La Dee-vina Comedia

I'm shocked. Not that Neale has been honoured in this way but by the timing of it. Why didn't this happen sooner?

I'm interested in why you see McVee as a future leader. What's the evidence for this? I see a great on-field talent, but that doesn't always translate to being leadership material. You could put together a great team of players none of whom had any leadership interest or capability. Players such as Gary Ablett Sr, Bruce Doull, Buddy Franklin and Dustin Martin were all greats of the game, but none were leaders.

The Federal Government has announced it is proceeding with legislation to prevent those under 16 from using social media. This article appears to sum up the position well. I don't know if there are many, or even any people under the age of 16 who use Demonland. I also don't know whether Demonland would fall into the category of being low risk and exempt. I'm not even sure that Demonland would be considered to be a "social media platform". What I am concerned about, though, is the impact of the legislation on Demonland's administrators if Demonland is captured by the new law. Let's hope Demonland isn't captured by the law, but if it is, that it is considered by the eSafety Commissioner to be low risk and therefore exempt.

Am I missing something? Why is there a map of Cazalys Stadium, Cairns in the middle of this announcement regarding training at Gosch's Paddock?

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Does anyone know whether Mark Robinson writes his own articles or whether they are ghost written? I ask because his written work is articulate, albeit a bit simplistic in its content, whereas his spoken word seems like a train in search of a bridge to fall off.

I'm never sure whether I would get more joy beating Collingwood in a Grand Final by 10 goals or by beating them by 1 point after being behind all game. I'd take either, of course.

I haven't thought this right through yet, but I would very much like to see Melbourne and St Kilda develop an annual "blockbuster" style game highlighting mental health and concussion and celebrating the players who have been medically retired in the past year. It should be called the Frawley-Brayshaw Game (or Brayshaw-Frawley Game) with a perpetual trophy of the same name awarded to the winning team.

How does training like reported here fit in with the mandatory break of 7 weeks (or whatever it is)? Is this like the Monty Python Argument Clinic where John Cleese's character claims he was just arguing in his spare time?

Bob Murphy and Noel Gallagher

You're usually quite perceptive. But your first line is rubbish.

I assume if we take the consensus view of ANB's trade value on Demonland and the consensus view of his value on the Adelaide supporters' equivalent bulletin board, we should expect that his trade value will likely end up in the middle.

I see a hidden message in the medal design. There are more light towers on what is essentially half the MCG than actually exist. I think the AFL is prepping us subliminally for a night Grand Final! Also, I'm not sure it's a great likeness of Barassi, either.

I don't have a problem with the proposal at all. Nevertheless, was there something better? Maybe. Perhaps it should be presented to any coach or player (past or present) who wins 10 premierships either as a senior coach or player. I have no idea if there is anyone who might be eligible to receive it (Leigh Matthews? Dick Reynolds? Jock McHale?) but they sure as hell would have earned it.

Seeing Tabaret as a sponsor of Casey reminds me of two things. (1) Gawn has been with us a long time and (2) I recall the days when Winfield sponsored football and Benson and Hedges were the main sponsors of cricket.

I think we need to be wary about this one. Two way trades often end up with sweeteners involving a third team. I'm nervous that to make it happen Richmond's doorman will end up at Essendon and we'll get Adrian Dodoro.

So you'd prefer a forward with no experience as a coach over a coach with no experience as a forward. Not sure I agree that this would be the best way to proceed.

I'm no doctor, but that might explain the leak.

Unfortunately, I suspect Hall of Fame entrants benefit from having premierships, Brownlows and Coleman medals against their names. Great players in poorer teams will always struggle for such recognition.

Every club should hold an external review after every third season, irrespective of how they are travelling. And in the other two years, they should do an annual, internal review. The reason the external reviews are necessary is because club boards, by their nature, are not dispassionate enough to make tough decisions.

You're right...the bigger picture should prevail. In this instance, the bigger picture is that Neal-Bullen is putting his family first.

Throughout his playing career Neal-Bullen has selflessly played to take the pressure off Petracca by doing the hard running, taking the hits and providing options. And now, off the field, Nibbler has again helped Petracca out by taking the heat which was otherwise being directed Petracca's way regarding allegations of his (Petracca's) alleged unhappiness with the club.

Yes, contracts are indeed contracts. And like any contract, if both parties agree, a contract can be amended or terminated. Holding players to their contracts sounds like tough action, but do we really want to be a club that does that? Would that harm our chances of attracting quality players in the future? If I were Dan Houston, I wouldn't want to come to a club that treated one of its loyal servants so badly.

1377 individuals have played one or more games for our club. Assuming ANB plays the final two this year, he'll be equal 35th on games played along with John Beckwith and Salem (if he also plays the last two). He absolutely deserves our thanks and best wishes.

I hope we name Petracca this week, only to have him as a late withdrawal on game day. It's worth doing just to play with Tom Morris's head. (Only with Petracca's consent, of course.)