La Dee-vina Comedia

People are also much more likely to get Covid and die or have serious long-term health complications if they don't take the AZ while waiting for an alternative*. (I know it's been mentioned ad nauseum, but I'm always in favour of emphasising this point). *Keeping in mind that we don't know the long-term side effects of any of the alternatives, either.

This year is highly discombobulating, isn't it? Mind you, we're well into June and have only won one game this month which is not dissimilar to most years. It makes me nervous for the rest of the season!

There could be scientific/medical reasons for the different approaches. After all, there are differences between the States and Territories such as climate, population density and community movement (ie, how much people move within and across their town or city), all of which are known factors in Covid management.

I used to enjoy the regular training reports posted to this site. Why have they disappeared? Is it because: We are required to train in private because of Covid rules? (Previously didn't seem to stop Picket Fence, though) We don't have any posters any more who attend training, even if it's allowed? We're winning so often now, that training reports have become passe? Any other reason?

I suspect the delay is not related to the number of new cases but to finalising the details in the plans submitted by the AFL and MCC. It's even possible the delay is because the AFL and MCC are trying to convince the relevant officials that 50% capacity at the MCG is do-able and that some procedures to allow that to happen have yet to be agreed upon.

Clubbing? Do you mean clapping? The Japanese are essentially uber-polite and respectful. I expect they'll follow the instruction and not participate in clubbing/clapping. I suspect the best thing about these Olympics will be the absence of boorish international fans, particularly those in green and gold.

Not so much the AFL (except for Marvel). It would be a "money thing" for the ground managers, such as the Melbourne Cricket Club for the MCG.

Glad you want to have a vaccine. However, unless you're specifically trained in pharmacology or medicine, I question (with the greatest respect) whether you have enough knowledge to know what the best vaccine is for you. In other words, if I had a choice, I'm not sure I'm informed enough to know what vaccine would be best for me. I certainly don't question my doctor's choice of vaccine for influenza, tetanus, whooping cough or anything else.

Are you sure the alternatives are better? Have you seen this story about the possibility that the Pfizer vaccine might (and I stress might) be the cause of some heart inflammation in some people? Also, are you aware that no-one knows the long term effects of mRNA vaccines because we've never had any before? Have you also seen the story about people who don't die from Covid but have ongoing health problems from having caught the disease?

Most of the commentators retired from football at least 10 years ago. The game has changed since then in so many ways much of their commentary is superfluous anyway. But on this question of avoidable concussion, they are simply from such a different era their comments show how out of their depth they are. The sooner most (but not necessarily all) of those dinosaur commentators are retired and replaced with more recent retirees, the better.

I suspect you are querying why they are not full time, rather than commenting on them not being professional, given they are paid for doing this work. I suspect the answer might be along the lines of questioning what they would do to fill in the time between games. How much "training" and "coaching" would they need to do that they don't do now? Also, in my view, the problem is not with the umpires but with there being too many rules open to interpretation.

Off topic, but reminds me of the Billy Ocean song "When the Going Gets Tough" from 1985 which so many people misheard as "You can go and get stuffed".

It's a good strategic decision to wait and tackle if (1) the umpires are prone to pay a free kick for holding the ball/incorrect disposal or (2) data shows that your team is better than your opponents at clearances should the umpire throw the ball up instead of paying a free kick.

Will it ruin AFL? I'm not so sure. Legal action against the AFL or the clubs for allowing avoidable concussions might ruin it, though. And therein lies the problem - was it avoidable? Physics isn't my strong suit, but isn't force measured as a combination of speed and mass? If so, because players are professional and fitter, bigger, stronger and faster than ever before, I would have thought the collision forces today have the potential to be greater than they have ever been before. We're not going to be able to make players smaller or weaker, but we might be able to slow them down. Perhaps abolishing interchange altogether might provide the paradigm shift needed to make the game slower and therefore safer. By the way, an excellent article by Jake Niall in The Age today on this very topic.

Melbourne or Joeboy?

At least your birthday was on a public holiday! This was one of those games where the 21 votes on offer shouldn't be equal to the 21 on any other game played this year. Nevertheless: 6. Jackson 5. Jordon 4. Salem 3. Gawn 2. Harmes 1. Petracca

Reminds me of Arnold Schwarzenegger's: He denies it was deliberate, but he was a politician at this stage, so like all AFL coaches, I'm not sure you can believe what he said.

Well done, although you left out "for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee". Nevertheless, full marks. For anyone who's interested, here's the full work: For Whom the Bell Tolls by John Donne Next No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.

Nice try, but no. Hint: It's only one person and not a musical performer.

Keep in mind that all coaches lie in public interviews. It may be that Melksham had a specific role that Goodwin doesn't want to discuss. However, if Goodwin was telling the truth I'd be most surprised if Melksham is in the starting 22 this week.

Just a backline: Peter Dean Any St Kilda player Paul Prymke Lynden Dunne Andrew Ireland Peter Bell

Most enjoyable. Any possibility of doing one with characters from Shakespeare or perhaps the metaphysical poets?

I love the implied optimism in this post. Your only concern is that the Grand Final might not be at the MCG. You don't seem at all concerned that Melbourne might not make it. Good for you!

To clarify, elections weren't held at Collingwood because they weren't necessary - there were never more people standing for Board membership than there were vacancies. If the membership were unhappy, they could have always proposed a slate of members to challenge the incumbent Board and wouldn't have needed an Extraordinary General Meeting to do so. In my view, that's not a dictatorship but a club which has a satsified membership. Should they have been satsified? That's a separate question.

I'll play the devil's advocate. If you were one of the Government decision makers, which risk would you rather take? Be criticised from every direction for keeping Melburnians in lockdown but with case numbers of Covid kept low? Or praised for releasing the shackles but subsequently criticised should Covid case numbers rapidly increase?