It should be pointed out that Messi was 13 years old when he was signed by Barcelona and at that stage no one knew how tall he was going to be. Maradona was 8 when he signed with Argentina Juniors and although everyone realised that he was short for his age, they still would not have known how...

On the topic of the media's role for or against the AL, what gnaws at me is the negative narrative pushed by the dinosaur media. I get that 7Media has the AFL rights where they paid billions and 9Entertainment paid for the NRL. So those two have a conflict of interest to deter people from...

I think that it was more to do with the suburban history. Carlton is basically Italian, Footscray is everyone because the migrant hostel was just up the road, North Melbourne was the abbatoir on Newmarket road and lots of migrants worked there (low skill, hard labour) and their workmates would...

Lawrence Wong says hi.

If you went to the VFL (and then AFL) there were plenty of Greeks, Italians, Hispanics and no one had any issues. The ones who copped racial abuse were Aborigines. I also note that the Sub-saharan Africans have taken to AFL quite well. The ones who have been slower in adapting sport have been...

Most of Europe. You forget that the original community clubs sold themselves off in order to survive. The Economist magazine noted about 25 years ago that the European practice open slather capitalism in football whereas the Americans practice Socialism in the NFL.

Its the selection that is the issue. If Popa selects both then we do need to differentiate. BTW I would not be surprised as I do think that KBos has to do more development.

I presume that you mean Jordan Bos. Lets not forget that there are two Bosses and both are natural LWB. Although JBos has been played in the front three.

Also when the VFL went national, they double crossed the SA twice and the WAFL seeing the writing in the wall came along. The old VFL approached the SAFL to merge which was rejected. the VFL then went to Port Adelaide who basically won every year to join and they accepted. the SAFL realising...

True. Mooy was almost 26 when he joined Huddersfield who had just been promoted to the EPL. But I never heard anyone say that Mooy had attitude issues or ever threw a tantrum on the pitch.

Mexicans to you 🤣

So how old were the players above when they returned or came to the A-League? Thompson tried overseas but did not make it long term and came back and played against tactically weak defenders. Where you are right is that the A-League can no longer afford too many first or second division visa...

Arzani at 26 has a decision to make - go for money or not. I can't see him improving that much, he has been at numerous clubs, had many different coaches and yet they all end up with the same product - admittedly, Diles probably got the best out of him. So he joins the coulda, shoulda club.

Sapsford will be good in the SPL.

I think that you will find that all state & territory governments do the same irrespective of political affiliation or philosophy. Remember the ancient Roman maxim: "Give the people bread and circuses".

I hope that Dylan Leonard does not go to Scotland. Better off staying in the A-League for another season.

Although neither Borello nor Duke are my preferred choice (I prefer Botic), in this window whose performance would you rate higher Borello or Duke?

I'd rather have Benny with Geria as a back up or depending on the opposition. Or as an outside choice Atkinson or Courtney-Perkins vs Miller?

Just wondering in a positive way what Miller's attributes are: height, physicality, athleticism, youth. On the downside, he does not have great ball skills and certainly not to the Japanese level or even Geria level. So if his role was not to create play but to draw play to him and grind out a...

Wasn't comparing them. Just pointing out that not all is doom & gloom for football (full stadium), and that even the mighty AFL is not as dominant as it is made out to be.