La Dee-vina Comedia

It's time once again to thank all our dedicated track watchers for their insightful comments and outstanding photos. Perhaps someone could let us know if Brayshaw seems to be working with the midfield group or the defenders? I ask because in his "comeback" games at the end of last year he played off the HBF and I thought acquitted himself very well there, yet we all believe he was recruited to form part of our midfield group.

Does this mean Rohan Connolly might also be in trouble? On a more serious note, I would expect Hutchy will be trying to steal Caroline Wilson from 3AW. He already has a working relationship with her and for all his "blokiness" I suspect he recognises that attracting more female listeners would be a good strategy to grow ratings for SEN. Having some female presenters would enhance those prospects. And it has been reported elsewhere that SEN is expected to announce some more on-air signings in the next few weeks.

Given "perfect storm" is usually an expression which is used to explain disasters...you've nailed it!

That's why I mentioned it as a plea rather than a prediction. I share your views.

Just looking at this photo (thanks Hardtack/Hardtack's son), I don't think Petty has the stomach for it. Looks more like he'll break in two, rather than have a breakout year. Nevertheless, from Hardtack's and Saty's photos I do like the look of the lad. If we can get some size into him, he may, in time, become a valuable player for us. I just don't see it happening in 2018.

Please let it be Weideman.

And if they lose Dusty, it all goes rancid.

Nailed it. And having said that "Having the best players is no guarantee of winning - other factors like training and coaching also matter", the article then ignores those other factors and assumes that the draft means everything.

What do Ethan and Ryan Hawke have to do with this story?

Forget the t-shirt...what about the bracelet! Or is it a parrot that's slipped off his shoulder?

petty ˈpɛti/ adjective of little importance; trivial. "the petty divisions of party politics" synonyms: trivial, trifling, minor, small, slight, unimportant, insignificant, inessential, inconsequential, inconsiderable, negligible, paltry, footling, fiddling, niggling, pettifogging, nugatory, of little account; More of secondary or lesser importance, rank, or scale; minor. "a petty official" 3. this thread.

If nothing else, treating your own players with respect encourages others (think Lewis and Lever) to see Melbourne as a desirable club to join. Transferring an injured player to the rookie list is unlikely to enhance the club's reputation.

I've only half-read one article, but it seemed to me the house in question may not be one that Bomber lives in. The article seemed to very carefully refer to the place as being owned but not necessarily lived in by Thompson, yet written in a way that might allow someone to infer that Bomber is the target without actually saying that was the case. If that's right, the raid may have nothing to do with him but rather with the tenant.

This photo is just begging to be included in a caption competition. "Is it a bird? Is it a plane?"

Just to tie up a loose end, Pacific Star Network (owner of SEN and some other media assets) has today confirmed it will merge with Craig Hutchison's Crocmedia (I suspect subject to shareholder approval and maybe some form of regulatory approval). Craig Hutchison will be the new CEO and on the Board of Directors of the company. What it means to SEN programming is not known, although it has been reported elsewhere that the recruitment of Gerard Whately was Hutchison's doing.

We should be able to spend the next three days and about 100 more posts questioning the meaning of a lack of "2018" on the scarf. Does this mean it will be the last scarf handed out free with memberships for the next few years? Or a decade? Or forever? Is it deliberate or is it just a design error? Or a manufacturing error? Has Jack Watts tampered with the knitting machinery? Or does it mean Hogan's off to Fremantle?

Just to bring the topic back to SEN, I note that its owner, Pacific Star Network, has asked that its shares be suspended on the stock exchange pending an announcement about a merger. I have no inside info, but I suspect it's with Crocmedia. Pacific Star Network had announced a few weeks (months?) ago that it was in negotiations with Crocmedia.

I see it the other way around...for an average club, it has quite powerful membership.

Canberra also has a high proportion of former Victorians, and to a lesser extent people ex-WA, SA and Tassie upon which GWS can build. I realise most will bring their loyalties with them, but any children they might raise in Canberra might prefer to follow a team which actually plays there on occasions.

Our former President would have been 91 today... (Included in this thread because his passing was also discussed here.) December 30, 1926: Former Opposition Leader and Speaker Billy Snedden was born. He lost the 1974 federal election to Gough Whitlam and died of a heart attack at a Sydney hotel in 1987.

I'm not sure if this has been posted elsewhere, so apologies if it's the wrong place. I saw reported in one of the daily papers that the Brayshaw brothers, including Angus, again did their now traditional 100 x 100m runs on Christmas day. The story referred to the self-imposed time limit in which they have to complete each run with any "spare" time carried over. I immediately thought of two things. That's a seriously dedicated footballing family. And, secondly, Christmas day must be really boring in the Brayshaw household.

I guess there's also a possibility that their members are split between Sydney and Canberra with those members not travelling between the cities. Mind you, I'm more inclined to believe the figures are fudged.

I wonder whether 'Old Dog' and 'Old Tiger' said something similar in 2016 and 2017 respectively. While you may well be right, why risk it? 2018 may well be our year.

Price, while important, is a consideration. But as good as AFL is on TV (and in my view it is one of the best sports for TV viewing), it's still not as good as being at the ground. Emotional investment increases when actually at the game and you can also see much more tactically than the limitations of TV can allow.

Might be better to ask an economist rather than a marketing person. My recollection of my pretty rudimentary economics training is that those industries with very high fixed costs (car manufacturers, airlines) spend a lot on marketing; companies with low fixed costs do not.