TRIGON

I see an ad on the AFL website ' why the umpires will be wearing blue this weekend'. Is it because it's traditional for them to wear 'clash' garb in Melbourne V Bulldogs games?

Well, the Tiwi Bombers are already in place as a potential reserves side.

I think the onus of proof within the WADA code is designed to stop unscrupulous teams/organisations pumping god-knows-what into young athletes. Thereby protecting their health and the integrity of their sport. Therefore the code's onus is guilty until proven innocent. If the code were innocent until proven guilty then doping could become more prevalent because drug-cheats would know that they could tie any cases up in court for years, with the likelihood being that the athletes career could be over by the time any judgement was handed down. You either sign-up to this code, or you don't, but once you have - that's the way it is. Or as John Wayne put it "you buy the land you get the indians". (P.S. This post has been authorised for distribution by the Ministry for the Bleeding Obvious).

See lots of views, however surprised to see no comments yet, it was a great expose. An easier way to read it is via The Concussion Games transcript Peter Fitzsimons followed up overnight: Accepting facts on long-term effects of concussions among athletes should be a no-brainer Highlights the need for independent research into this issue...certainly got the scientific community talking: Repeated head injuries highlight gaps in sports concussion management

But he displays the requisite hunger?

For anyone who cares about player welfare, check out the radio segment in the link below: With the evidence mounting that concussion is linked to long term brain injuries, contact sports right around the world are on watch. However, the AFL's expert concussion group has consistently attacked the growing evidence, accusing scientists of dodgy research and fear mongering. Wendy Carlisle investigates. The Concussion Games

Is there any truth in the rumour that Essendon are going to hire Murilitharan as the new spin coach?

And the irony of it all is that the player that nearly won the game for them (Zaharakis) didn't touch the stuff.

The order of the day is tackle tackle tackle (safe in the knowledge that it's unlikely that our players will contract hepatitis by doing so).

Damien Barrett is a disposable commodity in the big picture. WYL, I'd argue not. Commodities have a value.

Dangerous game of bluff unless the other club really really really wanted him. Mind you, we once had a recruiter who called Jamie Bennell ahead of Rory Sloane and was delighted to have 'trumped' West Coast...we all know how that turned out!

While I agree it wasn't pretty, it was gripping (up until 3/4 time anyway) and infinitely preferable to the Saints V Hawks match earlier this year - which was what Titus O'Reily would refer to as "an open training session for Hawthorn".

Haven't seen it, could have been purple? Note to self - Learn from Bootsma's mistake, do not post pictures of my 'Damien Barrett' on social media.

Back onto the thread topic. I think we need some distributors off half-back and more pace. Perhaps Dean Kent could fill this role for us in the future and then there's the prospect of picking Billy Stretch up as a potential wing/half back flanker. If so then maybe we'd only need to target one out-of-contract mature player to bolster the stocks while the others develop (keeping in mind that Casey seems to be rotating a lot of MFC players through HBF already). Which player out-of-contract mature player would Demonlanders suggest best meet this need?

Well done Chook (not being sarcastic - I mean it). Speaking with a mate who is a well-informed member of the football industry (by definition not a journalist), the general consensus was that Dawes went to Melbourne because no-one else wanted him. Classic case of 'group-think' getting it wrong. Lucky for us.

Whosa, Please enlighten me re the Bob Carr reference (mustn't have been paying attention to the news of the time). As an act of good faith, I'll offer in return a possible answer to your avatar's question...Karmichael.

Fish! But that's enough surrealism for a Tuesday. I believe the current emblem is inspired in concept by the Barcelona fc shield - that's maybe why there's an Aussie Rules footy on it (as opposed to a soccer ball). As an emblem I like it, doesn't work so well as a logo though, perhaps because of its multiple elements. As far as pre-match BS mentioned earlier in the thread goes. Fire-walking, team running around in a pentagram pattern instead of the centre-square, sacrifice of virgins etc all ok with me - just don't, whatever we do, bring back the trumpeter!

Never had that experience myself...perhaps I was unapproachably handsome?

Good point Nasher, see the One In Three Campaign

Agree that he'll need to step-up to stay-on. However, if he does go, our need for more pace within the list only increases.

Yes, best file that one away Ricky. Given that Port showed us up for pace yesterday, we really need the likes of Evans and Blease to step-up. Even if Blease were to become just a specialist super-sub he could still be great weapon in the arsenal.

Thanks for the insight Crackers. When watching on TV it's harder (sometime impossible) to appreciate the nuances of play. That being said we do have a huge issue across our half-back line. Not one of them is a great kick. Compare that to the Swans on Thursday - where much of their demolition of the Cats came from superb attacks launched from their half-back line.

Thanks Nudge. So the club's taking the "little Bo Peep" approach?

According to the latest @TitusOreily tweet, Essendon's litany of unconscionable acts has plumbed a new low... "Essendon say that if the don't get salary cap exemptions for legal aid, they'll cancel Peppa Pig."

IMO I believe his lack of pace is decisive and further I don't believe he will get this back ( was he ever quick to start with?) You have every right to question his pace over the past two years, but he once was quick. "RUNNING AND JUMPING: Trengove dispelled any doubt over his speed off the mark at last month's state testing session in Adelaide. He ran 2.97 seconds in the 20-metre sprint to complement his awesome endurance - he's a former state-level cross country runner." Source Will he get it back? Let's hope so.