Earl Hood

No Hemingway yet again! I walked passed a place in Osaka where he obviously frequented in the past, drinking Sake, whiskey shots, who knows what else.

Loyalty issues as well I have heard!

4 Norm Smith - 4 and 6 - greatest football strategist, player manager in VFL history. 31 Ron Barassi - 6 and 4 - most competitive and successful footballer ever? 2 Robert Flower - our most exceptional and graceful player 11 Jim Stynes - the most inspirational player story in the VFL/AFL's short history!

I am in Osaka and who do I run into?

Yes too many concussions, one more hit outside a nightclub and he is cactus. Pass it on.

I am guzzling sake at the moment! The locals aren't impressed. Not bad you should try it Uncle. It lies somewhere between chateau cardboard and top shelf.

Ruthlessness for head coach yes, thinking Barassi, Matthews, Mathouse, Sheedy et al but not necessary for a line coach I would have thought. They are there to teach specific skills and game set up and build up a player's confidence.

I am booked on the Kanazawa to Kyoto express train tomorrow morning but just found out it is the Thunderbird Express leaving at 9.05 a.m. I wonder if they will let me on board? I didn't pack a disguise for this trip either!

Ernest I think you need a few more daiquiris!

Can't remember seeing much of Hardeman but know he was good but I think Ingerson should be considered as well at half back. Short time with us but I don't remember him being beaten by any forward, the consummate spoiler.

Not sure Punt but tell me what do you spend your pension on? Poker machines?

The problem was we took the Toump not as a bargain because he had the hip injuries, we paid top price for an injured player. Who then struggled to show why he was a pick 3. No weapons that I could detect, small in stature, no speed, not particularly evasive, not a great kick. Maybe he had that before his injuries that led us take him early. Certainly many rated him as top10.

The next logical step is a movie, how about "Looking for Jako", adapting the script directly from Looking for Eric! After all there are many similarities between Cantona and Jako in terms of mercurial talent, goal scoring and eccentricities on the field. Similar age and playing period the only difference was longevity, I suppose.

Wrecker climate is about long term averages for temperature, rainfall, wind etc. So we already have a 1C rise in global average temperatures above the recordable historic average. Weather is what you experience, locally and now. I am trying to point out that climate change is not some abstract theory that may occur in the future, it is happening now and people are being affected in the weather they are experiencing now. The raft of heat records I referred to back in September aren't about to happen, they occurred! They are on the record even though I am sure you will dispute the BoM data and that the people in northern NSW and western Queensland were duped into feeling like they were dealing with 40C plus temperatures in September, temperatures that they had never experienced before so early in spring. It is very much about the weather now, extreme heat and drought are occurring more often. Why don't you go and ask someone in the insurance business about their thoughts on "the weather" and what it is costing them in payouts and their predictions for the future effects of changing climate on their business models. They pay out on the bad weather not the climatic averages but they are factoring in that climate change equals more extremes and more damage from sever storms or more intense and frequent fires.

Yes LG very timely post. You won't get any arguments from me on that!!

Colin, in Osaka to catchup with Japenese exchange students who have stayed with us over the years. Whirlwind tour and great fun so far. Wish it would stop raining though. Still haven't had time to listen to the Jackovich podcast yet! Maybe tonight.

Shyte missed it I am in Osaka forgot about the 2 hour time difference. Sounds like it was a great interview. My favourite player after Robbie.

A Jurrah/Wizz hybrid? Certainly can take a hangar, would have liked to see some other skills displayed.

No Moons my discussion two days ago was with someone who taught Sam and spoke to him 2 weeks ago on his thoughts on JW. Doesn't mean a lot but I have some concern about the impact on the playing group so I hope a management plan is in place.

Not what I heard second hand from Sam but I hope you are right, but fear otherwise.

Let's hope the surviving members of the playing list know the reasons why! That is my point.

Yes my point is not whether the FD got this right or wrong, pick 31 and still picking up a percentage of Jack's wage is testing me, it is just that they have a contengency plan for the Watts trade fall out and sell it well to the playing list. This is vital for next year.

Spoke to a friend who taught Sam Weideman as the resident phys ed coach, in VCE last year or the year before? Not sure what year but he spoke to Sam last week and his comments were that Sam couldn't work through this issue. Sam thought Jack is the ultimate club player, everyone loves him and Sam thought he was performing. And OK I can see this as part of the problem identified by Goodwin. The main thing here is that the FD has a management plan in place to reduce the collatoral damage of Watts treatment and the move amongst the kids. Anyone want to discuss James McDonald or Cam Bruce? Let's hope the club has learnt something over the past 10 years! Not. Confident.

I am off to bed I have to work tomorrow. I will check who won what tomorrow. I haven't time for this elongated supper! What the hell are they serving up to the punters with their desert!

Interesting point I had totally forgotten that contracts mean anything these days in the AFL. The usual discussion is about a player in contract who wants to go so the club makes it happen as they don't want a disgruntled player hanging around. But in this case we have a guy wanting to stay and see out his contract agreement even though the new coach wants him out. Interesting times ahead. I still think he will jump probably to Sydney as for compo I don't think the club can expect too much as they have telegraphed their thoughts to the AFL world.