Out comes Carlton's money bag

In the 1970s and 80s Carlton was renowned for its chequebook recruiting. And in 2007 it looks like the Blues are back to their old tricks. They flew over Greg Swann and Steven Icke to Perth to have coffees with Chris Judd and it could be money well spent.

Sure it will cost the Blues pick No.3 to land the top Eagle but it will be worth it. When Judd walks through the gates at Princes Park, he'll also be handed the captaincy. Why wouldn't you? He's already a premiership captain, not to mention all the awards and accolades he's collected in his career. Humble too. He is one of the finest human beings ever to walk this planet.

Everybody wrote off the North Melbourne Football Club. Several Kangaroos were seen bounding into the MCG rooms on Saturday sipping out of a brown paper bag. Upon closer inspection, it looked like they were drinking Colonel Laidley's old fashioned recipe of Shinboner Spirit.

As for the Hawks, they thought they could simply turn the tap on and out would come goals. Tim Boyle and Jarryd Roughead both had shockers. They couldn't mark the thing. And their great champion Luke Hodge, who some suggest is better than Judd, had a night he would rather forget. The message to the young Hawks, don't take your opposition too lightly - especially in September.

Collingwood was not supposed to get this far. And for a while on Friday night it looked their journey would end in Perth. Mick Malthouse needed the Missing Persons Bureau to find Sean Rusling and Anthony Rocca. So how did they get into the final four? It's because they never give up. It's not in the makeup of Collingwood to give up.

And now Eddie is flying them home on chartered planes at low altitude. I've been told they flew so low they could have helped some farmers out with some crop dusting. But when you are awash with money, why not spend it on your stars?

They face Geelong this week in front of a packed house. The only way you'll see the match is if you have an attendants' white coat. Two Victorian clubs playing in September at the home of football - it doesn't get any better than that.