La Dee-vina Comedia

And the B&F. Of course, the different voting systems blur the outcome. Doesn't the MFC B&F give players a mark from the Senior Coach and some or all assistant coaches (or Match Committee?) from 1 to 7 for each game played? So a player who had the worst day imaginable, but was out there, will get votes under that model.

Nice use of the word "conceiving"

If that's Garland, I want some of whatever he's using to grow hair on his head. On Saturday he had a shaved head. I wish I could grow hair that fast. In fact, I just wish I could grow hair.

Cultural change takes time. Behaviour associated with drink driving, sexist behaviour and smoking in public places have all taken a long time to improve. Unfortunately defeating racism is another long haul. But it has to be done and Peter Gordon and the Bulldogs are to be commended for their prompt and firm approach in this matter.

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.

In 2000, Essendon was so far ahead of the rest, the remaining teams were really battling for the prize of coming second and we won. For those talking up Jones as Brownlow medallist this year, think of him as if it were like 2000. The question really is - who's going to come second to Ablett in the Brownlow. Does anyone seriously think Ablett can be beaten? And last Sunday on 3AW in a pre-game segment where the commentators give their "roast" (negative) and "sweet" (positive) comments for the round, Caroline Wilson gave her sweet to Nathan Jones. Particularly pleasing was the comment she made that it was not just about his performance against Richmond, as good as that was, but how he's conducted himself on and off the field over the previous 2 and half years. She pointed out (and I'm paraphrasing) that he'd never dropped his head during those dark days and deserves the rewards he's now getting. She also added he should be in contention for AA honours.

I like your courage. Not for going to the party but admitting there's Richmond blood in your family.

I think we have three of them in the side right now. It's a combination of balance, soft hands, quick mind and courage (meaning the courage to take the risks which come with this type of play) which allow these players to make football look effortless. The three are JKH, Salem and Howe. Howe is not just an extraordinary taker of high marks. He also has a great ground game able to pick up the loose ball at pace. It also looks like his field kicking is improving. Salem is still finding his feet, but shows his silkiness whenever he's near the ball. I find Toumpas and Salem with their whiskers and swarthy complexions hard to tell apart - until they move. Toumpas has a solid, lumbering gait. Salem moves across the ground with the grace of a ballet dancer.

I'll assume I'm meant to pronounce 'tears' rhyming with 'pears' and not 'fears'. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll, er, cry.

I think he's also kicking better. Previously he kicked too high and therefore the ball took too long to land and was easy to spoil. Now he kicks faster and flatter and mostly hits targets. I suspect he's actually being coached properly for the first time and fixed up his personal deficiencies. Good on him. He's obviously worked hard and deserves the praise he's now getting.

I'm pretty comfortable with the top 30 players, as long as they continue to improve. It's what's beneath that worries me. Too many under-developed players who have been on the list for a few years now, such as Evans, Nicholson, Tapscott, Strauss, Blease and Fitzpatrick. It's not that they all lack talent, but each has deficiencies that are yet to be overcome. However, this year we've been turning the poor into average and the average into good, so all is not lost, even with the under-developed players who are yet to get a regular game. They should look at players like Dunn, Pedersen, Jetta, Bail, Howe and Watts and see how each is a significantly better player than they were in 2013.

Cunning plan to play 23 men

I used to think Pedersen couldn't play AFL standard. Then I thought he could do so, but only just, and only in defence. I'm pleased and impressed that he's made a fool of me twice.

I'm actually surprised it's that many.

Like for like is the problem. Not who could make way. Salem and Riley look vulnerable on fitness; Toumpas on capability; M Jones on disposal (but not effort). If Dawes is not suspended, then finding who Frawley replaces - and, if fit, he must come in - becomes problematic. I think Gawn should play and I wonder whether Pedersen playing his best game ever (or, at least for us) might be because he wasn't being asked to second ruck. So, if Dawes plays, Frawley goes to the backline and one of Howe, Grimes and Terlich has to spend more time up the ground as well as sharing duties in the backline. I suspect the answer will be that Grimes will run with Boak or another of the PA mids. He's already had tagging jobs on Cotchin and Martin on Saturday as well as Dangerfield. (I actually prefer Grimes in the backline but 7 into 6 doesn't go). So, if Dawes plays, Frawley would come in for Salem who I think is the most vulnerable of the players mentioned above. If Dawes does not play, Jetta gets another chance to play down back with Howe spending more time on the wing as well as sharing backline duties. Salem's forward replacement has to be JKH and Riley would start as the sub.

Not disputing your comments about the commentary (I was at the ground, so can't actually comment), but there is no way there were 25,000 Melbourne supporters there unless you count those in yellow and black who switched during the game out of despair. 25,000 would be 43% of the crowd of nearly 57,000. We would have been lucky to have provided one third of the number - or approximately 19,000. I'm just happy I was one of them.

Late, but so what. 6. N Jones 5. Howe 4. Tyson 3. Watts 2. Viney And seeing as my votes don't count anyway, 0.5 Vince 0.5 Pedersen

I have it on good authority that the higher standards required at Fremantle mean that he now uses textas.

Prediction: The journos will write in Sunday's papers one of the following. Either that the Tigers were revved up for the game because of Tommy or, alternatively, the emotion of the day was too much for them. Let's hope it's the second.

Careful. I don't think sports betting was legal in those days.

Picket, I agree that concussed players should always have a week off. The issues posters are having with your comments on this thread are not about your opinion on concussed players. Rather, it was your earlier assertion that Terlich won't play as if you had solid, factual information to back up that statement. It appears now that you don't. It's best to make sure that readers of your posts can appreciate what is fact and what is opinion.

How come Riley gets named when he's also named in the 22 for Melbourne? Mistake?

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.

I seem to recall the great John Kennedy after a game saying to the media something like, "As you know, I'm not allowed to discuss the performance of the umpires or I'll be fined. So, today, I'm REALLY not going to talk about the umpiring." Don't known whether he was fined for that or not.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Pedersen start with the role he has been successfully playing to date with Gawn playing full forward and handling rucking duties in the forward 50. That still leaves flexibility should Pedersen be needed in defence - and given the selections of Reiwoldt, Vickery, Griffith and Hampson, he may well be needed there. Pedersen going back probably releases Howe or Dunn to come forward. I have no idea who's to be sub, assuming no late changes (although Picket Fences claims Terlich won't play - whether that is fact or opinion remains to be seen). I would have thought Salem needs a whole game and is a logical replacement for Byrnes. Riley seems, from all reports, a logical tagger to go to Cotchin, so Grimes returns to his natural home in the backline. Does that mean Jetta as the sub? That doesn't seem fair, though.