La Dee-vina Comedia

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/

Obviously. I must be missing something in what you say.

From Wikipedia: In Canada and Greenland, the term "Eskimo" is predominantly seen as offensive or "non-preferred", and has been widely replaced by the term "Inuit" or terms specific to a particular group or community.

Not sure what you actually mean by this line. But it's not easy for anyone who is the subject of these sort of attacks to "just get over it and move on". And nor should they have to. If you go back in history (and not that far), that was a common attitude to rape in many societies.

I understand what you're saying but just because it's only 1% (or whatever the figure might be) doesn't make it any less hurtful for those who are the victims of such abuse whether it's targetting race, religion, gender, disability, sexuality or anything else.

Some clever work here. Tipping the author isn't from Victoria:

Look at the emoji posted by someone under the name of Jaydeen238

Not sure I agree. Injury changes are a two-way street. Hannan and vandenBerg coming into the side are because they've recovered from injury and someone has to make way.

If I hadn't read through to your last paragraph I was going to contact the Police and report a case of identity theft.

I wonder how much Match Committee thought the drop off against Carlton was brought about by having too many "new" players playing at once. Bringing Pickett in would make that worse unless a "new" player goes out. Of the newbies, it's hard to make a case that Bennell should stay in ahead of Jackson (for structure reasons) and Rivers (performance and position)

And Hibberd

Do Demons even have skins?

"Pretty basic stuff" but only if you have one or more forwards who can actually take a mark, of course.

It's not just the players' fitness but also the defensive gameplans which can be pursued because of that fitness. I've come to the view that it might be time to abolish interchange and replace with up to four substitutes. It would require a new level of strategic thinking at both Match Committee and on game day. I expect the coaches and probably the players would be against it. But neither group is part of the paying audience which is really the only one who's opinion should matter.

It won't be Preuss. He's still on the injury list. And I don't think he's a forward option, anyway.

Who are you playing as a tall forward?

Can someone change the title of this topic? I thought the poor kid had passed away!

Swings and roundabouts. St Kilda has had the worst free-to-air TV exposure during the same period. Travis Auld from the AFL explained on SEN this morning that the early start allows Freo to return to Perth before midnight the same day which is important for future scheduling as the 14 day quarantine period would have gone an extra day if they arrived after midnight.