Diamond_Jim

Yep.. they are looking for a new guinea pig. It requires the nominee to give up a home game so I can't see Carlton agreeing. Of the Melbourne clubs the Saints are a high possibility and if no one steps up the AFL will pressure GWS into going. My understanding is that the game loses a few million which is paid by the AFL. There was also a significant investment in the stadium itself to bring the ground and surrounds up to a basic level. No wonder some of the clubs are screaming for a proper business case.

good point PD. Today's reading in Shanghai is 112. Over 100 WHO says it is considered unhealthy and strenuous exertion is advised against. In my experience at 100 one can see about 400 metres at best. ( Did 250 in Delhi earlier this year where they have 500 on occasions and that was not great but okay for walking around.) http://aqicn.org/city/shanghai/ By comparison the readings in say Melbourne and New York for today are 25 and 19 respectively

Tigers injury list very light as usual http://www.afl.com.au/news/injury-list Rioli plays VFL this weekend

You are right in the sense of crowds but over the last 40 years there have been two things that have driven the revenue growth of the AFL comp. One is corporate money... started with Dick Pratt at Carlton in the '80's. (Boy is that a story but the corporate world and sport came together as if they were both on steroids.) Then we had pay Tv and the explosion on the cost of the rights that the AFL had to sell. Fast forward to now and the two still hold true (in their infancy) for China. Initially it's a corporate play. Big business in Australia entertain one of the biggest growing markets in the world. The TV play is much harder but not impossible. EPL works well because their early game fits the Chinese time zone. Similarly a 7pm kick off in Perth works well. Strangest thing is that crowds are the least of the equation... (unfortunately). Of course many businesses around the world have pumped really big money into cracking the China market and have failed. The most recent example is Uber and there are a lot of skeletons. (In the banking world most if not all of the banks have had a go in Asia and failed.)

Injury to Weideman is not good. This weekend was another chance to show what he could do. Either Pedersen or Garlett in his place. The naming of Hunt is interesting as it makes no sense given the rest of the bench ... unless fritsch is being rested. Tyson on the bench seems to have answered the question of who goes out for Viney .* Spargo.. who knows but perhaps both Pedersen and Garlett make the team. Any other combinations I have missed. These five man benches make a mockery of selections. * Just noticed ANB is on the bench as well.. so who knows

"The top field umpires made as much as $150,000 in 2016, while similarly proficient boundary and goal umpires collected upwards of $50,000." https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-considering-employing-at-least-two-fulltime-umpires-for-2017-season/news-story/347b2a2958129e9e5a56c4a9064e1c28?nk=34fd14988ab099a0a18aab69e413ab5d-1526540838

to CAS perhaps ... they all did so well last time !!

only player to win the reserves b&f medal (competition wide) twice if I recall.

Finding will probably be along the lines that while we might have come to a different decision the decision of the tribunal was open to it at the time. That way the original tribunal bear the scorn and the warning is sent that you may not be so lucky next time. Can't wait to see if we have the famous "links in the chain argument"

Very interested in your feedback Proper Dee together with any colour pieces about Shanghai. Does the average Chinese even know Australia exists. As many would know most Americans have no idea about us. I spend a lot of time in Malaysia where Oz is well known mainly due to the number of Malaysian students we have had in the country. At least in India everyone knows the Australian cricket team. I find it amazing that many know a lot more about our team than I do and I'm a reasonable cricket follower.

You heard it here guys... the biggest TV audience ever !!! "The AFL expects that the Gold Coast v Port Adelaide game in Shanghai will be the most-watched game in VFL/AFL history due to the improved broadcasting arrangement in China. The AFL’s general manager for China and India, David Stevenson, said this weekend’s game ‘‘will be the most-watched game in AFL history’’ because it will be broadcast in three major centres on free to air." Rather ironic that it's behind the paywall in Oz so few will watch it here. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/china-game-tipped-to-be-most-watched-match-in-afl-history-20180516-p4zfqn.html On a separate note they are looking for a new guinea pig to give up their home game: "But the future of the China game is unclear, despite Port Adelaide’s commitment to the project, because the Gold Coast might not continue to give up a home game. The AFL commission has approved of the Shanghai game continuing ‘‘for the forseeable future’’, as Stevenson said, but the AFL and the Power need to find a partner club for it to continue. Should the Suns quit the game, the AFL preference would be for it to be replaced by a club based in either Melbourne or Sydney, given that more than 70 per cent of Australia’s huge ethnic Chinese population live in the two major cities." GWS probably

Do they still have that dancing show ??... I see some possibilties

Just got an email from MFC about finals ticket packages. I see they start at $1300. Anybody got some more details on the prices and packages Might be interested if we win the next three

Interesting Saty the real question is whether Hunt's form even when he had it fits the game plan. Stretch is often amongst our best at VFL level but just cannot turn it on at AFL level. Wagner... depth Bugg... if only he could kick straight he would be best 18 (not just 22) Garlett... he'll get another chance soon... he needs to make use of it.

If speed is his only weapon and in the main that is straight line speed he will have difficulty when there are 36 players in about one sixth of the field. He has to reinvent himself... he's young enough and has the basic skills. Perhaps give him some midfield time at VFL level to start finding the ball again. Unfortunately I can see him slipping slowly out of sight but I very much hope not. Same with Billy Stretch.

It will always be 31 (tbh we should retire that number as it carries such enormous expectations). Perhaps we will when RDB leaves this mortal world. (But hell let's do it during his lifetime!)

He's in ... end of story if there ever was one. The only way he misses if his body readings or whatever they use to measure fitness etc were out of kilter after the VFL game and that is low. Not sure we can expect him to tear it up first game back though. Tag or no tag he was only reasonable last week at Casey but what else do we expect after 9 months or so out of the game.

This year we may have struck it lucky in that two of the teams we play twice are the Saints and the Suns. We also have the Dogs twice which if we are trending we should win. That by itself is 6 wins. The other two are Geelong (next time at the cattery) and Adelaide (once in Alice and once in Adelaide). Freo at Darwin instead of the MCG turns what should have been a 70/30 game into a 50/50 game of Fyfe remains on song. Other than the obvious of winning everything I am more interested in how we can make top 4. I suspect we missed that chance with not winning one of our 50/50 games so far this year. Our opponents for that 4th spot are Hawthorn, Geelong, Swans , Adelaide and Port so watching how these teams go over the next few weeks becomes important. Adelaide playing Port twice makes for a plus for us .. I think.

OOOh... love the arrogance........ almost Hawthornesque

If correct I think you've hit the nail on the head there Ouch. You have to love the AFL when it enters the judicial world .... This could detract from the build up to the big China game

wow... interesting dynamics

Just to add... if you are an MFC member (including AFL with Melbourne support) entry is $5. Still looking for car parking info on the venue if anyone has it. Cheers

No wonder the Age is struggling. Couldn't really find anything in this article worth quoting but to give you an idea: "Shanghai is the biggest city in China, home to more than 25 million people. China has a population of over 1.3 billion. Shanghai is also home to several big Chinese businesses who just might be interested in introducing themselves to the Australian market by leveraging a sponsorship with a club in Australia's most popular football code. And if only a quarter of a per cent of all those living in the greater Shanghai area became members, they'd end up with more than 60,000, far from the worst membership tally in the AFL. The team would not need to be the biggest sport in Shanghai, just big enough to establish itself." https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-as-a-true-global-sport-don-t-laugh-it-could-happen-20180515-p4zfdx.html

C Curnow The footage is being shown in slow-mo. Curnow accepts he looked at the ump before touching him.

please don't remind me .... please