La Dee-vina Comedia

I'm not sure about the argument that Salem doesn't have leg speed. See this article from 2021. I appreciate it's now 2024, but at least it's fact-based, rather than a subjective assessment.

When did the expression "speed on the ball" first get used? It seems to me to be a recent addition to the AFL commentary lexicon. And is it an expression derived from another sport?

The AFL Coaches Award is mostly won by midfielders, too. Maybe we need to accept that the midfielders are the most important players in the way the game is played today. Here's the list of winners. Interestingly, some non-midfielders won in its early years (Warren Treadrea and Barry Hall in 2004 and 2005).

That "nice guy" finished first in 2021. I don't think he needs to change his game. However, some others could come to Gawn's assistance.

Spelling mistakes don't just happen on Demonland. The article says Gutnick's companies "owned a combined total of $43,209,965..." when the meaning clearly means they "owed a combined total of $43,209,965..." Makes quite a bit of difference!

The best thing about the loss is that we end Round Zero inside the eight. Win next weekend and we could still be in the eight. Ergo, we could remain in the eight all year.

MRO report is out and much to my surprise, Spargo was not cited. Nor was any other Melbourne player. Apparently Spargo's actions didn't even warrant a comment from the MRO.

Didn't look great on the TV, either. Most optimistic expression I could use would be "clumsy" which is the polite way of saying it was deliberate and head-high, although not necessarily forceful.

6. Viney 5. Salem 4. Langdon 3. May 2. Bowey 1. Oliver

Sydney is your second favourite city? Really? I reckon I have 100 ahead of it. (It used to be about 70, then Peter V'Landys happened.)

I just can't imagine a Sparrow amongst Crows. Having said that, a quick Google search will identify various books, movies and parables with both "Crow" and "Sparrow" in the title.

In fact, the AFL's decision is all about the head, or, at least, what goes on inside it. The AFL believes not publishing player weights may be beneficial to some players' mental health. I'm not convinced, but I assume the AFL has had specialist advice which supports this decision.

According to the MFC release (above) training was due to commence at 3.15pm today. Come on Sydney Demons...where's the report?

Do you mean they can convert Brian Taylor into Anthony Hudson? That's impressive.

What may help is that the State Government could see an opportunity to take the state seat of Caulfield. It's currently held by David Southwick, the deputy leader of the Liberal party (the party currently in opposition). Whether the temptation is enough for the Government to throw some dollars at Caulfield Racecourse remains to be seen.

I haven't seen the full team yet but is it correct that the announcement will include the sub as part of the team, rather than having a player "promoted" from the emergencies just before the game? If so, that's a significant improvement. On that point, I'd be looking for a "runner" as the sub. I expect Windsor will play somewhere around mid-60% of game time. Oliver may also be slightly underdone (he would normally play around 90-92% of game time but may play less than that in the first 2-3 weeks). Just because of these two reasons, I'd like another runner to be available to share the load.

An arguable claim. You may be correct, but I'm sure others would support Gawn, Petracca, Viney and May as other contenders for the title. Me? I think it's Gawn for his play plus his leadership.

Doesn't Goodwin have a policy of not picking debutants as the sub?

Fixed it

I'm not sure players are the best judges of their own readiness to play under any circumstance.

My suspicion is that the AFL has an ongoing promise to Richmond and Carlton that they will play the first game of Round 1 every year. And the AFL has found a way to stick to that promise.

I see that the AFL's own media people can't work out whether next week should be called Opening Round or Round 1 so they've used both.

In some respects, that may take the game back to the 1970s and earlier when players were not full time professionals and as such were not as physically strong or able to run into other players all match long. It may turn out to be a significant improvement in game style, putting skilled ball handling and kicking ahead of the ability to crash and bash.

Has Oliver ever played in a reserves/seconds game before? (Not counting last week's "match simulation")

And there is already a purpose built fenced dog play area on the western perimeter of Caulfield Racecourse. (Search "Pawfield Park Fenced Dog Park" on Google Maps.)