Vics don't like footy-free weekends

The Victorian punters voted with their feet at Telstra Dome on Friday night. They want more football. And what has the AFL done? It scheduled just one match in Melbourne on the weekend.

The only football available on the weekend in Melbourne was the VFL. The MCG and Telstra Dome were empty. There were cold pies everywhere. And I'm afraid it'll be the same next weekend.

Why is the AFL doing this? They must hate Melbourne. Fools. They're turning their backs on the heartland of the game. You don't even get live telecasts. Everything's delayed. It may as well be the 1950s again and we'll listen to everything on the radio.

Of the action we did see we can confirm the Cats are well and truly premiership contenders. They are the real deal. I spoke to their coach on Monday and even he is starting to get a little excited.

Imagine how excited the folks at Sleepy Hollow will be in grand final week if their side makes the big one and Jimmy Bartel and Gary Ablett share the Brownlow.

At Windy Hill, Kevin Sheedy's new contract is back in the drawer after it was pulled out briefly last week for him to sign. His Bombers put in an absolute shocker against Port Adelaide, who had lost their previous four matches before winning on Sunday. Now Choco's talking his side up again, extolling the virtues of being 7-5 at the break.

The big loser from the weekend was Denis Pagan, whose back is well and truly against the wall after being crunched by 100 points. His captain Lance Whitnall is being torched by Grant Thomas.

Thomas should get a life. Even his old club has turned on him. He wasn't even invited to Robert Harvey's testimonial dinner. Why doesn't he go back to selling insurance?