubt that he'd be a very good player for mine. Only moron opposition supporters who liked to dig the heels in and dreadfully short sighted MFC supporters thought otherwise. The real question is and always has been if he'll become the star we need. That question still remains, but I'm ecstatic with the signs so far.

The only time I saw Davey do anything of note was miles away from the inside 50. To me today only proved what I and others have said for the last few years: his footskills are exquisite and we need them in the guts.

Heh, that crossed my mind too. To be honest, after last week this is really water off a duck's back for me.

If it's any consolation I couldn't make much sense out of it either (acknowledging that it came from a poster who is usually pretty articulate).

It's hilarious that finals are still within reach, really. Admittedly it's Cameron Bruce style within reach, but within reach all the same.

hangon007 being Cameron Schwab would explain quite a lot of the recent goings on at the club, actually...

It's completely far-fetched, for exactly the reason RobbieF points out.

I reckon the lot of them are cactus. Bailey might've been the one who took the fall for 186, but he's not the only one who got hit by the splatter. If they weren't all tarnished before, they are now.

Perfect summary.

Indeed. They've essentially escaped without consequence so far.

Because Dean never delivered a bake. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the revisionism has already started.

While I agree with Rhino's point that this is a pretty dumb thread and that mindless violence is not the answer, secretly I hope points 1, 2 and 3 all come together in the one act. Losing Lynden Dunn for the rest of the season through suspension for knocking out Mitch Robinson would put me in a happy place.

Exactly. Like Ricky Petterd Gary Ablett, etc.

Indeed. After all, why would they put their credibility on the line if there's a chance it might be false?

Butbutbut... they were rumours and they were EVERYWHERE, and so consistent! So they must have been true. I don't understand how it couldn't have been true

Thank God this is finally officially a rumour. Now we're allowed to compare the Sylvia situation to Scully. We can also start calling him a liar, scum etc too. Beauty.

Should Jim be the President then?

I've always agreed with the usual "one loss doesn't mean anything in isolation", but I really do think this one told a story on its own. A loss of this magnitude is a first in modern footy - even Fitzroy never lost like that before they shut up shop. These are not normal circumstances and this is not a normal defeat - not even a normal 100 point defeat. There has to be something very wrong for the wheels to fall off in the manner in which they did and I think it needed to be arrested immediately. I'm quite comfortable with a loss like this one in and of itself changing the course.

Garry's always seemed to me to be this murky figure lurching around in the background somewhere. Never actually visible and never held responsible for anything but always seems to have one hand on the wheel. He'll never be coach, but I do wish he'd either put his hand up for an official role or get his finger out of the pie.

He's allowed to vent - behind closed doors. Like any good professional or team member, having dirty laundry is fine, but keep it private. Advertising it online is poor form when the club needs all the support it can get.

Agreed. His timing is deplorable. It'd be nice if past players offered up their support, but if they can't or won't do that, have the decency to keep their flaps closed.

Who is offering those odds? There's no way known we're going to beat Carlton this week.

Same bloody here. Even the worst teams don't lose by 186 points. Knifing the coach was a no brainer, but there's an odour that is enveloping the whole club at the moment.