hardtack

You flatter me sir!

In that case we better send Holmes out to locate him... no point in getting Watson to assist as he's gone missing as well.

Knew I should have included a "winky" emoticon ;-)

Great stuff Saty ... how is Barry looking now? particularly when seen alongside some of our newer and more highly regarded recruits? He's a player I would love to see getting a chance.

I'm looking forward to Roger's training report.

Hal Todd, more like it!

So who was the player that said it? If it's ok to add grist to the mill of those who all ready slag off Toumpas as being soft on here, then surely the player that said this doesn't need to be protected from a wider Demonland community that could equally well handle such a momentous disclosure.

Thanks... he seems to have a pretty impressive vertical leap.

Excuse my ignorance, but who is the blond kid getting all of the air time?

There's the problem! The recipients are running a half a metre too slow!! ;-) Edit: Oh, and thanks for the great report Roger! ;-)

Fitzroy has been a "hipster" suburb for decades... sure they weren't the wealthy trendies that you get now, but they were the beginning of that particular group. That whole Fitzroy/Carlton boundary was a very trendy inner city haunt from the late 60's, with places like Johnny's Green Room, The TF Much Ballroom (later to become the Much More Ballroom, La Mama Theatre, Brunswick Street was always a poor man's Lygon Street. I lived over in Hawthorn East at that time (just off Burke Road) and people on my side of town considered Carlton and Fitzroy too trendy to ever think of living in (and Collingwood too scary) :-)

I doubt very much that ASADA have backed off... I think that one of the reasons this is starting to take wings again is that ASADA are probably getting closer to using their power to haul Dank before them and people are starting to get nervous. I really don't understand this talk of ASADA backing off or ASADA being unprofessional... when you think about it, the whole Cronulla, EFC, NRL/AFL issue has only been "officially" with them for a few months and in terms of what the ramifications can be, they should not and will not attempt to rush a decision.... our dislike (ok, for some, hatred) of Hird and the EFC clouds our judgement and makes us impatient, but ASADA has to get this right or the consequences could be disastrous... particularly if WADA becomes directly involved. I imagine any precedent set here that favours the perpetrators could have a flow on effect beyond our shores, and that is something WADA will not be wanting to happen. As I have already mentioned a couple of times, I read somewhere that ASADA will be invoking their powers and calling Dank in for questioning possibly in January, so I guess there is every possibility that player sanctions could come into effect some time later in 2014... and I suppose the other issue for the EFC and the AFL then becomes, as the AFL has only penalised the EFC for bringing the game into disrepute, what further penalties will they issue on top of ASADA sanctions if they are found guilty with rgeards to the injections program?

^ ^ ^ ^ So much for all of the bolding

Well, where the article discusses the AFL clubs, it does say "Richmond, Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Melbourne were also listed in the top 20", so you would have to assume that the answer to your question is "Yes".

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-09/afl-clubs-lead-way-in-most-valuable-sporting-brands

For mine it's: Hogan based on the very brief preview we had in the NAB Cup and the fact that he will have had a year in the system at Casey and a full pre-season under the tutelage of Paul Roos - however, I hope the weight of expectations doesn't hold him back. Watts - I am really looking forward to see what the new coaching team can extract from him...he was obviously inspired enough to sign a new contract and remain at the club when he could easily have walked, so hopefully this will show in his match day performances. Toumpas - from all reports he is looking a lot slicker at training and given a full pre-season with more freedom of movement and no lingering affects from his hip surgery, I look forward to seeing him playing with more confidence. Of course I always look forward to seeing how our new recruits perform, but my main interest lies in seeing what improvements have been made in players from our pre draft/trade list; players that we know have ability but for whatever reason haven't translated that into consistent quality on-field performance.

Seriously RF, you are like a dog with a bone.You make an accusation, then I am pretty sure it is incumbent on you to provide the proof. I'm not even defending myself as I have neither denied nor agreed... in fact I did say I had called out people on race related issues in the past. You however said that I have used the term "racist" more than any others.... and on that point, I disagree vehemently. As usual, you pull claims out of you backside and don't expect to have to back it up. One show I'm sure you used to identify with on the ABC must have been "Grumpy Old Men"... would have been like looking in a mirror (and yes, that is an intentionally snide remark).

You make an accusation, you back it up. Just what exactly am I lying about? Please quote my lie.

That probably should read, hung by your own lack of comprehension RF... I stated that "to get you started, here is something I said.." and stated that despite you insisting that I throw the term "racist" around more than anyone else, the term "racist" was not used. I will say it one last time, you are the one making the accusation, so show the proof, otherwise, STFU. I have no need to prove anything.

In other words, you are unable to do it. I know I have called people out on race issues.... but nowhere near as much as you are suggesting. Yes we have done this dance before, and to this very day you have not been able to put up any solid evidence or point to anything where I have actually called someone a racist... and that is what you are accusing me of. In other words, put up or shut up!!

Go ahead and round up a few links to posts where I have done that RF... you are very ready to insult, to condemn and to feign indignation when you are called out... now let's see you come up with some solid evidence when it is you making the accusations. Words are cheap RF.... actions speak volumes. To help you along, there was one post in which I responded to someone who was suggesting that aboriginals and dedication could not really have any relationship... I suggested his post was terrible (can't recall the exact wording), but I don't think I actually used the term racist. The floor is all yours RF.... go for it or retract!

Pot, kettle, black....

As I recall it, the only comment I denied was meant as an insult, was the "follow your master" comment... that was meant as a statement of fact as it seems in your eyes Abbott and his cohorts can do no wrong. Perhaps the fact that you took it as an insult says more about your insecurities than it does about mine. And there you go again RF, referring to the fact that you realise you have an aggressive method of posting and I don't? Once more on the back foot with the old, "I know you are, but what am I" approach. Laughable! Read back to my original post on the ABC and your response... you will see that it was you who took the aggressive stance to which I reacted - why do I need to tell you if I know I have an aggressive method of posting anyway? Pointless. What "type" am I RF? You criticise the ABC as an entity, based solely on what you perceive to be its political leanings... therefore, in your mind, nothing that the ABC produces can have any merit whatsoever. In my first post on this, I deliberately tried to take the ABC discussion away from the political issues and point out that it has had success in producing good Australian television and yet you refuse to acknowledge it has done a single worthwhile thing and come back with "Of course it doesn't surprise me that you love it, I'd expect nothing else." Yes, the Current Affair, 60 Minutes comment was meant as a derogatory comment, but if you don't watch the ABC what do you watch? I assume that must be the case as you are so set against the ABC.... and please don't use that old "I watch it because it's best to know your enemy" defence.

Ok, on the first comment re your following of labour... I apologise as perhaps I was getting you mixed up with another poster in the thread. The reason I raised Kath and Kim (not one of my favourites at all... but worth a chuckle on occasion) and Mother and Son... they were very successful on an international level, something that not many other Australian comedies can boast. As for Denton, HG & Roy etc, of course they are a matter of personal taste, but regardless of whether you or I like them or not, they were successful and were critically acclaimed. And I find it rather funny that you pull me up for casting a couple of what you considered attempts at insults, your way, yet have no qualms about doing it yourself? (the Denton and Kath & Kim asides and your earlier aside as to my liking the ABC)... oh, and you were wrong on the "following your master" comment... that was in no way meant as an insult.

Jesus RF you can be a cantankerous old bugger... I find it funny that you constantly refer to others as being "anti liberal" or dismiss the ABC content as being produced by "anti liberal hacks", yet here you are doing exactly the same thing over and over and over ad infinitum. And please don't take your usual apologist stance of saying that you have voted labour in the past and that you would turn against the liberals if they started implementing policy or governing in a way that you disapproved... you are nothing less than an welded (not rusted) on liberal supporter. Much like your accusations against another poster for choosing not to vote... when you were accused (rightfully) of saying the same thing yourself, suddenly you had what you considered a reasonable excuse and didn't see any need to take any side as you had suggested that poster do. As for the TV shows, I suggest you search up the wiki page that lists Australian made TV shows over the years. But as a starter, the ABC has always led in sport commentary (maybe not the so much the image quality, but certainly in commentary and in balanced views of the game), the ABC has given us a couple of our most successful TV comedies in "Mother and Son" and "Kath and Kim", they have given us and continue to give us, the best of children's television, they gave us Denton, HG & Roy, Harry Butler, GTK, Rage, Countrywide, Spicks and Specks, The Fast Lane, Rockwiz, Towards 2000, The Inventors, Why Is It So?, Rush, Bill Peach's Gold, G.P, Blue Murder, Brides of Christ and on it goes... However, if your preference is for shows like A Current Affair, 60 Minutes, Wheel of Fortune, Neighbours and so on, all filled with informative advertisements, I can see where you are coming from. I very rarely watch television, but when I do I want to watch quality local product... and the ABC provides that (I m NOT talking about politically oriented material) and we would be much poorer for it if they were to lose the ability to continue doing so. Unfortunately, you simply let your unrelenting hatred of the labour party cloud your vision on all things related to the ABC. You follow your master like a faithful dog.