La Dee-vina Comedia

These are very good points you have made. Nevertheless, using Henderson as an example, isn't Werribee facing that problem already? All their planning for 2025 (financial, team balance and structure, etc) has just been hit.

Should someone do a welfare check on Picket Fence? I'm worried a snake finally got him.

Still nothing official that I can see on either the MFC or AFL websites. However, this article on the AFL website is stating it as a fact. Mind you, I only wanted to link to this story to make the point that it's no surprise that Sandy Brock has gone from the Gold Coast to West Coast. It seems his whole football career was pre-determined by the name he was given.

Thanks - but that article is still conjecturing. It may well be correct, but it's not an official statement.

Has there been an official announcement anywhere or are we just relying on media commentary? I can find nothing on the MFC or AFL websites (although both sites are so poor it could be there). The media is always right, isn't it?

Just wait for the outcry when the season proper gets underway and people discover there are no FTA games on Saturdays.

Am I allowed to question a player's character based on appalling hairstyle choices?

Serious question: Does Ed Langdon ride his bike to training at Casey?

Isn't the hamstring connected to the bone at both ends?

Slick. PS: If anyone "likes" this post you can be sure they're over 60 years old.

But how do we know where he's best suited if we don't try this? Imagine if he's best suited to being a true midfielder and we've missed out on this for years!

I've now read the article on the Port website. Why do people churlishly assume from what's been made public that Hinkley is being moved on by Port? That analysis doesn't make sense to me. Surely, if Port wanted Hinkley gone, they would have done that before the end of 2024. I think it far more likely to be exactly what Port says it is: a well organised succession plan. I hope it works. The AFL world would be a much better place if most clubs organised succession plans the way Port seems to have done in this instance. It's much better than radical overhauls where a new coach comes in and dumps the former assistants.

Dangerous pun territory. As a matter of interest, Demonland's opening post is coming up blank on my screen. Is anyone else having the same problem?

I hope one day we'll read "Adams and Hore defeat Jefferson in big contest, much to delight of teammates".

I didn't read this article to mean that clubs can't offer long contracts. Only that the Board would be required to sign off on any such deal rather than leaving it solely to the football department.

And even if they were not looking good, as you say, I'm pleased that we at least seem to be trying various options rather than continuing with the "same old" plans.

Congratulations to the happy couple.

I thought you were discussing food there for a moment, with "buttered nachos"

I'm fully in favour of no practice matches or any interactions with other teams until the first game of the season. I believe it would make the season openers much more exciting. What matters is bringing the crowds to games and eyeballs to TV. While I appreciate it means teams might be a bit rusty in their first game or two, I believe that going into the season with every team starting equally (ie, haven't been "beaten" in a meaningless practice game) gives every fan a reason for optimism.

Let's be honest. It's not much of a "surprise" if it's already being spoken about before it has actually happened.

Is it possible the former player doesn't know he has this son?

I suspect that in another 50 years or so (hopefully sooner) society will wonder why boxing was still allowed in the first quarter of the 21st century.

I keep wondering why these prospective father-son recruits aren't at school!

Maybe Tomlinson was unlucky because the club meant to delist Adams and wrote it as Adam instead. Once the paperwork was lodged with the AFL it was then too late to rectify the error. (Or maybe not. Tomlinson seems like a fine fellow. Someone told me he was studying for a Masters degree at Uni. If that's correct, does anyone know in which discipline?)

Ah, the AFL is all for inconsistency. Pickett's suspension doesn't get counted when he plays in the Indigenous All Star game...but I'm willing to place a bet that any player who participates in that game can be suspended if they breach the relevant rules.