La Dee-vina Comedia

Seems like there's a fine line between sophisticated algorithms and alchemy. To be able to "score" player actions in real time - which must be happening for Fox to be able to state what a team's pressure rating is - there must be a panoply of specialist statisticians at every game. As interesting as this data is, in these days of Covid-induced cost cutting, I really wonder whether it's necessary.

Jean Shrimpton hadn't yet turned up to Flemington in a mini-skirt and with bare legs.

On the commentary yesterday, we were given information about each club's "pressure rating" during the game. Anyone know how that's measured? And is it related to individual players' "pressure points" included in the Herald Sun players' stats?

What about throwing in the fact that his contest for the pack mark saw the ball end up out the back for Jackson to kick a goal? Or throw in the fact that his presence allowed McDonald to go into defence to replace Tomlinson? Or throw in the fact that it was his first game for the year and the first game with his new teammates? Or that he kicked 2 goals.

As Lesley Neilson would say, "Surely you can't be serious".

I must have been watching a different game to just about everyone else. I thought Melksham played well - not well enough for me to give him votes, but certainly in the top 10-12 players. The only questions for me are: does Weideman come in for Tomlinson with McDonald going back or does Petty come in? does Baker get another week? He wasn't good, but he wasn't awful, either. The answer may be decided by the Petty question. If Petty comes in McDonald might go to the wing and take Baker's place does Jones get "rested", replaced by either Sparrow, Harmes or Bedford? does Fritsch get suspended?

6. Pickett 5. Fritsch 4. Jackson 3. Salem 2. May 1. Jordon

Petracca might. Leaking from within the club is never a good sign. However, we don't know whether this particular leak (if it's even true) came from the club, Petracca's manager, his family or even from within the AFL.

I wonder whether the floating fixture has any costs? For example, do clubs lose money because they have far less time to organise corporate functions? Also, it's a bit difficult to judge because of the lingering social and economic impacts of the pandemic, but what would be the impact on interstate travel arrangements with a floating fixture? Don't get me wrong - I'm all for the floating fixture but only if it doesn't lead to too much lost revenue.

Let me take you part way there

It's a pretty arbitrary list. Mark Jackson and Gerard Healy kicked 153 between them in 1982. Don't know who the third best that year was, but still better than Brisbane in 2001.

Not sure why Hawthorn in 1971 is not on that list. Peter Hudson kicked 150 goals on his own, so add any other two players - even the full back and back pocket - and it's better than Brisbane's 142 in 2001.

Because Channel 7 will want Collingwood v Geelong. Those two teams could be 17th and 18th on the ladder (or 1st versus 18th) and it would still pull more viewers than Bulldogs v Melbourne as 1st and 2nd (or 2nd and 1st).

And son of a school principal, I believe.

Purely a guess: I suspect Chandler won't be the sub two weeks running, so Chandler out and Jones as the sub as a way of managing him.

Presumably the AFL had decided that the most important component of this match was to make Melbourne fly for about an hour to get to their.

Whether I think they can survive in Melbourne or not is a moot point. But if their supporter, and more importantly, member numbers grow in Hobart to the extent that Tassie has more North members than does Victoria, the members could vote to have the club relocate to Hobart (with the AFL's permission, of course, which I would imagine would be readily forthcoming.)

I wonder whether they now have more supporters in Melbourne or Hobart? If it's the latter, it should make it easier for the AFL to relocate the club to Tasmania. I can't actually see them surviving another decade if they don't take that option.

Is that correct? I thought it leaked quite badly in the early days. Perhaps I'm mistaken.

I think this is the most noticeable change in game style from last year. The defensive running of the mids and wingers didn't seem to exist in many games last year. It has made such a difference.

Just a quick comment that I think Jayden Hunt is our most improved footballer from last year. (Or, maybe second most, after Luke Jackson.)

I don't think the commentators were "harsh". They just said that when seen in slow motion what appeared to be an obvious free kick perhaps wasn't quite as obvious. It was still there, though, and helped turn the most exciting play of the night into a well-earned goal.

With a combined 77 possessions, our two Christian's got very close to the record of 80 held by two players with the same first name.

Landsberger writes, "Richmond superstar Dustin Martin was diagnosed with the 31st concussion for the season on Saturday night. Martin was the fourth player knocked out on the weekend." Bit hyperbolic. I don't think Martin was "knocked out". Nevertheless, the meat of the story is interesting and leads to a possible conclusion that AFL clubs have either been not properly recognising concussions for years, or worse, recognising them but covering them up. The question of a bye before the GF is interesting. Players have been missing GFs for years because of injury. Does this specific injury type warrant such a change which could help many other injured players? I was initially against the bye fearing a loss of momentum in community interest before the GF. But the more I think about it, the more I could be persuaded that it's a good idea as it increases the chances of having the best players available.

It's all about the Premier's ability to assess risk. With the election on Saturday, the Tassie Premier has to decide which risk is greatest. Will he get more votes from stopping North from coming to Hobart or for letting the game proceed? When he's worked that out, we'll get our answer.