La Dee-vina Comedia

This photo was in a tweet just posted by the club. It's apparently Margaret River. Have to say that it does look photoshopped. They woudn't do that would they? (For example, what's that short white line under the wheel?)

That's not how I remember it. I was given the impression that he was fully supported by the club after he left. Was that a smokescreen put up by the club or am I remembering it wrongly?

Well, the good news is that win or lose, "57 years since our last flag" will be heard no more. Although 58 years is going to wear thin very quickly.

I think people from the left think that "cancel culture" is a right wing term and people from the right believe it's left wing terminology. I'm actually sorry I used it, not because of the discussion in this thread which I think is worthwhile, but because I think it's a faddish term which will eventually cease common usage. And for that everyone, whether left, right or from the extreme centre, will eventually be grateful.

Is "umparanoia" a word? If so, it's to be found here.

This is not about the umpires per se, but what's with the line "Foxfooty.com.au understands Stevic will officiate..." after having explicitly stated in the previous paragraph that Stevic has been appointed? Very dodgy journalism...but I guess that's the norm these days.

There is a need to be very careful here. None of us will ever know the true story. Was it self-defence? Was it protection of property and not racially based? Did it even happen as described? There are always risks with a cancel culture approach, especially when the facts have been lost or, conversely, exaggerated by the effluxion of time.

Any feedback from your local council?

I've now got an image in my mind that's going to be hard to remove of Hugh Laurie prancing around with a teddy bear he calls 'Rosebud'. That's my workday ruined.

In which case I'll donate again after we win in 2022, too.

Range Rover. And the other thing I'm most tired of hearing? Facile special comments.

Why don't we use the GF to raise some money for charities and other good causes? The idea of this thread is for people to make pledges. I don't care what it's for as long as the person making the pledge is satisfied that it's a good cause. It can be a charity, a local community group or your grandchildren's education fund. What I'm looking for are ideas for raising funds. For example, $10 per Gawn hitout; $5 for each Petracca possession; $200 for a Melbourne Premiership; $50 if Kickett kicks the first goal, etc. Let's have some fun with the ideas and raise some money at the same time. It's purely an honour system. No-one's going to check to see whether you actually follow through. And I appreciate that everyone's circumstances are different. Even if you can't right now afford to donate, that's OK. Instead, please give ideas to those who can of what they might make pledges on. I'll start by offering to donate $150 to Dementia Australia if we win. It's in honour of my father who was a Melbourne supporter but can no longer remember the Premierships of the 1950s and 60s.

I'm glad you differentiated Josh Kennedy (WCE) from Josh Kennedy (Syd) by describing one as J Kennedy and the other as J Kennedy.

I suspect Brian Cook was genuinely intending to retire but was "encouraged" to go to Carlton by the AFL in the same way Peter Jackson was "encouraged" to come to us. That being the case, I also wouldn't be surprised to see the AFL assist Carlton by encouraging a respected coach to join them. I don't think it will be Clarkson, though. I expect him to be "encouraged" to be Tasmania's coach from 2023 onwards. As to Geelong, three premierships in 5 years relatively recently trumps any criticism of their more recent list management.

What I like about Brown's presence on our list is the work which has obviously been done by our medical/fitness staff. Not only did we recruit him knowing he had a knee problem, we trusted our medical/fitness teams and Brown himself to get him back into proper shape. It hasn't always worked (Bennell, for example) but when it does, it's a great credit to all involved. PS: Can include Max Gawn in this group. Fine effort by him and our medical/fitness team to get him to where he is today (and has been for the last 6 years) after two knee reconstructions.

The other issue with the Bentleigh Club was the revenue from poker machines. While I have no problem with clubs operating poker machines, many of our supporters - possibly even the majority - do. So while we still had them it made many supporters uncomfortable. Getting out of the pokies business helps unify the supporters.

I think a bigger problem was the inexorable move to full-time professionalism which the MCC was slow to accept during the 70s and early 80s. (I'd even suggest the MCC actively fought against it, although whether I can find evidence to support that supposition is questionable. I do vaguely remember a media story about the last true amateur in the then VFL playing for Melbourne. Was it John Clennett?)

How could it be decided?. The Coleman Medal is objective, rather than subjective, although in rewarding the highest goalkicker, it is not necessarily recognising the best forward. Perhaps a panel of experts might select the individual? On the other hand, perhaps we've already identified the best six in the land via the All-Australian process and that's all that is necessary.

Insert groan emoji

I know I've been doing my bit for the last 57 years. About time the players and the coach contributed!

Driving around the streets of one of the leafy eastern suburbs this morning I saw approximately 30 houses and shops decorated with Melbourne paraphenalia and one home in Western Bulldogs colours. More disconcertingly, I saw a BMW with the number plate "BONT" and also this gentleman. Impressive style.

I'm ashamed to say that while I had been thinking in the last few weeks about Flower, Stynes, Wight, Broadbridge and Bailey as Demons who had left us too soon, I had completely forgotten about Colin Sylvia until I read the article.

I suppose I could look this up, but who was the last player to win the Brownlow when his team didn't make the finals? I'll open the bidding with Bob Skilton, but I assume there have been others since then.

I'm with you. Irrespective of whether medals are presented to everyone on the list, or anyone who played a game or 10 games, or anyone who played in one of the finals, the reality is, only those that played in a winning Grand Final will be called "Premiership Players". That's not to say some sort of reward could not be given to the whole squad, but it's rather like swimming relays at the Olympics - anyone who participated in the heats or the final gets a medal, but we will only remember the four who swam in the final itself.

Not sure your last sentence is consistent with the bonhomie of your second.