La Dee-vina Comedia

Can they? They may be able to force him to appear, but doesn't he have a right to silence (so he doesn't incriminate himself)? Don't underestimate the power and influence of Alan Jones over every NSW-based politician in the country (and some Queensland ones, too). Victorians don't understand how influential he is. He's far more powerful in NSW than any media figure in Victoria.

Not necessarily. They may be going forwards but at a slower rate than everyone else. (No, I don't believe it either.) Does Demonland have an advanced ignore function? I'd love to be able to ignore any post which is Picket Fence + Toumpas. I don't mind most of Picket's other commentary (although I don't always agree with it.) Also, it would cut Picket's contributions that I read by about 70% Bingo. In fact, I wonder if the other three are also banished for the same reason (although Jordie could well have been dropped anyway).

Thanks T&W, very helpful advice.

I think you'll find the story is much more complicated than that due to matters such as stadium size and non-cash paying attendees. Have a look at this article by Ross Booth, who was not only a caller of VFL games on the ABC but also an economist. (In particular, read the second last para on page 10 for a simple explanation of the complexities). I'll stick with my opinion. Feel free to stick with yours.

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"?

I don't know if they can release or would choose to do so. But you're making an assumption that anything they release would damage Essendon. If WADA chooses not to appeal, isn't there another option that what they release might help with Essendon's reputation? Mind you, given the definition on Dictionay.com of "reputation" is "the estimation in which a person or thing is held, especially by the community or the public generally", I suspect Essendon's reputation won't change as most people seem to have a pre-conceived and fixed view of what they think about Essendon now.

I'm not aware that any AFL player today is an amateur. They're all doing it for the money. Some just earn more than others. If Garry Lyon said he was doing it for the money he was just being honest.

Teams and players adapt to circumstances. I expect they would go harder. An example of a rule change which has inadvertently (and, I admit, arguably) increased injuries is the interchange rule. Because it allows players to "recharge" over short periods, they are now expected to go faster and harder for short bursts which leads to greater impact in collisions. (For what it's worth, and off topic, I wonder whether it's time to abolish interchange altogether and replace it with a bench of 6 substitutes.)

So he's the guy that replaced the last one who bought all those old Commodore 64s?

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

"Darren Farrugia - Recruiting Technology Coordinator" What would that job be? Anyone know?

While it's tempting to agree, the problem with that model is that the clubs lose incentive to do anything to encourage their own supporters to attend as the clubs' only get one eighteenth of the revenue of any extra attendees. Or, to put it another way, some clubs would become freeloaders living off the more strongly supported clubs.

I think there are more people criticising Eddie McGuire for not being impartial in his media role than criticise Garry Lyon for trying to be impartial. Edit: typo

Don't forget those who aren't yet members have missed two home games and five matches in all out of a total of 22 (or 26 if you want to be supremely optimistic and possibly considered to be certifiable.)

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned potential coaches (meaning those actually interested and available) we could have had since 2000 rather than the ones we decided upon.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I accept the premise that records should be kept for injections. (I think that should happen for any form of injection by any medical professional ever, whether it's antibiotics, pain relief or anything else). I'm just concerned with the practicalities of record-keeping for everything else. Or, to put it another way, I'm concerned that cheats will find a way to take a banned substance by a method that's not required to be recorded for WADA's purposes.

Channel 7 doesn't understand the difference between building a sustainable business and maximising short term revenues. The AFL needs to appreciate the difference when negotiating the next broadcast rights deal. Unfortunately network 10 is virtually broke so it's hard to see where competitive tension might come from to force Channel 7's hand.

Deestroy All. I've read your post twice. I've come to the view that you watch the Footy Show but are struggling to admit that you do. Don't be ashamed, though. You're ahead of the posters who watch it but won't admit it at all. Disclosure: I watched the Footy Show regularly when my football mad sons used to watch it with me. Personally, I think the producers erred by replacing a professional comedian (Trevor Marmalade) with a buffoon (Bill Brownless). I haven't watched it for about three or four years.

My first thought was to agree with you that it should be mandatory that records be kept. And then I thought, records of what? Not all supplements are injected. So, do we add tablets to the list? And not all supplements are injected or in tablet form. Many are edible (think of "muesli bars"). Would WADA require every injection, tablet and "muesli bar" to be recorded? And some supplements are in natural foods. So would WADA expect a player to record absolutely everything they ingest? So, while I initially liked your idea, I suspect it would be impractical.

We should also thank the foot soldiers who do the heavy lifting. I suspect Peter Jackson might ink the deal and may be instrumental in getting some sponsors over the line, but I presume there is a team of staff members who are out there sourcing the potential sponsors. So, kudos to them, too.

...that we know of. I've never been convinced that the EFC is an isolated case. Just the one that's been looked at. (Bit like the tanking issue in Bing's post #1130)

Was that the Laurie Fowler bump? If so, I hadn't remembered it was in a Grand Final.

Perhaps you could refresh my memory. I can't think of any players knocked out in a Grand Final although I have no doubt Mark Yeates wouldn't have been disappointed if his bump on Brereton in the 1989 Grand Final had conjured that result. But that's a quarter of a century ago now.

Eight posters have given Dunn votes. I'm absolutely gobsmacked. Tom McDonald kept getting moved onto whoever Dunn was playing on because Dunn was being beaten so badly. It wasn't all Dunn's fault, though. He was being asked to play on opposition players much bigger than him as well as being in a backline being overrun because of Freo's midfield dominance. 6. McDonald (but he has to stop thinking he's the only one who can take a mark. Too often he spoils his own team-mates) 5. Brayshaw 4. Cross 3. Garland 2. Grimes 1. Hogan