The Real Football

Recruitment Now The Key

2011-06-27T17:48:00.001+10:00

The performances of the young GWS Giants team in the newly formed NEAFL Eastern Conference have been impressive. It gives an idea of where the team is at regarding their development.

Results have been largely successful. They have dominated the Gold Coast reserves yet were dominated by the Sydney Swans reserves. A bit of mixed bag but there is genuine class amongst the group. At the moment they sit second on the ladder.

This year the team has consisted of predominantly 18 year olds. Remaining as they are there would no doubt they will get flogged and hurt badly when upgraded to the AFL. GWS has a great skeleton but lacking the spine of mature key position players.

Recruitment is important. GWS is allowed certain concessions to lure players from other clubs. Just about any player coming off contract has been speculated for a move. I overheard an official saying, “don’t believe everything you hear in the media” in regards to the signing of AFL players. Time will tell. Right now they van talk but not put pen to paper until the end of the season

But whom can they get? I don’t see much use going for players that are merely disgruntled by their former club. These players wont have the drive to do well and will be chasing the cash. Their bad attitude will leave the club worse off and lighter in the pocket.

Admittedly, the Gold Coast probably has a greater geographical appeal, the coast, sun, sand, surf, etc. But GWS has Kevin Sheedy. Most would aspire to play under him. I was excited just to get a photo with him.

I wont be surprised if GWS recruits heavily from the strong second tier competitions such as the VFL, SANFL and WAFL. Plenty of keen, skilful players with mature strong bodies.

A word on Israel Folau. Can kick, can mark, but too often seems lost in the forward line and needs to improve his talk and his work rate. He has time on his side too.

Look forward to the interesting news come September and October. Not forgetting the draft in November.

NEAFL Footy Action

2011-06-06T23:16:00.002+10:00

The NEAFL stands for North Eastern Australian Football League. It’s a newly formed league that includes teams from the ACT and Queensland state leagues. It’s also a platform for NSW and Qld AFL teams to develop their reserve grade players.

I had the joy of experiencing the Greater Western Sydney Giants play the Gold Coast Suns in a NEAFL match at the magnificent Blacktown Olympic Park.

I had heard about the team’s achievements in this league. I’d watched some youtube footage of rugby league recruit, Israel Folau. I’d read about the results so I knew they had some success and won most of their games. But for this footy purist there is nothing like getting to the ground and watching the team play.

I was impressed. The Giants actually dominated most of the play with their flair and run. I was expecting more from the Suns as some of their players have already gained AFL experience. Perhaps the constant tinkering with the senior line-up created a lack of cohesion in the reserve grade.

GWS looked tight as a unit and worked well as a team. Despite lacking some key position height and bulk they owned the momentum for all put half of the third quarter where they allowed Gold Coast back into the game.

Gold Coast had ruckmen rotating off the bench yet the sole recognised ruckman for GWS, Jonathon Giles, dominated all of his opponents giving GWS first use of the ball and hitting to advantage with ease. He had some back up from a top up player whose name wasn’t in the program.

The forth quarter could have gone either way. Gold Coast was close enough to threaten. A young team is always more vulnerable to crack under such pressure.

Class wins out in crunch situations, and GWS already has some classy young players. Dylan Sheil bobbed up to kick the first two goals of the forth quarter to regain the ascendancy. From that point it was a forgone conclusion. Remember the name, Dylan Sheil, he will be a star for the club.

I look forward to the next opportunity to see GWS play. I recommend you do it too. Even for Swans fans like me. Rugby League fans welcome too.

There Is Light

2011-03-01T10:56:00.000+11:00

Took a drive down to Canberra with brother Danny to see the 18th AFL team, the Greater Western Sydney Giants, play Carlton at Manuka Oval.

It was a very one-sided contest, going down by 157 points. Just looking at the margin ignores many other factors that should excite the footy fans in the west of Sydney.

Take into account that there was a team from the highest level against one from a second tier competition. Also take into account that the average age of the giants players was 18. The oldest players were 23 years old.

It’s obvious that the Giants aren’t up to the speed of the top competition, yet. The players are very skilled but have not come across such an opposition before. They looked rushed which led to skill errors and turnovers. Some passages of play were brilliant, which demonstrates the potential this squad has.

Recruitment at seasons end will be interesting to watch. The difference some experienced AFL players will make to this line up will be amazing. The right players can be the difference between being competitive and a season of floggings.

Boom rugby league signing, Israel Folau, is still yet to play. The cynic in me thinks he is being protected from the media glare during the nab cup. Although the official word is that he is still getting over an injury. Whatever the reason his involvement will be crucial as the team was lacking big bodies in key positions. Can he play? Only time will tell. He has been given every chance with being coached one on one by team of the century full back, Stephen Silvagni.

What the giants need is more games like this and the injection of the right experienced players. Both will come, which makes the future of this club very exciting.

What Really Matters

2011-02-28T13:22:00.001+11:00

It was great to see a spirited Jim Stynes at the Brownlow Medal presentation. He spoke on matters football, life and cancer.

Interesting that it took his serious cancer for him to put his life in perspective. Now he openly claims that in the long run football doesn’t matter and he is now focused on being the best man he can be and making a positive difference to the world.

Football is good, but it has never been the be all and end all of life. It just takes time for some to get it.

Jim Stynes says he was taking too much for granted prior to his cancer diagnosis. Goes to show that we should all know what is most important while we still have our full health. For Jim that means relationships, with family, friends and teammates.

The playing of football is fleeting. Even the night’s winner, Chris Judd, reiterated these sentiments, so refreshing to come form a current player.

Chas

2010-09-21T17:25:00.000+10:00

It was a new experience being able to watch the Brownlow Medal live on television. Usually all I get is the result in the paper the next morning as there’s no way I would stay up late to watch a delayed broadcast.

A lot more is made of the fashions by the ladies of course. Ultimately who cares? It is a night to celebrate seasons of our star players.

Dane Swan of Collingwood was the favourite. He was possibly disadvantaged by the equally impressive season of teammate, Scott Pendlebury. It was not to be for Swan as Carlton’s Chris Judd scored best on ground votes in more games to take out the medal.

Good on Andrew Demetriou for firstly getting on with business and reading votes out quickly so that the night didn’t become and epic. But secondly he had a sense of occasion when reading out the votes from matches that had a bearing on the result with a pregnant pause hear and there. Well done.

The Blockbuster That Wasn’t

2010-09-19T17:13:00.000+10:00

Collingwood
7.2 13.7 16.11 18.12 (120)

defeated

Geelong
1.1 3.5 6.10 11.13 (79)

@ MCG
Attendance: 95,241

It was an auspicious beginning with Collingwood first two goals coming from incidents where Geelong should have received free kicks. One might wonder whether it would have made a difference. Then it becomes acutely obvious that even that small loss of momentum would have been a slight speed bump to their onslaught.

Collingwood romped in 7 goals to 1 in the first quarter, and then backed it up with 6 goals to 2 in the second quarter. Game over virtually, but with still half a game to play.

Ablett was Geelong’s only shining light in a very lacklustre performance. Geelong had too many stars go missing. Steve Johnson, Brad Ottens and Tom Hawkins are a few of those whom had no influence. Cameron Ling on multiple occasions looked slow and I’m not sure he can last very long. Maybe his leadership is enough to keep him on board, a lot like how Brett Kirk became a mainstay at Sydney.

The pressure was intense and Geelong wilted. They couldn’t get any flow, Collingwood didn’t allow it. Collingwood were skilful and ruthless. Even the ball was continually bouncing in their favour. As evidenced by a wicked off break of a long bomb by Leigh Brown in the first quarter.

The spectacle of the occasion was lost, but what an opportunity to witness a full house at the MCG. I would recommend it to anybody

The Rulemakers

2010-09-06T23:40:00.002+10:00

The AFL likes changing rules or the interpretation of rules quite frequently. this naturally results in a change to how the game is played as coaches try to get the most for their team within the rules.

Over the last decade the game has sped up immensely due in part to rule changes.

Players and coaches have responded by manufacturing midfield rotations. A large part of this is for player management, to give them a rest and to prevent injury.

Now the AFL is considering a cap on interchanges. They are forgetting that they caused this, for better or worse. I am curious what they hope to achieve with a cap.

One very probably result will be an increase in injured players. The game doesn't want that. It doesn't need that. The AFL should wisen up and leave the idea of a cap alone.

Soccer – Not For Me

2010-06-24T23:16:00.002+10:00

I have apologised to soccer fans four years ago for not being able to get into their sport. I have explained some of my beefs with the sport. I have commented on my struggles to watch games from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This year was going to be different. I attempted to watch zero games and got 100% fulfilment in doing so.

I accept that there are beefs people have with my game, and that’s ok. It is also ok to refute my claims about Soccer (it’s not football to me).

As stated by David Letterman on his show, “it’s so dull you need to bring something to entertain yourself” referring to the ad nauseum blowing of the vuvuzela. As if 90 minutes for a nil all draw isn’t painstaking enough. The game consists of maybe 2 minutes of excitement. No wonder soccer fans in some countries are so angry after a loss, they haven’t had an outlet for their pent up rage from the working week.

How about these players? They are overpaid pansies. The diving we see in soccer is ridiculous. Some get taken off on a stretcher after a dive only to get up unaided and walk to the bench.

The card system seems inconsistent. Maybe I just don’t know the rules well enough. Some soft ones are given straight red when others just get yellow. It confuses us novices. Then again, the umpires in my game have strange inconsistencies.

In saying all that, I acknowledge the skill involved in playing soccer. Perhaps before you take a shot a my sport think about this, I have played soccer, would you give mine a go??

The Defection

2010-06-16T15:32:00.001+10:00

A couple of weeks ago it was hard to avoid the news about Israel Folau’s signing with new AFL franchise, known as Team GWS.

I was actually hoping that the rumours would not come to fruition and he would continue to play rugby league. But he will be an Aussie Rules player as of 2011 and I hope he realises the enormity of the task.

There will be a pressure on him to perform from day 1. He is on pay similar to the biggest stars in our game, yet he is foreign to most of the core skills and will have to severely get out of his rugby league tactical frame of mind. Karmichael Hunt will prove just how hard it will be to adjust.

The high marks he takes out on the wing from a cross field kick are celebrated in rugby league. In Aussie Rules they are nothing special. Anyone can leap over a stationary defender to mark the ball, it’s regulation stuff. Although of all the league players he does get the most height.

Time will tell whether the money was worth it. I can see him going back to rugby league in four years time, and he will be welcomed back with open arms despite what some commenter’s will tell you should happen. They have done as much for many rugby union returners.

I wish him well, the success of the team is riding on him.

The Opposition Factor

2010-04-26T10:12:00.001+10:00

Respected AFL journalist, Mike Sheehan, recently interviewed Sydney Swans coach, Paul Roos, for his show on Fox Sports called ‘Open Mike’.

They covered many topics from his career as a player with Fitzroy to his decision to retire as head coach and hand over the reigns to assistant coach, John Longmire. One topic in particular caught my attention, it was the perception that the Swans have a negative and ‘ugly’ game plan.

I have some good friends that get carried away with this notion and even go as far as to say that they “hate” the Swans due to their style of play. I take offense to this allegation as it is baseless.

The Swans were a very successful team during the Paul Roos era of 2003 -2007. As a successful team there is always an opposition wanting to beat you week after week. Teams now are well prepared in working out how to negate the game plan of the opposition.

Roos points out that “people fail to see that there’s an opposition”. Watch them at training, “If it’s 18 on zero we’ll bring it down the corridor every time”. They don’t practice ‘ugly’ football. Of course they have played some shocking games of football, Mike Sheehan used an example against St Kilda. But it is no different to any other team. They have all used negative tactics and have produced ‘ugly’ football.

So why are the Swans singled out? Who knows? Who cares? People who bag my team should instead look at their own team and pump them up instead of hating the Swans.

Conflicted

2010-04-06T13:41:00.000+10:00

It was put to me recently that there was no way I could call myself a Sydney Swans fan, as I have done for 17 years, while giving any form of support to the new GWS franchise preparing to join the AFL in 2011.

I have proclaimed that I am a Swans fan for life after a childhood of changing teams on a whim as a rugby league fan.

With GWS one has to look at the bigger picture and put parochialism to one side. Ask what is best for the game. If GWS doesn’t get enough members it will be embarrassing for all fans in this region, and I don’t want the doomsayers to be right. So I will be buying a membership and attending a few games. I might stop short of buying merchandise even though I love ‘the merch’.

I will be doing all this because I enjoy Australian Rules football first and foremost. My support of the Swans comes after this. I have played, coached, umpired since I was 10. It’s officially my sport, there is no other for me.

I understand there would be some conflicts in the hearts of fellow Swans supporters, especially in this region. I believe it is more important for the game to put aside parochialism for a little while and buy a membership of GWS when they come up for sale. In the meantime ‘Sign up for Sheedy’.

Lucky To Even Get Close

2010-03-29T20:34:00.000+11:00

St Kilda 15.6 (96) def

Sydney 13.10 (88)

This was the first game of the season. Therefore it had all the necessary excitement of a brand new season with fresh hope and new players. I was in attendance happy that the footy was back and to be seated with a good friend at the best stadium in Sydney.

We arrived a tad late to discover Sydney had scored the first two goals. Then through some skill errors and poor checking gifted St Kilda the next five. Some blatant umpiring inconsistencies didn’t assist matter.

That turned out to be the constant theme of the game – close margin, not quite good enough, our own worst enemy with skill errors at crucial moments, not forgetting the umpiring inconsistencies.

Could be typical of our season. One where we find that we tend to lose those close games such as this one against St Kilda.

That being said, this season definitely does have an air of 2003 about it. If you don’t know the significance then check out what happened in 2005.

Membership Drive

2010-03-19T13:34:00.003+11:00

I wonder why it has taken rugby league so long to focus on building membership. Before now they relied heavily on poker machines and strong leagues clubs. Now leagues clubs are blaming pokie taxes from the state govt on their ability to hold up the ailing clubs. Meanwhile at the other end of the Hume Highway some AFL clubs are boasting memberships topping 50,000. Granted Melbourne people are more sports crazy but i feel like that is no excuse. Too many people love a sport here in Sydney yet are unwilling to part with some cash in support of their chosen club. Personally I have bought social memberships to both the Sydney Swans and Parramatta Eels, and when the new GWS team comes into the AFL I will part with some cash there too because it's important to show support by buying a membership.

Although I have my favourite football code and nothing would please me more than everyone jumping on board with an AFL club, what is more important is that people show true support for their team and buy a membership.

Footy Evangelism

2010-02-23T18:18:00.004+11:00

Aussie Rules Football is my game (in case you haven’t noticed).

Getting people interested in AFL in western Sydney has to be the biggest challenge since the move of South Melbourne to Sydney way back in 1981. Hopefully learning from those mistakes will create a greater resolve to do things right to make sure the new team (without an official name at the moment) launches as well as possible.

Everyone seems to label this area rugby league heartland. I think league supporters are relying on this adage to maintain their stronghold. However the AFL is cashed up and proactive, spending money on grounds both for professional teams and local teams. Meanwhile the rugby league has been largely inactive and is disorganised with its leadership. Phil Gould has been most critical.

Rugby league is a very different sport and its supporters seem unable (or unwilling) to understand a different sport. They seem to be very rigid to their rules and can’t handle the multi directional nature of Aussie rules.

This is only one aspect of the recruitment of supporters because largely rugby league supporters will stay loyal to league, or at best be a part time supporter of Aussie rules.

There is a large migrant population that are new to Australia and in an effort to assimilate to their new home they send their kids to play the real footy. With long running controversy about the size disparity of junior league players the Auskick program offers a safe and fun alternative for parents to send their children as the physical aspect is introduced gradually.

It is hard to create a passionate supporter out of nowhere. Team GWS has to start from the ground up. Hence their strong efforts to entrench community links. A citizenship ceremony at half time of the Sydney Vs Carlton pre season match at Blacktown I thought was very clever. Those people will remember that game forever and have a positive emotional attachment to the game.

Attaining Kevin Sheedy as coach for the next three years was a massive coup. His marketing ability is priceless. He recently became a league supporter to win (save) the league supporters, heard that method before anyone? He stated that he would buy a membership to the four western Sydney rugby league clubs, if they would let him. Rugby league officials reaction to this only assists in giving greater publicity.

Above all there is a need to stay positive and think about the game before any team support.

Ron Barassi – The Coach

2010-02-23T17:27:00.001+11:00

“The Coach” by John Powers

This is the story of the 1977 season of North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League. John Powers had an all access pass and did nothing else except observe all facets of the footballs club from pre season to finals, to premiership glory.

The focus of story is on the coach, Ron Barassi. He commands a lot of attention when instructing his players. He is a hard taskmaster, knowing what he wants and how to get it. He wants to win but win fairly by having the toughest and most skillful team in the competition. His record stands tall with multiple premierships both as a player and a coach.

North Melbourne was a club languishing near the bottom of the ladder before Barassi too over and made them a powerhouse club. One that played in four consecutive grand finals, winning two.

It’s a marvellous read for those interested in the game. Especially if you are a fan of North Melbourne Football Club or Ron Barassi, or both.

An Arrogant Bunch

2009-12-16T09:17:00.002+11:00

If it’s Craig Foster’s aim to convince me to support Australia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 then he is going the wrong way about it. In a recent article in the Sun Herald and in a conversation with Les Murray on SBS he came off as arrogant and conceited. Even suggesting that other sports don’t matter and that football [soccer] would inevitably take over Australia.

It’s true that soccer (I refuse to call it football) is the only truly international sport, but Foster should not be so arrogant when the local A League is on the decline despite the addition of new teams. Soccer does have the highest participation rates in juniors, yet our top competition can only be compared to the 3^rd or 4^th division in England.

Les Murray even got in the act on SBS recently, referring to the behaviour of rival codes as belligerent, inconvenient and unaustralian. He even suggested that we try and attain the bid before sorting out what he considers to be minor details. Getting three other codes that garner more support in Australia to shut up shop for three months is not minor!!

These two want other codes to just lie down and let them have their way. They use the examples of other countries and how they would laugh at the situation we have here. We have a unique situation. I can’t think of another country that has four football codes running professionally.

How about stadiums? We just don’t have them. I’ve blogged about it already. Our best are designed for cricket and Aussie Rules. FIFA want at least 12 stadiums of 40,000 minimum capacities, we have maybe 8. We just don’t have the population to make those kinds of stadiums viable. If Foster’s prediction is true, that soccer will take over Australia, then the sport needs to get cracking on some new soccer only stadiums.

For now, all soccer commentators should pull their collective heads in and show the other codes a tad of respect.

Caught Napping

2009-12-07T18:44:00.001+11:00

Rugby League fans are crying poor to the NSW govt after revelations they were on the cusp of granting a multi million cash injection to the AFL for redevelopment of the showground at Homebush Bay.

These grievances are however misguided. Direct your issues at the NRL. It’s them that have failed to be proactive in submitting for available grants. The AFL has also been more willing than Rugby League to invest in grassroots programs. Whereas the NRL has been, by comparison, sleeping.

Now with the inevitable addition of a western Sydney team in the AFL by 2011 the Rugby League bodies are trying to play catch up. If you pay attention to Phil Gould then you might believe that Rugby League has nothing to worry about, if (that’s a big IF) it get’s it’s house in order regarding a national independent body to take over from the multitude of bureaucracy filled state and regional bodies. Due to infighting this may take some time. As an AFL supporter I can’t say I am too disappointed.

They call western Sydney “Rugby League Heartland”. All that can change very swiftly as a cashed up AFL is primed to swoop in and won’t allow the venture to fail.

You Heard it Here First

2009-10-25T22:39:00.003+11:00

On my other blog, Hammer Time, way back in 2006 I made comment to the fact that Australia's stadiums just don't cut the mustard when it comes time to seriously bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2018/2022.

As per FIFA's criteria, for a nation to succeed in it's bid it will have to have 12 suitable stadiums. 10 need to have 40K+ capacity and 2 need 80K+ capacity. On top of that, other facilities need to be supplied for training purposes. Also, as I learnt from an ANZ Stadium tour, the soccer federations are quite picky when it comes to the type of grass used. Infact the stadium had recently been completely returfed for the upcoming international friendly.

There is the suggestion that all other football codes will have to halt so that the soccer, that's right I said soccer, boys can have their party. Rugby League bosses have said they hope to come to some agreement if the bid is successful. but 4 to 8 weeks is a ridiculous request and I hope all other codes at least make it very difficult for FFA boss, Ben Buckley.

But who are we kidding. We don't have the stadiums (read the 2006 post) and building anymore would be a waste of money. Rudd has already sunk $43 million just into the bid.

A Mere Thug

2009-10-25T22:30:00.002+11:00

I got up early on Sunday morning (25/10) to watch the rugby league test match between Australia and New Zealand.

Something I don’t understand is how Paul Gallen has become an automatic selection at representative level despite performing below par at club level in a team that only just scraped themselves off the bottom of the ladder. He must be the most overrated player in the competition.

In the match there was an incident with New Zealand hooker, Isaac Luke, which confirmed to me that he is more interested in the biff than playing the game. It was minor in the context of the match was unnecessary. He is not a good player, rather a pure thug. I’m even embarrassed that he came from a local club, Wenty Magpies.

Surely there are better players than Gallen that deserve selection next year.

Trade Week

2009-10-15T17:56:00.001+11:00

For a few of us the off season player movements during trade week is the next best thing to the season proper, and for a change the Sydney Swans were very active and made some decent acquisitions.

Sydney was already shopping for an established ruckman to back up Darren Jolly and showed early interest in ex Eagle Mark Seaby. Then Jolly threw a curve ball stating his desire to return home to Victoria.

Considering the loss of the All Australian and premiership ruckman the Swans did well to acquire Seaby as well as up and coming Geelong ruckman, Shane Mumford

Seaby played in the Eagles 2006 premiership win against Sydney but always played second fiddle to Dean Cox and has recently been taken over by 1st year player Nic Natanui and the 2nd ruckman. Somewhat out of form at the end of last season he comes to Sydney rejuvenated and with plenty of ability.

Mumford slotted into the eventual premiership with ease with Brad Ottens injured for much of the season. He played understudy to Mark Blake but with Ottens return imminent it almost became a flip of the coin which two ruckmen to take into the final series. They went with Ottens and Blake. The lure of a long term contract and more game time were too good for Mumford.

The Swans also acquired two young players from Hawthorn, Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn. A good friend who happens to be a Hawks nut describes McGlynn, nicknamed ‘Mighty Mouse’, as a “great player…. a Luke Hodge in the making.” Of Kennedy she says that he “has showed some good signs, but he’s also made some really poor decisions throughout the year too.”

Overall, the Swans have done well.

Out of the Woodwork

2009-10-15T17:14:00.000+11:00

It is obvious to me that a lot of Parramatta Eels fans have come out of the woodwork since their recent success in the second half of season 2009. I admit it, I am one.

Their grand final appearance exceeded the expectations of even the biggest diehard fan.

With the influx of many new or returning fans sometimes the diehards can feel threatened and upset as they have been their through the bad times only for thousands of blow ins to jump on board and place extra demand on coveted finals tickets.

I understand this reaction. I felt it in 1996 when the Sydney Swans had a similar near fairytale season. In the long run though, who cares??

Most important is surely the club, the game and the community.

Anyone walking around Parramatta in September would have thought they were in a different place that that of months earlier. The general vibe was so positive. Shop windows decorated in blue and gold, streamers crisscrossing Church Street, banners adorning the town hall. It united everyone in the Parramatta area, especially the CBD. On top of all that, Peter Wynn’s Score has never done better business.

Hopefully most of these new or returning supporters stick around and perhaps join the Blue and Gold Army, as I have done.

Whinging Victorians

2009-10-01T23:39:00.000+10:00

A few years ago there were moans and groans of grievance from supporters and administrators alike regarding the domination interstate teams were having in the AFL. Non-Victorian teams had won premierships from 2001 to 2006 as well as three years of complete non-Victorian grand finals from 2004 to 2006.

But now after three years of Victorian domination I don’t see the same adolescent behaviour directed at them. We all must be above all that and won’t stoop to that level.

Personally I have enjoyed every Grand Final I have watched, regardless of who was playing. We have a very even competition in the AFL, which lends well to fantastic viewing. St Kilda and Geelong definitely provided excitement.

It’s as if the Victorians want to be able to control the success of interstate clubs. They conveniently forget that the competition would have died if it weren’t for the national push starting with the Sydney Swans in 1981.

They struggle to see the betterment of the game as the number one priority. Victorian teams are dominating now but like most things, success is cyclical. The jury is still out about whether a team has to “bottom out” before having a tilt at a premiership. Are they going to whinge all over again when the next non-Victorian teams takes their precious grand final?

Team GWS

2009-08-18T17:52:00.003+10:00

The new western Sydney team has finally been launched. Now if only the 'nay sayers' would shut up because this will happen. The AFL will make sure it does.

It was launched last Saturday under the working title of Team GWS. They unveiled a logo for the next phase of development as well as a basic yet impressive website. A working committee is in place to get this venture off with the best possible foundations.

Despite being a Swans fan, I am excited about this venture being a resident living 15 minutes away from the new stadium at Doonside.

They will eventually be asking for members to sign up and put some money forward. Even if you support another club I recommend everyone everyone does this to give the club the best possible chance of success in the early stages. Get down to games and bring friends unfamiliar to AFL. I have done this and many have become fans.

At the very least sign up for the email updates to monitor where the club is at. Very soon they will ask for ideas for colours, mascot, name, even song.

Get involved!

A Free Kick Against You, For Being Barry Hall

2009-06-08T14:10:00.000+10:00

Sydney Swans player, Barry Hall, is in a tough situation. He has a reputation of being the bad boy that precedes him into games. It seems impossible for umpires to view him in even a neutral way. This is unfair, and opposition players take full advantage by coxing him into random acts of frustration.

Hall is the most picked on player in the AFL. He is able to be wrestled like WWE Smackdown and receive no free kicks yet the glamour full forwards like Lance Franklin and Matthew Lloyd only need a finger nail to grace their shoulder for a free kick to be awarded.

He is now giving away free kicks and 50 metre penalties on the suspicion that he has done something wrong. Such as the momentum shifting incident with Jarryd Roughead, when it appeared Roughead ran into Hall’s outstretched arms for a second 50-metre penalty to be awarded and a certain goal the result. Also, once giving away the first 50-metre penalty no less than six Hawks players got into his face egging him on. Of course he is going to push and shove.

Barry is hard done by, although he does himself no favours in his remonstrations no matter how justified he may be. Umpires tend to not change their minds and go on to adjudicate more harshly on the remonstrators.

I feel for Barry. But to a large degree he created this and now he has to live with it.

Fans Are To Blame

2009-05-11T15:06:00.000+10:00

The Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League appear in dire straits. So bad is their situation that a complete relocation seems the only means of survival. This situation should be devastating to all in “The Shire” yet we haven’t really heard a peep from that direction. Possibly because the locals know that it is their fault.

The Sharks haven’t been able to get crowds anywhere near the 13,000 they need to break even. Instead have had to be content with around 8,000. The Sharks aren’t going too well so far this season, as if to confirm my point about fair weather fans in Sydney.

The fact is that if you want your team to survive then you need to get behind them. Put your money where your mouth is; show up to games, by a membership, whatever it takes.

Fair Weather Fans

2009-05-11T14:46:00.002+10:00

I recently went to a game in Melbourne between Essendon and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. I was blown away by the passion of these fans. They knew when to cheer and did so with immense gusto. It left me a bit disappointed to come home and go to a game in Sydney. If there is ever a reason why a Western Sydney team won’t get off the ground it will be because of the temperament of footy fans in Sydney.

Sydney fans across all codes aren’t 'diehard' enough, they won’t show if the weather is poor or if their team isn't going so well. If the finances are tight it will be the footy club membership that will be the first to go.

AFL fans in Sydney still have a lot to learn when it comes to supporting their team. We are too polite. We seem too afraid to make noise, or we just don’t know when is the appropriate time. We are still learning the game, as most are first generation AFL fans. Melbourne residents have had the sport ingrained into them for 100 years.

How We Won

2009-04-05T22:33:00.001+10:00

SYDNEY SWANS 3.4 8.7 16.9 22.11 (143)
HAWTHORN 5.4 8.9 12.12 15.15 (105)

Nullified Franklin’s Impact – Craig Bolton gives up height to Franklin but matches him for pace and somehow manages to get a fist on the ball at most marking attempts. Franklin resorted to moving up the field to get some touches. Bolton allowed him to do this and stay back. After all, Franklin is good but he can’t get the ball in the centre and kick it to himself deep in the forward line.
Mitchell had nothing – Sam Mitchell is a gun midfielder. Yet he had no presence during the game. He was tagged well by Brett Kirk (I think).
Hodge had minimal effect – Hodge backs himself and becomes the third man up in marking contests to affect the spoil. He was successful at the beginning when he was playing loose. When someone was sent to keep him accountable for a player he would still back himself on the odd occasion and he left his man. Mostly it meant that Barry Hall was allowed to remain one on one with his opponent. Goodes was able to fly at marks unimpeded and Darren Jolly was able to be dangerous up forward.
Tackling Pressure – Hard tackling is what wins matches. We didn’t have it last week and we got done. We had it tonight. Good tackling frustrates players. Franklin was gang tackled as soon as he got the ball. He never was allowed a clean grab at the ball. Chance Bateman, Sam Mitchell and Co were never allowed to run free with the ball. This results in opposition players looking for the tackler instead of a team mate to pass it to.

AFL in Western Sydney

2009-04-05T22:16:00.001+10:00

The Australian Football League wants a new team in the west of Sydney. It will never work say many. The AFL is being bold in this new venture and will make it work.

Some Victorian teams are on the verge of bankruptcy and can possibly see the writing on the wall: relocate or die. It is an unpopular notion. It was hard in 1981 when South Melbourne moved to Sydney and it will be just as hard today. But that’s the reality. No team wants to relocate to Sydney or the Gold Coast to guarantee their survival so the AFL will form new teams.

The new team on the Gold Coast appears well on track to join the competition in 2011. There is more conjecture about the proposed second team in Sydney. Most of the detractors come from south of the border. In the Inside Football magazine, respected journalist and football historian, Russell Holmesby (St Kilda fan), states “the AFL has to see sense and abandon the West Sydney concept.” Premiership player with North Melbourne, Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan, in the same publication suggests that having a team in western Sydney is “getting further away for the AFL.”

Wait ten years is what I’m hearing from too many. The AFL is cashed up and Rugby League is in crisis with their own problems. Strike while we can. Think it will go down the drain? Then buy a membership when the club is launched to help it get off the ground, even if you are a devout Swans fan like myself.

It is the same Victorian clubs bagging the idea that will benefit hugely when a new TV rights deal is agreed upon in the near future. Kudos to Andrew Demetriou.

Crawford Should Have Gone Out On Top

2008-10-16T17:07:00.003+11:00

Shane Crawford has decided to go another year after coming down from the high of a premiership win.

I feel he has made a mistake as next year holds no guarantees for his fitness for starters, as well as Hawthorn's ability to maintain the momentum gained from this season.

Every player would love to go out a winner on Grand Final Day. Crawford had the chance to do that and he has potentially thrown away a great opportunity. Next year he could realistically succumb to a season ending injury half way through the season. 34 is not an old man by life expectancy standards, but it is old by professional sporting standards. An old body at this level, the way the game is played these days, is more susceptible to injury.

I wish him well for next season as he has been a great player for Hawthorn.

The NRL Grand Final

2008-10-06T22:35:00.002+11:00

Manly 40 defeated Melbourne 0

Pre Game Entertainment
I really enjoyed the entertainment. For a grand final you really need bands that can rock it out, and you can't get much better than The Living End and Jon Stevens fro Noiseworks. It was very colourful with groups of dancers representing all 16 teams. The fireworks for The Living End was absolutely amazing.

Amazing to see a navy helicopter land on the middle of the field. Such a great display of precision control in the cockpit.

First Half
very tight, could have gone either way at any time. Israel Folau was proving damaging on the right side. He was just so hard to tackle. Manly got the only 2 tries in the first half. Both were very fortuitous.

Second Half
No one saw that coming. Expecting to see Melbourne fight back hard. Instead Manly had their measure and put on consecutive tries in quick time. I was flabagasted yet happy for Manly and all their fans that surrounded us.

Presentation
I thought Matt Orford would have won the Churchill Medal, but I have no qualms about the eventual winner.

Kevin Rudd was there but he always looks out of his depth when he is attending sporting events. He managed to get the obligatory boo's for political leaders.

Beaver Fever
Probably the main reason for supporting Manly. I loved watching him play, especially at State of Origin level. He was always very reliable and versatile. A player that definately deserved to go out on a high.

More Factors To Consider

2008-09-07T18:55:00.003+10:00

Poor crowd at Sydney's ANZ Stadium for the Elimination Final - almost 20,000, the worst since the 1920's.

Some like Tony Jones and Billy Brownless on Ch 9's Wide World of Sport would suggest that the AFL should be very worried about by this when they are trying to plant a new team in Sydney's west. This sounds like a very Victorian thing to say as they still want to keep the game to themselves. Any additional team from outside Victoria takes the game further and further away from Victorian domination.

I acknowledge that 20,000 is an ordinary attendance figure, but don't simply blame the fans.

How about these other factors:

We had two of the worst days for ages in regards to rain
Sydney limped into the finals with other results helping us in a big way
Economic situation can't be discounted - whether it be real or perceived
North Melbourne is not a big drawcard - even in Melbourne

Last but not least......

The non existent promotion from the AFL - let's face it, there are too many things to do in Sydney to go to something that no one knows is on.

Spreading The Word

2008-08-26T21:57:00.003+10:00

Some pessimists say why waste money spreading the word when teams can play to packed crowds in Australia. This was especially the case when Adelaide and Collingwood played a pre season game in the United Arab Emirates. What a waste they would say, 50,000 would have shown up to watch the match at the MCG or AAMI Stadium.

I think it is great that other countries are grasping onto our game as it is truly the best game in the world. But by not having an international presence we also run the risk of being swallowed by the only truly international football code - Soccer.

Not many would know that we actually have an International Cup in Australian Rules Football. In fact 16 countries will be competing.

The best part being that these teams are made up completely of players from the country they represent. These are home grown footy players. Not Aussie expats as is the case in alot of overseas competitions.

Keep an eye on World Footy News for updates on matches throughout the tournament.

Rugby League In Crisis

2008-07-31T23:18:00.003+10:00

You know that something must be going on when the NRL Footy Show talks seriously about their sport for one and a half hours with few ad breaks.

It was stated that the SBW exodus will be a catalyst for change. A change that has been long overdue. What those changes will be is hard to say. At the moment everyone seems to be willing to pass the responsibility for change into the hands of NRL CEO David Gallop. A job that no one wants as the drastic measures that may need to be taken would include a reduction in teams and the relocation of others.

The ramifications could be huge. I'm not the best fan of league as I got into AFL in a big way after the Super League war of the mid 90's. But i know for sure that if the Parramatta Eels were to disappear from the competition that my interest in League will become non existent. I'm sure there's more die hard Eels supporters that would do the same. Take away their team and the game just doesn't do it for them anymore.

Couldn't Do A Thing Right

2008-07-26T22:49:00.002+10:00

Picture this:

You're playing a team that you should beat, but instead of enjoying a fine display of skill and ability you end up wincing at every turnover, grimacing at every mark inside fifty dropped, and possibly the hardest to watch, the shots at goal that hit the post - oh the pain.

It was so bad that there was an exciting game of Rugby on another channel. It gave me some relief and a much needed boost to the spirits as the Wallabies got up.

The Swans just couldn't do a thing right. Adelaide are one of the most injury depleted teams yet we couldn't:

Get in front position in marking contests
Be first to the ball when it was on the ground
String cleans possessions together consistently
Give defensive pressure in our forward line
Create run in our backline
Kick straight at goal (I've never seen so many posters in one game by one team, must have been at least 6)

It's hard to determine where we will go from here on in. If we play like that there's no doubt we will slide. Although that is where we deserve to be, on that performance we shouldn't even be forth. It was inept, and just after I give Collingwood a bake as well

Some Things Never Change

2008-07-26T17:51:00.003+10:00

Why on earth does Collingwood even bother convincing people that they are contenders for a Premiership?

They have one good win when they dominated Sydney at ANZ Stadium and then they think they are all that. But of course, subsequent losses to North Melbourne and Essendon mean they will remain as filler for the top 8.

How anyone can lose to Essendon with the state they are in is beyond me. But, yet Collingwood find a way. Not only was it a loss, it was a comprehensive loss.

A message to Collingwood - Stop pretending to be taken seriously

NRL Caught Napping

2008-07-17T21:12:00.003+10:00

Blacktown City Council is building a stadium in the Olympic Park Precinct. Local rugby league clubs are now disgusted by move, taking their disappointment out on the Council. Rooty Hill Dragons club secretary, Don Milides, was quoted in the Daily Telegraph,

“They are building up another code while letting down a code that has supported them for years.

Anger that is misguided if you are to take the word of Blacktown Mayor, Leo Kelly.

"They (NRL) have been sitting on their hands," Kelly said. "A lot of the supporters like the old traditional teams like Balmain and Western Suburbs have switched codes and are now following AFL, strangely enough. We've had negotiations with them (NRL). They've retreated to their north shore bunker and we are waiting for them to come back."

So while the bleeding hearts of “Rugby League Heartland” bleat and moan about an AFL infiltration, their ruling body continues to be caught “sitting on its hands.”

Bloody Queenslanders!!!!

2008-07-02T22:40:00.003+10:00

Somehow they always manage to steal a try from nothing, a little dummy and a simple pass and Billy Slater is in with 10 minutes to go. We just never looked likely of crossing their line. Some comment.

If Nate Myles' spear tackle on Ben Cross is not worthy of a send off then we shall never see another send off ever in the game of Rugby League. Tony Archer left his manhood in the change rooms at half time because that was time for him to make a big call. The stage was set, the worst tackle I have seen in a long time, a blue, only for things to cool down and Archer weakly crosses his arms to say it is on report. I think that if Cross had stayed down with serious neck damage then the result may have been different.
I thought Mick Crocker had a hard head, it takes a lot to rattle him. But he got rattled tonight by the oblique spheriod in projectile motion. As in not an opposition player but the ball as it left Mitchell Pearce's boot. Surely to be the only thing amusing from a NSW point of view.
Too many NSW players did not perform. I am referring to Jarryd Hayne, Joel Monaghan, Braith Anasta. Wake up fella if you want to be there next year.
Tries from kicks, a huge beef of mine. What is declared highly skillful in Rugby League is regulation in my main game of Aussie Rules. Anyone can jump over a stationary opposition player. What is skillful in League is being able to move the ball through the hands and bamboozle defensive lines. Pearce and Anasta just didn't have it and resorted to kicking the ball to the wings where well protected Queenslanders such as Slater, Inglis and Folau caught with ease and advanced in metres.
Only after Queensland scored with 10 minutes to go did NSW finally decide to throw the ball around a bit in an effort to score. But it was all too little too late.

Doing It Too Comfortably

2008-06-27T20:37:00.002+10:00

Round 12
Sydney 14.18.102 def St Kilda 9.13.67

Round 13
Sydney 17.12.114 def Melbourne 11.8.74

For the last two games I have been impressed with my team's performances. Although I have a slight fear that it has been just a bit too easily. Even though both teams challenged at some stage during each game the Swans were comfortable throughout.

I am slightly worried because playing comfortably won't be enough against the likes of Colingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong. All teams that we have to play in the second half of the season on the run to the finals.

Collingwood and Adelaide are considered "bogey sides" for us as well, so it will take an extra special effort to overcome the opposition in those games.

Although all my worrying could end up to be ill founded and the Swans could rise to the challenge and come into the finals full of momentum.

We Stole That

2008-06-07T22:42:00.004+10:00

Sydney Swans 12.11 (83) def West Coast Eagles 11.12 (78)

Ten goals to three in the second half, but I still think we stole it from a team that played so intensely in the first half. The intensity may have cost the Eagles as it is near impossible to maintain the pressure for a full game. Sydney, as they did little in the first half had the legs to finish the game on a high.

A few comments:

The Goodes report - didn't look as malicious as most this season, but the head has become untouchable. Not sure whether he will get rubbed out, I suspect not.
The Staker goal - did appear that the ball was over the line when he kicked it, but the goal ump was right there
The Bolton goal - I suspect the Perth media will jump on this as a wrong decision. One umpire said he ducked but then he was taken to ground. Something had to be paid, either for holding or incorrect disposal.
Daniel Kerr - played like the class midfielder that he should be, instead of the 3rd string ball winner, definitely BOG for me.
Adam Hunter's kicking - much like his hairstyle, it left a lot to be desired. Some misses came at crucial times when momentum was in the balance. All were fairly easy chances.

The Last Two Weeks

2008-06-02T10:24:00.003+10:00

Saturday 24th May
Sydney 16.9.105 Def Port Adelaide 14.10.94

Just when I thought we had run out of legs we find another gear in what was the first really exciting game I have seen for the Swans this year. So exciting that when Jarred Moore kicked the goal to bring us level again I literally jumped from my chair. The injury of Power sharpshooter, Brent Ebert, late in the game probably helped as they lacked their best performer up forward when it mattered. Somehow we were able to make some breaks from the half back line and use the ball wisely when faced with a vacant forward line. Plus a clever banana from Tim Schmidt and smart roving by Jarred McVeigh and it was game over. Disappointing to see Port Adelaide fans leaving before the game had finished. Surely the traffic isn't that bad in Adelaide.

Sunday 1st June
Sydney 21.13.139 Def Richmond 8.9.57

Watched the entire first half and that was enough to know the result. Words like rout and clinic came to mind as Goodes ran rings around opponents with consummate ease. Jolly and Everitt worked in tandem in the ruck and were able to palm to advantage to easily. Richmond's disposal was sloppy and often led to turn overs. I was impressed with the tackling of Martin Mattner as well as his left foot. Henry Playfair is showing some promise up forward, although I'm not sure where he fits when Barry Hall returns in a few weeks. I think Playfair has done enough to stay in the team. But then who to omit?

So we have the best percentage in the competition yet we are in 5th place on the ladder. Even without the draw against the Kangaroos we would only be 4th. Three very winnable games before meeting Collingwood. Have to win all three if we are to solidify a position in the top four and gather momentum into the Collingwood game. Should be a cracker.

Points To Proove

2008-05-16T21:30:00.002+10:00

Interesting to hear the controversy that usually follows the selection of a New South Wales or Queensland State of Origin team. This year is no different with the omissions of Braith Anasta and Scott Prince in their respective teams Five-eighth positions. Some might say that Brett Finch was a bit stiff not to get the halfback spot for NSW.

Those unfortunate not to be selected usually use that as motivation to go into the next game for their club with exceptional vigour. They have a point to prove and it is always interesting to see who is able to successfully make their point and who fails.

I was watching tonights game between Parramatta and Sydney. Parramatta were clear favourites based on the fact that 4 of the Rooster's starting forwards were unavailable due to S of O commitments. Brett Finch should have dominated, disappointingly he didn't. Braith Anasta had a Man of the Match performance to send notice to NSW selectors.

Hall of Fame Tribute Match

2008-05-11T07:47:00.003+10:00

What a great game to watch. The best of the best showing what they've got. Some of the passages of play were just magical. Isn't that why we had State of Origin Football in the first place. I'm sure with the excitement surrounding this game that the idea will come up again. Probably to no avail but who really knows.

Every team that was represented seemed to be a winner with no one having a really bad game. Judd was quiet throughout and Kerr got injured early. From a Sydney point of view we had 4 players represented, 2 for each team. I was a bit concerned early as Goodes was very quiet and Bolton took a hit from Brown. Bolton got up straight away and continued and Goodes started to make an impact, especially with being third up in ruck contests.

With no serious injuries coming from the event I think all fans should be happy with their players.

One Spurt the Difference

2008-05-08T08:16:00.002+10:00

I know it's a bit late in the week to be doing a review of the game that occurred on Sunday, but hey, only the Hall of Fame game this week.

Pretty simple analysis actually of the Swans v Bulldogs game. Sydney let the Dogs kick 7 goals straight in the 2nd quarter to turn a 15 point lead into a 22 point deficit. Unsurprisingly the margin was 18 points in the end. I wouldn't to give the worst team in the league a 22 point head start yet we let a quality running outfit like the Bulldogs get ahead of us.

Ultimately, 22 points isn't a big lead in the scheme of things, but when you are trying to play catch up footy for one half against a good team it makes your task of winning that much harder.

Sydney came close but the Bulldogs were able to coast home in the end maintaining the buffer they created in the 2nd quarter.

Embarking on Umpiring

2008-05-03T18:03:00.001+10:00

This year I had decided not to play footy after having a horror year with quad injuries in which I only managed to play 3 games. It wasn’t until late in the pre season that I decided to attend a training night to become an official club umpire.

The Club Umpire program is a new initiative by the AFL in which each club needs to provide an umpire for certain grades. I like the program as it creates a manageable step for former players and others to have a go at umpiring before taking the leap and joining the umpiring squad.

I have since completed 2 games and have a new understanding and an appreciation for the job of umpiring. It is bloody hard!! So think twice before abusing match officials. Consider how you would like to cop abuse and how you would go making all the decisions. I find myself sticking up for the umpires a lot more now when watching on from the sidelines and dubious calls arise.

Yes I get some decisions wrong, but ultimately I am new to the caper and am trying my best. If everyone were to give this a go I think there would be much more respect for umpires.

Just A Tad Concerned

2008-05-02T22:24:00.004+10:00

I am very glad to put the whole Barry Hall incident in the past. But as a result we are lacking a key forward and I felt the lack of forward structure was evident in the game against North Melbourne. Hall's absence means that the opposition's top defender will go on our No. 2 forward, which is at the moment Michael O'Loughlin or rookie Jesse White. Henry Playfair is named in the team to play the Bulldogs which is probably good timing and Peter Everitt's return couldn't be more perfect. He can ad another option up front as well as providing Darren Jolly with much needed assistance. Haven't seen Playfair play so hard to gauge the effect he will have on the forward structure.

Not really disappointed to see Nick Davis given the boot for the game. He hasn't set the world on fire and we definately need players like him firing at the right end of the season. He is a proven match winner.

The Bulldogs are on fire at the moment so while my heart will always say Swans, my head is leaning towards the Doggies.

The Hall KO

2008-04-14T07:04:00.002+10:00

Just in case you didn't see it.

Courtesy of Dave's Football Blog

Blowout & Blowup

2008-04-12T23:18:00.003+10:00

Well an impressive performance by the Swans over an understrength Eagles outfit. Our stars seem to be warming up nicely with new guys hitting their straps earlier than expected.

Michael O' Loughlin was my BOG showing agility, awareness and most importantly for a key forward, clean hands in contested marks.

The game was really over well before the final siren with the Swans dominating in every contest and outscoring their opponents in every quarter.

Unfortunately a Brain spasm by Barry Hall has marred the night and left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. In case you weren't watching he clocked opponent Brent Staker square in the chin. Staker was not to be seen for the rest of the night as I think he was sent back to Perth time.

My guess is that he will at least 3-4 weeks. Perhaps the only thing in his favour is the fact that he wasn't facing Staker so it can't be called a "King Hit" where Rugby Leagues players in recent years have received 8 - 12 weeks.

He may be out injured anyway after running into the fence late in the game.

Time will tell, dare i be optimistic?

Looking the Goods

2008-04-07T09:43:00.003+10:00

One of the more exciting games I have seen the Swans play was their most recent win against the Brisbane Lions. We led all the way without having a comfortable margin.

Much has been said about our trading of premiership players Schneider and Dempster, but it seems to have had the desired affect as the praise on our rookie players continues to grow.

Craig Bird, Kieran Jack and Ed Barlow have all impressed those commentating the games this year. It has been encouraging as a fan because like most I was left scratching my head at trade time also. Barlow's dodge and weave and bullet pass to Barry Hall's chest was most inspiring.

People are finally taking notice and giving us a bit of respect after being widely tipped to slide to the bottom half of the ladder. Season is still young of course.

I'm looking forward to the challenge of the Eagles, the first game I will be seeing live this season.

Get Off Our Case

2008-03-30T22:12:00.002+11:00

So how come every game that's ends up in a tight low scoring struggle the Swans get the blame for it? Boring Swans style footy you might hear.

Last weeke against St Kilda, again the Swans were blamed for it turning into a dire struggle. Even though it was St Kilda that started the flooding tactics.

People don't believe that the Swans can play free flowing hight scoring footy. Well I don't think I have to say anything to that, 22 goals and a 68 point margin against Port Adelaide kind of says it all.

Round One Loss

2008-03-24T15:39:00.002+11:00

It's hard to make something out of the Swans first round loss to St Kilda. Not much is usually expected by the perennial slow starters. It was slow scoring but turned out to be an exciting finish somehow. Good thing too, I was about to call it a waste of a Saturday night.

Impressive form by some of the rookies. Malcolm Blight was particularly taken by Kieran Jack which must be a good thing. Also Jared Moore started well if he is to entrench himself in the senior line up.

The weeks ahead will be the biggest test to see if we will have a slide as is predicted in the mass media.

Dumping of Pre Season

2008-02-26T23:03:00.002+11:00

I personally love the pre season. It's a chance to have a good look at the young up and coming players on the list. It's hard to find that potential development of of players. Especially in Sydney where those not playing senior footy play in the Canberra league which is stronger than the local Sydney comp yet a lot weaker than an other 2nd tier competitions in the country. Our reserves win and win easily pretty much every week.

I feel that people call to scrap the pre season after their team cops a season ending knee injury. I don't know if it's really the case but it seems that there have been more this pre season than any proceeding years. And I would have fair reason to call for the scrapping as the Swans have lost 2 players to serious knee injuries.

If it's altered what would happen? Shorten it? Well that would leave little room for any form of competition, only a couple of practice matches. And imagine if clubs were inflicted with season ending injuries in these matches. They would be calling for an end to pre season.

Face the facts, clubs need the pre season and I think the competition needs it as well.

A Second Sydney Team

2008-02-19T23:05:00.002+11:00

It's exciting to hear the AFL talk with some purpose about a second team in Sydney. Will it work? Well people have mixed feelings. Some say we should wait up to 20 years. That's being very pessimistic I feel but one this is for sure and that is it can't be rushed into and the right people need to be put in place to make sure it won't fall over. After all, a lot of money will be invested in such a venture. Everyone know how much North Melbourne we offered to move to the Gold Coast, we're talking big bickies. A new stadium will be built in the Blacktown area where the team would be based.

Eddie McGuire has piped up, as he tends to do, to put in his contribution. I am suspicious about his motives, perhaps it means his beloved Collingwood will have to travel more than five times in a season and take some revenue from them, oh dear.

I'm excited, bring it on.

The Numbers Game

2008-02-14T08:31:00.003+11:00

When it's the off season when I am starved of footy news the smallest things interest me greatly. one of these are the number changes. That is who has changed their number and what number have the rookies been given. I was glad to hear this year that two numbers previously retired have been filled.

#14 - Craig Bird
#11 - Ed Barlow

They talk about pressure taking over a club legend's number, but surely the pressure builds the longer it is out of action.

Other new players to the fold

#13 - Patrick Vespremi
#15 - Kieran Jack (elevated rookie)
#26 - Henry Playfair (traded from Geelong)
#29 - Martin Mattner (traded from Adelaide)
#38 - Brett Meredith

New Captain

2008-02-14T08:27:00.002+11:00

Craig Bolton has become the new co-captain in place of Barry Hall, but why have thee captains in the firt place. Having a "leadership group" is a relatively new phenomenon and has generally been accepted as a good thing. So then if there is a bunch of leaders at every club then is there a need for three captains. Perhaps I'm an old traditionalist (at 26) but I like the idea of one captain. But good on Craig Bolton for his elevated status.

What A Tool

2008-02-02T10:47:00.000+11:00

Wayne Carey, congratulations you have nullified everything you accomplished on the field with your history of violence and plain stupidity coming back to bite you on the bum. Why someone wanted to marry you, have your child or even just have a fling is beyond me. A brief look at the facts:

Cheated on wife with best mates wife - needless to say they're no longer best mates
Taken back by wife only to abandon her with their two month old baby
Glasses model/grid girl/ girl friend while on holiday in Miami
Violent towards police and is maced and later arrested
Waiting to face trial in Miami

Basically I won't be disappointed if he ends up in Miami prison. His days of doing whatever he wants because he's a footy star are well and truly over. It's time for this child to grow up.

Starved

2008-01-26T22:01:00.000+11:00

I am wasting away here waiting for interesting news on my team, the Swans. The player movements keeps me interested during October and then the anticipation of the draft holds me over till the end of November. Since then the biggest news stories have been Steve Johnson from Geelong being caught speeding and Nathan Ablett, also from Geelong prematurely giving the game away.

I want to here about pre season. I'd even be happy to find out what number changes there have been with new players coming to the fold. Anything, please!!

Kangaroos Sent To Possible Death

2007-12-13T21:30:00.000+11:00

The Kangaroos rejected a great offer preferring to remain in Melbourne and regain their North Melbourne name. So what does this all really mean?

If Kangaroos fans don't put their money where their mouth is and become members and show up to more games then the harsh reality will come back to bite them on the arse. There is the strong possibility that they could now die a slow and agonising fall from grace. I'm sure the AFL is not going to be as generous if the Kangaroos board comes looking for a hand out. Think of how dirty the Fitzroy fans are that the teams history ceases. At least old South Melbourne fans have their team in existence and the history continues to grow.
The AFL will get their team in the competition one way or the other. Talk of a 17th team is interesting and may help to push the Kangaroos to the outer.

Draft & Trade

2007-12-03T09:05:00.000+11:00

I don't know what to make of the Swans draft and trade performance this year. On the one hand we got rid of two premiership players which can act as a destabling influence as premiership players tend to form a bond that is hard to break. On the other hand we made space in the salary cap and created some opportunities for young players now that some fringe players have left.

A Geelong fan friend does not rate Henry Playfair. I've never seen him play but being unable to crack into that fantastic Geelong team is not necessarily a reflection on your performance. I was at the game where Martin Mattner ripped Sydney apart at the SCG so I'm hoping he can now do the same to other clubs. He's another left footer and you can never have enough of them.

As for the draft, well time will tell. I was glad to see Nelson Bay (NSW) local, Craig Bird, drafted via the NSW Scholarship system.

We have another Irishman in the squad who has already been compared to Chris Judd. More by his athleticism I suggest as he is only on the rookie list for now and is very new to the game. But it is exciting, if he's anything like Tadgh then we have superstar on our hands.

This Annoying Lull

2007-11-08T11:27:00.000+11:00

Footy season officially finishes end of September. If your team won the grand final then you can extend the fun for maybe another week. After that all we have to look forward to is trade week then another month to the draft. In between it seems to be stories of off field incidents thank to Ben Cousins and friends.

To add to my pain at this time is the intense national interest in the horse racing, specifically The Melbourne Cup. I have been interested in this race in the past but now I really couldn't be bothered and try (in vain) to avoid mention of it.

Cricket is starting very soon which at least gives some relief from the horses but nothing beats the footy for me. I get excited around February when we hear about pre season matches as I enjoy watching our youngsters get a run. Then the real thing come March/April.

mmmm perhaps I should pace myself otherwise I'm in for a long summer.

Australian Convicts Vs USA Revolution

2007-10-14T22:47:00.001+10:00

The ground was hard and dusty and most of our team was under the weather after a week of partying. Probably a good thing that we were only playing 20 minute halves. Some of us were very concerned that the would get flogged and perhaps if the game was regulation time we may have as they appeared to be a young fit team. What let them down was their disposal and decision making. Our boys were more experienced in where to place themselves in contests and where to place the ball in disposals.

As for me, I was too concerned with my man as I was playing defense. I almost finished with the duck egg in disposals but I managed to get a quality handpass in the second half. Ah well, when you're dominating it's hard to get a touch in defense.

Note sure what the final score was but we won by about 4 goals.

Austrailian Convicts Vs Canadian Northwind

2007-10-06T13:38:00.000+10:00

After a rough start to the trip we were flung into our playing strip and unsurprisingly were slow out of the blocks. Due to flight cock ups we had no chance to train prior as a team, plus all of us hadn't played for a couple of months. You could start to see us click during the second quarter.

Parts of the Canadian play was quite impressive. It was good to stand back as a spectator and see what the Canadians can do.

We were worn out by the third quarter and it appeared like the youth and freshness of the Canadian line up would run over the top of us as they came as close as one goal after the margin got out to 8 goals.

Experience won out in the end as late goals saved the day and pushed the margin out to a comfortable distance.

As far as individual statistics, not much to talk about: couple of kicks and a couple of handpasses, not much niggle either.

Parra Divers

2007-09-26T18:03:00.000+10:00

I find it funny that Parramatta Eels players are being labeled as divers after last weeks Preliminary Final clash against the Melbourne Storm.

The Jared Hayne incident got most of the attention. Apparently he deliberately went to ground to try and milk a penalty. But hello he was hit in the head with a forearm. Last time a checked the forearm is a relatively hard part of the body and would do more than sting once impacting upon the skull.

The other incident was with Nathan Cayless you pulled a pectoral muscle after having his arm hyper extended by a tackler. Yes, Rugby league is a contact sport but No, grabbing someone by the arm and wrenching it away when the player is already on the ground is surely, at the very least, poor tackling technique, and at the most, mere thuggery.

And the Strom players have the hide to claim they are being victimised by other clubs.

I have another reason to cheer for Manly

The Theory That I Never Stick To

2007-09-22T11:14:00.000+10:00

I have stated on public record that I am always nervous for my team the week after they flog an opposing team. I have found two things happen the week after a flogging:

The 'Flogger' appears a bit flat and is slow off the blocks. Depending on the opposition they might still win.
The 'Flogee' players inspired footy after the embarrassment of the previous week and either have a hard fought win or an 'honourable loss'

Recent Evidence

Kangaroos: First week of finals against Geelong get flogged by 106pts only wear out a fired up Hawthorn the week after by 33pts
Hawthorn: Flogged by Sydney in Rnd 22 by 72pts. They looked out of their depth in big matches yet came beck from a 30 pnt deficit to down Adelaide in the first week of finals by 3pts
Sydney: As stated they flogged Hawthorn in Rnd 22 and looked the red hot favourite with momentum on their side. Not to be however as they let Collingwood in the first week of the finals skip out to a 31pt head start, ultimately winning by 38pts

This has happened countless time but do you think I follow my own theory. No, and as result I get 1 correct tip out of 4 in the first week and 1 out of 2 in the second.

Beware the embarrassed team, unless it is Carlton.

Unfair Finals System

2007-09-17T12:32:00.000+10:00

I find it very ironic that Rugby League commentators are displaying concern over the unfair nature of their finals system (The McIntyre Final 8). A specific example this year was how can the 6th place Bulldogs lose in week one and have a second chance against 4th place Parramatta in week two. Luckily results went the way they should and the Bulldogs were consequently eliminated by Parra. In years gone by teams haven't been so lucky. St George were once eliminated after week one despite finishing the season in 5th place.

The irony lies in the fact that the AFL abandoned the McIntyre Final 8 many years ago for exactly the same reasons. One or two years later the ARL (now NRL) take it up. Did they ignore the AFL's concerns with the system?

Mark Geyer on the NRL Footy Show apparently knows better than everyone else as he proclaims "find a better system...there isn't one." Mind you, he strikes me as the type who would shrug off anything the AFL does (or any other sport for that matter) as not as good as Rugby League.

The AFL has a much fairer Final 8 system where the top 4 play each other and the bottom 4 play each other. That way the bottom 4 have to win to stay alive. At least we had some sense from, of all people, Paul Vautin. He actually stated that the NRL needs to adopt the same system that the AFL has in place as he thinks it is much fairer.

Thanks for your common sense Vautin. Pull your head in Geyer.

The Australian Convicts

2007-09-17T11:36:00.000+10:00

Ever fancied playing for your country but never had the talent or drive to make it?

Or ever wanted to travel and explore other countries?

Well with The Convicts you can do both.

In about 2 weeks I ( along with other from all over Australia) will depart on the USA/Canada tour. None of us have met, let alone trained together and we have a game against the Canadian National Team 2 days after we touch down (ie not much time to recover from the flight).

Later on we play the USA National Team and watch their national championships.

Cities to visit include: Toronto, Washington DC, Louisville, New York, Las Vegas.

Moving On

2007-09-09T10:13:00.000+10:00

It's the only thing I can do now as one of the two teams eliminated from the first week of the finals. It has been a hard year to watch the Swans play. As the preamble on Channel 10 illustrated, it has been a roller coaster and just when you think they have some momentum and some decent form, players go missing. Same thing happened last night against Collingwood.

Against Hawthorn the previous week we were unstoppable and playing very clean footy. Against Collingwood Nick Davis was probably the most notable disappearance (to digress, can you believe Magpie fans are still booing him?), along with Barry Hall while Peter Everitt needed to do a lot more for the team to win.

Collingwood just out tackled us and that pressure showed for most of the game as it became implied pressure as we couldn't get clean hands on any hard ball possessions.

Ah well, already looking forward to 2008, it's the first year our players will get a decent rest in the off season and a proper pre season.

While we don't need a player clean out there needs to be some difficult decisions made about some players if we're not to bottom out as some clubs have done (eg Richmond, Carlton). Players like Ben Matthews and Stephen Doyle have been good servants of the club but may be on their last legs and the speed of the game may cut short their careers.

We have blooded some young players, most recently Ed Barlow, but we never get a real good look at them and what they are capable of on a consistent basis. Heath Grundy has been given a few games here and there, Tim Schmidt, Jared Moore and Simon Phillips have also made brief appearances this season. I hope to see more of them as the years go on. Let's face it, Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin aren't getting any younger.

AFL Finals

2007-09-05T11:09:00.000+10:00

We are in for a classic finals series. All games could realistically go either way and none can be tipped with any great confidence.

Friday Night - Port Adelaide Vs West Coast (AAMI Stadium)
Port Adelaide have exceeded everyone's expectations this year. That's not to say they don't have a quality side. They are firing at the right end of the season. But so are the Eagles. They are injury depleted but Judd is back and should be able to contribute more than he has in previous weeks. The game is played in Adelaide but will that be enough to counter the class from the west.

Saturday Afternoon - Hawthorn Vs Adelaide (Telstra Dome)
Hawthorn will be excited about being in thier first finals series for many years. They will also want to avenge their deplorable performance against Sydney last week. That's usually not the way you like to go into a finals campaign. Although I have always suggested that the flogged team usually bites back while the flogging team can be a bit flat the next week.

Adelaide is wanting to extend the playing career of arguably their best player ever in Mark Ricciuto. He deserves to go out with a bang but will they progress much further? My gut says they will at least for one more week.
Saturday Night - Collingwood Vs Sydney (MCG)
Remember what I said about the flogging team being a bit flat? Well Sydney flogged Hawthorn by about 70 points and were never really challenged except for a small period in the third quarter where Hawthorn decreased the margin to 40 instead of 70. The margin went straight back up in the 4th quarter anyway. However. I would rather go into finals with a good win like the one against Hawthorn.

Collingwood played Sydney a couple of weeks ago in an emotionally charged match with Nathan Buckley making his big return. They won fairly convincingly then, but this time I think they won't be as cocky after the Swans performance against the Hawks. It was infinitely better so they will be facing a different side this time.

It will be close, and my tip is that I will have a coronary prior to the finish.

Sunday Afternoon - Geelong Vs Kangaroos (MCG)

Geelong should win, that's the plain and simple truth. But the Kangaroos will go into the match with a 'nothing to lose' attitude. They have already over achieved this year anyway so a loss to the top side will be no disgrace, unless they lose by 100 points.

Geelong has lost key defender Matthew Egan. Filling this void will be crucial to their momentum through the finals and potential premiership glory.

Are The Swans Any Chance?

2007-08-31T12:51:00.000+10:00

My team, the Swans, are playing a young and firing Hawthorn this week. No doubts that the Swans playing at their best will beat Hawthorn at theirs. Problem is that they haven't been playing anywhere near their best. The last few weeks have been embarrassing although coming across an emotionally charged Collingwood for Buckley's big comeback match was supreme poor timing.

Sydney now have cemented a place in the top 8. However I've read that we won't finish any higher than 7th and no lower than 8th which makes life difficult as no team has ever won the premiership from that low before. Hawthorn are on a role and currently sitting in 4th spot and I think it is fair to assume that they will be keen to stay in the top 4 (or better still to move even highter).

The only aspect going in the Swans favour is that the game will be played at the SCG and is already a sell out. It will be a sea of red. But is that enough to get the Bloods over the line? I have tip them to win but that's only because I rarely tip against my team (only when times are really bad). If I went with the head bet then I would tip Hawthorn. They are the form team of the competition and have shown tremendous flair all season barring the odd occassion of inconsistency. Plus don't forget that the swans are talking of resting Barry Hall amongst some others.

Time will tell. I hope I'm wrong.

Sydney V Collingwood

2007-08-26T17:09:00.000+10:00

Some thoughts:

First we play West Coast when Ben Cousins makes his big comeback and now we play Collingwood when Nathan Buckley makes his big comeback. Obviously there was a lot of hype surrounding the game and motivation for the players to do well.
With that loss I am doubtful that we can make any significant inroads into the finals. Our place in the finals is now in jeopardy. We have almost lost control of our destiny and need to rely on these around us to lose. Still hope with a good win over Hawthorn next week.
Thanks to Fordy for pointing my attention to my previous blog about Collingwood being unimpressive. I shall stand by these coments and try to stand on the notion that they were that inspired to 'do it for Buckley' that they played above themselves. Unimpressiveness to return within two weeks.

Collingwood Unimpressive

2007-08-20T19:03:00.000+10:00

Watched the second half of the Melbourne v Collingwood match on Friday. I was impressed with the fight in the Demon players despite having only one interchange player for most of the second half. The magpies squandered a 40 point advantage to limp across the line in the end to win by about 10.

Collingwood will be lucky to make the top 8. I'm glad they are coming up against my team, Sydney, this week as i think they will be a bit flat against quality opposition after having to really work hard against second rate opposition. On top of that, if Ben Johnson doesn't get at least 3 weeks suspension then I will be very surprised.

Sydney Vs St Kilda

2007-08-12T18:19:00.000+10:00

Sydney 12.10(82) def St Kilda 9.11 (65)

This was first game I have attended in Sydney this year so it was exciting to finally get to game. Here are some thoughts:

Not a good spectacle

I took a non footy fan friend along to this game and I was feeling for him as it was a difficult for me to watch, some one who was actually interested in the result. You hear some fans get frustrated at the way Sydney plays, and I feel their frustration but I think a lot of it comes from a lack of knowledge about how the game works. St Kilda was doing so hard core flooding and neither team could get much drive from their half back line. So what do you expect a player to do when he sees no space in front of him in which his forwards could lead yet luckily there is someone available short due to the flood or someone free for a switch. Gone are the days of just booting it long to a pack and hoping for someone to pull down a mark or at worst force a stoppage

Goals from dodgey frees

I feel I am able to take my parochial glasses off and talk about umpires from a relatively neutral position. St Kilda kicked 9 goals and I can say that at least four of them were a direct result of dodgey free kicks. They didn't work hard for them at all. You cannot touch Nick Riewoldt because he must be considered a protected species. He's the new Matthew Lloyd where the slightest graze of his jumper results in a whistle and a free kick.

The Pink Ladies

I arrived to see the pink silhouette on the field. It was a sight to behold. I'm usually a bit adverse to the colour pink but for this cause it is ok to wear pink. For my game we wore pink armbands while another team in my comp had pink jerseys made. It's a big deal as it is hard to find someone that hasn't been in some way affected by breast cancer.

Eddie Jones a Traitor??

2007-08-06T10:30:00.001+10:00

Sunday Telegraph Sports Columnist, Cameron Bell, read my mind yesterday in his reaction to Eddie Jones being labeled a traitor by some players and fans.

Eddie Jones is a Rugby Coach. He wishes to make it his career to coach at the highest level. Unfortunately there are only so many opportunities available in this country. To coach at a decent level in Australia you are probably limited to five head coaching positions. That is the national job and the four provincial teams in the Super 14 competition. Eddie Jones has had a go at three of them to varying degrees of success.

Jones coached the ACT Brumbies to their first ever title in 2001. On the back of that success he obtained the national job and came close to winning the 2003 World Cup. He was sacked at the end of 2005 despite having two years to run on his contract. After spending time at Saracens in England he came back to coach the Queensland Reds in 2007 but was unable to finish the season and was 'relieved of his position' prior to the disastrous season's end, despite having two years to run on his contract, again.

I think Eddie Jones has given enough to Australian Rugby. He is unlikely to coach here again, more by personal choice it appears but also all positions are full. Yet now he is being lambasted by some idiots who must be so selfish that they take the success he brought to the Wallabies yet when he wants to move on with his career they won't let him hear the end of it (eg David Campese).

It's a different story if Jones is holding a grudge and that is his motivation to coach in South Africa. I don't believe he is one to hold a grudge. I take him at his word when he says he has moved on and just wants to continue his coaching career.

It's time then for the Campese's of Australian Rugby to move on also.

Beware The Haka

2007-08-02T11:11:00.000+10:00

This comes from Blondie - Saturday's a Rugby Day via Katy Corey - Steel City Experiment. Be careful next time you put a batch in the oven.

Probably not as funny as the Handbag Haka, also from Blondie

The New Coach Phenomenon

2007-07-29T12:24:00.000+10:00

How come all of a sudden teams start winning after the demise of their previous coach and is replace by a fresh faced caretaker??

The prime example in Brad Fittler with the Roosters in the NRL. Under Chris Anderson the Rooster could win to save their lives. Everything they touched turned to mud. Then Anderson succumbs to health issues and relinquishes the position. Since the Fittler has led the Roosters to three wins in a row and they are on a new lease of life.

So what is it that makes the players start performing to their potential? It might be a reflection on Chris Anderson's coaching but I'm not too sure about that, although I do think he was a bit past it and shouldn't have put his hand up for the job in the first place.

Rather it's as if the players take it as boot up the bum because they are usually somewhat responsible for they sacking or early resignation of a coach. A reality check that says he's lost his job, if I don't start performing then I could be next.

Watch the Bombers now that Kevin Sheedy won't be coached past this year. They will play above themselves as they want to send him off on a high.

Coaching Merry-Go-Round

2007-07-27T10:53:00.001+10:00

It's been quite a few years since we had a bunch of coaches being sacked or resign in such quick succession. To re cap we have had:

Neale Daniher resign from Melbourne, replaced by Mark Riley
Chris Connelly resign from Fremantle, replaced by Mark Harvey
Denis Pagan sacked by Carlton, replaced by Brett Ratten
Kevin Sheedy not having contract renewed at Essendon, but will see out the rest of the season

I don't think Denis Pagan will coach again as his reputation has been somewhat tarnished. Kevin Sheedy may coach again but I see him moving on to bigger and better things. AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou has already sounded him out as been the driving force of promoting the game internationally, a task I'm guessing Sheedy would jump at.

Daniher has been widely tipped for the vacant job at Essendon being a former player and favourite son, while Connelly is less heavily backed to go to his old club, Melbourne. There was talk at some stage that Daniher and Connelly might do a direct swap.

One this is for sure, there are openings for new senior coaching aspirants. Whether it is a current assistant such as Mark Harvey, Chris Bond, Peter Sumich, Guy McKenna amongst others, or if it is a straight out playing coaching newby such as Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley. Whatever the case may be it will be a talking point until all positions are filled which will be no earlier than October.

Get used to the endless banter and speculation.

Wings Clipped

2007-07-15T09:11:00.000+10:00

About a month ago I was tentatively predicting a West Coast demise. Surely now even the strongest of supporters must be worried.

A near 100 point loss could have been so much more if Port Adelaide had kicked straighter.

I caught most of the last quarter and it looked like one of those day when nothing worked. As if they were in quicksand, they more they fought the deeper they got. Even Premiership player, Adam Selwood, was making uncharacteristic errors. One in the forth quarter led directly to a simple Port goal.

Yes, the Eagles are undermanned having only 26 players to choose from, this is a real test of their depth. Chris Judd played but was still hampered by a groin complaint and had little impact on the match.

A trend I have noticed though is that teams bounce back from big losses while the winners are usually a bit flat the next week. So guess who the Eagles are playing this week?

mmmm.... dammit it's my team, Sydney, and it's played at Subiaco. Maybe we'll be the setters of a new trend.

They've Done It Again

2007-07-15T08:56:00.000+10:00

Perennial under performers. Oozing in potential yet producing little. That is how I would describe our national soccer team, The Socceroos.

It's hard to believe that they were favourites for the Asian Cup, as they face relegation after the group stage if they don't give Thailand a belting tomorrow.

People are already starting to point the finger. The Media is closely scrutinizing the Coach, Graham Arnold. While Arnold is doubting the players' commitment to playing in this tournament for their country.

The situation isn't helped by opposition teams having the dive and tumble down to a fine art. All you need to do is scrape their jersey and they are down and it isn't surprising anymore to see a stretcher to come out for these sissies. However, it is successful in frustrating the Aussies and it takes their mind off the game.

I only flicked on a get a score update for the Iraq game. Once when I switched on I saw 1 - 0 Iraq leading, and I thought he we go again. Later it was 1 - 1 and my mindset was a bit more positive, perhaps they have finally clicked. One more scorecheck found my positivity to be ill placed as it blew out to 3 - 1 Iraq's way.

It will be a long time before I could be bothered to watch a game again.

Anderson Quits

2007-07-10T21:01:00.000+10:00

Chris Anderson has just quit as Sydney Roosters coach citing health reasons.

If health reasons are prohibiting him from finishing this season then he shouldn't have taken the job in the first place. If my memory serves me correctly he had issues with his heart while on tour with the Kangaroos, to the point of collapsing suddenly.

If you have problems with the ticker then it would be advisable not to start coaching a team that is struggling, as it will always be a difficult task and will put more strain on your health. It is hard enough with a healthy body to be a successful coach. Finally Anderson has come to the realisation that it is a job for a younger person. Luckily for him that Brad Fittler is waiting in the wings.

So I guess good on Anderson for finally seeing what is most important in life and giving the game away.

Rugby On A Rise

2007-07-10T08:40:00.000+10:00

Rugby is starting to get more exciting as it leads in to their World Cup in France.

The Tri Nations series is a even as it ever has been with Australia only just nudging clear after a win against the second graders from South Africa.

We have had a few lean years in Australian Rugby since the end of the Eddie Jones era. For a while it felt like this new era would bring endless experimentation with little in the way of results. John Connelly was adamant about trying players out of position and about giving new players a go, even to extent of starting George Gregan on the bench. We're not used to seeing him trot out in jersey 20 or whatever it was.

But now it appears that things are starting to click at the perfect time. Our confidence is up after a win over New Zealand and the World Cup is around the corner. All we need now is stability in the starting lineup and injury free key players.

Soccer Beefs

2007-07-10T08:28:00.000+10:00

I really tried to show some persistence in Australia's Asian Cup debut, but when the game is 90% dull, 8% interesting and 2 % exciting I'm going to want to flick channels occasionally. Then I flick back from CSI and someone has scored. In this case it was the Oman team which made the game more interesting as it would have been slightly embarrassing for the Socceroos to lose their opening game, considering they are the favourites to win the whole show.

The Socceroos seem to under perform when it is most needed. I'm talking mainly of previous World Cup playoffs against Iran and the first time we played Uruguay as I think we all know what happened the most time we played them. Having everything to play for but not matching the importance of the game with their intensity or desperation.

They were lucky to get away with a draw against Oman. Some might say it was some Tim Cahill brilliance. Rather it was a lucky deflection that planted the ball at Cahill's right foot ready to strike at a relatively open goal.

Next time I'll try and watch more and maybe, just maybe I'll catch a goal or two live.

Dropped The Hall

2007-06-28T21:23:00.000+10:00

The Sydney Swans have resorted to dropping spearhead Barry Hall for the next game or two. He could probably have been dropped for form alone but it did seem obvious that he wasn't as fit as he should be. A mid season wake up call could mean he will come back and absolutely run rings around any opposing player. It may also act as a motivator to the rest of the team who may have been in the mindset that Barry will make it happen. Without him everyone else needs to lift otherwise they will be the next to be dropped. I am sure that the layers know this and are pumped for a big game against league leaders Geelong. It will be a tough ask traveling down there, a ground that Geelong has made into a fearful fortress. I think the job might be too huge but I am still hopeful. A good show here could still be a turning point in our season to make a run for the finals.

Also dropped for this week is Adam Schneider and Heath Grundy. They make way for Nick Davis, Jarred Moore and debutant Matt Laidlaw. Good luck to the young fella it will sure be a huge welcome to the big league. Good on Roos for backing the youngster in the crunch game.

Gower Treason

2007-06-27T22:36:00.000+10:00

So Craig Gower is planning to not only to switch codes, but also to switch countries. No big deal right? Well not necessarily. A lot of people would agree that this would be a good move for him after all the dramas he has had from the media this year. However, he went on radio proclaiming that he isn't going anywhere, instead he will see out his current contract with the Panthers. That was Sunday with 2gb's Continuous Call Team. By Tuesday Gower has changed his tune and he is now heading to France to play Rugby. His decision to seek a release is exacerbated by the release of emerging five-eighth, Peter Wallace, to the Broncos. Now the Panthers have no halves combination and have to start from scratch. That could take years to develop a tight unit in the play making division. They have unproven players there at the moment, some of whom must take this opportunity to step up and show how good they are. St George recruit, Richie Williams, would be a prime candidate. Unfortunately I see some tough years ahead for the Panthers and their supporters.

I Can't Take It

2007-06-23T21:48:00.000+10:00

I must be the worst at watching my own team when the chips are down.

Saturday night Vs Collingwood was one of the worst games I have seen the Swans play. Coinciding with one of the biggest blown opportunities I have ever seen. A win would have pulled Sydney up to forth, while a loss has left them crowded back in the pack with all the other final eight aspirants.

I think what gets me the most is that after watching a game like that on TV I feel like I have just wasted a Saturday night where I could have been more productive. It's different being at the game because the crowd can make even a poor game somewhat enjoyable.

I need to turn off and get away from it just for my own sanity. I check in every now and then, if things have improved I might stick around, otherwise I continue with other pursuits.

I can be very philosophical after a loss. Pretty much all the losses we have had this season we have deserved to lose. We are no longer the team of 2005, we had a small window of opportunity and we took it and I am grateful for that opportunity to celebrate a premiership. At least I can say that my team won a grand final in my lifetime. Not all supporters can say that.

I don't think I could be called a sook by walking away from the TV. I don't go off and sulk (what a sook would do). Rather, I go and do other things that are a better use of that time. Why potentially sacrifice mental health just for the sake of it?

Of course if my team completes a magical comeback to win I would be disappointed to have missed it. Unfortunately though, this year has brought more horrible losses than miraculous comebacks (eg Semi Final 2005 Vs Geelong), so I have felt justified in my absence.

Now that the game is officially over I can now publish this post.

New Wallabies Jersey

2007-06-23T08:51:00.000+10:00

Our nation Rugby teams has just unveiled the jersey they will be wearing in their quest to take their third world cup.

The Peter Parker inspired creation of suppliers Canterbury has brought mixed reaction, and it is only early days.

It features rubber web like inserts around the shoulders meant for grip in the scrum. They called it a "one percenter".

To me the best Wallabies jersey was from the Nick Farr Jones (left) led team that won in 1991. Plain gold with a green collar, green shorts and green and gold socks. Then Reebok came along and tried to mess with it (right). Is this just a case of another clothing manufacturer taking science two far? Or should we be more accepting of jersey innovations? After all, it's just laundry. If you can't play then the most scientifically enhanced jersey is not going to help. Sometime I would just like the jersey to be left alone as most of the time older versions look better than newer fancier creations.

Changing Mid Stream

2007-06-20T17:06:00.000+10:00

I have never liked seeing players signing with other clubs before the season is out. The most recent examples of signings have been:

Craig Wing from Sydney Roosters to Souths
Joel Clinton from Penrith to Brisbane
Peter Wallace from Penrith to Brisbane
Mark O'Meley from Canterbury to Sydney Roosters

I can only speak from personal experience here. I played with Baulkham Hills juniors in the Sydney AFL for five years. Midway through my last season in U/18's I knew I wasn't going to be there the next year. My performance dropped as my heart wasn't at the club anymore, it was already looking forward to the next year with a new club.

I can't see how these footballers are able to put in their all when there is no future for them at that club. What if things aren't to well? How do team mates react to the one who is going elsewhere, jumping ship it may be called.

Penrith have dealt with this in a way by dropping Wallace to reserve grade and promoting their latest recruit Richie Williams from St George.

That's the other thing. I have never seen so many players change clubs mid season and play first grade straight away. Granted there have only been 2 or 3 but previously I have never seen any, so that a 200% + increase on previous years.

Aussie Footy in Scotland

2007-06-17T21:16:00.000+10:00

Courtesy of The Winning Zone is a write up about the development of Aussie Rules in Scotland. Described by World Footy News as "one of the best write-ups of Australian footy you are likely to see in international media." You are also able to, "find out more on the excellent work of the SARFL in not only growing the game, but in achieving real progress for some of Scotland's youth."

Dollars On His Mind

2007-06-16T08:38:00.000+10:00

The Daily Telegraph today reports that the Broncos Warhorse, Petero Civoniceva, has been "axed". Of course this just means that he has not renewed his contract past this season. The headline is mellowed even further when they add that he rejected the Broncos first offer. Instead he will upwards of $400,000 a season in the English Super League. Civoniceva is reportedly "shattered by the reality that this would be his last season at the club." He's shattered yet he rejected their offer. You can't do that and expect to get away with it. I'm sure he is already on good money and was offered something similar to extend his time with the Broncos. But he saw dollar sign and a healthy retirement.

You could say how sad it is that there seems to be no room for loyalty in sport any more. But on the flipside, if Civoniceva had a big enough sense of loyalty he would have taken whatever the Broncos were offering.

So don't shattered Petero. You wanted dollars, now you will get them by the pound.

Just A Tad Premature

2007-06-15T23:25:00.000+10:00

Two months ago I proclaimed I was on the bunny bandwagon. I still believe they on on the up and up but right now the are stagnating. They have found it difficult to score points, and we all know how important they are if you want to win a match of anything.

At their height there was uproar at Nathan Merritt's omission from the City Rep side. He drew the race card and was told that if he just keeps doing what he has been doing he will be noticed by selectors. Well guess what? He hasn't done jack all since, not an addition of one single try. That is why he wasn't selected, nothing to do with the fact he is aboriginal. His consistency and work rate is the issue.

Jason Taylor is a genius, but perhaps we all have to be a bit more patient with the bunnies, especially the players.

Origin Series Loss

2007-06-13T22:32:00.000+10:00

While I am disappointed that New South Wales lost the series tonight, I am able to look at the loss philosophically and say that we probably didn't deserve to win.

There was a lot of ordinary in the play from both teams where only one or two players proved the difference. Cameron Smith was that difference along with playmaker Johnathon Thurstan. Their awareness around the rucks created the go forward and made plenty of easy metres up the guts.

No one really stood out as playing badly in the New South Wales team. There were just plenty who were very unspectacular. Braith Anasta disappeared, I don't think he took a kick for the whole game. Jamie Lyon proved that he didn't really deserve his place with a lacklustre performance. Brett Kimmorley while working very hard lacked flair in attack. As a result they never looked like breaking the Queensland line. Their only try was a soft dive from dummy half.

I don't think the selectors will make wholesale changes for game three, despite a few not really showing they deserve it. Not even Jarrod Mullen, even though he is the next big thing in rugby league. Let him start afresh next year with a brand new series.

Now for the dead rubber which arguably shouldn't be played now that the series is won. The players say they are playing for pride. It needs to be more than that for clubs to potentially lose their star players for the business end of the season.

West Coast Demise?

2007-06-10T14:23:00.000+10:00

On Friday night I witnessed the last quarter and a half of the the Essendon v West Coast match. West Coast squandered a 30 point margin to somehow only lose by 1 point. Where's the fight that won them the grand final last year and almost win the year before? Is their steely resolve showing some chinks in the armour?

Chris Judd is their superstar but unfortunately he can't break a pack and then drill a 50m pass to himself. It's just not physically possible, although with Judd you never say never about anything. Daniel Kerr has gone missing too frequently in recent games and their forward line is still lacking firepower now that they have to work a lot harder to score their goals.

Essendon beating both grand finalists by 1 point in consecutive weeks. Surely that hasn't been done very often. One for the statisticians to check out. I'm not disappointed to see West Coast have a downer but after Essendon beat my team by a point I wasn't too keen on seeing their winners jubilation again. Although I think having the Eagles in a bit of a slump outweighs any Bomber resurgence.

Geelong should win today and knock them off their perch. Is it preemptive to suggest a slide out of the top eight?

Supporting Laundry

2007-05-28T13:43:00.000+10:00

You could say that we’re not really supporting players just the clothing that they wear.

Tony Lockett

Famous for winning a match off his own boot for St Kilda. This is despite being down by about 50 pts at three quarter time. It was one of the greatest comebacks in St Kilda’s history. Big Plugger also didn’t hold back when dealing with the hard-core supporters at the Members End, giving them a verbal spray after putting St Kilda in front nearing the end of the game.

Infamous for one of the ugliest incidents ever seen on the SCG. Swans player, Peter Caven, was leading towards the ball about to take a mark. That was until Lockett’s elbow connected with Caven’s face and he was out for the count with multiple fractures to his face not a mention a massive bought of concussion. Lockett for his trouble received an 8-week suspension.

Tony Lockett came to Sydney in 1995 and led the revival of the AFL in Sydney by kicking tonnes (100 goals in a season) in multiple seasons. He was a star winning the Coleman Medal in 1996 and 1998. An All Australian in 1995 and 1996. He kicked the match winning point in the 1996 Preliminary Final against Essendon to gain entry into the Grand Final. He then went on to kick 6 goals in the losing Grand Final against North Melbourne.

Wayne Schwass

I remember him having a cheap shot at Swan Troy Luff in the 1996 Grand Final. I took and immediate dislike to him and of North Melbourne.

Schwass came to Sydney via a trade at the end of 1997. He went on to play some of his finest games. His damaging left foot penetrated into the forward line.

Peter “Spida” Everitt

I always found him gregarious, arrogant and a big show off with the way he did his hair and the significant ink work that he has had done. Also he managed to rip apart games due to his height and radar like accuracy in front of goal.

He ‘finally’ joined Sydney via a trade at the end of last year with Hawthorn. The move is starting to pay dividends as Spida’s dominance has led to two good victories in consecutive weeks against finals fanciers Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.

I didn’t like all three players. That was before they whacked on the red and white. All of a sudden they look like better people. They were never really bad people in the first place, but their sins were definitely forgiven. Especially when they became match winners for the right team.

On The Bunny Bandwagon

2007-04-13T13:37:00.000+10:00

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have changed their fortunes in a short space of time. They have a renewed enthusiasm, they are winning, and as a result they have captured the imagination of a lot of Rugby League supporters.

I am an AFL fan primarily, and in the League I am an Eels supporter. But I am firmly jumping on the Bunnies Bandwagon for 07 and perhaps beyond. They will be my second team, as I can’t conscionably desert my first team, the Eels. I may even buy the jersey of my new second favourite Rugby League team if they are cheap enough at Peter Wynn’s.

A few things led to their turn around:

Rusty and Holmes a court taking over – amid lots of controversy, instigated mainly by the archaic previous administration who were still stuck on the dark ages
Getting Jason Taylor as coach – should be at Parra but they made the stupid decision to sign their new coach before last season started. Since they signed Michael Hagan, the then current coach Brian Smith quit the club and Jason Taylor took over as caretaker coach. The Eels came from nowhere to almost make the finals. A lot of the credit for this revival went to Jason Taylor
Signing some big names – Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell, David Peachey, Dean Widders, Jeremy Smith
Keeping their young stars – John Sutton, Joe Williams, Nathan Merritt
Getting them decked out in Armani suits – it has to feel good to be in a good quality suit
Booting the Bunny cheerleaders – in its place comes a drumming ensemble that I haven’t yet experienced for myself.

However, the Bunny’s now have a tough few weeks ahead of them after they came back to earth with a thud courtesy of the awakening of the slow starting Bulldogs. It will definitely be a test of their mettle. This week they come up against a Knights team in moarning over the sudden end to the career of Andrew Johns. I suspect it will be hard to get on top of a team inspired to give their all for their former captain.

Swans Fanaticism

2007-01-31T15:32:00.000+11:00

Yes, it’s true. I am a Sydney Swans Tragic. There, I have admitted it. It truly dawned on me last year when I gathered all my Swans merchandise together and realised that I have enough to clothe a small nation.

It all started back in 1993 when my mum wouldn’t let me play Rugby League (back then I was a Parramatta Eels tragic). I was small and not very tough. It was feared that I could get severely injured if I pursued playing this sport. Mum actually had some grounds for her concerns after a summer training clinic at Wenty Magpies as an 8 year old. She was also turned off by the mothers club on the sideline who were either smoking, yelling, or both.

The first game I watched was Sydney Vs Melbourne at the SCG in 1993. Unknown by me was the fact that Sydney were on a year long losing streak and Melbourne were one of the form teams of the competition. Dad bought me my first Swans jersey at that game (which I still have) and a 10 goal haul by Richard Osborne led to an emphatic Swans win and mass hysteria after breaking the losing streak. I guess I was hooked from then on.

The Super League dramas came at a time when I was just starting to get into the Swans, soon after my first game. It killed off any passion I may have had for League at the time. Plus Parramatta weren’t going too well at the time anyway.

It’s a struggle being the only fan of any AFL team in your whole school, and when your team loses, everyone wants a piece of you. Some people were so predictable. When the Swans lost this one person would always seek me out and ask the same question, “What happened to the Swans eh?” Of course he was expecting me to get worked up about the loss and get all emotional but instead I responded with, “They lost.” I never heard from him again, until their next lost.

Then came the year of the bandwagon, 1996. Suddenly it became cool and fashionable to support the Swans. (Some of you probably know what I think about things being fashionable). The season started ominously under new coach Rodney Eade (now coaching the Western Bulldogs), losing the first 3 games by healthy margins. Somehow it turned around and we had a lengthy winning streak. This was foreign to us and we had it in the back of our heads that we could go all the way. It was the fairytale story without the fairytale ending. The Swans made the Grand Final against North Melbourne whom we had beaten by 70+ points earlier in the year. Dad had somehow secured a package deal to get us to watch the grand final. He said it cost an arm and a leg. I never asked how much I actually cost, I don’t want to know. In the end we lost by about 40 points. Back at school, “What happened to the Swans eh??” “They lost” I replied for the last time.

So I have been a fan ever since. For about 6 years Dad and me were season ticket holders and would go to a least 10 games each season.

Sydney is a team that, in the space of a game, will give you hope and lose a game or make you lose hope and win a game. If dad were as big a fan as I am then he would have died of a heart attack already.

These days I’m more philosophical about a loss. I still feel depressed but it’s nowhere near as long as when I was a young teenager, and a loss doesn’t involve tears anymore. However I think that if we had lost the 2005 grand final on the siren then the tears would have made an appearance.

Most people don’t understand, saying that it’s “only a game.” To those people it is hard to explain. I say, come to the footy and see what all the excitement is about. Come and see what keeps thousands of people on the edge of their seats for over 2 hours. Come to the footy.

Apologies To Soccer Fans

2006-10-26T13:12:00.000+10:00

2005 was by far my worst year of playing footy. It was not very enjoyable indeed. Words cannot really express how bad it was. The only thing that got me through to the end of the year was my strong sense of commitment to the team.

Soon after the end of the season a rather enterprising young man offered a well-timed invitation to play Soccer for Wenty Uniting in the Churches competition. He got me when I was at my most vulnerable, depressed after the end of an ordinary season. He managed to get a few other friends to play, which made it somewhat enjoyable to be starting pre season in October for a completely new sport.

I played the full year of Soccer but never really felt like I was getting into the game. Sure I was playing ok in a pretty good team, and winning games is always more fun than losing. But I could never really get into Soccer even during the Soccer mad period, otherwise known as the FIFA World Cup.

In a way the year was very fruitful. As it made me realise how much I miss playing footy (Aussie Rules). I drove to the ground on Thursday night (26/10) and felt so excited to be starting pre-season in October. I hadn’t felt that way in a long time. Probably since I was a junior. It was also quickly evident that the club was able to turn around the misfortunes of 2005. Everyone is smiling and pleased to be there which is the way it should be.

So sorry to Soccer that I couldn’t stay, but thankyou for making me realise how much I love playing the game of Australian Rules Football.

Trade Farce

2006-10-15T13:35:00.000+10:00

Good news folks, in a game full of bluffing that you would expect to see on the World Poker Tour, Peter Everitt was successfully traded from Hawthorn to Sydney. On Tuesday Paul Roos had offered his 2nd round draft pick, which was an advancement on his first offer. Hawthorn rejected saying that they now want our 1st and 2nd round picks. Roos wasn’t going to stand for this and decided to fly back to Sydney. I’m guessing he left some Sydney representatives down in Melbourne because with 4 minutes to go before the deadline the Hawthorn recruiting manager, Chris Pelchan, they approach the Swans ready to accept the offer made to them on Tuesday, a 2nd round draft pick.

This infuriated Roos, as he said to the Herald Sun:

"It could've been done two and a half days ago," Roos said. "It's ridiculous at four minutes to two o'clock they came in and said we'll take it.

"It (the whole trade week) is a farce."

When a club has a star player who wants out they want to get something for him so when Hawthorn had no-one else chasing Everitt’s services then they realised that the deal with the Swans was all they had.

In the end there were only 9 trades done all week, 7 of those were done on Friday. What i find funny is how fast they get their new recruits into the club's shirt for the cameras (see examples above). Trading period hasn't even been over for a day yet.

FIFA World Cup

2006-06-28T13:38:00.000+10:00

I have been trying to get into the FIFA World Cup. I have found it extremely difficult, and not just because the games are televised in our early morning hours.

Here’s an example of why I think I will never fully get into Football (nee Soccer). Late Saturday night I started watching the England Vs Paraguay match. After 3 minutes the first goal was scored from a David Beckham free kick.

I thought that as this goal was scored so early that there were more to come. I stuck it out till half time but couldn’t fight sleep any longer so I reluctantly trudged off to bed. How justified I felt when I saw the final result remained at 1 – 0. I’m glad England won but to stay up for a result like that I ain’t doing. The same thing happened on Sunday night with Holland scoring in the 18th minute and finally beating Serbia & Montenegro 1 – 0.

As Kathy McCabe wrote in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 10th June:

“Maintaining enthusiasm and a vertical position as two teams battle to escape a nil all draw during the FA Cup Final is not my idea of a good time at 5am”

I appreciate and admire the skill involved but it’s not enough to keep me up at night.