At Least I Saw a Flag

As if. He's a top bloke though.

Chook, with the utmost respect, I don't think that's a great analogy. I think it is a slightly bigger ask for a medical student (let alone a team of highly professional and experienced medical researchers with massive financial backing) to develop a cure for cancer than for Brian Royal to improve the MFC midfield. if a med student could improve the standard of the MFC, then perhaps that option could be investigated? And Mr Royal could work on the cancer cure.

As for Australian films, I agree that Wake in Fright was a ripper. Lantana was great, and I didnt mind some of those quirky films in the early 80s like The Big Steal and Death in Brunswick.

I am ridiculously fussy when it comes to films. One of the worst films I have ever seen is Red Dog. Corny, dreadfully overacted. If I hadnt taken my daughter to that film, I would have walked out half way. I re-watched The Elephant Man the other day. Now there's a film! John Hurt's performance was brilliant. He was beaten to the Best Actor Oscar by De Niro in Raging Bull. The film was beautifully made and acted. Another one i really liked was American Beauty. As for comedies, my favourites are Napoleon Dynamite and Groundhog Day.

In the words of Frank Woodley "I wish that hadn't happened" (contemplating his unfortunate experience).

I think that wearing gloves is clear evidence of tanking.

Not the end of the world? You can't be serious!!

Not an actual quote? Really? I could imagine Mitch using the word "smite".

I've been watching Real Humans on SBS, Saturday nights. Really good.

The Club's record over the past 5 years speaks for itself. There is only one way to change perceptions, and that is (sustained) success.

For some reason, Gilies reminds me of Clint Bizzell. Hopefully he performs as well. It could be hard to break into the backline, but if so Garland looks to be the player under the most threat.

Jordie McKenzie = great trier and probably a great bloke. But I'm not convinced he'll be in the 22 every week.

I was at that match. Yes, he got a lot of touches, but Saints didn't bother manning up on him at all. Presumably because he did no damage when he got the ball. I certainly hope he succeeds, but I don't think you could read much into his performance that day.

Perhaps even drivel?

I am a grammar Nazi. "Its" as you have used it is a pronoun. Pronouns do not have apostrophes. Or to put it another way pron'oun's do no't have apo'strophe's.

Does anyone else think that Grimes could be our version of Luke Hodge?

i agree with the assessment of good ordinary player.

I was thinking of asking for this week's Tattslotto numbers.

It wont last.

Thunderbird 2 was my favourite. I find sniffing people really annoying. Blow your noses morons. If I'm sitting near a sniffer on the train, I move. Accordingly if I was sitting near Parker on a train, I'd move.

Thanks guys. The accident was entirely my own fault. No other party involved. I went round a bend on the bike path near Collingwood Childrens Farm too fast. There was gravel all over the path. (Never been gravel there before.) I had nowhere else to go other than AOT. The rest is history. I have recovered from the broken ribs reasonably. It only hurts when I laugh. I had to stop watching Ricky Gervais on TV last week for this reason!! I'm recovering from a shoulder operation, but it is very slow going. I have to have a second operation in a few months to remove the metalwork. It will be a fair while before I'm back on the bike. And I will certainly be riding a lot slower and more conservatively. Shame really cos I'm not particularly into exercise and my fitness had certainly improved over the past couple of years. My neighbour (60+) was knocked off his bike about 6 months earlier and suffered a a compound fracture of his elbow. And when I was in hospital (RMH - dont start me on the treatment I received there!!!!!!), the woman in the same room had suffered a shockingly broken leg after being knocked off her bike. So, fellow bike riders, take care!!!!

They're the same person

There is a sequel to my story. Not a happy one. I bought an Avanti Blade 4. A lovely bike. Relatively light and fast. Unfortunately on 28 November 2012 I came off the bike at relatively high speed. 7 broken ribs, 4 fractured vertebrae, broken shoulder + bruised lung. Oh, the bike is basically ok, but I haven't ridden it since. I'm still recovering. Expressions of sympathy gratefully accepted.

I want a bike that is relatively light, and reasonably fast. I have back problems, so a drop bar racer wont work for me. I've virtually narrowed down my search to Scott Metrix 20 and Avanti Blade 4. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Michael Newton says hi.