"If a tree falls in the forest..." Season 2020

If a tree falls in the forest...

The good people responsible for the collected ramblings of the species called Wikipedia, refer to this well-worn path through the undergrowth of perception as, a philosophical thought experiment that raises questions about observation and perception. Which, as we may or may not, head into Season 2020 (our 32nd on the trot), leads me to share one of my own with you.

Observation: The world has gone mad. If you're interested in an in-depth take on how and why this shit is playing out as it is in Oz right now, this is a good place to start. http://bit.ly/2TWA7Ve

Unless you've been hiding under a mountain of stockpiled toilet paper, you've already heard the AFL's plans for kicking off the season. As it currently stands it's Thursday night, MCG, Tiges & Blues, 44 players, 100 odd support staff, assembled TV hangers-on and 0 (zero) odd supporters. It makes me wonder who many will be there on the night, and will that constitute a gathering of more than 500?

Perception: Have they totally lost the plot?

Before you accuse me of my usual left-wing ranty pants ramblings that completely ignores the commercial realities of the football industry, let me just say this. Have they totally lost the plot?

Surely there is another way. A way that acknowledges the simple fact that the game only exists because of the fans. A way that doesn't so obviously reduce our place in the football industry to consumers who will continue to buy the product, even when it's clear it's now played to serve forces bigger than the fans.

I know there are 1001 arguments for and against this course of action. And yes of course, you can't expose 80,000 people to the possible effects of this virus, I'm not for a moment suggesting that. But I just wonder this. Might the AFL chosen a different path? A path that involved canvassing the opinions of Club members and the footy loving public and giving them a range of options to think over and perhaps even vote on?

In their rush to take decisive action and provide strong leadership they may have reinforced the perception that we who exist outside the football bubble are surplus to requirements. Throw into the mix the undeniable evidence of your own eyes that the game has become close to unwatchable, and I think the unthinkable becomes plausible...if a tree falls in the forest...  

Discuss.

House keeping

As Dickie boy mentioned in a recent email, some of you are yet to pay dues for last season. Please make good on this before your God strikes you down.

As to dues for this year, I suggest we hold off on paying until we get a better of idea of how this will play out. Heaven forbid, we may even consider this year as our application for amateur status and tip just for the glory of the Cup. More on that when we know more on that. I might even consult you good people and give you some options to vote on... who'd thunk it.

Our first Drunk drink

Happy to take suggestions on possible locations, and then make a arbitrary decision based on what's good for the executive team. Presuming off course we are allowed to gather in groups as large as 10.
Send through your thoughts.

All hail the Dick

We've all been wanting to say it, so I did just so you didn't think I was anything other that totally juvenile. It was round about this time, a long time ago, when I got a phone call from him, wondering what was going on with Punchdrunk for Season 2004. How the hell should I know, or care, I'm in Rome snorting Chianti off a Margherita, I responded. It's been his baby ever since and he's provided fatherly love, guidance and financial support as it grew from preening adolescence to corpulent middle age. So it's only fitting that as one of the fittest late 50's men I know, he has seen fit to change the locks. And so it falls to me to make ready the spare room where it can live out it's daze.

Be kind, I'm new here.

Keep punching.