AFL considering 4.30pm GF start time
The AFL has got in early with the announcement of the key dates for the 2017 AFL season, which will start around March 23 next year and finish on September 30.
The move back to the last Saturday in September for the Grand Final was widely hailed by traditionalists after the 2015 and 2016 deciders were set down for the first weekend in October.
They might not be so pleased when the starting time is announced - with the switch to a 4.30pm opening bounce, meaning a twilight Grand Final, still under consideration by the AFL Commission. It would be the latest start to a Grand Final in history.
About the only fans not thrilled with the move back to the end of September were those from the Jewish community. It means a clash with Yom Kippur, their holiest and most solemn day of the year.
And while Orthodox Jews would never attend any Grand Final because of the clash with the Jewish Sabbath, many non-Orthodox Jews who would otherwise attend the game, would nevertheless draw a line at being there on Yom Kippur.
There has been the same clash of dates before. The Jewish calendar falls in line with the lunar calendar, so 1966 was the most famous Yom Kippur Grand Final of all. St Kilda's Jewish half-back Ian Synman played that day, however hundreds of the club's Jewish supporters who ordinarily would have been at the MCG, ended up missing the game, following instead on the radio in between synagogue services.
The 1993 and 2004 Grand Finals also clashed.
Here's hoping St Kilda and Carlton don't win through next year, as those two clubs have by far the largest Jewish supporter bases.
Mitch makes merry to mark game No.300
Sam Mitchell's 300th game festivities have had the feel of a Hindu wedding - the celebrations have lasted for days.
Some of it is by necessity - the Hawks play on Sunday so the media blitz started in the Herald Sun last weekend and included special comments work on 3AW and an appearance on Channel Seven.
He is on the cover of the AFL Record this week as well.
He also has a private box for family and friends at the MCG on Sunday.
But the special celebration is taking place at an undisclosed Melbourne location one night this week. ESPN understands that Mitchell is shouting dinner for a number of his associates - past and present - that helped his journey from a thickset blond-haired kid from Mooroolbark to AFL stardom.
It is a small event, but we can't imagine Mitchell celebrating his milestone without acknowledging Donald McDonald, his coach at Box Hill, long-time mentor David Parkin, senior coaches Peter Schwab and Alastair Clarkson as well as former captain Shane Crawford, who Mitchell slavishly followed when he first arrived at Hawthorn.
And knowing Mitchell, one of the more cultured and erudite players in the game, the food will be great and the wine even better.
Talia spoiled by brother's actions
Adelaide is counseling its gun defender Daniel Talia following another scandal to rock his family.
Talia made an urgent dash to Sydney on Sunday after learning his brother, Michael, was allegedly caught with a small quantity of cocaine in Sydney's suburb of Double Bay the previous night.
Police charged Michael with possession of a prohibited substance. The Sydney utility is likely to receive a strike under the AFL's illicit drugs policy and the Swans have suspended the 23-year-old pending a court hearing next month.
Talia returned to the Adelaide club's headquarters at West Lakes on Tuesday, visibly burdened by the ordeal.
The incident comes at a poor time for the 24-year-old stopper, whose second-placed Crows play the Cats at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night.
The do-or-die clash could have a major bearing on the make-up of the top four.
Given the closeness of the competition, a loss could see the Crows slump as low as seventh.
The Crows are cautious of Talia's well-being and will give him every opportunity to play in the all-important encounter.
It's not the first time Michael has found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Last year as a Western Bulldogs player, he was cleared of revealing sensitive game plan information to Daniel ahead of the Bulldogs-Crows elimination final.
The Crows won narrowly by seven points.
Michael was traded to the Swans at the end of the 2015 season. He hasn't played since seriously injuring his foot in round 1.
Could 'Lethal' be on the outer at Brisbane?
Legendary footy figure Leigh Matthews' unwavering loyalty to embattled Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch could create an irreparable rift within the club's inner sanctum.
Leppitsch's tenure is on a knife's edge, following a colossal 79-point loss to GWS - its seventh blowout by more than 10 goals this season.
He has mustered a dismal 12-48 record in three years as senior coach, at a winning percentage of 20 per cent.
And as the Lions languish with a solitary victory for the year, sacking the three-time premiership defender could trigger a fracture between Matthews and Lions' powerbrokers, ESPN understands.
Matthews has staunchly defended Leppitsch, which has created a division within the Lions' establishment.
Some club officials are circling for Leppitsch to stand down and are agitated by Matthews' steadfast support for the three-time All-Australian defender he coached during the Lions' dynasty.
It won't be the first time a club legend has failed to get the Lions out of the wilderness.
Former skipper Michael Voss was sensationally sacked during the 2013 season, despite coaching the team to two finals, and showing signs that the club was reversing its on-field fortunes.
RANDOM STATS OF THE WEEK:
2 - The number of career hit-outs recorded by the 177cm Brent Harvey ahead of his record-equalling 426th game on Friday night.
1 - The number of games Melbourne have won at Etihad Stadium since 2008. In that time, they've managed to lose an astonishing 24 times.