La Dee-vina Comedia

I think Eddie's saying "I wish he'd take the photo already so I can breathe out."

I live a boring life. The ads I'm seeing are for Officeworks and something called a Seniors Posture Corrector.

Everything on Demonland is true, isn't it?

I can only think of one player who left us and came back again. That's Carl Ditterich (who may be unique in the VFL/AFL having done that with two clubs). Have there been any others who left and came back as players? Edit: Did Gary Hardeman do that or did he play with a non-VFL side?

Who was Colin Graham? When did he play?

If this happens AFL might lose talented youngsters who choose other options such as soccer, cricket or basketball. That will diminish the quality of the game.

I think I read in today's Age that the list cut - if indeed it were to happen - would be in stages with an initial reduction to 40 and then subsequently to 35. That should ease the pain a little for the current playing group. Smaller lists will see the end of the perenially injured, the risky players (those known to be trouble off-field) and project players.

I'm not doing anything today. Where's it being played? I might head along although I guess given the circumstances (two poor teams, etc) I expect the ground will look empty.

Bad timing, if true. If lists are to be reduced to 40 and eventually 35 as has been suggested, clubs are going to reduce the number of players they put on the list who are deemed to be either risky or project players. Hogan would have to be considered to be a risk given his foot and mental health issues. I wish him well, but if he's going to make an AFL comeback, I think it will only be with his current club.

Sounds painful.

Look after yourself No10. I think I could safely say that all Demonlanders wish you a speedy recovery. To give you something to do while you're in lockdown, could you explain your name? Are you a particular fan of Melbourne players who have worn the No 10 guernsey or are you referencing instead your favourite British Prime Minister(s)?

I think you'll find that the AFL (perhaps when it was the VFL) tried that and found that the clubs became lazy. There was no incentive for individual clubs to do anything for their members and supporters as there was no additional financial benefit from doing so. The current model (pre-coronavirus), with all its flaws, might be the best because it encourges all clubs to maximise their revenue while still supporting those which need more support.

While I understand your point, I would rather those still working at the club spend their time securing its future rather than worrying about informing members of what they're doing. I know it might seem that preparing a bulletin for members and supporters should be a simple task that doesn't take much time, but given the shifting sands upon which we all stand, I don't think it is that easy at all. Would I like to be informed? Yes. Is it more important than doing everything else to protect the club's future? No.

I wouldn't be so sure. If some clubs have to go belly up, I suspect North and St Kilda are at greater risk. I could see North and Gold Coast merging and being based at the Gold Coast and similarly a combined St Kilda/ GWS operating out of Sydney. Purely from a business decision point of view it makes more sense to reduce the number of teams in Victoria, rather than NSW and Qld. (Especially if the NRL, which is reportedly in a worse position than the AFL, struggles to keep its teams afloat.)

Outstanding work, demonstone.

Tassie Johnson Big Bob Johnson Was Travis Johnstone 'Trapper'? And what about Alan, Paul or Chris Johnson? Or any other Johnson. Were they all the default "Johnno" in each case?

The most silver of silver linings

I'm going to be a bit contrary and say that I thought there were players who on their performances yesterday were far worse than ANB and OMac. However, whether OMac would stay in the side depends entirely on who we would be playing. If we need a third tall defender, he would stay in. If we don't, he'd go out for someone more suited to the team we're against. That might be Hore if we need some who's medium tall, or it might be a smaller defender. ANB would stay in the side because he did far more than Spargo and Bedford. It's always hard on TV to see what is happening off the ball, but it was clear to me yesterday that ANB was doing a lot more work than Spargo. Nevertheless, Bedford did enough to warrant another game. I assumed that Brown played because Weideman wasn't fit. But if, in this hypothetical one week break to Round 2, Weideman is still not right, I would play Jackson instead of Brown for two reasons. We need a better back-up ruckman than Tom McDonald (although it wouldn't have made any difference against Natinui yesterday) and because he's the future and needs to gain experience.

Don't we have 10 now?

Surely Demonland can turn this into a competition. Finish this sentence, "When people like Eddie McGuire, Peggy O’Neill and Brendan Gale can’t attend...." I'll start with, "the world is a better place"

The Age today has a graph showing the impact of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1919. Round 18 in 1919 would presumably have been held some time around July or August that year. It could very much explain why people weren't attending football matches.

I assume you mean it will the end of having 10 teams in Victoria. I initially read it as ending up with 10 teams in Victoria, which would be a geat result.

Particularly in the current environment.

Mind you, Red Bull might lack exposure now from their other sports sponsorships (F1, for example), so aligning with a professional, televised sport which is still functioning (at least for the time being) is smart. I admit I'd be surprised if such a decision could have been made that quickly, but if so, that's some stunning agility which I guess matches their brand.

I'm the opposite. Over the last 50 years I've been to too many games I wish I had missed.