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I've said this a few times, but I really think this is a legacy of the 1970s and early 1980s when for the first time we had good footy coverage on TV and in colour. Who were the teams contending or winning premierships? Those four (add Hawthorn) as well. If you take the first year of colour TV -...

There was nothing more enjoyable, scintillating, or exciting than going to watch Gary Ablett senior. There have been many very good players or course, and some rare great ones - Carey and Lockett were utterly brilliant as well. But for the complete package I don't think anyone has come close...

At the absolute top. They're entitled to look after themselves (because we all would), but let's not be naive and pretend otherwise.

All supporters tend to be extremely selective about where and especially when history starts and ends. Sport is cyclical, and always has been. If you'd told Carlton fans on Grand final night in 1995 they'd be waiting at least thirty years until their next flag you would have been met with...

No it isn't. It's because we'd also beaten the other sides in the top 4 that season every time we'd played them (Hawthorn twice, Sydney twice, and pulverised Fremantle the only time they'd met during the season). That's a reasonable record against the other teams at the pointy end. And yes you...

Some of those finals streaks between teams are just bizarre. No other way to explain it.

You'd need a very good imagination, seeing as Cameron didn't get injured until nearly half time. And he'd done sweet Felicity Arkwright before then.

Not just modern day. Anybody who bothers to look can see that they've been rivals for a long, long time. Even by the mid 1950s, we'd already played in 5 grand finals against each other (3-2 our way). Not counting other finals. As much as our rivalry with Hawthorn is always brought up, we've...

Only if he's a fan of Yes Minister.

Ok then, which goals to the Bulldogs came from shocking decisions. Were there any in the second half or particularly the last quarter? There must have been since Sydney led at half time.

Rubbish. Umpires had nothing to do with it. You just weren't good enough. It's amazing how the umpires apparently decided that game, but can't identify any Bulldogs goals that came from dodgy frees or ones that Sydney didn't get.

Nothing is more hilarious than long term coaches saying they aren't "career coaches". What else are they then? I think Malthouse used to trot out the same line as well. They're absolutely career coaches until they reach the point - generally around 15-20 years in - when they're not up to it...

He did. He played in the centre. Did the same a couple of weeks later when we kicked 37 goals against Brisbane. 27 touches and 9 goals.

Spot on. I've got no issue if a batsman hits the thickest of outside edges and stands his ground. It's not his job to make decisions, that's what an umpire is for. If he decides to walk and save the umpire the trouble (as guys like Botham did in the past), that's fine too. Obviously the same for...

Not to mention coaching insanity led directly to us losing the Qualifying final before that. 2013 was almost as bad as 2008. They're the two clear standout seasons to me we should have won the flag and didn't. Way worse than the last two seasons.

Hmm not that easy this one: Adelaide: Thilthorpe Brisbane: McLuggage Carlton: McKay Collingwood: De Goey Essendon: Caddy Fremantle: Serong Geelong: Humphries Gold Coast: Anderson GWS: Hogan Hawthorn: Sicily Melbourne: Gawn North Melbourne: Wardlaw Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis Richmond...

Take away his surname and Bruce McAvaney jerking off to him and that would be the consensus view. He wasn't even the best small forward at Hawthorn - Bruest has him covered by miles.

Plus pure football skills - he's still the best kick on his opposite foot I've ever seen, as well as having the best goal sense, and probably the best kick for goal I've seen for Geelong at least (maybe Lockett as well, but it's line ball). You can only judge players relative to their peers and...

Couldn't disagree more I'm afraid. You don't kick over 1000 goals - the majority of which were from a half forward flank, or top the ton three successive times in your 30s - without being able to sustain it over four quarters.

Since I've been watching: Gary Ablett senior Gary Ablett junior Matthew Scarlett All time: Gary Ablett senior Polly Farmer Gary Ablett junior Almost included Doug Wade instead of Ablett junior in the all time list.

Most if not all premiership teams carry some limited foot soldiers though. There are always some battlers and role players in there who do their job and get carried by the rest.

Trades happen for sure, but I can't think of another club that so consistently moved premiership players on. The total lack of sentimentality (which was unusual and probably pretty smart) was striking for that era.

What's forgotten is that Hawthorn had a long history even then of showing veterans the door once their use by date was up. There's no shortage of premiership players from the 1980s who were exited fairly unceremoniously once the time had come - Wallace, Russo, Morris, Judge, Eade, Abbott, and...