La Dee-vina Comedia

Too right. See https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/d/dada#:~:text=Dada was an art movement,satirical and nonsensical in nature

I think there are more marginal electorates in Geelong. Watch out for a further Kardinia Park stadium and associated facilities upgrade.

While the 2006 games were held in Melbourne, Andrews wants the 2026 event to be held across regional Victoria: Knowing our luck we'll get a nice, new home base in Warrnambool.

I think you'll find that buying Docklands stadium was a financial windfall for the AFL. If I recall correctly, the AFL was able to borrow at a low rate of interest to keep the game going in 2020 because of its ownership of Docklands. I also disagree on Gold Coast being a waste of money. A second team in Queensland (and NSW) generates revenue through increased national sponsorship returns. In addition, it should strengthen the code in the northern States over time. Whether the money has been well spent at the Gold Coast is a different question.

The article says, "Six months later they were holding up the premiership cup after breaking the second-longest active drought." Wasn't our 57 years the longest active drought at the time? Or does he mean the second-longest active drought ever? Because that can't be right. Off the top of my head St Kilda waited 69 years (1897-1966) for their first flag and Sydney were 70+ years before they won in 2004. And the Bulldogs were 62 years between their two premierships.

This analysis by Champion Data is essential...if you're picking a team for Supercoach. It's probably mildly useful if you're interested in a flutter on the Brownlow (although how Jack Steele isn't said to be elite is beyond my understanding). But it is comprehensively useless if you're trying to identify a Premiership team. That's because Champion Data emphasises individualism rather than the team. Best example is Max Gawn. He's probably not "elite" because he shares duties with Luke Jackson so his statistical influence is diminished. I suspect, however, if there was a Champion Data category for "ruck combination", they'd be off the charts with daylight between them and the next combination.

I'm not saying the Selwood is the best captain in the competition, but surely the metric is more than having been captain of a premiership team. I've consistently argued that the role of captain today is far more than what happens on game day. Most of what a club needs from its captain happens outside game day.

Given we're using AFL umpires, can we discern any difference in the way the game is being umpired? For example, is the supposed change to the holding the ball interpretation changing the way the game is being played?

Not bizarre at all. This whole interview is intended for the Geelong playing group. He's telling them not to be despondent because there's a good reason they got thumped. At the same time he's telling them that they were good enough to make the 2021 PF, not good enough to be 2021 Premiers but definitely good enough to win in 2022. It's not dissimilar to the strategy behind Goodwin saying that he never bothered to review the 2018 Preliminary Final.

Wasn't Hunt a top tennis player in his youth? I seem to recall he was said to be better at tennis than football when he was drafted.

If AFLW teams can FIFO, should we anticipate that the AFLM will do likewise? I agree with your last line, by the way.

It's interesting how the mind works. When reading the quote from Hibberd in the opening post, my mind got ahead of my eyes so I anticipated Hibberd was going to say, "Ordineroli speaking a premiership means the world but given everything I've been through and overcome - it means nothing much at all" - so, essentially the opposite of what he said. If he had said that, I'm sure we all would have understood, but I'm pleased he's found it to be such a positive feeling.

And for Stan (owned by Nine who are publishers of The Age) and its documentary about the 2021 trade period. Having said that, if it's well done, it might be an interesting doco.

Seems to me the claims of bullying have already resulted in significant change. Notice how the coaches all have kindergarten standard plastic whistles instead of the old manly, metal monsters? Being in club colours is a nice, non-threatening touch.

Didn't I see in the Embarrassing Records thread that we've never been through a season undefeated? Perhaps not.🙂 But wouldn't it be great if it were to happen?

It's not that hard. Trac gets 3 votes round 1 while Clarrie gets 2. Then in round 2 it's Clarrie with 3 and Trac 2. Repeat for the remaining 20 games.

Such confidence. I'm not even confident that the VFL will have a proper season. If the AFL (seniors) run short of players due to Covid protocols, I can see the VFL being really stretched for playing personnel to the extent that the competition is abandoned.

I think Melbourne historically played more true amateurs than other clubs, too. As such, some might have had short careers as they needed to concentrate on their day jobs.

The order of adjectives can be most important.

Excellent summation.

Who's going to tell Harmes that a jumper with a different number, a brutal haircut and hiding his face from the camera is not enough to de-identify him? Another reason not to have visible tattoos.

This is one of the best posts I've ever read. I'm not sure if it's deliberate irony, but the first 6 words absolutely make this post.

Your point is valid, but Judd didn't play 300 games. Unless you're projecting forward about 15 years and talking about McVee.

I had a look at the Herald Sun's Grand Final Souvenir for the first time in a while yesterday and noticed some errors: See if you can, too. Here are some photos I've taken of the magazine. 1) Who's missing? 2) Who's missing as a goalkicker, and who's been credited with one too many? 3) What happened to the article meant to be on page 24 called "Tale of Two Halves"? This is what is actually on page 24 (and there is no article called "Tale of Two Halves" anywhere in the magazine: I appreciate the Herald Sun put this magazine together quickly, but there really is no excuse for any of these errors.

Apparently the Victorian government is seriously looking at hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026. Without delving into the merits of holding those games, I wonder if there is any way development of our home base can be incorporated in some way into that project? I understand the Government is keen for it to be a whole of Victoria bid, rather than primarily just Melbourne, but some shiny new things will surely be needed in inner Melbourne.