La Dee-vina Comedia

According to official AFL stats, Morton had 19 disposals with 68% efficiency. This translates to 13 disposals which were efficient and 6 which weren't. Our co-captains had 17 at 53% efficiency (9 efficient; 8 inefficient) and 25 at 64% (16 efficient; 9 inefficient). So, he had fewer "inefficient" disposals than either Trengove or Grimes. Yes, he's frustrating, but let's keep this in perspective. And to the person who said he'd have poor trade value because of the history of his brothers, surely you jest. So Travis Cloke would have no value because neither of his brothers were much good? Or Gary Ablett Sr because when Geelong took him they should have known Kelvin Ablett was a dud? Or maybe Hawthorn should have delisted Leigh Matthews earlier because his brother wasn't much good. Or Robert Flower and Jim Stynes...

Two good knees would be better.

Of course, if we got any three out of D Martin, Hurley, Naitanui and Darling this website would go into meltdown complaining that we should have got the other one.

Maths is OK. I struggle with English.

Didn't we get rid of royal blue as a colour years ago?

Hmm. A few selections here are going to be over the hill big time by the end of their four years (eg, Black, Goodes, Bartel). I agree they are all absolute champions, but not good value on four year contracts. My four: Cotchin, Murphy and Hawkins

I think this year is an extended pre-season for 2013. Nevertheless, unlike other years, I really do care about this particular pre-season competition. Nevertheless, I doubt we'll win more than another 4 - and even that might be a stretch.

I hope he stays. But don't read too much into quotes which may well have been written for him by Matt Burgan. It's a puff piece, after all.

Just to add one extra name, even though he doesn't call AFL, I think Peter Donegan is one of the best and most versatile sports callers going around. Wouldn't mind having him call AFL rather than VFL (but please don't bring David Rhys-Jones or Phil Cleary with him). For our non-Victorian friends, Peter Donegan calls VFL games on ABC1 each Saturday with David Rhys-Jones and Phil Cleary adding not very special comments.

Are you suggesting that the AFL is complicit in Melbourne's alleged 'tanking'? No wonder they deny that tanking exists.

Do we have any doctors or physios on Demonland? If so, is there any evidence that being fitter and stronger will also protect players not just from soft tissue injuries but also from other injuries such as strained ligaments, bulging discs and even broken bones? I have no idea.

Watts' future may depend on whether Cook takes on the CHF position. Nevertheless, my gut feel is that he'll now play predominantly back in the same role that Hodge, Goddard and Gibbs have been playing for years. Like them, he'll occasionally go on ball or forward. And what's the common link? All No 1 draft picks - and no-one seems to think that each of them has been a wasted pick.

I don't like Eddie McGuire as a commentator. But he's achieved something I never thought anyone would be able to do and I'm not sure how he did it. For all my life up until a few years ago there was only one team everybody (other than their own supporters) detested and that was Collingwood. I now believe Collingwood is less disliked than Carlton and possibly Richmond and Essendon. It's a clear cultural shift and probably the most significant thing Eddie has achieved for Collingwood, even though he has tried to mask it by promoting the "us v them" (aka "side by side we stick together") line whenever possible. I thought I'd never see an AFL competition without Collingwood as the 'go to' team to deride. But it's happened.

There have been calls for Tom McDonald to play forward but I'm not sure he's a good enough kick. Garland missed some very gettable shots on Saturday. Howe can bag a beauty from the boundary on the run but regularly misses set shots from in front. Nicholson butchers the ball too much. Do we have a specialist kicking coach? if so, who is he? If not, should we? If we don't, I suggest we should and that person should be Brad Green. Green is no longer as good a kick as he once was. But his kicking style in his early days was as fluid and as true as anyone's.

I'm sorry to have to disagree. But Watts was not a loose man in defence irrespective of what anyone in the media might have said. He played on Monfries, Jetta and Davey. He just made space when necessary. In fact, the most obvious change to me in the way we played compared with previous games was the ability for players NOT to all go to the ball or to the player with the ball at once. This allowed players to be free for the so-called uncontested possession, which was why our disposal count was up. I don't know if there was a change in instructions or whether players now just 'get it' and have more faith in the teammates. But we look a much better team when we play like adults instead of under 12s all hovering around the ball.

GOOD: Watts ability to play on various small forwards. At various stages he was on Monfries, Jetta and Davey. And beat them all. (And as said above, he was not a loose man in defence). BAD: Both Melbourne Sunday daily papers saying Garland was moved forward during the game when, in fact, he started there and stayed there all night. UGLY: Melbourne selection this week when someone who doesn't deserve it might have to make way for Frawley (or Bartram or Bail). But what a nice 'UGLY' to have.

And he did it better than them. 11 marks including 4 inside 50. Plus ran down deep into the back 50 a number of times to create opportunities. Now, if only we can fix his kicking for goal...

That quote reminds me of Travis Johsntone. Hopefully Blease will turn out to be more consistent than TJ.

What we should remember is that Neeld has a better understanding of Collingwood than any other opposition team. I'm convinced players like Sellar and Magner were added to the list last year after Neeld saw our team monstered by the bigger Collingwood bodies last QB. On that basis, and given his form last Saturday night, I would have thought Sellar is a certainty to play. The only real 'problem' (and it's a nice one to have) is what to do with Frawley, Bail and Bartram if each is fit. If Blease goes out, I would have thought Bail would come in on a like for like basis. But if Blease is OK, it becomes tougher.

At the beginning of the night it seemed like the crowd was 80% Essendon and 20% Melbourne. The level of cheering as the teams ran out seemed to indicate that, anyway. By the end of the night the electricity magnified the sounds of the Demons so it became more like a 50/50 crowd. I'm sure, in fact, that the proportion of 80/20 was correct - but the excitement of the Melbourne supporters combined with the probable disappointment of the Bomber fans meant our 20% sounded equal to their 80%.

I need to apologise. I've criticised his performance (but not his effort) on this site previously so it's only right that I now praise him for his excellent game last night. Right from the start of the game he looked a different player to the one we've seen the rest of the year. Who would have predicted before the game that a Melbourne backline without Frawley, Garland, Grimes and Bartram could keep the Bombers to only 6 goals. Reason for edit: typos

6. Jones 5. Rivers 4. Watts 3. Grimes 2. Garland 1. Jamar (I thought he was the best ruckman out there against two who have done pretty well all year. We won the clearances. It can't just have been luck)

The most astounding thing to me is that Dunn and Bate will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the year. It's hard to believe both those players have been persisted with for so long given that neither has ever solidified their spot in the seniors. Perhaps if they had been the victims of serious injuries, such as ACLs, along the way there might have been some justification. But to my mind the fact that both are still on the list is extraordinary.

I know what you mean - but I doubt you meant that you only want them to perform up until half time. I'd like to see heart and soul for the full 2 hours (or 7,200 seconds)

Harsh, I would have thought. He's not endowed with pace or skill, but I do believe he's trying his hardest.