La Dee-vina Comedia

I think it is unwise for Melbourne supporters to bemoan the Collingwood-Essendon ANZAC Day 'tradition'. It has more going for it than the Collingwood-Melbourne Queen's Birthday 'tradition'. Be careful what you wish for.

Hey, Satyr, as much as I enjoy your training reports, I'm starting to get even more interested in your workplace. Can you tell us more?

Why did you leave out the second bit? The bit where Daisy goes on to say "Cos I'm sure I'm not going to get another one here at Carlton."

Whispering Jack's report says Jamar had 40 hitouts. Someone's got it wrong.

Quite a few times on Sunday Dawes and Frawley got in each other's way. That's to be expected when they're not used to playing together at the same end of the ground. And it's a practical example of why teams take a while to gel. If Frawley stays forward (and I hope he does), he and Dawes will get a better understanding and there will be fewer instances of each getting in the other's way. And for what it's worth I'd rather they got in each other's way rather than neither being anywhere near the ball.

He looks like a completely different player from how I thought he played at Collingwood. Either I'm much mistaken or he wasn't able to play like this due to the Collingwood style of game at the time he was there. I don't recall him having the agility he has shown. OK, he's not Cyril Rioli, but I always thought he was a straight line player unable to kick around his body. he looks like a genuine CHF.

It's not appropriate to compare disposal efficiencies of players in different parts of the ground. Defenders, on average, have much higher disposal efficiencies than players in any other positions on the ground. I'm not sure why, but kicking towards a ground becoming wider instead of narrowing might be a reason as it provides more space to hit a target. Given all the players you compare Terlich with are not defenders, I'm not sure this is your best argument.

I believe it's his busy season, what with Easter and Passover, so we're going to have to rely on Paul Roos. I don't blame Dunn for the kick ins. I'm confident he's just following the coach's instructions and sticking to the game plan. I don't like the instructions, though.

Interesting. I couldn't get to the ground so watched on TV which doesn't provide a full picture of any game. I had thought Bail was very poor - but if he was playing a purely defensive role, perhaps that's why I didn't notice him.

Where's JKH from? I vaguely recall he played in a Victorian TAC side, but where is his home? In other words, is there a "go home" factor that needs to be nullified by a longer contract?

I think there's too much discussion on this thread about individuals and not enough about team balance. Next week Sydney is likley to play a monster forward line with Franklin, Tippett and possibly also Reid and Goodes. I can't see how Pedersen can help out in the ruck given the duties he'll have in defence and quite possibly Frawley will be needed back there as well. Similarly I can't see how Jamar can be a straight swap for Spencer without any realistic backup. So, I think a small has to give way for a tall. In should come one of Jamar, Gawn or Fitzpatrick, or two, if Spencer has to go out due to injury or the need for a rest. I also hope Garland can come back in and if he does, he could take Grimes' position with Grimes taking McKenzie's (I thought Grimes was quite good on Ablett). A small has to go out for the tall, so one of Terlich or Jetta. Jetta was virtually unsighted but I'd keep him in for two reasons - firstly, to give him some continuity and secondly, because I thought he got marginally better as the game progressed. Maybe he just needs more time to adjust to the pace of the game. (That's an optimistic thought - I doubt he'll ever be good enough). I'm not averse to dropping all of Terlich, McKenzie and Jetta if there's another obvious small replacement. In short, in would come Garland and one of Jamar, Gawn or Fitzpatrick Out would go McKenzie and Terlich.

I got in with the 2013 AA statement before rpfc. So blame me, not him.

On this point (and apologies if it's commented on elsewhere), the difference between the style of game we played against St Kilda and WCE on the one hand and Carlton on the other is stark. All that kicking backwards and to the fat side which drove supporters nuts in the first two rounds just about disappeared against Carlton. Was it (a) because of the addition to the structure of marking forwards in Dawes and Frawley, (2) better adherence to Roos' game plan or (3) a Carlton-specific tactic to take advantage of their weaknesses or (4) all of the above? Whatever the reason, it reduced our possession count but improved our performance. I'll take it.

Perhaps the change of coach makes a significant difference. Undoubtedly players respond differently to different coaches - perhaps Jetta responds better to Roos than his predecessors.

Even more likely, Riley told his Manager who then shopped Riley around to any other club who might show interest on putting him on their primary list.

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.