La Dee-vina Comedia

I believe there's a Canberra version of this which asks what would Scott Morrison be if he wasn't Prime Minister? Every day there's a new job added, such as Minister for Health, Minister for Home Affairs, etc.

Given the context was about the coffee cart, I'm a bit disappointed you didn't include expresso love in your post somewhere.

I wonder what they'll do if Clarkson turns them down... It is being reported that Clarkson is "interested" in talking to Essendon, but for all we know, he's just doing that (if it's true) to extract a better deal from North.

Maybe. Or maybe Essendon is working to develop an appropriate severance package. I assume Rutten can't quit or he loses the right to claim a severance payment. And Essendon presumably didn't start working on an appropriate arrangement until yesterday. Hopefully the delay is being caused by Essendon trying to do the right thing by Rutten now that they've (presumably) decided to move him on.

This should be in the dictionary as the perfect definition of irony.

If I were Clarkson, I think North would be a better option. I assume the remuneration will be somewhat similar, given he's got the stronger bargaining position. I think North is better because there's so much upside. In essence, North will improve from where they are and he will get the credit. Essendon may yet get worse. If improvement is not seen at Essendon by 2024, there will be impatience everywhere - from members to sponsors to the TV broadcasters. I expect Clarkson thrives on pressure, but his enduring reputation cannot be tarnished by what happens at North; but it can be by a stint at Essendon.

So, to summarise, we are one of only eight teams who have won back-to-back premierships since 1897. Now, what about back-to-back-to-back...? In recent times there have been Brisbane and Hawthorn. Collingwood has done it and so have we (twice). Any other teams?

Nice work. Reward yourself with some extra Ham-let on your Melb-A-Toast.

Of the 18 teams in the competition today, how many have ever won back-to-back premierships? Obviously not Freo, Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda or the Bulldogs. Off the top of my head, not North or Port Adelaide either. On the other hand, definitely us, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, Essendon, Adelaide and Brisbane. So, what about Geelong, West Coast, Sydney and Carlton (surely they must have?)

Is he? Seems to me Langdon and Jordon are our wingmen most of the time, so if Spargo spends any time in that role, surely it's not for "most of the game". But here's a good place to ask: Why did Langdon not play 100% game time in the Carlton game as is his norm? Was he injured? Was it to shake a tag? Was he being beaten? Were we trying to play through the other side at the time? Anyone know?

I've asked this question before: What is "AFL"? Is it: the type of football we play? (I would say, no, it's called Australian Football or Australian Rules Football. Nevertheless, it's called AFL in many places these days, including NSW and Queensland) the Commission which runs the whole code from top to bottom? the 18-team professional men's competition? I think one of the decisions of the 10-year strategy plan should be whether the AFL Commission should be responsible for the whole code AND the 18-team professional men's competition, or whether those two responsibilities should be separated leaving the AFL Commission to administer the code and a separate organisation to run the 18-team professional men's competition just like there's an organisation to run the equivalent women's competition.

Should be an interesting meeting. However, I'm disappointed that your heading isn't actually what the AFL Commission is doing. At least, not specifically. I think the idea of developing a 10-year strategy plan is exactly what the Commission should be looking at. The first two items could be a part of that, although the future of broadcasting/streaming and future technologies needs to be a strategic matter which is more than just the new rights deal. Other significant topics which should be addressed in a 10-year strategy plan include: growth of the game, particularly in the northern states the rules of the game player health and welfare (including, but not just limited to concussion). This should include during and post-playing careers umpiring grass-roots footy, junior footy, women's footy inclusiveness, including indigenous, gay and disabled players and supporters governance at the Commission level stadium quality (infrastructure and service quality, including food and beverage, etc) international growth protection from competing codes and other recreational activities gambling (including sports betting and poker machines) game scheduling (which days? what times? etc) consumer costs, including ticketing, memberships, transport to/from games, food and drinks at grounds, etc I'm sure there's plenty more.

I think Dodoro has been reasonable at picking new talent. However, he doesn't seem to know how to manage the trade and list management components of the job. My suspicion is that Josh Mahoney and Dodoro may have a testy relationship which will see one of them leave as part of this upheaval.

You seem to have forgotten that Stephen Dank has promised to tell his story and clear everyone of any wrongdoing. Any day now... With the soft cap, how can Essendon have more money to offer than North? Surely if Clarkson takes more money himself from Essendon there would be less available for all other football requirements, including assistant coaches. It all seems very much like Melbourne after the 186 game. Headless chooks not knowing who to sack and the order in which to sack them.

Normally I think your posts are very insightful, but I reckon only one of these three make sense. Meatloaf sang that two out of three ain't bad. You should aspire to that standard.

6. Brayshaw 5. Melksham 4. Petty 3. Hunt 2. Salem 1. Gawn Any of the following could have been given the last vote: May, Oliver, Patracca and Viney

My completely untrained eye suggests that May might have a back problem. He seems not to have the flexibility to bend over comfortably which results in him fumbling when he tries to pick up a ground ball.

Sloppy headline on the SEN website today. I'm sure SEN would love it if every player in the competition were to be linked to a trade. It could be talked about endlessly. But the headline is not quite what it seems.

*Bump In case anyone's interested, this article just published puts a slightly different spin on "dynamic pricing". In essence, it argues that dynamic pricing isn't as much about maximising pricing as it is about providing those organisations who use it with the extra revenue that would otherwise go to scalpers. I understand the logic of that argument, but as the article also points out, it can lead to serious customer/fan blowbacks.

But Laurie is named as one of the four emergencies; Chandler is not. Anyway, it might all be moot. Kev Martin has started a training thread for today and is keeping an eye on Pickett. Kev has confirmed that Pickett is at training.

Good on you, Kev. I've just read the team selection thread which raises the possibility that Pickett may miss due to a knee concern. You know what we need you to look for...

If we stick by the mantra that players do not play their first ever game as the sub, there are only two legit choices for the sub this week. Of course, if an emergency does get a call-up, that could change. For example, if Pickett doesn't get up (see above, re a suggestion of a knee issue), perhaps Laurie will get to play his first game.

Having watched the last few games, I suspect our opponents have worked out that a significant key to stopping us is to stop ANB. He seems to be the one who is tagged more often than any other player. He's fumbling because he's under immense pressure even before he's got the ball. And then when he gets it, he has no time to dispose of it. (To his credit, he's absorbing an enormous physical punishing every game.) I don't know whether the solution is to move him, drop him or give him time to work through it.

I'm hoping it's a mental thing and when it really matters - that is, in September - the team will get back to playing at its best. It's not great, though, to be looking for "reasons" like this in an effort to justify our sub-standard performances.

Same. But unlike the past, the memories of that era no longer require me to pass through the five stages of grief before I can move on with the rest of my day.