La Dee-vina Comedia

A physical impossibility.

I'm more optimistic. I think our list is in better shape - meaning it has much more potential - than at the time Bailey left. I'm convinced a properly functioning midfield will make all the difference. And that's the easiest part of a list to put together. The players have had no continuity in coaching. There have been 6 senior coaches (3 permanent, 3 temporary) in the last 7 years. It must be hard to be a player in that sort of dynamic.

Bit late, but.. 6. N Jones 5. Spencer 4. Pedersen 3. Viney 2. Clisby 1. Garland

Which might also explain why the actual number of contests is lower than other defenders have been involved in. Nevertheless, it's a good performance and makes me appreciate him more - but not enough to believe he's part of the longer term solution to our worries.

He might for $2 million, though.

Well, that helps the online readers. No such message in the print edition.

I'm not sure the article actually says that this is his team. There's nothing in what he's written that explains any of the choices made. Which makes me wonder whether the so called team was put together by someone else. In fact, the article says nothing much at all.

Maybe Essendon would prefer cars with fuel injection.

I don't care where they're from and whether they're luxury or not. Just as long as they pay up.

I rather like that a thread on Evolution v Revolution has a post by 'old dee' immediately followed by one from 'Young Dee'

Good stuff, Cudi. In your case study, don't forget the impact emotion has on decision making. Until Peter Jackson arrived, everyone involved would have been unable to separate their love for the club with dispassionate decision making.

still support my club.

For what it's worth, I don't blame Collingwood's on-field demise on the succession plan. I think that's just a result of the closing of their window. I'll go one step further - I think Collingwood is in a much better position now because Malthouse has moved on. Buckley is already regenerating that list. If they'd not moved Malthouse on when they did, he'd still be in denial and Collingwood's future prospects would be more dire. The concept of a succession plan is a good one, but not generally adopted by football clubs or political parties.

Amusing to see the opening post claims the coaches' record as "Sheedy 0 Craig 0". Unfortunately, that's about the only amusing thing about this weekend. If we win, it will be seen as "just GWS" we beat; if we lose it will be reported as a "Dee-saster" (Herald Sun) or "I told you this team (s)tank" (Caro in The Age) .

Wow. Where can I go to get back the couple of minutes I wasted reading that drivel?

Without disputing any of the above, I'd like to see the end of massive goal scoring run-ons by the opposition. You know the sort - where we are in a leading position (or, at least, still in touch) and then 30 minutes later we're 10 goals down. And if we can do it without putting a spare man behind the ball, even better.

Yes, I think there's a PhD out there for someone who can explain why otherwise sane people (including even you, Old Dee) put up with this rubbish for so long.

I agree - but what if they were told, and the waiver said, they were only going to be injected with vitamins? (I did say it was a big if.)

This might be a critical point. If (and it's a big if) the players were told that they were only being given vitamins (1) McVeigh would be correct in saying he believed they only ever had vitamins and (2) medical fraud would have been committed if they'd been injected with something else without their knowledge or consent. It's not strange. He's on Channel 7's payroll. Similarly, Channel 9 goes to Matthew Lloyd for the same reason.

Of course he has...he's a Melbourne supporter.

Connor's acts for his client. I'd hardly expect Watts to contradict in public the person he's engaged to get the best deal for him. If he did that, he may as well change to a new manager.

As did Brendon Goddard, Campbell Brown, Chris Judd, Jobe Watson, Ted Richards, Tom Hawkins and Xavier Ellis (who, somewhat ironically, didn't go to Xavier). I'm sure there's a very strong team to be made up entirely of public school boys. There is some criticism about Mark Neeld's handling of Jack Watts (which may be warranted). But his lack of physical development under Dean Bailey has been part of the longer term problem. It's probably safe to say that most of us are disappointed in Jack's apparent lack of intensity. I find it interesting that Craig has played him in the ruck at times in the last couple of weeks. Surely that's a deliberate strategy to harden him up.

WYL - I agree with you. Often our opinions differ, but I think you've nailed this one.

Paul Connors has form when it comes to using threats like this when negotiating player contracts. Has been doing it for years. Doesn't mean Watts will stay or go - but I wouldn't get hung up on public statements such as this one. I expect Connors is just trying to get the club's attention. Perhaps the club has made an offer which Connor, on behalf of his client, is trying to improve.

Wasn't it reported as "quad" in the media somewhere? if so, it may make him a doubtful starter for a couple more weeks irrespective of his missing a place in Melbourne's weekly entry into the national fiction awards.