La Dee-vina Comedia

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-11-09/melbourne-announces-2017-jumper-numbers In summary: 6 - Lewis 14 - Hibberd 40 - McKenna 48 - Maynard (Amusingly, Jack Fitzpatrick holds the record for games played for MFC in the number 48) And vandenBerg moves to 22.

You are quite right about the commercial aspects of the draw. I wasn't clear in my post, but I was only referring to the chance of winning the flag. Mind you, Richmond, Carlton and Essendon appear to have done their best to waste the benefits of that extra exposure in the last few years.

Are you suggesting that if you subtract Nutbean, things get better?

Redbeard's helpful advice that Satyr was there tells us two things: We should anticipate a Satyr update later today and this thread will now reach at least 8 pages as Satyr's posting generates queries and comments mixed with a soupcon of derision.

I've never been fussed about the draw. I can't remember the last time a team won the Premiership because they had the advantage of an easier draw.

I know Dane Swan has talked about some of his exploits involving undesirable activities during his playing years. If he admitted to taking banned substances, even if recreational, during the year he won his Brownlow, would he be putting that award at risk? I suspect this is going to be the sort of concern the AFL Commission will have when deciding on Jobe's award. In other words, it's not just the decision (which I still think is clear) but the language they use when they announce the decision to ensure they have a clear path for future problems which might arise involving past misdemeanours.

I'm not at all offended. I haven't played football since I was a schoolboy, which is now over 40 years ago. I take your point, but I would have thought all the technology available to the club would identify the malingerers from the dedicated.

I think this is a really good point. He may still give it back but with a carefully crafted public statement which says that he still believes he did nothing wrong but for the "good of the game" he wants to put this affair behind him which will allow everyone and in particular, the others of the Essendon 34, to get on with the rest of their lives.

I'd be really impressed if this were true. I don't traditionally think of footballers having the skills to think that far ahead.

I'm not sure whether I should apologise for being an apologist or make no apologies for it. I've only been discussing the process, not the outcome. For what it's worth I'll state again that I can't see how Watson can hold on to his Brownlow. That's not a difficult decision for me to make on what I know. But the AFL has to make a decision that is (a) fair [oh, the irony], (b) future-proof [as it sets a precedent] and (c) immune to any possible legal challenge [although I'm hard pressed to work out what that might be, other than on anything that looks like a failure of procedural fairness...hence the possible reason for the AFL's apparently cautious approach]. The hard decision is whether to now award it to Mitchell and Cotchin.

I suspect it's a "legal thing". The AFL Commission would likely have advice that making a decision prior to all the facts being known (including anything that might have been uncovered throughout all the legal actions) may prejudice their final decision. Hence, better to wait until everything needed to make a decision is available.

That's reasonably easy to answer. The Commission has to meet. It's only part-time, so it has to wait for a meeting.

Thanks Satyr. But, in the immortal words of Pauline, "Please explain": how on earth did Tommy Mc come disguised as Dante Exum? If you're being literal, I can't imagine how. And if you're somehow referencing something else, please let me in on the joke.

There's a difference between the AFL making a decision and the timing of that decision. I can't see how the AFL could have acted until all legal avenues were exhausted.

I've found a loophole for the AFL. He wasn't found guilty of taking any illegal substances in the same year as he won the Brownlow. Therefore he wasn't ineligible for breaching the 'fairest' provision in that year. Therefore he can keep his Brownlow. (Just in case anyone is taking me seriously, don't.)

You're not Titus O'Reilly are you? Tweeted this at 11.03 am today: Titus O'Reily‏@TitusOReily A lot of AFL teams commencing pre-season training today. All across the country, you can hear houses being trained down.

Well said. You could add to your list "...and have posted anonymously on an internet forum". It's always disappointing when anonymous posters choose aggressive and unnecessarily abusive terminology to criticise players, or, for that matter, other posters.

I think the accepted question to ask in November is "when's the time trial". Questioning the timing of the intra-club should wait for December.

I could accept your argument about PC if Norm Smith was sacked because of his use of inappropriate language. But I've never before heard that this was the sole or primary reason behind his dismissal.

I prefer Edward Woodward. (It may not have stood the test of time, but 'Callan' may well be the best spy drama ever made).

I can't recall political correctness ever being argued as the reason for the failings of the MCC and thereafter the football club. I think that claim is a bit of a stretch. Personally, I think the reason was more to do with basic incompetence combined with an unwillingness to embrace the move to professionalism.

OPEN TRAINING: The first wave of players will return this Monday 7 November! 9.30am at Gosch’s Paddock. Details http://mfcde.es/2et5IJr

I think there's only one question we need to get an answer to...Satyr, how likely is it that you'll get to training regularly this pre-season?

Perhaps we had to offer him 2 years or he would have left and taken his chances in the draft. (Is that possible?). I would have thought a few clubs might have been interested enough to offer him a 2-3 year contract.

I think Fitzy's one winning game career at Hawthorn still gives him a better win:loss record than his time with us. I commend him for his persistence through adversity. I hope he goes on to be successful in whatever else he does from here, whether it's as a professional footballer or something else.