La Dee-vina Comedia

I prefer Nathan. In fact, given these choices, I prefer Matt, too.

Who do you think will talk? And why do you think so? I would assume that each individual has a right not to incriminate himself so why would anyone talk if it was going to be harmful to their prospects?

Yes, it was confirmed by the State Government yesterday. Here's the Media Release... and No. Given that the process required a Regulatory Impact Statement, the creation of the public holiday must have been via the making of a Regulation. In theory Parliament's Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, otherwise known as SARC, could strike down the regulation. However, that's just a power that SARC has but never actually uses. If enough people complained about it and if the opposition parties had the numbers on SARC, then maybe it would be struck down. But don't hold your breath.

The last paragraph of the Second reading Speech says, "We have brought this bill forward so that it does provide an opportunity, if the broadcasters wish, to show the grand finals in high definition on their primary channels." While it doesn't specifically say it was brought forward to allow it for this year's Grand Finals, I think that can be inferred. Why else bring the bill forward?

It seems that legislation is needed to allow HD broadcasts of the AFL and NRL Grand Finals after all. From Malcolm Turnbull's Twitter a few minutes ago: Malcolm Turnbull ‏@TurnbullMalcolm 9m9 minutes ago Introducing the Bill which will enable main TV channels to be in HD in time for the grand finals #AFL #NRL http://malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/second-reading-broadcasting-legislation-amendment-bill-2015 … 1 retweet1 favorite Reply Retweet avorite 1 More

Thanks dc. Reading between the lines, because it's an independent regulator's decision the Minister realises he can't instruct the regulator what to do so has couched his expression as a "want" rather than an instruction. Makes sense now.

Mathematicians everywhere can see the problem.

From Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Communications yesterday on Twitter: The Gov wants to give TV networks the option to b'cast the #afl and #nrl grandfinals in HD on their main channel If anyone can work out what that means, please enlighten me. "Wants to give..." What does that mean? That it needs the support of the Parliament?

I actually struggle with the idea of a semi-literate hack ghost writing for an obviously articulate person. I have visions of James Hird ghost writing Mark Robinson's ghost written text to put it back into decent English.

There appears to be some scuttlebutt that Foxtel (part owned by News Corp) might onsell the Saturday game to Network 10 (part owned by News Corp). On the one hand I can see the logic of it enhancing 10; on the other hand, it seems to devalue Foxtel. Personally, I hope 10 gets it, not just because its FTA, but I'd like to see more competition between the networks which should improve the quality of the product delivered to the consumer.

I was told yesterday that in his pre-coaching days when Hird used to write a regular column for the Herald Sun that Mark Robinson was his ghost writer. I don't know if my source is necessarily in the know, though. So, is it common knowledge or has it ever been confirmed that Mark Robinson was Hird's ghost writer?

I guess they'll expect some form of resurrection on the T Hird day.

I'll bet someone will argue that the AFL Women's game played on Sunday outrated the Essendon v Adelaide game the previous day (which it did) without bothering to mention that the Saturday game was on delay and by the time it went to air the result was already a foregone conclusion. Even though I don't have Foxtel, I'm less fussed about Foxtel getting an additional 10 games than I am about Channel 7 getting the rights to FTA games. I'm a constant critic of Seven's blatant disregard for the game itself.

Caroline Wilson said on 3AW this morning that Seven will dump Saturday afternoon broadcasts. Instead she says there will be 12 Thursday night games which Seven will cover. In summary, that means 10 fewer games over the year on FTA TV.

It's a well known strategy that organisations with bad news choose to release it on a day where bigger news will overtake it. The Victorian Government has today confirmed that the Friday before the Grand Final will be a public holiday. Am I being cynical or was it announced today because the Government realises it's a dumb idea and wants to bury it under the Hird resignation and the expected announcement by the AFL of a mega-TV rights deal later today? Of course, not everyone will think having another public holiday is a bad idea.

Alistair Clarkson has been arguing for years that all coaches should be properly trained and accredited before being given the reins of a club. Any club who now chooses to employ as a coach anyone not properly trained is being derelict and should be called out for doing so.

Not sure about that. It's like having a Get Out of Jail Free card for your first couple of years. Everything that goes wrong can be blamed on WADA and, in effect, the previous regime.

So Caro was right, and prescient, after all.

Ah yes, the famous "just joking" defence. Not sure if everyone on the Demonland jury will believe you, though.

Is that 2-3 weeks of real games or 2-3 weeks in the off season? Neither sounds right to me if the players are found guilty, though. If either is correct, someone may as well be knocking on old dee's door and asking for his wet tram ticket.

I wonder what part emotion plays? Not ours, but that of the footy department. I suspect if I was involved in getting Michie, Newton and any other player to the club, I'd be keen to keep them on the list because (a) I thought they were worth getting in the first place and (b) letting them go would be a form of admitting that I'd made a mistake as they were not good selections in the first place. So, if was on the list prior to Roos coming to the club and not getting a regular game, I'd be very nervous about my future right now. On the other hand, if I came to the club in the last two years, I'd be a little less concerned.

I think it might be five (Hird, Sheedy, Harvey, Craig, Neeld).

Interesting. I would have thought Hunt might be a better option than ND 85.

Mark Robinson ‏@Robbo_heraldsun Aug 11Sydney, New South Wales @jamesmag23 that's a pretty good reply, James. But to my question, did you get injections in the stomach? Can you answer that? jamesmagner ‏@jamesmag23 Aug 11 @Robbo_heraldsun no Mark Robinson ‏@Robbo_heraldsun Aug 12Sydney, New South Wales @jamesmag23 thanks If you ever needed an example of why Mark Robinson is not a quality journalist, read the above exchange carefully. By asking two questions in his first of the above tweets, he has no way of knowing what James Magner's simple, but clever, reply of "No" actually means. Which question did Magner actually answer? Robinson may have followed up seeking clarification, but if he was doing his job properly in the first place, he wouldn't have to.

I have no evidence to support this, but given Salem was out ill (flu?) and the claim that some others may have been similarly afflicted last week, I'm going to assume that some more of our players were playing under the weather yesterday. It helps me to process the scope of the loss (although not the loss itself. I think that was always going to happen). If I want some evidence, given his performances in the last few weeks, I can't believe Gawn wasn't unwell yesterday. I accept that Tom McDonald going into the ruck might have been because Gawn was playing poorly, but maybe his poor performance was illness related. So, changes next week might depend on who played ill and who just played badly. I'm impressed with the efforts Bail and M Jones have delivered over the last few years but I don't see them in our team going forward so I would look at replacing them. Salem is an obvious in; Tyson if fit. If Tyson isn't fit, then perhaps Toumpas should be given the last three games so we can see what he's got one more time. Jetta plays if fit, but if he can't play, maybe Stretch should return.