La Dee-vina Comedia

I never thought people would pay to go out for breakfast. And just to stay almost on topic, after seeing his first few games, I never thought Addam Maric would make it.

I'm old enough to remember watching Tom Jones early in his career. Even then I didn't think he was good enough to get a gig on Grand Final Day. How wrong was I.

Similarly, Isabelle and Ferdinand II of Spain were great supporters of the Saints.

Do we want to add to the list "First 40 year old player"?

Daniel Andrews (Vic Premier) and Linda Dessau (about to be Vic Governor) - Essendon Ross Stevenson (radio announcer) and John Silvester (aka 'Sly of the Underworld') - Hawthorn Mick Gatto and the late Alphonse Gangitano - Carlton (what more needs to be said?) Diane ('DD') Dunleavy (radio announcer) - St Kilda

Just buy some digital icecream and go for it.

I like vandenBerg's attack on the ball and I like his tackling...but now I'm really worried about his sense of humour.

Another one to add to the list: Last time a Demonland training thread was not derailed: About 2008

Slightly different, but still waiting for a Melbourne player to kick 100 goals in a season.

DC, not everything that comes out of Canberra is a disappointment. The road to Yass is a good example.

I'd rather he was a top 5 pick but scouts rated him top 50 worthy.

Or in my case, impossible

Maybe...but I could also have named Tadgh Kenneally, Pierce Hanley, Zac Tuohy, Sean Wight and others. (Hopefully I haven't butchered the spelling of all those names too much. Apologies to the aforementioned if I have.)

I hope he makes it. Just so we can have two Christians and a Lyon in the one team. And while we're talking about players not picking up the game until they're 16 or so, don't forget Jim Stynes, Mike Pyke and all the other successful imports. At least Josh Lyon has grown up around football and will understand the game unlike those who grow up overseas.

That will be the death of him. Haven't we already proven that young players can't be leaders?

Where's Range Rover's poll? You know, "Is the sky (a) Royal Blue (b) Navy Blue © Pale Blue (d) Teal (e) any other shade."

Are you an accountant and work on a Financial Year basis? How else can a post on 18 July be an "early nomination" for post of the year? (But I agree with your sentiment.)

Careful. He may decide your contribution is a gif of some moving clouds.

You forgot Joeboy: Blue, just blue

Actually, I think the reverse. If Tyler Roos was drafted to Melbourne I'd see Paul Roos leaving claiming a conflict of interest. When Denis Pagan was coach of North Melbourne he had difficulties with how he managed his son who was on the Kanga's list for a while. Put simply, whichever approach Pagan (senior) took, he couldn't win.

What chance Brisbane is given a priority pick at the end of the year? (Lights touch paper and stands back)

There's another issue involved in the Tyson/Salem v Kelly debate which hasn't even been mentioned. The Melbourne strategy has reduced risk. I don't wish ill will on any player involved, but if one has a career threatening industry in his early years, which team would be better off? Melbourne still with one of Tyson or Salem playing or GWS with no-one? Sure, the higher risk (ie, GWS strategy) may produce a higher reward...but it also has a higher risk of going pear shaped.

Maybe it's the quality of the players available in any given year, but the 1993 nominees for the Rising Star were pretty good. Four Brownlow medallists for a start - Buckley, Crawford, Hird and Ricciuto. Plus a few other handy types such as Neitz, Archer, Dustin Fletcher, Misiti, Matthew Richardson and Scott West.

Which compares with Boomer Harvey's 167cm, 75kg...and 369 games (and counting). If anyone thinks size was a factor they must have forgotten that one of the great appeals of AFL is that all shapes and sizes can get a game as long as they've got the skills. (Admittedly, if you're small, you must be fast - either by foot or in mind).

So, do you like Barrett or not? Stop sitting on the fence!