La Dee-vina Comedia

I suspect Brian Cook was genuinely intending to retire but was "encouraged" to go to Carlton by the AFL in the same way Peter Jackson was "encouraged" to come to us. That being the case, I also wouldn't be surprised to see the AFL assist Carlton by encouraging a respected coach to join them. I don't think it will be Clarkson, though. I expect him to be "encouraged" to be Tasmania's coach from 2023 onwards. As to Geelong, three premierships in 5 years relatively recently trumps any criticism of their more recent list management.

What I like about Brown's presence on our list is the work which has obviously been done by our medical/fitness staff. Not only did we recruit him knowing he had a knee problem, we trusted our medical/fitness teams and Brown himself to get him back into proper shape. It hasn't always worked (Bennell, for example) but when it does, it's a great credit to all involved. PS: Can include Max Gawn in this group. Fine effort by him and our medical/fitness team to get him to where he is today (and has been for the last 6 years) after two knee reconstructions.

The other issue with the Bentleigh Club was the revenue from poker machines. While I have no problem with clubs operating poker machines, many of our supporters - possibly even the majority - do. So while we still had them it made many supporters uncomfortable. Getting out of the pokies business helps unify the supporters.

I think a bigger problem was the inexorable move to full-time professionalism which the MCC was slow to accept during the 70s and early 80s. (I'd even suggest the MCC actively fought against it, although whether I can find evidence to support that supposition is questionable. I do vaguely remember a media story about the last true amateur in the then VFL playing for Melbourne. Was it John Clennett?)

How could it be decided?. The Coleman Medal is objective, rather than subjective, although in rewarding the highest goalkicker, it is not necessarily recognising the best forward. Perhaps a panel of experts might select the individual? On the other hand, perhaps we've already identified the best six in the land via the All-Australian process and that's all that is necessary.

Insert groan emoji

I know I've been doing my bit for the last 57 years. About time the players and the coach contributed!

Driving around the streets of one of the leafy eastern suburbs this morning I saw approximately 30 houses and shops decorated with Melbourne paraphenalia and one home in Western Bulldogs colours. More disconcertingly, I saw a BMW with the number plate "BONT" and also this gentleman. Impressive style.

I'm ashamed to say that while I had been thinking in the last few weeks about Flower, Stynes, Wight, Broadbridge and Bailey as Demons who had left us too soon, I had completely forgotten about Colin Sylvia until I read the article.

I suppose I could look this up, but who was the last player to win the Brownlow when his team didn't make the finals? I'll open the bidding with Bob Skilton, but I assume there have been others since then.

I'm with you. Irrespective of whether medals are presented to everyone on the list, or anyone who played a game or 10 games, or anyone who played in one of the finals, the reality is, only those that played in a winning Grand Final will be called "Premiership Players". That's not to say some sort of reward could not be given to the whole squad, but it's rather like swimming relays at the Olympics - anyone who participated in the heats or the final gets a medal, but we will only remember the four who swam in the final itself.

Not sure your last sentence is consistent with the bonhomie of your second.

and loses.

Even if every player who played one or more games in the season was awarded a Premiership medallion, do you think those who miss out on playing in the Grand Final would still be called "Premiership Players"? I think it's unlikely.

Brayshaw's not smiling. Clear evidence he's heading off to Freo.

Maybe, although I suspect it's more likely a requirement from the WA Chief Health Officer. Either way, I'm quite comfortable with our players staying away from any potential infection sites. Unfortunately, that includes staying away from fans.

I feel the same way.

Not the best looking turf. I'm not suggesting it's dangerous, or anything like that, but I had visions of us training on immaculate grass. And are they irridescent mini-goal posts on the RHS of the picture? Quality.

Do you think it would distract the players? I wouldn't have thought so.

You are quite correct that my comparisons were not of equal merit. But if the boot had been on the other foot and we'd been the club caught up in an ASADA scandal, I would have liked any ex-Demon from that era to continue to feel a bond with his former team mates. And i would be even prouder of him for saying it publicly.

Keep in mind what was written may not include everything Hibberd said. He may have made very positive comments about our club and supporters but those words might not have made into the published article. And it may not even be the journo's fault. If those words had been written they may have been cut by the editor.

I thought we liked players speaking honestly? And not with endless cliches. I'm more than comfortable with Hibberd's comments and his personal motivation. I look at it this way...if a former Melbourne player who'd been with us in the dark days and ended up playing for another team in a Grand Final had said he was motivated by the thought of all his former team mates caught up in the "tanking scandal" I would have said, "good for you".

Warning - I'm about to come across as a curmudgeonly old fool. I like everything about this thread except the use of the word "hero". A hero is someone who fights in a war, rescues a baby from a burning home or puts themselves at risk of catching a disease by assisting others who are sick. Footballers are not heroes for being footballers. Now, having got that off my chest, I'd like to nominate Harmes as the "unsung" player who will do something extraordinary on Grand Final Day. Whether it's a Heath Shaw rundown smother or a Dom Sheed kick for goal, Harmes strikes me as the player who best typifies the player who can pull something special out of the bag when it's most needed.

I'll guess that the redback jumper was being used simply because we need our players to be in clean club gear every day and on this day the property steward had a spare set of redback jumpers to use.

I think it's already been reported somewhere that each team will wear its traditional strip, with the Bulldogs in white shorts. Edit: https://www.afl.com.au/news/676720/looking-good-what-the-dees-dogs-will-wear-in-the-2021-grand-final