La Dee-vina Comedia

Of course they have a "skill set". It's just not the one the public expects or wants. The skill set they have is the ability to get elected when many should really be unelectable. Some have the added skill of climbing over everyone else to get to the top.

It has been claimed that Michelangelo sculpted his magnificent statue of "David" with a disproportionately sized right hand deliberately because he believed only God could be perfect and every person had to have at least one flaw. Perhaps Max has been given goal kicking as his single flaw.

I think you are correct. I may have misinterpreted what was discussed at that event where I met Andrew Dillon. On reflection, I think Andrew Dillon must have worked with Darcy Dugan in some other capacity. As well as Chief Magistrate Dugan was, for a time, the head of Victoria's gaming regulator when poker machines were first introduced into Victoria. Perhaps Dillon worked with him there.

I would have thought there would be no chance of another Victorian-based team.

We also don't know what the author's definition of "no score" means. For example, does it include kicks that fall short...but if so, how does he know whether the kicker deliberately held back on the kick to have it land at the top of the square? Nevertheless, whatever methodology is being used would be the same for all teams, so I think the data is still meaningful.

Burswood is more likely than Burwood.

I don't see how a team can be placed in the NT. Firstly, Darwin's weather makes football difficult (and there is no other town big enough). Secondly, there isn't a population base to support the game, even in Darwin. And thirdly, it will be almost impossible for a Darwin-based club to retain players.

Conversely, should there be a 20th team, I'd place it in Canberra. Assuming GWS still exists, that would make the Giants focus on its supposed base of western Sydney rather than being split between western Sydney and Canberra. That schizophrenic existence means GWS doesn't serve either market properly. If I lived in western Sydney, why would I support a team that's not committed to my territory but trying to have it both ways? I'm not convinced there will necessarily be a 20th team, at least, not in the next decade. I think its more likely that a Melbourne-based team will fail first. I don't want it to happen, but maintaining 9 teams in Melbourne is more financially problematic than adding a new team. And, of course, there's always a risk that GWS or Gold Coast will cease to exist.

Sorry if this has been addressed before, but does the "Concussion Protocol" (which sounds like a rejected Jason Bourne movie title) mean that players are not allowed to train until the 12 day minimum period has expired?

I don't know if he'll be a good appointment or not, but I have met him at a conference about 10 years ago. He's affable, articulate, smart and humorous. Hopefully all of those traits will be on show. And for those that like trivia, I also found out at that event that he did his articles under the late John "Darcy" Duigan who subsequently became Victoria's Chief Magistrate.

I agree, but temporally in the other direction. The Richmond players you are thinking about should have retired last year.

Just watched the last quarter of the Casey game. Melksham was a cut above everyone else and according to the commentators, had been all game. Kicked 5. Brown did little; Tom McDonald a little more (although keep in mind I only saw the last quarter). Melksham in that form is a better option than Schache, assuming all other players who played last night are fit and available.

See the post immediately before yours.

I watched most of the first quarter of the Casey game. Dunstan got plenty of the ball, but did little damage with it. In fact, many, if not most, of his kicks missed their targets, even when he was under no pressure. So, the answer to your question of "what does the bloke have to do" is likely to be "improve his disposal efficiency".

I shall confidently assert that there will be close to zero interest in US sports betting markets for any NRL (or AFL) games whether played in Las Vegas or anywhere else.

Absolutely no need to apologise. I think I speak for all of us when I say we love your work.

What happened to the rule of taking it one week at a time? One more cliche breach like this one and Demonland might have to suspend you.

Oliver not wearing his Superman gear but in disguise?

Are you also concerned with the rule about finishing sentences with prepositions? Is that something else you won't put up with? 🙂

When Wright is back, I expect Weideman will play the second KPF/relief ruckman role. That will push Andrew Phillips out of the side. In effect, a player who plays well in 1 in about 8 games will replace someone who plays well in about 1 in 10. More relevantly for Essendon, though, it will mean Wright won't have to second ruck meaning he can play permanently forward where he is better suited and much more dangerous. In short, notwithstanding his weaknesses, Weideman is a good get for Essendon.

Which one did you have in mind?

This is a form of conversion therapy I can support.

If their fans are realistic, they should have one over-riding concern about their performance: their best players included Reiwoldt, Cotchin and Martin. That's not going to happen every week, and certainly won't happen next year. If Richmond supporters want something to look forward to, they need to see other names appearing in their best players.

I don't know whether the Petty forward experiment will work. But if clubs didn't experiment, Neitz would never have become a full forward.

Would ice after a game on his achilles be a sign of concern or just standard practice for a 33 year old with a recent achilles problem? With respect to the Petty forward or back debate, I'm wondering whether the thinking is that Turner has progressed enough through the pecking order so that we have the luxury of trying to turn Petty into a true key position forward. Whether they play this year or not, Brown and McDonald are both nearing the end, so the intention might be to have key defenders of May, Lever, D Turner and Tomlinson and key forwards of van Rooyen, Petty and eventually Jefferson.