There was some intrigue last week when a red and blue "MFC" monogram popped up on Twitter courtesy of sports branding expert Anthony Costa, who had found that AFL trademarked the image in June. Speculation grew that Melbourne Football Club would soon have a new logo - oddly enough coinciding with the new logo for the state of Victoria. However, the Demons have told us that the that image will not be their logo next season. Rather, the AFL had obtained a trademark for the "MFC" brand, which had never previously been lodged, even though Melbourne have been using it on their jumpers. Change could still be afoot, though with the Demons telling Pssst they "were looking at all elements of their brand to make a more meaningful connection with the city of Melbourne."

Screen time

There is growing word the AFL would like to have its new television rights deal in place by the start of the finals - even if that was just the free-to-air partners. It's a move the NRL achieved successfully through the week, when it secured a five-year $925 million deal from Channel Nine, in exchange for four live matches a round, up from the two live and one on replay it shows now. The NRL now faces a delicate conversation with Fox Sports, which has lost its claim to exclusive live matches on Saturday.

Bombs away

Some former Essendon types, who still keep a close eye on matters, believe the football-department review should be conducted by those not at the club. "The review should be conducted on the people that made the decision to appoint [Neil] Craig, [Mark] Neeld, [Rob] Kerr," said one frustrated figure. Some also remain bewildered that four-time premiership coach Kevin Sheedy is not allowed to have a say in football matters, and has been restricted to improving off-field issues, such as the strained relationship between some former players and the club. As we have said before, there is growing chat that chairman Paul Little will leave later in the year.

Matildas miss

Soccer's loss is proving to be the AFL's gain in the women's sporting scene at the moment. Victorian Brianna Davey was axed from the Matildas squad prior to June's Women's World Cup, and bobbed up shortly after as the number one pick in the women's AFL draft. Davey has been playing in the VWFL for the St Kilda Sharks, and on Sunday she lines up for the Western Bulldogs women's team in their clash against Melbourne. She doesn't know what the picture looks like long-term.

"I'm still not entirely sure of what the future will look like in terms of playing footy, playing soccer," Davey told Pssst. Davey also Isn't sure how she ended up on the outer of the Matildas' squad, which included three goalkeepers. "I wasn't out of form. There must have been other reasons that I wasn't picked. It sort of speaks for itself. To go from number one goalkeeper for the last four years to out of the squad. I didn't really believe I was out of form or anything like that."

Davey said she'd had a few teething problems since coming back to football - which she played until she was 12 - with one particular moment reminiscent of an infamous day at Waverley Park for Jim Stynes. "There's a few rules I forgot. I ran through a mark and gave away a free kick."

But despite those early issues the natural talent has shone through, Brianna's not the only sportswoman in the Davey clan. Her sister Steph plays for the Melbourne Maidens in the Ladies Gridiron League - best known for players wearing lingerie. Brianna believes changes to the league's management have made a big difference. "It's about promoting the athlete, and not what it used to be," she said. Brianna's also got some interesting plans for after sport. She wants to be a primary school teacher and apply for the fire brigade. She should be sufficiently athletic for the latter.

Uncertain future

Just where Chris Yarran will play next year continues to be a talking point. Yarran is contracted to the Blues but, as reported by The Footy Show, has met with Richmond and has been linked to Port Adelaide. Yarran is said to just want to concentrate on finishing the year strongly, having been dumped to the VFL last weekend for a second time. That was because of poor form - earlier in the year it was because of tardiness to team meetings. Yarran is also said to have been hit hard by the death of Nic Naitanui's mother, having known the family well. It's understood the Blues have yet to indicate to Yarran whether he is guaranteed of remaining at the rebuilding club.

Ship shape

One of Australian cricket's most experienced heads has called for calm in the wake of Australia's Ashes shellacking. Greg Shipperd, who was last week announced as Trevor Bayliss' replacement as coach of the Sydney Sixers - having parted ways with the Melbourne Stars and Victoria, believes that despite the humiliation of Trent Bridge and Australia's irredeemable series deficit, all is not lost. "I thought there was a lot of good work being done post the Argus review," he said. "The team led by Pat Howard have actually been really aggressive in trying things, and stepping outside of what had been a very traditional way of doing things."

Shipperd highlighted the changes to the points system in the Sheffield Shield, junior team tours to India and England, and the addition of a youth team to the Matador one-day cup as key recent innovations. "I'm a half-full type of person. [It seems] the World Cup's been forgotten really quickly." However, the view of a rosy picture isn't held across the cricket landscape. One source close to some of the leading Australian players said the results in England were symptomatic of broader issues at the development level, stretching deep into the suburbs.

Bouncing along

Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor has declared the centre bounce dead, but the AFL continues to work its way through the debate. AFL operations boss Mark Evans has admitted it's a "divisive topic" through the football industry, with many on the side of tradition. With fewer bounces these days because the ball is thrown up around the ground, Evans has said "we do know that bouncing has deteriorated over time". He says it's a particularly difficult skill in the middle part of the season when inclement weather means the ball is more difficult to bounce. This year there has been growing frustration with the wasted seconds when an errant bounce is recalled. For the moment, we're on the side of tradition.

The Watchman

Two minutes to midnight for trying for social media assessments of Nick Kyrgios' behaviour. A bit like trying to find a key forward on the cheap, finding an interesting new view of Kyrgios and his sledging soliloquy isn't impossible, but it's bloody hard!

Local hero

Richmond property steward Giuseppe Mamone kept his head high despite losing the towels that caused a fire after they spontaneously combusted at Punt Road last week in what must surely have been the strangest football story for some time.

Numbers Up

$925million Channel Nine paid for the NRL free-to-air TV rights over five years.

$1.65m they will pay per game calculated for 112 games per season (100 regular season, nine finals, three State of Origin).

$20,647 per minute of football.

$344 per second.

They said what?

"I turned to my wife and just said to her, in disbelief, 'It's over'." – Washington Generals general manager John Ferrari after being told the Harlem Globetrotters would no longer be facing their bunnies of 63 years.

Got a tip? Contact Daniel Cherny or Jon Pierik. Twitter: @danielcherny or @pierik_agesport