MAYBE it's the influence of Pope Benedict XVI gracing our shores but clubs continue to surprise with a level of penitence that would not seem out of place next to Sean Connery's gleaming pate in The Name of the Rose.
The latest mob to pull on the hair shirt is Essendon, which has suspended Andrew Lovett for two matches after he missed a compulsory training session on Monday morning.
This, of course, comes on the heels of Shannon Grant's suspension due to what North Melbourne says is his second offence after being doused with capsicum spray during a Lionel Ritchie concert earlier in the year. The Four Points understands Grant became hysterical upon learning that the auditorium doors had been locked and had to be subdued.
No chemicals were required this time but suffice to say that Grant won't be invited to a Pro-Am golf tournament anytime soon.
2. With friends like these . . .
AND SPEAKING of penance, Dean Solomon has been afforded his in the form of an eight week suspension handed out by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
Solomon was contrite after Saturday's game in which he performed a makeover of the extreme variety on the most popular ginger cat since Macavity, Cameron Ling.
Solomon told the Tribunal he felt especially bad as Ling was a good mate, whom he drank and surfed with . . . probably a good thing the two don't belong to the same book club.
3. A numbers game
MORE people are members of AFL clubs than at any other time in history. Why? Well, perhaps that in this crazy mixed up world, people are yearning for a sense of community, for the feeling that they belong to something bigger than themselves, for a bumper sticker to obscure the 'Alf for PM' job that's been sitting on the back of the family sedan these past 15 years.
And perhaps it is because Victorian clubs are now displaying "equilibrium" -- as Hawks captain Sam Mitchell puts it -- with the interstate clubs that have shown the way in regard to footballing professionalism in recent times.
Still, it is interstate club in excelsis, the Crows, that boast most members of all clubs and small wonder. Tuesday's promotion ahead of Showdown CCMVI brought football, yo-yos, pies and donuts together in downtown Adelaide, and demonstrated that while all clubs have equilibrium, some clubs have more equilibrium than others.
4. Be sure to wear flowers in your hair
BRENDAN Fevola is a little known Carlton forward who readers of afl.com.au would never had heard of if it wasn't for his spontaneous show of emotion at the conclusion of last Friday's Blues-Saints clash.
Fev, as he is apparently known, cuddled as many St Kilda players he could get his arms around after Carlton's five-goal loss, prompting criticism that his actions were -- get this -- inappropriate.
So on-field violence is a no-no but so is on-field affection? The Four Points is confused.
At least they have their priorities in order down at Geelong, where an All-Australian full-back can wrestle playfully with a fitness coordinator with ne'er the raising of an eyebrow.
But that's Geelong for you -- San Francisco minus the gradient.
What to look out for on afl.com.au this Wednesday:
For better, for worse
Felicty Percival is almost married to Tom Harley which sometimes makes watching footy -- even the flawless brand practised by the Cats -- difficult. Especially when things get a little . . . feisty. Read what it's like for the other halves at afl.com.au
Huddo
Once it was associated with Norse god Woden, now Wednesday's mean only one thing: Huddo.
Marks, goals, army
The things that make us scream when we go to the footy are hangers, full-pointers and those acts of selfless courage that make you smile endearingly at complete strangers. Vote for the round 15 nominations in Mark, Goal and Army Awards later today.
We'll be hearing you
Get the skinny on them what stick fat as afl.com.au covers all the club press conferences including Fremantle's Mark Harvey in the Solomon aftermath.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
