La Dee-vina Comedia

I'd be surprised if any other coaches are sacked this year. But 2017 looks like a potential vintage year for sackings with all of Buckley, Hardwick, Lyon, Hinkley, B Scott and Eade all facing problems if their teams don't show improvement.

I opened this thread thinking it was something to do with Jack Trengove. Apparently I'm mistaken and it is instead a treatise in the inner workings of Picket Fence's psyche. Ever since Toumpas left, Picket's been looking for a cause celebre. Now it appears he has found one. We should each be prepared to do one of two things. Either use Demonland's excellent facility of blocking users by blocking Picket or get used to his new obsession. Thanks to the Footy Department, we've just had that obsession extended by one more year. And I'm pretty happy about that. And I'm now going to block Picket.

I'd like to play Essendon at the MCG on Sunday 1 May. Why? Because Anzac Day falls on a Tuesday in 2017 meaning Collingwood and Essendon will only get a five day break if the AFL ensures all teams play the next round on the traditional Friday/Saturday/Sunday slots. I'd also be happy if it were to be Collingwood, but given we play them on QB, I assume playing them in May would be less likely.

I didn't see the game but what stands out in the votes is the performance of the younger players. The votes almost all went to players under the age of 24. It's great to see the likes of Salem, Brayshaw, the McDonalds and Hunt in the votes.

I like to think the AFL has delayed Hunt's nomination to the final round at the request of the Herald Sun who want to use the headline "Rising Star finally in the Hunt"

One of the reasons I go to the footy is to be able to vent my frustrations. I'm not sure where or how Hawthorn supporters manage, but one of the great benefits of being a Melbourne supporter for the last 50+ years is that there have been consistent opportunities to do so.

I consider myself whacked.

I'm not sure now whether you're agreeing with me or not. But what much of the media produces is, unfortunately, based on a quantity rather than quality model. That is, it's all about numbers of eyeballs (or ears, for the audio media) and not the critical thought that might go on in the brain behind.

Seems to me that it's Garlett for ANB; Harmes for Michie; and Salem to allow Vince to play in the midfield in place of Oliver. Salem then becomes one of the four small defenders - the model we've played all year. All seems very logical. Vince plays his best football on the wing or on the ball. I fully expect him to spend most of the day on Dangerfield. What I don't understand is why Michie came in for Harmes in the first place. Maybe because of the wet weather last weekend?

Angry? Really? Maybe you need to take some time away from the game. Nothing about AFL or any sport should make anyone "angry". Disappointed? Yes. But "angry"? I don't think so. Keep your anger for more important things like domestic violence, child abuse and incompetent politicians.

I'm not sure if your question is rhetorical, but Dank fits into that category of "celebrity" which our media seem to love. Others in that list include Geoffrey Edelsten and his various ex-wives and partners, Warwick Capper and Mark Jackson. (While Capper and Jackson played football, the media love them today for anything but their former football lives.) Unfortunately, the media love for these (non)-celebrities says more about us, the consumer of the media, than it does about the media themselves.

I'm not sure I see "leadership" in Brent Harvey. Speed, yes; game sense, yes. But on what basis do you think he has leadership?

Not sure whether "rd" means "red" and "draft" refers to ale. Anything's possible, I suppose.

Good point, but I would have thought of minimal bearing in the overall scheme of things.

Given all the players become available to any club who might want them, I don't see how this is an Essendon-specific AFL action. If we wanted any of those players, we're free to talk to them and make them an offer.

Some of the best coaches and leaders have been less than outstanding footballers. Some have never even played at the top level. Conversely, some outstanding footballers have failed as coaches. Of all the players on our list, Dawes strikes me as the one with the best leadership credentials and may well be the one, should he choose that path, to be the most successful coach.

But what if Harvey is the difference between us making finals and winning a Premiership (because, for example, playing him stops the development of another player)? If you believed that, would you still want to recruit him?

As a matter of interest, do the laws of defamation apply on Demonland? Maybe people might like to think a bit more about what they say before they post.

With respect to the timing of the announcement, the club is in a difficult position. Obviously they've told the players concerned, so keeping it from leaking would be hard. After all, those four players need to start looking at their own futures whether it's as a player, coach or something else. Once they start doing that, it would be virtually impossible to keep it a secret. If it leaked, the club would be harshly criticised for not coming clean. All in all, I see no other option for North than announcing it now. (Of course, they could have avoided that by not making the decision yet. But if you've come to that decision, is it fair to keep those employees in the dark? I don't think so.) And it's not like they are going into the finals as one of the favourites. It may be that the announcement may be the "kick start" that the club needs to turn their season around.

As a matter of interest, did Buckley's action warrant a free kick against Carlton? Again, if so, what would have been the offence for which the free kick should have been paid? At the time I thought the umpires should have paid a free kick if for no other reason as to show that they were in control of proceedings.

I think there's a lot more to being captain than what a player is capable of bringing to gameday. There appears to be a significant burden placed on captains to represent their clubs in the media, at sponsor and coterie functions and in setting training standards, etc. As I only get to see what is happening on gameday and in some media interviews, I'm not qualified to know who would be best suited to all those duties. But, some things are apparent. Jack Watts is now one of the most senior players yet isn't in the leadership group. That's either because he doesn't want to be or others don't think that he is suited to it. Jack Viney has some qualities but has on-field deficiencies he needs to work on. (Kicking on his right foot would be a good start). He is also a passionate but not necessarily articulate media performer. That might be because of his age or maybe he just isn't particularly suited to it (I'm trying to find a polite way of saying maybe he's not that bright...although I hope I'm wrong in that regard.) In short I suspect Watts and Viney are not necessarily the best choices for captain. Maybe given our history with Grimes and Trengove, perhaps we should try using an ace rather than four Jacks.

I'm sorry. That's such a ridiculous thing to say. Unless you add Rioli.

So, of all the embarrassing records we did break this year, which is your favourite? I think mine is not having lost three games (or more) in a row. Spreads the pleasure better through the pain.

My suspicion is that Hunt has fitted in so well people assume he's not a first year player and therefore ineligible. Of course, I realise that whoever does the nomination would actually know that he's eligible...wouldn't they?

I'll just have to take you at your word. Impossible to see your eyebrows under the Phantom's mask.