La Dee-vina Comedia

6. Hibberd 5. Tyson 4. Hunt 3. Tom McDonald 2. Viney 1. Gawn

Why do I have this feeling that BBO is now on the lookout for a Semi-Professional Aunt, No Kids?

I'd like to think (dream) that playing with better players around him than he plays with at VFL level will enhance his game. Those old enough to remember Robert Flower will recall that he starred playing with Melbourne - but went up a level or two when playing for Victoria.

Depends which one. William of Normandy's goal of occupying England was pretty good. His descendants are still in control.

The BBC online today has this interesting "tracking" story about how the data is used to enhance supporter experience in NRL. It also talks about its use at the Tour de France.

Is this your job application for Simon Lethlean's position?

And just one other comment. While he appeared to struggle to hold his marks, no other Melbourne player took more marks last week than Jesse Hogan. (7, equal with Hunt and two more than any other Melbourne player). I hope he'll move up another gear tomorrow.

Interesting to work out how the team will be structured. We have as the outs, two small defenders (Smith, Wagner), a small forward (Kent), and on-baller (Vince, given he played on-ball last week) and a tall forward/second ruck (Pedersen). They've been replaced with one nominal defender (Salem), a tall forward who may or may not play second ruck (Watts), two on-ballers (Viney, Tyson) and Trengove who's role today is unknown (to me). I would suggest that the roles of Smith and Wagner are being replaced by Salem and either Lewis or Trengove (or potentially Harmes or Melksham); Watts replaces Pedersen, although T McDonald may take over the second ruck duties. I suspect Hannan replaces Kent as the small forward, with Hannan's role in the midfield taken by Tyson and Viney replacing Vince.

To be fair, I think the point he was making which I may not have articulated clearly was not about suburban and country leagues needing money but rather, their need for sufficient numbers of players.

Someone I work with has been doing some consulting work for one of the VFL clubs. He tells me that the reason for the Development League's demise is actually a deliberate plan by AFL Victoria to help other leagues. Apparently there is a concern within AFL Victoria that the VFL "seconds" drain too many players from these other suburban and country leagues potentially putting the viability of some of those competitions at risk.

I'm surprised you find this unbelievable, given the choice of TV service you have affects the number of games you can watch. Telstra pays the AFL what I assume is a substantial sum of money either as pure sponsorship or for access rights (or both) and gets something like this in return. Telstra then uses the exclusivity to help encourage (or in your case discourage, apparently) subscribers to their service. Just like Foxtel does with TV coverage.

I think you can add Western Bulldogs to this list, too.

If Tyson isn't ready, happy for Trengove to play in his stead. That could mean something like: Out: Vince, Kent, Smith and maybe Garlett In: Watts, Viney, Salem and maybe Trengove.

Agree. But I think a simple rule change could help. Martin was lucky to be let off but he was clearly retaliating for continuous maltreatment by the player he whacked. I'm tired of seeing players being unable to defend themselves against this constant niggling (and I use the word "niggling" loosely, given it's continuous thumping in the back, etc) given that any retaliation at best gives away a free kick and at worst may end up with a suspension. I'd like to see a change so that any player who continually "niggles" another player off the ball should be initially given a warning and then if the practice continues, should give away a free kick every time thereafter. That should protect ball-winners (like Oliver who, if he keeps playing like he has been, will get it every week) and eliminate the retaliatory actions. I'd also like to see some other structural changes (for example, anyone who works in the media should not also be on the MRP or AFL Tribunal). But that's perhaps a discussion for another day.

That would surprise me. For no other reason than if Watts, Tyson, Salem and possibly Viney come in, that seems like enough changes already. I realise Kent and Vince are automatic outs and Garlett may be unavailable, but if Trengove plays, I suspect that means Viney and Salem won't be. Don't misunderstand me - if there's a spot for him, I'd love to see him selected.

Because they were ineligible to compete in the VFL Development League, perhaps? And before anyone else says it, I'm not sure they'd win that Premiership, even if they were eligible.

Plus four on other lists...and one Goal Umpire.

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is: B Lynden Dunn, Tom Gillies, Daniel Nicholson HB Jack Watts, James Frawley, Colin Garland C Jack Viney, Jack Grimes, Jimmy Toumpas HF Jeremy Howe, James Sellar, Colin Sylvia F Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, Cameron Pederson FOL Mark Jamar, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones I/C Matt Jones, David Rodan, Luke Tapscott SUB Sam Blease

I could understand Salem being held over for an extra week if Tyson, Watts and Viney are all available. Adding four players all at once who have all missed multiple weeks with injuries is itself a risk.

Dangerous path, Chookrat. We've had more soft tissue injuries in the last few weeks than most if not all other clubs. Should we conclude that those players have taken an "unsafe variety of vague substances"? That's the conclusion your point 3 leads to.

As a matter of interest, what happens in other competitions? Do players of NRL, NFL, EPL etc all wear consistently coloured boots as part of their official uniform.

If you were truly OCD, you would have placed McKenna and Garland in alphabetical order as you've done with everyone else when their anticipated length of time out is the same.

While we're at it, I prefer black boots, too.

I thought that only applied when we were the victims.

When I saw the title of the opening post, I wondered whether the topic was about his medical treatment or how the club has been treating him over the last few months with stints in the VFL and then a recent return to the seniors. Turns out it's both. I think this might be a new record. Two potential topics in one thread both being discussed on completely uninformed bases (is that the correct plural of basis?)