We at BackPageLead are merely humble sportswriters. We don't profess to have the answers to the real matters of great importance such as the why's and wherefores of the carbon tax, or how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We're full of questions, but for today anyway, we're going to restrict them to the AFL sphere.

1. Question to Eddie McGuire. Why was it OK for you approach Mick Malthouse to become the next coach of Collingwood in 1999 - when he had a year remaining on his contract with West Coast - but not OK for Melbourne to make an inquiry about Malthouse's availability next year? At the slightest mention of Malthouse and the Demons in the same sentence, you scream blue murder and threaten to bring in the lawyers. Answer that one, Eddie.

2. And answer this one as well: could you please explain why it is in the best interested of the Collingwood Football Club for Malthouse not to be coaching in 2012. It just doesn't make sense. If he is the best coach in the competition and he is at the peak of his powers, then why move him on? Surely your brief as president is act in the best interests of Collingwood, but from the outside looking in, this appears to make no sense whatsoever.

3. Question for Phil Davis and Dale Holmes: Are you guys serious? Do you really think that we believe you when you say there is no agreement between you for Davis to play for GWS in 2012 and beyond? We're with Eddie on this one. Davis just doesn't walk out on the Crows in the hope that he perhaps might like to play for the Giants next year. Somehow, somewhere there has to be a piece if paper that binds him to the club. And we're not sure that's in the rules.

4. Question for Gary Ablett: Gazza, say it ain't so. Tell us you were only gagging with news about the hamstring and that you won't be playing for the Suns against Geelong at the Cattery on Saturday afternoon. With you in the side, the Cats would have likely resisted the urge to run up the score, as the Americans like to say. Without you on the field, the Cats might find it too difficult to withstand the urge to try and break the AFL scoring record that they came so close to toppling against Melbourne last weekend.