La Dee-vina Comedia

What a terrible thing to say. It can be anyone of 22 players who can make that tackle.

If there were any they wouldn't

Let's be honest. They'd all give him - and every other player on every team's list - a problem. For what it's worth, I don't think Swan or Ablett Jr would be able to stop Ablett Sr, either.

Can we switch from Hangman to Wheel of Fortune? Then you could buy a vowel (of which there are three...all different).

Actually, if he was a good leader he wouldn't have been there on his own. Others would have followed his example.

A few years ago when the TV commentary team were discussing who they'd choose to kick for goal if their life depended on it, Cometti suggested he'd like his mother to take the shot. Then he explained that she mightn't be the best kick for goal but at least she'd care.

A problematic term. One person's "tradition" might be different from someone else's. For example, do you mean with no sponsors logos? No apparel provider's name? No AFL logo on the front? No AFL image within the players' numbers on the back? Royal blue or dark blue and what about the shade of red? Collar or no collar? etc, etc Although I don't know anyone in the club, I'll take a punt and suggest the commercial arm probably believes sponsors' names should be on there somewhere.

While Spencer is coming on well, one simple statistic shows up a serious team problem. After Round 4, total hitouts for Melbourne players: Spencer 116 Fitzpatrick 9 Pedersen 7 Cross 7 Dunn 5 Tyson 2 Frawley 1 Vince 1 Howe 1 Spencer needs some help.

I think he's got what I'll call "soft hands". The silky skill of having the ball balanced quickly which allows the player to then move before other players know he's gone. Andrew McLeod had it (and lots more besides) as does Cyril Rioli and Chris Yarran.

I must admit, I noticed on Saturday that Carlton supporters appear to be as bad as Richmond supporters at turning on their own players. I hadn't realised this before.

Were they Melbourne or Carlton supporters doing the booing?

I think it's not just TV but also merchandising opportunity, Would you pay more for a Melbourne jumper with a 31 and Barassi's name on it or no name?

What's the deal with football boots? Clubs have jumper and shorts suppliers but I vaguely recall that perhaps boots are left to the individual player. I know one thing. If I was the licensed Melbourne boot supplier...I'd either (a) be keeping a low profile right now or (b) making a big announcement about working with the club to improve the design and fit of the club's boots to improve foot support.

The foot problem may not be related to what appears to be his problem with speed. But the year off might fix both.

You understand how hangman works, don't you? You've got to come up with the letters, not me. But, to be fair, I need to tell you it's a single word of ten letters.

I'd like to see something similar on Demonland. The (insert name of annoying Demonland poster) award for the most posting without valuable content. I know who I'd give it to.

Also good to see Strauss with 22 disposals, 11 marks and not with "injured" against his name.

Judd's a great payer and he's also smart. He knows he's not a natural leader - not every great or champion player is (eg, Gary Ablett Sr and probably Marc Murphy). If you remember, when Judd first came to Carlton he didn't want to be captain. But the powers that be gave him the job against his wishes, probably because they thought they knew better and also because there was no other obvious candidate. I suspect having Judd as captain added another layer of wallpaper to the cracks being covered over in other ways.

If only all our players had the courage of our own Whispering Jack. Takes mountains of courage to admit to having Carlton friends.

You'd think so, but in the year when the ABC were the sole rights holder (in the mid 1980s?) they tried the then BBC soccer calling style where it was of the form "Cross..(delay)...to Tyson...(delay)...to Dawes" with little else. The viewers complained and asked for the more traditional commentary style which Channel 7 provides today.

On a related issue, why don't our players have their numbers on their warm up tops? When they're on the field doing their pre-game bits and pieces, I think it would help the occasional Melbourne attendee to identify players.

Not just the media. Also the All-Australian team selectors. How he got chosen last year is beyond my comprehension.

I'm pleased to say that in another thread chookfowler has correctly said "comparisons are odious". Which reminds me of Andy Maher continually saying "comparisons are onerous". And Rohan Connolly on the weekend said, "The proof is in the pudding". Never mind that the correct expression is "The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

I see Murphy still has N Jones on his shoulder. Edit: Scroll back up to the picture for this to make sense

Unfair. There's four to choose from.