La Dee-vina Comedia

Spelling is the easy bit. It's the pronunciation that's hard!

Surely running under the ball is the fault of the person kicking to him, isn't it?

Did he play wing against Richmond? He certainly played large periods of the game in the backline and spent some time as the starting 4 at centre bounces, but I don't recall him being used on the wing. Thankfully. My preferred spot for him right now is as a small forward with occasional runs on the ball.

I note that Goodwin's "buzzword" over the last few weeks has been "connection". He seems to be saying that he's happy with the effort but with so many new players and perhaps a new game plan forced by the 6-6-6 rule change, the players haven't yet worked out how to play together. If it's "connection" that Goodwin is looking for, then keeping the group as stable as possible would seem to make sense, making changes only when the injured best-22 become available. I can never work out whether Weideman is in the wrong spot or whether we deliver the ball poorly to him. Either way, I'd like to see him continue in the firsts where the problem - that lack of connection - can be resolved.

The rest of the year should be used to make decisions on fringe players and respectfully farewell two veterans. Now that the year is effectively over, we can actually afford to play Jones and Lewis. We should also start playing Petty, Keilty, Sparrow and the Wagners, etc so some get seniors experience and others get fully tested so we know who to persist with. We also need to decide where some players belong. Is Hunt a forward? Where should Lockhart play? Should Petracca spend more time in the middle...or none at all? Where is Fritsch's best position? etc

6. Brayshaw 5. Gawn 4. Salem 3. Melksham 2. Oliver 1. Hore Thought about Hibberd for the last vote but decided on Hore because of Hibberd's poorer disposal. (Which makes me wonder whether Hibberd is playing with a sore foot which is being injected before each game.)

I assume the extra game time wouldn't tire ANB as he's used to clocking up big miles and, instead, the club believed he needed more opportunity to get his touch back.

You just need some Vitamin AnB and to do your stretch exercises. Not sure what you should do with Marty Hore, though.

How many years do you think a coach has to serve before he's no longer a "rookie"? It can't just be that a coach is a "rookie coach" when he's at his first senior job. By that definition Alistair Clarkson and John Longmire would still be "rookies". I can accept Goodwin was a "rookie coach" in his first year as our Senior Coach and maybe even his second. But not now that he's into his third.

I will wonder on the train home what execrable pun the Herald Sun will use in its headline to describe the game.

Old Dee, you were responding to WJ's Gallipoli remembrance. Any chance the "similar result" you are expecting was meant from the perspective of the Axis powers? It's one of the advantages of being a Dees supporter for over 50 years. I don't get anywhere near as stressed about football matches as every non-Melbourne supporter I know (other than St Kilda supporters who are equally sanguine).

So, all we need is Weideman to kick 18 and the game will be ours. Under normal circumstances I would agree. But I wonder whether the short-turnaround time between the last game and this has changed things. While it wouldn't be my strategy, I wonder whether Stretch was always going to play one, miss one and then play again tonight? I could see some logic in it.

I've never heard this metaphor before. While I think I understand what you intend it to mean, for the life of me, I can't understand how this expression ever came to be in the first place. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it seems to express an anti-logical position. Nevertheless, as an expression, I love it.

I'm not sure Goodwin still qualifies as a "rookie coach". Not only is he onto his third season as senior coach, but he's also had many years as an assistant including a couple at Melbourne as part of a proper succession plan.

That's a fair comment. When he does get the ball he seems to use it well, except when he needs to kick long. But he doesn't get the ball enough and he doesn't seem to know how to defend. It's that last part of his game that needs serious improvement.

I'd suggest that we're getting better, not worse. The number of minutes per goal has lengthened in the last three streaks. The second of the 6 goals against Geelong took 17 minutes, or 1 goal per 2.8 minutes; the R3 8 goals were spread over at least 23 minutes or 1 goal per 2.9 minutes and the R5 8 goals were over an estimated 32 minutes, or 1 goal per 4 minutes. Just in case it's necessary, I point out that the above text is written in "tongue-in-cheek" font.

I'm not disagreeing with the general theme of your post, but didn't St Kilda only play one tall forward in Bruce? Membrey is 188 cm, although plays like a tall in that he's a marking forward. Have I missed someone?

I have a question. Is it possible to restrict Demonland to paid up members? I'm not a fan of freeloaders.

I wonder if it will be 6 or 7 using the "excuse" that the short break necessitated some of the changes. In some respects, I'd be disappointed if that was the reason given.

I'd suggest Salem. Not that his best play is any better, but his consistency is significantly improved. But that's only one player. I can't find another.

Clearly this thread needs a poll. What would you prefer. That the word is spelt "dietitian" or "dietician"? In some dictionaries, both are acceptable but I prefer the former (and I notice that the software that runs Demonland does, too.)

In my view, our backline would be looking a lot better if our forward line functioned properly. There is insufficient pressure in the forward half which allows the opposition to deliver the ball quickly and easily to their forwards. Playing Richmond's forwards is a tough ask, but if our forwards placed more pressure on their defenders, it would make the job of our defence a lot easier.

Even better. It was an imaginary honesty session where the players were dishonest with each other.

Do you mean as a player or a coach? And do you mean born in SA? Or drafted from there? Plenty of players have, such as Stephen Kernahan, Craig Bradley (and probably half of all Carlton teams back in the day).

Memo to the AFL. Short turn-around times aren't just difficult for players to cope with. Supporters, too, can struggle to get enthusiastic after a loss. I expect a relatively low turn out partly because insufficient time has passed since Saturday's loss. (I realise there's not much the AFL can do about it because of ANZAC Eve falling on a Wednesday. I just wanted an excuse to criticise the AFL because it makes me feel better).