La Dee-vina Comedia

Guarantees a Melbourne win. I've assumed, of course, that Brisbane plays just like Melbourne when expected to win.

If I recall correctly, though, (and I was only a kid in the 60s), during Norm Smith's reign it seemed to be generally accepted that Len Smith was tactically superior to Norm. Norm may have been more successful for other reasons, such as playing list quality, player management, fitness or his ability to get the most out of his players. I think the article is very interesting and perhaps the book may well be, too. It's this sort of writing that I find more interesting than hagiographic coverage that generally populates the sports section of a book shop.

Every AFL footballer is handsome...at least compared with these faces.

On a side issue, does anyone else think the 3rd man up should be disallowed? There are strict rules about rucking, including blocking, jumping and wrestling - yet the 3rd man up seems to make these other rules pointless.

I like the way you've thought this through, but it will be dry on Saturday and Sunday. By the time we play this game, the ground should be well and truly dried out.

I think we can expect that from every player. Not just for being "under Roos / Goodwin" but because the stability of the club on and off the field is something not seen at Melbourne for, perhaps, 50 or more years. It's a much better environment overall and therefore should encourage better performances from everyone.

Typo. The hyphen was never meant to be there.

Self-portrait?

Thanks for the update. Congratulations Satyr/TDI. But you've left a big whole in my week. Training reports are always interesting. Bring out the best and worst of Demonland posters, too.

1.Father 2. Robbie Flower. I'm too young to remember Barassi and no-one's come near Flower's artistry, courage and skill since. 3. When we won the then night competition in 1987. It was the first silverwear I'd seen us win. 4. Round 1, 2012. I had thought that Neeld was going to fix the problems of the Bailey years. By the end of that game I knew that was a pipedream. Closely followed by Round 1 2008. I had thought that Bailey was going to fix the problems of the Daniher years. By the end of that game I knew that was a pipedream. Repeat. 5. I love AFL and want it to survive forever. For that reason I don't detest any of the other 17 teams. Rather, I see outside forces (other sports, recreations etc) as threats and the 18 AFL clubs and the AFL as a whole as a "superclub" to which I belong. I just happen to passionately support the classiest club in the competition. PS Great thread, by the way.

Talking of which, does anyone go to training to watch (and report) any more? And what's happened to Satyr/TDI? I miss his reports.

I think this is a completely inappropriate thread unless someone mentions Mitch Robinson.

I thought you were going to skip the game against Brisbane and watch Casey instead?

All reasonable points, OD. But I still subscribe to the theory that the club should be working for the longer term rather than worrying about a quick fix. I'd rather be a genuine contender than a mid-ranked team unable to rise further because of limitations imposed by short term fixes.

I agree it would be nice to win more games, but in any year where you know you're not a contender for the flag, surely it's more important to develop a team ready to win that elusive prize? If Tom McDonald is never going to be our full time CHF, what's the point of trialling him in the role? Conversely, if we think there is a chance that he could be a full time CHF (meaning Hogan would be FF), then by all means he should be given more opportunities there. Either way, I don't think the decision should be based on whether we might win more games in 2015.

To be fair, I have learned something new. Picket Fence is in his mid-50s. Always imagined him to be in his 20s for some reason.

Unfortunately, I think Cross has reached the end of a sterling playing career. His reading of the play gets him to the right position to intercept but he can't tag any more because he can't keep up and his disposal has significantly deteriorated. To keep him as a player because of his professional training standards is unnecessary. If he's that important in that role he can join the coaching panel.

Don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows bicycles don't have suspensions

Is Hogan expected to be a Full Forward or a CHF once he's fully established? He seems to me to me a natural CHF given his size, mobility, innate understanding of the game and marking skills. If he is to be a CHF, why would we be even contemplating McDonald as CHF, even as a temporary measure?

Old dee, I'm going to put in request to Demonland to reserve you a new name, just in case you get sick of your current one. I'm thinking of asking them to reserve "Pessimistic dee" for you. OK?

Sun Tzu? I always thought it was Don Corleone.

Whether JKH is a talent or not is debatable (I think he'll make it). However, I question the value to the team of making a small forward the sub. Given the sub more often than not comes on around three quarter time, surely he should be a player able to go on ball and provide fresh legs when the rest of both teams will be feeling the strain of already having played three quarters of football. I just don't understand what JKH's role was meant to be last Saturday.

So, the combined IQ of all Richmond members nearly equals the combined IQ of all Melbourne members. Is that the correct conclusion to make?

It's a contrary view, I know, but I think Dawes, flawed as he is, is a better team player than he's given credit for. I think he's the only forward who works really hard for the whole game and knows where to lead to. We notice he misses lots of marks because he gets into position to take them more often than anyone else. He's generally a good kick for goal, too. I think McDonald's unorthodox kicking style makes his mistakes more apparent, but overall, I don't think the results of his kicking are any worse than Garland, Grimes, Cross, Viney or many others. So, who's a better kick - Frost or McDonald? To be honest, I haven't seen enough of Frost to be sure, but what I've seen so far suggests that Frost's kicking style looks more orthodox than McDonald, but I'm not sure it's any more effective. I still like Frost as that tall, big bodied defender that we need and I'm not averse to the idea of trialling McDonald in the Blicavs role. I think he'd be a better second ruck than any of Dawes, Pedersen or Frost because of his ability to get to more contests.

You want to punish them more because we played badly?