La Dee-vina Comedia

Not sure if you'd call them smokies, but Jack Steele and Sam Walsh have each had very good years with very few team mates likely to steal votes from them. I recognise that Weitering and McKay are likely to be all-Australians but as they are both key position players, I assume that won't translate into many Brownlow votes for either. If Touk Miller hadn't been suspended, I would have included him in this group, too.

I wonder about how this works commercially? Has the WA Government had to make a payment to the AFL to be the exclusive "fall back" option or has the AFL had to make a payment to Optus Stadium as a holding deposit in case it needs to use the ground? I guess it could be both. Or neither.

I'm not having a go at Smith here, but couldn't you equally argue that Hunt (if fit) or Hibberd would provide the same value as Smith when it comes to taking intercept marks?

So, only one change to the composition of the eight (although not the order) whether teams play each other once or some teams are played twice. To my mind, this is sufficient evidence that the annual concern about the draw not being even isn't really warranted.

Compare and contrast. Our redevelopment (whatever, wherever and whenever it might be) compared with The Star in Texas. (The three minute video is quite compelling).

I'm not sure about any of the arguments which match our defenders against specific forwards. We play a seven man defence. Lever and May generally play nearly 100% game time, but the others regularly rotate each playing between approx 75%-90% on the ground. I suspect Brisbane's forwards also interchange regularly. As a consequence, the idea that one player will match up specifically on another is hard to execute. I fully expect to see all of the smaller defenders, whoever plays, mixing and matching with the smaller Brisbane forwards. For what it's worth, if Hunt is fit, I would choose him over Smith. I might also be tempted to play Hibberd ahead of Smith should Hunt be unavailable. But I would definitely be playing Bowey (plus Salem, Petty, Rivers, Lever and May.)

Statistically, we're favoured if there is also lightning. Only team this year with a 100% win rate for games including stoppages for lightning.

The harsh b@stard in me says, "Good idea". But, I accept your general point.

I'd also like the pro-unvaccinated to be excluded from the everyday event called the public health system for any Covid-related illness, too.

Are you vaccine hesitant? This graph is for you.

60+ more games of experience, particularly 60+ more games of playing with essentially the same teammates. The stability of the playing list, coaching panel (albeit with some changes) and admin (again, with some changes, but well managed) has also helped.

Jaded, you've previously informed us that you are Jewish and now a ginger. You're not this guy, are you? Surely not...

I think the Vic announcement states that there are 430,000 Pfizer doses and another approx 400,000 AZ being made available with bookings opening for 16-39 year olds tomorrow at 7 am.

I note that the FDA in the US has just in the last 24-48 hours provided Pfizer with final, formal approval. I suspect some of the vaccine hesitancy is caused by the Emergency Use Authorisation which has enabled it to be used up until now. According to my US contacts (who I should point out are not in the medical field) there is a view there that many in America believe the Pfizer that has received its final approval is a different product to the one in use until now. That is, they believe it must be an updated and therefore better and/or safer vaccine. All simply due to a misunderstanding of the approval process. I wouldn't be surprised if that's one of the reasons for hesitancy here, too.

Food for thought. And data from a proper source, too.

I watched the last half again last night. I was astounded at how much Neal-Bullen contributed. His hard running had him gathering possessions, tackling bodies and blocking space all over the ground. In addition, the possessions he did get were well directed to players in good positions. It's amazing what can be seen on a second viewing.

This is really interesting. It shows that not only are we doing well now, but we have also set ourselves up for sustained success. If I were a Geelong, Richmond, Hawthorn or West Coast supporter, I could live with these numbers because it's a consequence of having been successful. On the other hand, it suggests more pain is in store for supporters of Carlton, Collingwood and St Kilda.

It's possible, but I wouldn't be making any plans where you don't get your deposit back.

Population size might be relevant, too.

And not just any player. Someone much bigger than him with elite running capacity in Mark Blicavs. For what it's worth, I though Viney played an integral role in the win. However, how can someone with such bloodlines, drive and opportunity (ie, in having a father involved in AFL) have grown up with the inability to kick on his non-preferred? (And his preferred isn't great, either). I think it's consigned Viney to the role of "elite run with player" - an important role, but I suspect not one that he thought he would ever play.

That final kick by Gawn may end up being more significant than we thought. In the back of my mind is the thought that there is still a risk that the finals series might be prevented from being completed because of Covid. Should that be the case, the AFL may have no choice but to award the Premiership to the team that finished on top of the ladder at the end of the Home and Away series. I think it's most unlikely, but not impossible.

You are quite right that it should continue. My mind has been conditioned to the default position that everything concludes for the Demons at the end of the final home and away game. However, I wouldn't be averse to a sub-set to the Demonald Player of the Year being Demonland Player of the Final Series. Use the same process but just keep a tally of the votes awarded for each game we play from hereon for the rest of the year.

There are many things that surprise me on the odd occasion we play finals. One is that the Demonland Player of the Year continues on. I was fully expecting to open this thread this morning to see Oliver having been formally announced as the winner.

I suspect our average losing margin may well be the lowest we've ever recorded in a H&A season. It was 11.875 points per loss. Or, with a tweak of the language, our average margin in games we didn't win (ie, including the draw) was 9.4 points. Compare that with Essendon in 2000 where their (ahem) average losing margin was 11 points.

Goodwin has shown all year that players have played and practised in set positions. Smith has played and practised as a defender. I don't expect he's going to be moved forward now.