The mood at Hobart airport on a Saturday night is generally pretty sedate, but there was some unexpected drama recently. While North Melbourne stayed in Tasmania until Sunday last weekend, St Kilda were scheduled to fly out of the Apple Isle on the Saturday night after their 37-point loss to the Roos. As the Saints were waiting in the departure lounge for their 8.40pm Virgin flight, two inebriated patrons started to get stuck into some of the St Kilda players and fans – loudly. They were particularly vocal in the direction of Saints veteran Leigh Montagna, and one member of the club's cheer squad. Saints officials were ultimately able to quieten the perpetrators with a few stern words. The team eventually boarded and departed, while the offenders waited for their Jetstar flight an hour later. The pair boarded that plane, where, to quote a source, "they were giving the crew hell". The flight was postponed as a result and the men banned by the airline for 24 hours.

Danger-ous times?

While there are many in the football world who believe Patrick Dangerfield will leave Adelaide and sign with Geelong on a five-year contract, former Crows captain Mark Bickley is not so sure. Bickley believes the champion goalkicking midfielder, a restricted free agent, will remain in Adelaide, for he has unfinished business. "I just feel the most likely scenario will be that he will probably sign a two-year deal and say, 'Look, I will give two years to try and win a flag or do something special with Adelaide'. Then, as an unrestricted free agent, he can walk and go wherever he wants to. Once you have been involved with a group of blokes, it's difficult to walk away after spending seven or eight years with that group." The Crows, of course, can match any rival offer which comes Dangerfield's way this year, forcing him then to seek a trade or try his luck through the pre-season draft.

Peter Perfect

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire mentioned the late Peter Brock when announcing the club's three-year sponsorship deal with Holden. Holden, of course, was synonymous with the motor racing great, but few may know that Brock was a Magpies board member – for a month. He was part of Ranald McDonald's "New Magpies" ticket in 1984, but moved aside to assist the club when the number of directors became an issue.

Spin off

We hear former Carlton coach Mick Malthouse had his club-sponsored Hyundai returned to the Blues in recent days. It may have been the last link Malthouse had to the club from which he split in acrimonious circumstances.

Agents thick on the ground

It's a busy time of the year for player agents. One was spotted at a recent TAC Cup clash checking up on a client who will be in this year's draft, while also chatting with the family of another promising youngster who is not able to nominate for the draft for another three years. It's a cut-throat world for many agents, with some believing too many are accredited.

Clubland beckons

Speaking of player agents, one prominent figure is keen to join a football department - should a vacancy arise. With almost a decade in the caper, where he has signed some of the country's top young talent, the agent believes the time may be right to make the shift. He was approached by two clubs a few years back but wasn't in a position to pursue the roles.

Testing the friendship

This year's AFL national draft will be held in Adelaide, after three years on the Gold Coast. In past years, the AFL has typically booked the one hotel for players, recruiters and the like, to stay. However, with the draft on Tuesday, November 24 — three days before the inaugural day-night Test between Australian and New Zealand — AFL types have had to be spread across at least three hotels, which, as one wag noted, could make after-party plans a little tricky.

Bragging rights

AFL commissioner Sam Mostyn was clearly delighted with the TV ratings for the first live broadcast of a women's AFL game last weekend. The clash between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs on Seven drew an average Melbourne audience of 175,000 - more than the 114,000 who tuned in for the men's clash between Essendon and Adelaide. Said Moyston on Twitter: "Just shows we do watch #womeninsport when televised! More watched women's footy on TV than Bombers' demise."

Another one Don?

Football's silly season is just weeks away, with some tipping this to be the busiest "horse-trading" session in years. One name which has suddenly been bandied about in the player agent "chattersphere" as being on the trade table is Essendon's Brendon Goddard. When approached, the Bombers rejected such talk, as did Goddard's manager, Craig Kelly. Goddard has a year to run on his four-year contract but has said his shift from St Kilda has not worked out as he had hoped because of doping dramas - even though he wasn't at the club when the injecting program was operating. There would likely be several suitors — Fremantle has been mentioned — should Goddard want to leave and/or the Bombers were able to orchestrate a trade for an important draft pick.

Creative counting

Low crowds have again been a concern for many AFL clubs this year, and there is some suspicion within the ranks of one club that another hasn't been quite honest when reporting its attendance figures.

No doubting Thomas

Having re-signed with his club last week, St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey has backed close friend Josh Thomas to bounce back from his two-year ban for taking the banned substance Clenbuterol. "He's such a good bloke. I couldn't speak higher of his character," Hickey said. Thomas and fellow Magpie Lachlan Keeffe will be delisted at season's end, but then picked up by the club as rookies if not selected earlier. Hickey thinks Thomas will only become a better player because of the experience. "The way he's handled it and the way he's copped it on the chin speaks volumes of him. I think it's going to be the making of him. He's a really good player and I think this is going to make him hungrier and more determined. If he ends up on Collingwood's list - or someone else's list - I think that team's really going to reap the rewards of how determined he is now."

Freo agency

Out of contract at the end of the year, Fremantle big man Zac Clarke remains on the periphery of the Dockers side. It's believed Clarke is very keen to take up the No. 1 ruck role anywhere, and is open to a move, with talks between him and the club put off until at least the end of the home and away rounds. Meanwhile, Jay Schulz might not be the only tall Port Adelaide forward in the Dockers' sights. Pssst hears that injury-prone West Australian Mason Shaw - also uncontracted for 2016 - is another who could move west from Alberton.

The watchman

Two minutes to midnight for one more year at Ferrari for 2007 Formula One champ Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn has not impressed in his second stint with the Scuderia and who knows what the  Australian with the Italian name, Daniel Ricciardo, will be doing come 2017?

Local hero

Malcolm Blight was immortalised in bronze outside Adelaide Oval this week as South Australia marked his achievements as a player and premiership-winning coach with the Adelaide Crows in 1997 and `98.  No statue sighted of the great man outside the Moorabbin Golf Club, but there's still time to shake those tins, Saints fans.

Numbers up 
3 cheers and fond farewells after the Australian netball team's World Cup heroics. Diamonds Rebecca Bulley,  Julie Corletto and Kimberlee Green all announced their retirement from Internationals during the week.

2nd child due for newly minted PGA champion Jason Day and his wife Ellie this November, meaning the world No.3 will  sit out the Australian Open this year to stay home in Ohio. "I'd probably be in the doghouse if I left," Day  said.

41-43-1 James Hird's final win-loss-draw record as coach of the Essendon Football Club.

They said what?

"I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight." Dallas Stars ice hockey player Sean Avery, who was suspended indefinitely by the league for these comments relating to his ex-girlfriends.

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