La Dee-vina Comedia

I'm also impressed at how he has apparently changed roles without rancour. Some coaches would really struggle in the role of being still involved in a senior capacity but not actually being the one calling the shots. Mind you, all the current ex-coaches with a similar gig (eg, Eade, Balme, Bailey) seem to be doing it well. Perhaps that's why they are doing what they are doing...and perhaps that's why Mick Malthouse isn't doing that at Collingwood.

I might be a bit sensitive, but I think this thread needs cleaning. Trying to make jokes about child sex abuse and some racist comments on this page don't belong here.

Should also have some Demonland contribution awards. My favourite contributer, providing ascerbic wit mixed with fashion advice is Jaded. And the most annoying? Nah, I'll let that slide.

Can't be right. Surely Richmond must be 9th on any list before the season starts.

Didn't realise he was only 21 and had only played two games previously (I don't know why, but I thought he played about 20 previously). In that case, you were correct when you said Joel Mac was the only "experienced" player recruited.

And John Meesen? Was he brought in during the Bailey years?

I must be more bitter and twisted than you. As always, I hope Richmond finish 9th after losing a few late in the year.

5. Socks

Could have been worse. I just found out from a magazine at my dentist that when it's released the Leyland P76 will be the best car the world's ever seen.

And I think you could also add: Significantly improved fitness levels Playing as a team instead of as individuals Better understanding of the game plan Added maturity to younger players like Watts, Tapscott, Strauss, Jetta, etc

And Liam Jurrah missed out. So much talent. What a shame.

Interesting how the rookie draft has effectively replaced the PSD as the mechanism for recruiting other team's discards. Not surprising really now that rookies can be any age. Certainly provides clubs with a cheaper option than a full contract and because of that I suspect more players are getting second chances. Good luck to them all, ex-Melbourne, or not. And I'm personally a little disappointed for Matthew Bate that he couldn't find another home.

I knew he was good, but didn't realise he played his first game when he was ten years old! Actually, my cousin, who played with the ammos, tried out with the MFC the same day Robbie Flower did. This would have been early 1970s. In those days they played actual games (practice matches, if you like) to see who was worth pursuing. My cousin played the whole game. Robbie, however, only played 10 minutes, then they took him off. They realised straight away they had a gem and promoted him on the spot to the under-19s squad.

Facile journalism. The "probe" has two parts. One is the investigation being conducted by Brett Clothier and his team. The second is the action which the Commission might choose to take. The second action can only occur after the first is completed and only if the first produces evidence that there is a case to answer. It is quite possible that the first stage has been completed or could be completed any time between now and February. Any proper investigation will be conducted without being linked in any way to scheduled meetings of the Commission. What Ralph has done is connect the two where no connection actually exists. It's like saying a police criminal investigation has to be completed before the Supreme Court rises for its summer break. What nonsense.

This might give you some idea. At one game against Richmond at the MCG, when kicking out after a Richmond behind, we'd put all our players on one side of the ground except Robbie. He was left on his own on the other side with his Richmond opponent. (Remember, this is in the days of man-on-man and no flooding/press etc). Richmond kicked something like 18 behinds. Out of the 18 returns, Robbie won all bar one. If I recall correctly, that might have been the last game for that particular Richmond coach. (May have been Francis Bourke - but who knows, they went through so many). Robbie was the visual equivalent of liquid Lindt chocolate.

I seem to recall him resisting the captaincy at Carlton but ended up taking it on because at the time there was no-one else anywhere near suitable. Now they have some good options (no, not you, Brock).

The interesting thing about Richmond is that they took Miller and A Maric. It's another way of saying Richmond's top end is good, but they fall away very quickly after that.

At the risk of getting howled down, the Age article and this thread add weight to the argument that perhaps all our problems are not related to poor draft choices. Maybe amateurish training methodologies contributed, too. This story continues the positive view I've had of Neeld since he started - he appears to have come with a co-ordinated, highly developed strategy which is not just about a game plan but looks at all aspects which make a successful team including recruitment, fitness, game style, player character and even age distribution of the playing group. I just hope that he can convert all this hard work into on-field success.

I've just read this thread from start to finish. Congratulations to all posters (bar one, but I won't bother naming him/her) for what has been a glorious foray into football, geography, meteorology, physiology, music, history and politics. And some stuff about the actual purpose of the trip to Darwin. This is why I like Demonland.

It would be amusing if Adelaide jumped in before Sydney and used pick 10 on Kurt Tippett.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but are you suggesting that the problem should be ignored until he actually breaks down? If so, I'm really glad you're not part of our footy department. And I hope you're not a doctor, either.

I think you left out one...the players' managers. And my suspicion is that the managers are the ones who 'gossip' about what they were able to get a player as a way of marketing their own business.

I just browse for the articles...

Yes, I think it was the best part of 1998 and 1999. Then came back in 2000 when...well, you know the rest.

Congratulations to Andy for the new Demonland banner. How he got match.com to put up pictures of all those women immediately under the parade of stars amazes me. What a triumph. (If other posters have not been blessed with match.com's incessant banner advertising, the above won't make sense, but consider yourself lucky).