La Dee-vina Comedia

Given the discussion about Tom's manager, I tried finding out who his manager actually is. In doing so I discovered that Tom is the AFL players' representative on the AFL Players Association Agent Accreditation Board. That suggests a high level of confidence in Tom's character and abilities by AFL players generally.

It is suggested above that Paul Connors is Tom McDonald's manager. Using the media to promote his clients is Connors' standard modus operandi. I haven't read the story, but I imagine it is just re-hashing information given to the journo by Connors. Often Connors chooses to use the implied threat (Player X is considering offers from other clubs, for example). If this story is just about dollars and does not include any threats to leave, I'm happy.

I think the point that Saty has been making is that under previous coaches (meaning pre-Roos), players did not disclose when they had any niggles so kept training to their own, and the team's, potential longer-term detriment.

I have no idea what this means but am happy to agree with it because it sounds impressive.

I'm curious. Why do you say "he needs to get his head right"? I've always thought his problems were with his body.

Not a bad year for recruiting. Petracca, Brayshaw, ANB, Stretch and O McDonald in the draft and Garlett as a trade. (Also picked up Lumumba, and lost Frawley and Clark)

McKenna the forgotten man?

That's a bit tough. He may not be inebriated. He could just be stupid.

That qualifies for deep, analytical, thoughtful analysis in Robbo's world.

But what if it doesn't? One of the big problems with clubs (and not just AFL clubs) is the willingness of Directors to mortgage a club's future using the argument that "we might be paying up now but we will recoup the costs and more when we win". Over the journey I've seen this happen time and again. Ranald MacDonald did it with the "New Magpies" and nearly bankrupted that club; and we did it in the mid-80s using the emotional argument that we had to give Robbie Flower a chance to play finals.

Confirmed? By whom?

Meanwhile, the equivalent discussion on the Collingwood supporters' discussion board is whether Centrelink payments have kept pace with the price of ready to drink Southern Comfort and Coke.

It's hardly news. We've done this previously, albeit intermittently, with some success. In the past it seems to have been Plan B when Hogan isn't otherwise getting near the ball.

Somewhat ironic that so many words have been written on this thread about the meaning of 'laconic'.

I thought the GFC was the Geelong Football Club. (Just trying to bring this thread back to football. Arguing over past international economic events doesn't seem to belong here.)

Petracca has more powerful arms.

So, you're confident that the large number of players brought in from other clubs can be woven seamlessly into the fabric of Port Adelaide? I'm not so sure. Each of those players comes with learned behaviours (cultural, game style, etc) which has to fit in with PAs. Because of this, I think what PA has done is a high-risk strategy and I'm not confident they can make it work this year. Next year, however, (assuming they don't get scared in the meantime and dump Ken Hinkley) might see the pay-off.

Just a thought about Tom McDonald. I wonder whether the expected permanent shift from defender to forward means he has to re-learn his craft which might be seen as requiring enough work that it prevents him (in either his or the football department's eyes) from also taking on a leadership role?

What's not to like. And they have 4 Premierships between them.

They might sully their brand but nonsense like this presumably helps sell the AFL Prospectus. Whether Champion Data gets a commission on sales or whether they just need for there to be enough sales for the AFL to want to keep publishing the Prospectus, Champion Data's interest in this case is still the numbers, but this time one that's written with a dollar sign at the beginning.

Because he had a contract Mr Watts had to agree before he was traded. If he hadn't agreed he would still be at the club. (Doesn't mean he would play seniors footy in 2018, though, if he had stayed.)

Do you understand what a contract is? You've been a serial de-lister who doesn't seem to understand that if a player has a contract, the club has an obligation to honour that contract.

I find AFLX so meaningless* that I spent the whole of WJs report wondering why 1964 was a prime number. I then observed multiple references to prime numbers that are not actually prime numbers littered through his story. And like AFLX, I'm still none the wiser. (*I think it's meaningless in the context of the AFL season. However, I think it's possibly a very good idea for taking the game international, including north of the Murray).

Can't agree. In my opinion it's still the most entertaining game in the world. I've been following the game for over 50 years, and contrary to the views of the doomsayers, the standard today is higher than it's ever been.

And for me, its a sign that the Melbourne Football Club is no longer considered a shambles because we have people worth pinching.