There is no secret that the AFL cares more about financial returns than a fair competition. Years ago they promised a fair (well, relatively fair) draw where the the top half of the previous season's ladder would play each other twice and the top teams would take on the less successful clubs only once.

"A good plan", I thought. Many others did too.

I think the plan lasted one season. Then money became the determinant for fixturing. We had to have blockbusters. We had to maximise the financial return. Consequently Collingwood had favourable draws year after year. Not surprisingly other teams had less favourable draws - year after year. But it's okay. Because we are pulling in more money - year after year. Fairness be damned.

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It's been a while since I ran the fingers across the alphanumerics in anger. You know football can bring out the emotions. The taunts Lance (Buddy) Franklin received on Saturday have done just that. Third-hand, we have heard of the incessant outbursts from the a member of the outer. But whereas the taunting was abhorrent and unforgivable, I have been thrilled with the responses from the media, social networks and friends. All have been stunned that the racist taunting was allowed to continue unchallenged. All have said that it would not be condoned in their section of the crowd.

How has the AFL handled this? Not bad at all really. Generally, my opinion of Eyebrows and his lapdog Anderson is low, but they haven't stuffed this up. Not like they've stuffed up the head-high tackle rule.

The AFL has a duty of care to consider for their staff. They have to ensure that they have a safe work environment so that the chances of being injured at work are slim. Indeed, anyone breaching workplace safety regulations are counselled and re-offenders are sanctioned. As the AFL sets the rules under which the players take the field and battle each week for the four points, they also have a duty of care to the players. And rightly so.

The AFL has nearly abolished the fisticuffs, brawls and elbows to the head. They have also instigated a rule where a concussed player is not allowed to rejoin the game. The AFL also severely punishes those who tackle or bump another player above the shoulders. All good. No-one wants to see a player suffer a head or neck injury just by contesting the football. But, to me, there is a huge hole in their duty of care. The AFL is doing absolutely nothing about a player who ducks into a tackle.

Let's think about this in an everyday working environment. Imagine someone standing on an office chair to reach a high shelf and pull down a box. Can you imagine your employer seeing this, regularly, and doing nothing about it? As the person balances precariously on the swivel seat, do you think that the employer would be thinking, "It's okay. He's reaching for the box."? Of course not.

Why then, is a footballer allowed to duck into a tackle and risk a head or neck injury? Why do players do this? Answer - because there is a good chance of a reward. A good chance that they will receive a strike to the head. A good chance that they'll receive a free-kick from the AFL officials.

The AFL is rewarding unsafe practices.

On Sunday, I watched a North Melbourne player pick up a football off the ground and charge head first into a Fremantle player's knee and be awarded a free-kick. Many have said that the player should not have received the free-kick as he "ducked into it". That's not good enough. The AFL needs to outlaw this practice of drawing the head-high tackle and punish the proponents at the Tribunal.

Just as those around the buffoon in Tasmania condoned his racist taunting through inaction, the AFL is doing the same with players who seek a free-kick by putting themselves in danger.

As you know, football punting is best tackled for fun rather than profit. I, for one, over the years have embarrassed myself with my carefully considered predictions of success or failure for various teams. So knowing my enormous shortcomings, I looked for the wisdom of crowds last year and you, fellow Dockerlanders, came up with this.

How did we go? Not too bad, but not so good either. Have we learnt our lessons from last year? Let's see.

This year the collective has predicted…

• Top four: Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong & St Kilda
• Bottom of the eight: Carlton, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs
• Just missing the finals: Adelaide, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney
• Cellar dwellers: Brisbane, Essendon, Gold Coast, Port Power, West Coast eGurls

Using a simple variance measure, the collective you were absolutely certain that Collingwood would be in the top four whereas the eGurls and Port would be fighting for the 2011 wooden spoon. You were, however, less than certain about Hawthorn Carlton and Sydney. Some of you had these teams excelling. Some did not.

Extrapolating from your band predictions, this is how you saw the ladder at the end of the HomeNaway:

Collingwood
[daylight]
Fremantle
St Kilda
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Carlton (on percentage from Sydney)
-----
Sydney
Adelaide
Melbourne
Richmond
Essendon
Gold Coast
Brisbane
Port Power
West Coast eGurls

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Can you predict, with certainty? Would you know football clubs' positions on the AFL ladder come the end of Round 22? Of course not. (By the way, if a resounding "Yes!" bounced around your noggin as you read this intro, you need help. Medical help; and now.)

However, the popular theory of The Wisdom of Crowds suggest that you (singular) cannot, whereas you (plural) do have this knowledge. Perhaps this is just a modern take on Emile Durkheim's "collective consciousness", so let's put it to the test.

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I wonder how well those at executive levels at AFL clubs understand what's happening to AFL coaches at present. I hope they have a much greater understanding than those in the sports media who you know football is their bread and butter. Sometimes is bread and dripping. Sometimes its bread, butter and 100s and 1000s. Sometimes they pretend it is fairy bread when it is just a slice of TipTop.

According to the media, AFL coaching is now a young man's game. What carp. Here's what I predict for the senior AFL coaches who are appointed only a few years after completing their stellar playing days:

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Do you know football legalities? Could you explain the push in the back, the hand-trip and the rushed behind? Of course you could. But can you identify how today's High Court decision against Channel 9 and for Ice TV affects the AFL? (Read about it here and here.)

The High Court said (in effect), "Pfft! There's no way you can copyright a list of facts. Once you've published them, they are not intellectual property and anyone can reproduce them whether they are doing it for profit or not. We rule in the favour of Ice TV. Every man's home is his castle!" Okay. I may have paraphrased a little too liberally here, but you get the idea.

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So you know football competitions, well Dockerland has been running a small but fun competition for a few years now. If my memory serves me correctly, Scal initiated the good-humoured competition and Oos picked up the reins in 2006 - always with Shane's technical and managerial support.

Shane has given the nod and the Dockerland Fantasy Football League (DFFL) will run again in 2009. It is free and the only prizes on offer are good-natured ribbing and the knowledge that your team smashed another Dockerlander's team.

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These are the times of the everyday hero 
This is the battlefield of the working man 
Trying to survive, staying alive, giving it all that he can 
With a fire in his soul that keeps burning 
And a dream in his heart that won't die 
Living day to day, there's no easy way in this everyday life.

If you think that you know football, tell me what's wrong with this scenario.

• A team performs well below expectations.
• A mid-season review is conducted.
• Assistant coaches are told that they will be moved on, including a nationally acclaimed, award-winning assistant.
• A new set of high-profile assistant coaches are sought.
• Credentialled, mature players are put on notice.
• The head coach, who has a contract that will expire at the end of the 2009 season, is to be offered a contract extension.

I wonder how this football club measures a head coach's performance?

By the way, if you don't know the definition for hubris, you'll find it here under the flying high logo.

I wonder if anything surprises you any more.

• Are you an embittered, rusted-on footy fan?
• Are those bananas in pyjamas who run around the footy field pretending to be umpires just a mild annoyance?
• Are you bemused when Jeff Farmer receives a free kick?
• Do you just nod your head knowingly when Eyebrows makes another dumb decision?

You've seen it all. You know football. Well... Maybe you haven't seen it all. Until now.

At the first game of the year, I took my customary seat on the Northern wing amongst the regulars who are my fortnightly winter friends. Young and old are there in my block. PYTs* sit next to us and our Premier is just a handshake away.

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