La Dee-vina Comedia

I think the converse is true. The AFL changed the system from a panel to one person to overcome concerns about inconsistency. I'm not sure having a single person eliminates inconsistency - it just removes the argument that any inconsistency was due to having multiple people involved.

Sorry to go off topic, but where does this $4 million figure come from? I thought it was widely accepted that the consultancy cost was somewhere between $1 million and $1.5 million. (For what it's worth, I don't have a problem with the AFL using a consultant to assist them. Nor do I believe it's a "waste of money" given the internal candidate was chosen. The consultants' work should have confirmed that Dillon was the best available candidate.)

If the AFL is concerned about parents and their willingness to have their children play the game, they should be more concerned about the off-the-ball incidents which occur against the best players in every game. The constant bumping, niggling, elbowing and shoving is a far greater blight on the game than a poorly executed defensive spoil.

I'm more concerned that the Tasmanian team will pinch Jason Taylor and/or Tim Lamb. They're going to have to develop a strong off-field team and I think everyone here would agree that Taylor and Lamb have proven they are of the highest quality.

Couldn't disagree more. Chris Scott is the most articulate and interesting coach out there. In fact, I think he's the only one worth listening to. The rest either say nothing of any value (Goodwin, Longmire, Simpson) or occasionally appear angry (Hardwick, Clarkson, Beveridge, Lyon). I think it would be best for Hardwick and Richmond to go their separate ways at the end of this season. I could see Hardwick moving to Port Adelaide next season with Hinkley taking charge of Gold Coast should Dew's time be up.

Neitz was from Tassie? I never knew that.

Presumably the team won't be called "Hobart" for that reason. Naming it "Tasmania" is all encompassing, although it diminishes the possibility of a second team ever being located in that State.

Could be none of the above. Brayshaw may move to the midfield and some unlucky midfielder might lose his spot.

Yes: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1321909/narrm-football-club-returns-for-2023

This one?

And James Hird. Not a bad duo.

Autocorrect for Lukosius? If so, your device is impressively refined.

A trio of prominent ruckmen that are yet to surpass the 200 ruck contests benchmark include Darcy Cameron, Max Gawn and Luke Jackson, with the latter being the most efficient of the three. Once again, Demonland comes to the rescue of the English language. "Latter" should only be used to refer to the second of two options. The correct word to use when there are three or more would be "last". You're welcome.

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.