La Dee-vina Comedia

Is it just me? I swear I read this the first time as if it had been said by Yoda.

How to start an argument: I accept that this team, plus or minus one or two players, is the best Melbourne side of the last 50 years. Unfortunately, I don't think it would beat any other team's best side of the last 50 years. And that includes GWS, Fremantle and possibly even Gold Coast.

Brian Stynes, Tom Flower and the Cockatoo-Collins twins were all younger brothers. Fair to say none were as good as their older sibling. Four examples (adding in the McDonalds) is hardly enough, though, to form a statistically valid view.

Not even Mark 'Stevo' Stevens?

My completely dodgy, non-evidence based theory is that the youngest son should be the best because (1) he has older brothers to play with as he's growing up (whereas the oldest brother has to wait for the younger brothers to be old enough to play with him) and (2) because he's the youngest he needs to be better if he wants to be able to compete. As I said, I have no evidence to back this up. It's just a thought bubble.

Isn't the 'hub' idea about coping with interstate travel restrictions rather than local 'lockdown' (or quarantine) requirements? Once the players are in their 'hub' I just assume they'll be able to get outdoors as often as they need, as long as it's done in a responsible manner for a suitable reason (training) or with appropriate social distancing (social activities, consistent with whatever that State's rules are at the time).

I don't think the current VFL model is particulalry beneficial with it being part-reserves, part-State league, but I'm also not confident that if it is set free from the AFL it will survive as an independent competition. I get what you're asking for, but there's a huge risk that rather than survive, the VFL might implode.

You've been no help. I had successfully eradicated it from my memory, too, until your "helpful" reminder above.

I wonder whether there will also be the "standard" ASADA drug testing regime during this time?

We should take the glass half full approach. By being behind other clubs in developing a modern, world class training facility we won't be left with a huge maintenance bill to maintain a white elephant in the post Covid AFL.

See more here

I'm now thinking of white bread covered with butter and sprinkled with coloured, sugary dots.

The word "confirmed" is being used loosely. I think the NRL has "confirmed" that it is still its intention to commence 28 May but the NRL's plans still need to be signed off by relevant Government authorities and probably others, such as broadcasters, players, venues, etc. There is also the small matter of working out how to get the NZ team here. That problem in itself may delay the start of the NRL season to mid-June.

Slightly off topic, but this article in The Age last weekend about the 1970 Grand Final and its impact not only on the game but on some of the players involved is a cracking read. It's a good reminder that while snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is painful for supporters, it can be even more devastating for the players. Admittedly, this game was a Grand Final, so of course we should expect the impact would be greater.

Wasn't there a Freo game recently where Cam McCarthy kicked the winning goal with just a few seconds remaining? Or am I confusing two different games?

And, conversely, didn't I read somewhere that one club's players (was it West Coast?) have got their isolation training regime wrong and a number of players have sustained soft tissue injuries?

Actually, I can. Just think of the delayed finish to 2020 as a replacement for the 2021 pre-season and dump the pre-season competition formally known (for a short while) as JLT. While I fully expect a whole raft of significant changes to the administration of football with perhaps some changes to the way the game is played (such as numbers on the bench or even on the field), one thing that I suspect the AFL will want to retain is the 22 week competition. In my view, it's not just about the needing to satisfy its media rights deal but also about convincing the community the product is the same. And will also stop encroachment of other sports and recrational activities into the AFL's winter window.

Yep. I was one of those kids.

Never would have picked this as the reason we haven't won a premiership since 1964. I thought it was because we weren't good enough.

And then there are AFL footballers who share names with other well known Aussies such as Paul Kelly. (1) Swans footballer; (2) Deputy Chief Medical Officer; (3) singer-songwriter; (4) political jornalist. At least, I assume they are all different people.

We should have done this with the Febey twins. Play one in the first half and then play the other one in the second half.

It may be a financial necessity, though. Pre-Covid-19 I can understand the concept of players not in the seniors and not injured playing a game each weekend to maintain match fitness and get more practice. However, we may have to get used to the idea that non-playing members will be just that in any given week. They'll train with the team during the week, but won't have a game to play on the weekend. Do I like the idea? No. But it might be the only financially viable way to go.

The last six #11s are all ruckmen (admittedly, Mitch Clark was more a forward than ruck). Is it accepted club "policy" that #11 is now reserved for a ruckman? Or is it just that the ruckmen who followed Jim Stynes want to wear his number if the opportunity arises? Or is it nothing more than coincidence? 1988 – 1998 Jim Stynes (No. 37, 1987) 2001 Troy Simmonds (No. 46, 1999 – 2000) 2002 - 2004 Darren Jolly (No. 41, 2001) 2005-2010 Paul Johnson 2012-2013 Mitch Clark 2015 - Max Gawn (No. 38, 2011 - 2014)

Interesting thread. I like that Paul Salmon is your "best example" which suggests you've either forgotten about Gary Ablett Jr and Eddie Betts or you don't think of them as "good examples". Trent Croad is another "good example" because he played in a Premiership on his return to Hawthorn.

Why is it arrogance? If the AFL season is to recommence in 2020, adequate warning needs to be given to clubs, players, umpires, venues, media partners and everyone else with a role to play. I fully expect any announcement would come with a qualifier that it's based on various assumptions and if circumstances change, the AFL reserves the right to delay once more. But arrogance? I don't see it. I just see careful planning and management.