La Dee-vina Comedia

Depends on context. Works well in this sentence: "We're the best, forget the rest".

Max Lynch retiring due to concussion. Concussion forces 24-year-old Lynch into premature retirement Good luck to the kid.

Why on earth would we want to rest anyone? The forward combination of Petty/van Rooyen/Melksham has worked. Just once. They need time to prove they are the real deal and the midfield combination has to be part of that work in progress. Of course, if better players are available they should be picked when available (ie, Oliver/Fristch/Sparrow for Harmes/Woewodin/Jordon, or whoever).

This thread is starting to get a tad nasty. Let's keep it positive. After all, we seem to be coming good at the right time

First time I've ever seen such a result.

I feel sorry for North. But losing Horne-Francis might not have happened if the club had been a properly functioning bottom-of-the ladder team rather than a hot mess. In addition, they didn't lose him for nothing (although I can't recall what they did get in return).

I, too, thought the umpiring was poor, but not in any way biased one way or the other. It's also worth mentioning that watching Dustin Martin (for the first three quarters) was a painful pleasure. His ability to dispose the ball to his team's advantage irrespective of the pressure he is under almost every time is quite incredible.

I truly do not understand the calls for Dunstan to be picked. He's another in a long line of great accumulators with poor disposal skills. Players like him look great at VFL level. We've had our fair share before with players like Magner, Valenti, McKenzie and Godfrey. All looked fantastic at VFL level but found wanting in the seniors. We shouldn't be "resting" players on game day. They can get plenty of rest during the week, if they need it. If they are injured or sore, that's different. The only changes I would make are to bring in Oliver and Sparrow if ready, probably for Woewodin and Harmes. I can't see a spot for Hibberd unless a defender is injured.

6. Gawn 5. Viney 4. Petty 3. Langdon 2. Neil-Bullen 1. Petracca Unlucky: Melksham and Rivers

Two defenders (or three if you count Petty), one small forward and no on-ballers. Interesting suggestions. Can't see it myself.

Can we please accept that Grundy will be picked every week between now and the end of the season either as part of the extended squad for Sunday games or as an emergency for Friday/Saturday games. We always need to have a back-up ruckman in the squad to replace Gawn should the unthinkable happen and Gawn has to pull out on game day. I assume Petty will replace Brown, although Smith might be wondering what more does he have to do as sub to take that spot. I hope Hibberd plays and Rivers is moved into the midfield to replace Sparrow. We know what Harmes is capable of in that role already. We don't really know if Rivers can do it or not. Now's the time to find out.

I appreciate that he has a job to do and Goodwin doesn't give journos much at the best of times. It's a sad product of our times that we collectively feel the need for news to be continually refreshed throughout the 24/7 news cycle.

Top work by Mitchell Keating. He provides no definitive information on three different players. All we get is "in the mix", "raring to go" and " a chance".

They may not be classy supporters individually, but I'm impressed by the addition of the IMPORTANT note on this forum. A club that has had Shane Tuck and Ben Cousins as players and Danny Frawley as coach has had its share of troubled souls. Well done to whoever thought to add this to their Forum homepage.

Idiots. It's spelled "Shaman" and the face-painting makes it clear he's a Bulldog's supporter.

Is that view shared by others? I think the opposite. In the last two weeks, perhaps because of the Max factor, I think we've looked refreshed. We'd be better if Oliver and Fritsch were available, but those who have taken up the slack (Brayshaw and Viney in the midfield and Melksham forward) are playing as well as they've played for quite some time.

The better question, and a better use of this thread, is to ask what should we do in Round 24 given we play Sydney in Sydney and it will almost certainly be his last game? He absolutely deserves a quality send-off.

Is that a good or a bad thing, though?

By my reckoning, that means Coach 1: 5 Gawn 4 Brayshaw 3 Rankine 2 Pickett 1 Walker Coach 2: 5 Pickett 4 Viney 3 Rankine 2 Gawn 1 Brayshaw

Very avant-garde restaurant offering

6. Viney 5. Brayshaw 4. Rivers 3. Chandler 2. Pickett 1. Petracca

I'm not in favour of any change where we don't know before the season starts who we play and where for the whole home and away season. (I'd also prefer to know when for all games, but I'll accept that keeping the options open for round 23 is not unreasonable.)

I think it's a silly idea, but the various problems with the fixture as it stands requires the AFL to consider what options are available to improve it. I'm sure there are other problems but the main ones seem to be: trying to find equity when there are 18 (or, perhaps soon, 19) teams playing 23 games. How best to distribute the "double ups"? an unequal and arguably unfair distribution of games at various grounds. For example, the use of GMHBA Stadium scheduling games so that each team gets a similar distribution of 5-day, 6-day, 7-day and 8+ days breaks throughout the season

Looking at the team selection, I would expect only one of Tomlinson or Hibberd to play, unless there's a late withdrawal of one of the other nominated defenders or one of Tomlinson or Hibberd is the sub. The other six defenders (May, Lever, Salem, Rivers, Bowey and McVee) are all ahead of Tomlinson and Hibberd and we play seven defenders, not eight. I suspect Tomlinson will play while one of Chandler or Laurie will replace Spargo. Smith, in my view, will again be the sub.

OK...but for every team that has wins "drying up" another team is being, er, flooded with wins. They cancel each other out, for goodness sake!