Diamond_Jim

think I'll watch the cricket

Great memories. People tend to forget how big the VFA was in its heyday. By pioneering live TV coverage of its games it rivalled the VFL for a while. Hard to put a finger on why it all fell away but can probably be traced to when the AFL/VFL moved from being controlled by the clubs to its commission system of management.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48614569 Arsenal director of high performance Darren Burgess is set to leave the Emirates after two years with the club. It is understood Burgess, 45, was sacked days after the Gunners' 4-1 Europa League final defeat by Chelsea.

it's not the advertising... it's the AFL taking the money It's a bigger issue than pokies if you take a step back... It is mainstreaming a minority activity... think on it.

I read this on the changes thread a half hour ago just after I posted how strong the Casey team should be due to the reduction in the injury list. Words fail me.. except to say it must be a very sore foot if it's still there after a week off.

Great Theme song.... to the tune of California Here I Come

Went in to Pentridge as part of my job when very young... my memory is of a cold bluestone courtyard with lots of bored men standing around. Mind you in later years I did envy their vegetable garden.

Looking forward to heading to Coburg on Sunday. One of my favourite grounds for viewing football. In the interest of culinary reporting I am determined to try some of the local brewing company's product. I see from their website they have one called Pentridge Pale Ale which sounds like a nice drop. On the game Casey should have a very strong MFC contingent with injuries comparatively low and no hold over emergencies due to the AFL game being on Saturday.

spot betting .. for instance that the next ball is a wide and you as the player determine the result is so so different but I will leave others to judge. This is the AFL playing tough on one hand while supping at the ever growing sports betting trough

match fixing is a long way off having a bet on your team

Never thought I'd say it but the AFL have set the penalty too high this time. Cannot hep but think that it is an inverse reaction to their reliance on the gambling dollar. Match fixing in cricket and tennis which is a million shades worse only gets you one to two years.

One assumes it would need to be a lifestyle change as it is hard to imagine how the MFC could match what a top EPL club pays.

I think this is what people may have missed in their comments. The changes may be minimal but mid season and announced in the manner they have been the process itself is significant. Without a change in gameplan however any personel changes are of questionable impact and they should and can only be measured in the tougher games later in the season.

just have the player put earbuds in and the coach can broadcast whatever distraction he/she wants... not rocket science

what worries me is that there was no hint of a change in the gameplan. Anyway let's see what Saturday etc brings

and so it begins... the last die are being thrown

quite happy to wait until 2020.. and add two good draft picks

I like the idea of going hard after the unrestricted free agents.. a la Richmond and Hawthorn... upping the salary cap problems of GWS et al if we lose is the flip side. It's a no brainer as compared to trading for May last year... that was just dumb

Have a think about the player who would have the biggest value on the trade market and is possibly the one we could most do without. The answer I suggest is not popular but no one is untouchable these days. On Brayshaw I think like most of our mids he has more value to us than what we could get as trade.

was wondering when we were going to morph into discussing our flag chances for 2019. Just about to book a trip for warmer climes during finals time. Do you guys think I should hold off?

Since Jesse Hogan left Melbourne and joined Freo, the teams' fortunes have swung, with the Dockers pushing for a finals berth and the Dees sliding down the ladder. One could feel it coming.... Probably the only thing to get a crowd along... could be as low as 16k but I think we will just crack 20k. When was the last time Freo won at the MCG?

we have almost been the Carlton/Essendon of recent years when it comes to stinking it up in prime time spots

My Orange Men are bringing it home... the petrie dish is boiling. Be positive ... if they win the GF there'll be some cast offs as they deal with their salary cap. Patton could be a negative trade (salary wise) if they want a good draft pick.

gameplan....what's that not to mention selection to match an opposition.

Must send the memo not to head down to Frankston for a VFL match. Colourful barracking from the city side wing based locals to say the least. Lovely venue though complete with pine trees and a glimpse of the bay not to mention the great sausage sizzle.