hardtack

Maybe, but Howe hasn't had the broken arm to contend with.

Considering he broke his arm early on and has played much of the season with it in a protective casing, while averaging 16 possessions, 5.1 marks (career best) and kicking 25 goals (just under 2 goals a game), I would say not too bad at all.

But he would have loved the conditions at Geelong the other week.

Totally cueless.

I don't think that the biggest factor working against us will be Jeremy Cameron (he can be contained by Garland and/or McDonald), but I do think SKODA Stadium will be. This is a small "boutique" ground that I believe has flukey winds and is one that we have never played on before. The average crowd size has been around the 8,000 mark, so at least not too many will be there to witness our demise (should it happen), in person. While lack of local knowledge will work against us, by the same token, the size of the ground means that we have a better chance of moving the ball into our forward 50 more frequently, and this could play to our advantage if Dawes, Watts and Fitzpatrick are on song. Dees should get up by 11 points in what will be a close and hard fought encounter.

Garland is a chance to come back in this week.

Perhaps it's the fact that they are not judgemental, shallow and devoid of personality?

I tend to agree with this. How often do we see newcomers to the club being feted on these forums as being the next saviour and how often do we see those same people being pilloried on these forums as destroyers of the club, spuds, hacks or whatever, a relatively short time later? I hope that PJ will be the person to turn this club's fortunes around, but I'm not going to get over-excited based on a few media performances and the sacking/moving on of a few people who we all pretty much believed/knew would be moved on by whoever took over the reigns. He is obviously highly qualified and he obviously knows how to sell himself - he did good things at Essendon - but the MFC are coming from a much more precarious position than Essendon had ever been in (until now, of course) and he has a herculean task ahead of him if he is to get us back into contention. We need to temper our expectations and give it some time to see what direction he is taking us in before talking him up as the greatest thing since sliced bread.

The only problem with the first bullet point is that they would end up with 34 failed mids and small crumbing forwards

Even without the err, "medication"?

But that is only based on any incoming coach not wanting a Director of Sports Performance:

What we have been going through is nothing new in the world that is AFL football... we will survive one way or another through our own efforts and the support of the AFL; Essendon however... well, what is happening there is pretty much uncharted territory in the AFL. No-one really knows what the repercussions will be; for Essendon and for the rest of the competition.

I only wish I was that fat.

I think I heard a whisper that Roos will be on the 5:30am (ex Melbourne) flight to Perth on Monday and may not make it back in time.

Wonder if Roos will be "otherwise occupied" that night?

Sorry, Bluey is currently unavailable to take your question; he is at the workshop collecting a new set of divining rods and will get back to you on his return.

Yeah, it must really annoy the sound people at the ground when we win and they have to dust off the old phonograph in order to blast out our club song.

Ok, from one pedant to another... I'm not sure there ever was an expression "beggars the question". As far as I am aware, it was always either "begs the question" or "begging the question". There was (and is) however "beggars belief".

I seem to recall Beck penning a tune for us more recently (about 1993, I think).

Could be wrong, but my recollection of Laidley was that he was a 'B' class coach, but an 'A' class whinger.

Well, that went well, didn't it. ;-)

You better top-up... your glass appears to be half empty ;-)

...until the end of 2015 (at least).

I was thinking the same thing Even Gawn has remarkable agility and crumbing ability for someone so tall.