La Dee-vina Comedia

Interesting viewpoint. I'm not sure, though, whether I would class playing footy as a "privilege". I see it as being no different to any other career opportunity that someone might be good at.

9 to go? We've played 3 of 17 (more if we make finals), although I accept that the season may yet be shortened.

Things are getting really tough now. We're told scores weren't kept and Geelong still won the game. Presumably on the basis of a coin toss or rock, paper scissors.

Would visiting clubs, such as two Victorian clubs, be able to play each other halfway through the 14 day quarantine period? I appreciate that for the average visitor, quarantine might mean complete isolation, but i could see that it might be different under the protocols the AFL would be putting in place with the health officials in those places.

This is a very good post, but one qualifier needs to be added. Nurses can do their job for 40 years and so can teachers. The best professional footballers might get 15 years (and a few exceptional ones a little longer). Most will have a playing career far shorter than that. Once they've finished playing football, there are far fewer jobs within football to continue with gainful employment in the same industry and many will not have an obvious career path to follow in retirement. In addition, many will finish with chronic injuries and pain. Yes, they choose it as their career, but I think we should be mindful of these additional matters before we criticise what they earn.

I feel even more sorry for his wife.

Actually, over half a century. I remember going to the football in the late 60s and 70s and being embarrassed not just by our poor performances but by the complete lack of passion among our sparse numbers of supporters. I seem to recall we didn't even have a cheer squad in those days. At least if we're winning some of the key stats it means we have something worth watching, including the knowledge that we might be able to convert that into a win. It's not that long ago we didn't even have that to enjoy. I'm not trying to disparage the guy, but in the Neeld years, most games were over by quarter time with no chance of us ever getting back into them.

Generally agree with your summation of the others, although I think the question of whether T McDonald is a full forward or centre half forward no longer matters in today's game. Hannan looks good when he is near the ball, but he just doesn't get near it often enough. I'm not basing that comment on the Geelong game. His history has shown that he can be good but only in frustratingly short patches. Harmes is best on ball. I suspect Rivers wasn't expected to be ready as soon as he was and that the Match Committee recognised before the rest of us that Hibberd and Jetta might not "get back to their best" so were looking for options. Rivers may not play all year, but with him, Lockhart, Hibberd, Jetta and Salem to choose from (I'm not expecting Josh Wagner to play any significant part unless we get injuries), perhaps Harmes will stay midfield. There's one additional reason why Harmes should remain in the midfield. He seems to me to be the best two-way runner of that group. If you have the chance to watch the replay of the Geelong game, watch closely how poorly Oliver responds when he has to run back hard. It's the part of the game that he has to work harder on.

I agree with the opening line. I'm afraid, though, that I don't think Smith is a forward. Or a defender. I think he's an experiment that was worth trying because of its high upside, but I don't think he will ever make it to the standard necessary anywhere on the ground.

I agree with this (the bolded bit). I remain unconvinced about Smith, though. He isn't doing enough at the moment to justify his spot, but on the other hand, he hasn't had much continuity. With Richmond having two genuine tall forwards, I think he should play again this week to assist May and Lever. However, if he doesn't justify his spot this weekend, I fear the experiment should come to an end, at least for now.

Given in two of Richmond's last three games they only scored five goals, that will be enough, thanks.

I haven't seen Richmond play since the re-start. Are they just out of form, hit by injuries or on a rapid decline after a few years of success? Or all of the above?

I don't disagree. It's just that I want him to settle in the forward line. The combination of time on the ball rucking plus time off the ground resting (to allow him to go on the ball) means he doesn't have enough consistent time in the forward line.

Unless Weideman's training and scratch match performances make him impossible to overlook, I'd prefer to play Jackson, too, but just as a tall forward. I thought Tomlinson was more than handy in the Gawn support role. And if Weideman plays, I would also leave him in the forward line all game.

Would you say that if we were on top of the ladder?

OD, the whinging I was concerned about was the number of compaints about the switch from playing Sydney to Richmond and suggestions that we are somehow not only worse off but somehow being screwed in the process. You have my agreement on the issues of game performance

This. I saw a bit of the Essendon game on Ssaturday night and I am amazed how similar both our teams played. Is it really possible that missing one game when everyone else has played, particularly only one game into the re-started season, can make that much difference? To answer my own question...I doubt it. But 12 changes, or whatever it was, over two rounds might.

I can't believe the amount of whinging going on in this thread. (And I guess my opening sentence just contributed to it.) We know it's a difficult season, but why does this change make any difference at all? Subject to the possibility that the AFL can't complete its 17 round roster for reasons entitely outside its control, we know we're going to play everyone else and I can't see how the order in which we play matters in the slightest. If anything, we are slightly advantaged because we don't have to travel and we meet Richmond when they are out of form. (Does anyone believe Richmond will remain bad all year? If not, isn't it better to get them now?) I suspect there will now be a bye somewhere to enable some teams to get a 14 day break which it looks like they will have to have when they relocate and we'll play Essendon in prime time on that weekend.

I see what others have said Goodwin said about the forward line but I'm convinced we need another tall forward. I'd rather it be Weideman or Jackson. (I would still have Tomlinson as the back-up ruckman, though). I know others feel Melksham is on thin ice, but I saw things differently yesterday. He's really being asked to do too much without a second KPF in the side. vandenBurg would be the one that goes out. I also think Bennell should come in for Hunt's position. I wouldn't drop Hunt but move him to the backline to replace Smith. I've never been convinced that Hunt's a forward and while I'm not yet ready to write Smith off, I just don't think he's needed against Sydney at the SCG. I'd rather see Hunt play on Heeney than any of our other defenders. That said, I see zero chance of my suggestions being adopted.

Did I watch the wrong game yesterday? Usually Joeboy's analysis is fairly similar to mine. Sure, there are some differences, but it looks to me like we watched two completely different performances yesterday.

6. Gawn 5. Viney 4.Oliver 3. Tomlinson 2. Hibberd 1. (Struggling here)...Brayshaw

I'm in a wonderful frame of mind. I'm imagining us winning by 5 goals which will have us in the eight by the end of the round with a game in hand. Of course, within the hour I may have had my happy thoughts disposed with.

So now we know that you are sexist and racist. Good to know. I disagree with something Hardtack said earlier. He said you have a choice not to read this thread. I disagree because I wish you would keep reading so you might understand why people disagree with you so vehemently. Perhaps it's a forlorn hope, but maybe one day you'll understand.

Isn't there a risk that the best coaches might choose to avoid any club that includes that in a contract? If that were to be the case, we might end up with an inferior coach.

More corroboration of Heretier's version of events https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/06/26/former-magpie-backs-up-lumumbas-racism-allegations/