La Dee-vina Comedia

Noah Taylor to play Max in the movie version.

It's not that long ago that footballers used to have too much say about returning to the ground after being concussed. Taking the decision away from players after receiving abdominal injuries seems like the next logical step to protect players from themselves.

Are we training alphabetically now?

It's worth reminding ourselves that none of these players (or their managers on their behalf) held a gun to the head of their respective club's list managers. That the players are getting the pay rates that they are is a decision of the club that contracts with them. Some clubs just happen to make better decisions than others.

Do we even know whether (1) these payments are accurate? and (2) whether it's the actual amount paid in 2024 or just an annualised average of their estimated (or actual) lifetime contract?

I'm not interested in finding out the player's identity, but why is the Herald Sun using a pseudonym? Would that be a legal requirement given the status of the action?

It's bad enough worrying about injuries which cause players to limp, but now we have to worry about boy germs, too.

I doubt it. He's been dead for 12 years.

I didn't know the man, but one of the most influential figures in the development of AFL football in the 1980s and 1990s passed away yesterday. Much of what we take for granted today results from the work he did for the former VFL. For example, he advised the VFL to ensure that football remained accessible to all supporters, rather than following the US model which effectively meant that only the wealthy (the so-called "theatre-goers") could attend home games. If I recall correctly, he also recommended the creation of the Commission which replaced a barely functioning board of directors made up of two representatives from each club who thought their duty was to their club first and the survival of the competition second. The old VFL nearly went under in 1986, and much of the work David Crawford did for the then VFL around that time helped the VFL to survive and subsequently resulted in the stronger, national competition we see today.

I don't like the idea of either of these. One of the greatest strengths of the AFL is the emotional connection supporters have to their clubs. I believe a significant part of that connection arises from supporters identifying with their players. Too much player movement weakens that connection significantly.

I'd recommend you wear pants rather than relying on SPF 50+ on that part of your anatomy.

You know how you sometimes "read ahead" but get it wrong? That is, you think what you know what's going to be written there, only to find you've jumped the gun? I thought you were going to say "Sharpie looked er sharp" followed by "Campbell looks er camp".

Can someone explain NGA eligibility please? Does he need to fit into a particular category (eg, born overseas)?

I agree. It seems whoever manages the AFL's website assumes its audience can't read so provides masses of videos but little in the way of written, easy-to-find, factual information.

I assume developing Irish recruits takes more resources than developing kids who grow up playing Australian football. With soft cap limits, the club would have to determine where its development dollars are best spent. I suspect that at the moment we can't see the value proposition of Irish recruits. It's a pity, but if that's the reason I can fully understand it.

How to say you never saw Robbie Flower play without saying that you never saw Robbie Flower play.

That's the "dog ate my homework" excuse for the digital age.

Is that Clayton Oliver in the third scene? Hard to tell from behind.

Longmire might be many things, but I doubt he's a cannibal!

And yet we were all in a very dark place.

I'm struggling with the maths. According to the Hatch, Match and Dispatch thread these are the Melbourne changes: IN Tom Campbell (free agent, St Kilda), Aidan Johnson (Werribee), Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays), Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power), Ricky Mentha (Category B rookie), Harry Sharp (trade, Brisbane) OUT Angus Brayshaw (retired), Ben Brown (retired), Kyah Farris-White (delisted), Lachie Hunter (retired), Alex Neal-Bullen (trade, Adelaide), Josh Schache (delisted), Joel Smith (delisted), Adam Tomlinson (delisted) That's 8 players off the list and 6 on. Am I missing anyone on? If those numbers are correct, why don't we have any vacancies?

No real surprise. Sydney had clearly earmarked a transfer at some stage from Longmire to Cox. Implementing the succession plan now might always have been planned, but just not been made public. It's how stable clubs should operate.

Fact? Prediction? Officially announced?

Another person with a similar history to Josh Blanksby is Andrew Giles, CEO of VicRoads. Before that he was CEO of Racing Victoria and before that CEO of Betfair (Josh Blanksby also worked for Betfair). I'm not sure what would be easier - mending potholes or player relationships.

Not sure that's correct about McVee. Nevertheless, the point you make is sound.