La Dee-vina Comedia

I know that used to be the plan before the 6-6-6 rule when we had a forward running off the half-back line for every centre bounce. I didn't like it then because when we got the ball we were outnumbered in the forward line so the tactic appeaed doomed from the outset. If we're still doing something similar, I didn't pick that up on the weekend. And if we are, I still don't like it.

"To do so he dropped a player back" - But did he? How do we know that? It wasn't possible to see that on the TV broadcast and I don't recall any of the Fox commentators mentioning it. Was it mentioned on a radio broadcast or by the coaches in their press conferences later? I'd just like to find the empirical source of the claim that Carlton played with one behind the ball before accepting it as a given. "Agree Jackson should have been moved into the ruck" - The problem here is that when Jackson went into the ruck for the first time towards the end of Q1 there was an immediate momentum shift towards Carlton. I suspect that's why Jackson did little work in the ruck during the game. It's quite possible that if he were given more time in the ruck, the results for us would have been worse. I accept, however, that if he's in the team, he would appear to be the best option to give Max assistance. Thankfully with 16 minute quarters Max should be able to ruck most of the day without assistance.

I'm not sure how many "high risk, high reward" cases clubs should be taking, especially if list sizes diminish. But if the Bennell deal provides the high rewards we hope for - and so far, so good - it might help people understand the KK strategy better.

I agree. But if he's going to go under the name of "Pinball Wizard" he's going to have to expect people are going to think he's a deaf, dumb, and blind kid.

I think we could help him at selection by playing another true KPF. Against Carlton he had to do all the heavy lifting in that regard. Against Hooker and Hurley, it becomes even more important that he's given more support. (Unless it rains a lot...which is forecast.) On that basis, I think Weideman or Brown (preferably the former) comes in at the expense of (maybe) Jackson.

Seems right. I think he's on very good terms with himself.

Someone invoked a mercy rule. Lowest scoring game in over 20 years.

Just out of curiosity, why is the average length of games in 2018 given and not 2019? There's quite a disparity between the shortest and longest games. I assume the low scoring, particularly the low number of goals, is the main reason for our game and the Richmond/Collingwood game being so short.

Maybe. Although I think both words equally apply.

We seem to specialise in trading homonyms.

McDonald-Tipingwutu says 'Hi'

Obvious? Why ANB and not Jones?

Not that it matters, but that's an odd number (excuse the pun) of "quarters" (should I say, thirds?). Particularly if the wind was blowing consistently one way. I'm just glad the players had an opportunity for something a bit more than traditional training although somewhat less than real match practice.

The problem with watching on TV has always been knowing what role each player has. For example, was Jones completely out of form or did he do his job by dragging a dangerous Carlton player away from the ball? If he was out of form, he's on very thin ice. Conversely, it's clear that Joel Smith needs a lot more experience...but the only way to get that is for him to keep playing. As Essendon plays a small forward line, I can't see a place for Oscar McDonald anyway, so I think it becomes a question of whether Smith gets replaced with a smaller defender such as Hibberd or Lockhart. At the other end, should Weideman come in, and if so, for Jackson or someone else? Finally, Pickett missed through stupidity. But who should he replace? Is it time for Jones to go (but see above)? Assuming no injuries, I suspect there will be minimal changes, with only Weideman and Pickett possible additions for Jackson and Jones.

Late, but... 6. Gawn 5. Oliver 4. Petracca 3. Salem 2. May 1. Langdon

Not sure that Brayshaw plays his best football as an "outside" player.

Sort of thinking it's time to close this thread. I'm not saying it doesn't address important issues but it doesn't seem to belong in a Melbourne Demons thread (even though it started with discussion about a former Melbourne player) or, for that matter, to be going anywhere at all.

This post has some interesting views. However, it would be better if you were to name who you would select to fix what you believe are the missing genuine key defender, missing genuine key forward and missing crumbing forward. For example, are you suggesting Oscar McDonald should be picked instead of, say, Joel Smith; or Sam Weideman/Mitch Brown as key forwards; and who would you select as the crumber and who should he replace? For what it's worth, I worry that Joel Smith is a liability with ball in hand but his pace means he's more likely to get to a contest than Oscar, so I'd like to give Smith another go. Picking Jackson provides Gawn with better back up than any other option which also means Gawn could spend a bit more time up forward. And as to a crumbing forward, I suspect that's what Bennell's primary role will be in his first game back.

Actually, it requires a majority of Australian adults in a majority of States to change the constitution. But I agree that politicians make it political when it suits their own agenda to do so.

Fact checking required. Is it true that the average Dees supporter is sane?

Just out of curiosity I have had a look at the number of changes between Round 1 2019 and Round 14 2019 (we had a bye in Round 13 which was held from 13-16 June last year). We had 7 changes of personnel in that time. For completeness, the changes were: In: May, Lockhart, Baker, J Wagner, Petty, T Smith and Hannan Out: Spargo, Hibberd, Melksham, Sparrow, C Wagner, Jetta, O McDonald

Why? To me it just seems we've had a multi-week bye. I haven't enjoyed it (I don't even like a one week bye), but it's still the same season playing under the same rules.

Typically, Titus O'Reilly nails it with this line: As for this game, I’m just relieved it’s June and Melbourne are still in touch with the eight. Source: https://www.titusoreily.com/afl/a-highly-unhelpful-guide-to-round-two

I'll take the glass half full approach: His halcon days may be ahead of him He is possibly going to give it 110% He may find that he can do more than he thought possible He could need a break if another calf injury occurs, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the end of his paying career with us. Lets just get through the Carlton game. Good Luck HB Having just re-read my post, apologies to Damo as it may look like I was being critical of your view. That's not the case. I will equally be holding my breathe to see how he goes.

Just as an aside, the ABC is more than just a news service. Whether its budget is sufficient or not, I have no idea, but I sometimes wonder about the costs of running multiple digital radio channels and whether anyone is actually listening to them. In other words, maybe (and maybe not) budget savings are possible without negtaively impacting its news service.