getseriouser

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Trade Radio Ga Ga (’is this real life or just a fantasy?’)

WHAT a stupid year. 

The losers of the NRL Grand Final are paid out as winners by bookmakers, and not because of a silly betting promotion but because the code and its officials are as relevant and effective in their jobs as contraception to Irish catholic newlyweds on their honeymoon.

Where Donald Trump himself is evidence our species might now be regressing, the fact endless hours of Trade Radio always have talkback callers is the proof in that devolution pudding.

And in a year where all the conservatives and right-wingers in this country should be as excited as a Beagle on full lipstick following ScoMo’s Steven Bradbury effort in May, they’re got their pantyhose and pressed slacks in a twist because of what some Volvo factory-worker’s teenage daughter has to say about the inclement weather conditions.

There was chaos and anarchy on Swan Street for the second time in three years last month but Hold Kong locals asked Richmond fans if they could hold their beer. We lost Polly and Spud, and said vale, gone too soon, to Saturday Night Rove. Five clubs let go of their coaches, Pope Francis delisted one of his cardinals, and a ginger from Christchurch defeated his own country by the virtue of most boundaries.

But at least we retained the Ashes in England.

  1.       Let’s start with the footy, trades season is almost done. Hutchy to his credit was a genius for seeing revenue opportunity in this trade period, with an ‘insert sponsor here’ open line and hours and hours of coverage, its been a windfall and then some for his business. But I reckon we’re only a year or so away from the unwashed realising there’s no relevance in any of it until the final day. There’s only so many Terry Wallace orations on the merits of list analysis before your average punter switches off. Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, Craig.

2.       The biggest name out there with a day to go is Joe Daniher. Was that meeting with Tom Harley a personal one or an actual, official Swans’ approach? Soft tacos, hard tacos, why not both? Now we have Essendon playing hardball and who knows if it gets done. Chances are it does, Geelong last year with Tim Kelly was more exception than example, if the Swans want him bad enough, they’ll lump up the pieces, especially if they fear as I do that Bud’s barely got ten more games in him in a market that requires a star.

3.       St Kilda has a lot on. Jack Steven and Josh Bruce are two big losses, but getting in Dougal Howard, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder and Dan Butler are some nice pieces. If Ratten can indeed coach, and as an ex-Clarko assistant he should be just fine, next year looks properly solid down at Moorabbin.

4.       Whats the thinking with the Dogs? Aaron Naughton looks like a key forward gun, and Josh Schache was just starting to show something as a footballer without being a star. Yet they’re throwing all the cash at Josh Bruce for a go at a third flag? I do know he was free to a good home because the Saints were hellbent Max King’s twin at the Gold Coast would head home next year – not now after that re-signing yesterday. Couple big mistakes there for mine.

5.       Tom Papley worth pick nine? Righto. And the Masked Singer will be popular on Australian television too, right?..... Yep, pick nine sounds about right then, forgive me.

6.       Jack Martin though, to Carlton, that’s the steal of the whole thing. Martin is a freak, who has gone underappreciated playing in the ghost town that is Gold Coast, for a horribly weak side, in a club that can’t develop anyone not named Tom Lynch. But has talent to burn and could easily become one of Carlton’s top 10 players next year, in fact based on the player he can become, he should. Think 2019 Michael Walters. Seriously. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

7.       Collingwood have cap issues? Really? Firstly who really knows, unlike North American sports where contracts are public, only each club really knows how much room they’ve got and how that ever would be divulged puzzles me. And yes they have to pay Grundy, De Goey and Moore next year, although the latter won’t be all that much given his hamstrings are like an Uber driver with turrets, unreliable and could snap at any time. But given the Pies were offering Tom Lynch the same financial terms as Richmond this time last year, with Scott Pendlebury out of contract next year and coming down in salary, with less stars to pay than West Coast, how is this a thing? It isn’t. Chris Mayne is overpaid, sure, but that’s it. Wells has retired, Beams took a cut, and unless George Calombaris oversaw their player payments and there’s backpay to cover off, I think it’s a total beat-up. But sure, let James Aish being wanted by his former backs coach at Freo to fuel that fable.

8.       Crows hired Matthew Nicks. Reckon that’s got fail all over it. Adelaide’s list is in a heap, the review basically said their post Grand-Final plans two years ago totally wiped the place out like a broken toilet on a buck’s weekend, and not seeing to the damage since has only exacerbated the crap spilling out all over the shop. Good half dozen or so quality players leaving this offseason, Walker and Sloane are the wrong side of 30 and they’ve got only a few good kids, most clubs around them have better youth and are more rapidly improving. Either Nicks can’t coach at the level or he can but the Crows will be a bad side regardless, either way it doesn’t see him making a new contract beyond whats given out today.

9.       NRL. Definiton of a pub league. Your local Wednesday night basketball is better run. And with better officiating. That Six Again controversy was the most befitting thing you’ll ever see to a sport, a sport where 13 of its 16 clubs run insolvent, but that’s ok because all their giant pokies-infested leagues club venues write them all a cheque to cover the losses each year. Absolute pub league.

10.   If an umpire or referee makes a bad call, it’s only made worse by changing that decision midstream. If a player marks the ball, but then the umpire overrules saying no, it was touched, its no mark, and because you’ve claimed it and made no attempt to get rid of it its now holding the ball, you just can’t do that. Kids are taught to play to the whistle. Except in rugby league then. Because chances are what the ref just said isn’t what he is about to mean in a couple seconds time, just be patient. That referee shouldn’t be crucified for what’s essentially just one error, but in the grand scheme of things, he needs witness protection. Or better yet, stay off the roster for trips to Canberra next season.

11.   It was mentioned in the preamble but no wonder SportsBet paid out all Canberra to win bets. The Raiders had all the momentum, it was 8-all, and it was near the Roosters tryline. They were no guarantee to score off that play, at best they might have got a repeat set. But if there was anyone more likely to break that deadlock given who was playing better but also, more importantly, the territory battle, it was the Green Machine. This isn’t SportsBet just being philanthropic, the result is just that shady.

12.   Speaking of Sportsbet – Western United. Made their A-League debut on the weekend, won one-nil in front of some fans at Wellington. But it was midweek that we saw their announcement which said “we are proud to announce SportsBet has joined the club as its exclusive sports wagering partner”. Firstly, poor form, in a city where all the AFL clubs are quite publicly backing out of gambling revenue, to be going the other way stinks big time. But secondly, what does that even mean? That if I go into a TAB all Western United games are unavailable to bet on. Coz that’s just not even close to true. Dumb and stupid in all of the ways, that.

13.   So the new boys have their home opener this weekend down at Geelong, even though they’re a team based out of Tarneit. Melbourne Victory when they’ve ventured down to Sleepy Hollow attract 14,000 or so, who knows how many turn up for the novelty first time around this Saturday. But going forward, given Melbourne City don’t exceed 10,000 and they play in town, if they’re getting anymore than 5,000-6,000 in what’s otherwise a 36,000 AFL venue, its going to look oh so pretty on television. What’s the opposite of the eggplant emoji?

14.   Few more on the A-League, firstly, why have your opening round smack bang in the middle of an international window? They were so hyper vigilant to schedule their opening round after the AFL and NRL had ended they failed to recognise all of the good Aussie players will be off winning 28-nil against Chinese Taipei or Christmas Island or whoever it was. Its like Victoria Police planning a social function on New Year’s Eve. No-one’s going to be able to make it you morons.

15.   And you open up with the Melbourne Derby. Lucky Victory is a terrifically run club with a strong, loyal fanbase. But only 33,000, with zero promotion? These should be nudging 50,000.

16.   Lastly, you know they’re going really well when the free-to-air partner this season is the ABC. Even the VFL got a commercial broadcaster, yet the country’s premier round ball competition shares a channel with Gardening Australia and Four Corners. And the cherry on the top is when it comes to finals, and I’ll quote the ABC press release on this one, where “one A-League match per round broadcast live on ABC TV and iView around the country… and a selection of A-League finals on delay, including the grand final.” Delay?! Remember those days? You can’t make this stuff up.

17.   Darren Weir got done for using jiggers. Rest of racing stays dead quiet. Right. Now is that because Darren is their mate and despite the heinous crimes blood is thicker than water in the industry and they have some empathy for him? Or is it a case of if he can get caught, then maybe some of the others equally as guilty could so easily as well, and staying mum is step one of avoiding such scrutiny? I wonder.

18.   So, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier for running a marathon. Phenomenal achievement, just ridiculous to even comprehend the feat. Amazing. But it won’t count as a world record. Why? Well it wasn’t a race. Old mate contrived the event with a couple dozen pacers to help him do it and that’s it. It’s like if me and some mates hire lane eight down Altona Pool Thursday morning, and fresh off a high-protein breakfast and a quick hit of flakka happen to break 20 seconds for one-lap of freestyle – you think FINA will recognise it? You think Kieran Perkins will shout me free Light Start for life off the back of it? As a milk crusader I could only dream of such a reward but yeah nah. Nice stunt Eliud, you’re a freak of a human. But we’re in the same boat brother.

19.   Tough one, not just for boxing because its bigger than that, but Patrick Day is in real bother and sincere optimism about his recovery to one side, so is his sport. Day was knocked out in the tenth round in a bout with Charles Conwell in Chicago in the weekend, which in itself is not unusual. But the consequences of the blow are such that Day is in a coma and in an “extremely critical condition”. Again, nothing but positive wishes about his eventual recovery first and foremost, but in an era where concussion in the football codes is as alarming as ever, combat spots’ existence, like boxing, could/would/should be on borrowed time with cases like this.

20.   TV ratings worry the pants off me. By far the most important and major revenue source for all the sport we love to watch, it helps grow the professionalism and the standards, and the access really. But as TV viewership declines, so does the viewership with live sport. And we all waited with bated breath for the NRL Grand Final numbers in the hope maybe they would be good, and it wasn’t just sport in general in trouble, that maybe rugby league was still on an upward trajectory and its just everyone else.

Nope, it was down too. Usually something that rates at times near 3m nationally, it was around 1.8m. The AFL Grand Final, with an engaged Sydney audience, has been on a trajectory over 3.5m, topping 4m occasionally, it was under 3m for the first time in years. Australia Open primetime slots were down, cricket was good but still down, be it the summer on Seven or The Ashes mid-year on Nine.

What does this mean? It means less people are watching live sport. And when advertisers hear that, they’ll be paying less to the networks for the privilege of putting 30 seconds of their product in front of the eyeballs of footy fans. And that then means TV networks will hand over less cash, subsequently, to the sporting bodies for the rights to broadcast their fixtures.

It doesn’t mean that we’re all destined to see the days of the 1980s return where players need a job outside of footy and only one game is broadcast a week and all that nostalgia. But the idea that salaries will keep going up and up is gone, the idea the game can grow at the same rate looks doomed. So unless someone makes Foxtel honest (nudge nudge Amazon Prime) or this is only a lull, and once we get over Fortnite and Korean boy-bands we will all fall back in love with Friday night in front of the telly watching footy, it’s a big, big concern. 

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Giants Pickett-apart

DID it easy. 

A Qualifying Final against the softest draw recipient in memory, into a Preliminary Final with a completely false minor premier, finishing with a Grand Final facing, well, you saw how competitive Saturday was.

All without Alex Rance, like it didn’t matter in the end.

Great side though, clearly the best team in this three-year period and two flags’ reward is nothing short of what they deserve.

So season 2019 done and dusted, Grand Final in the books, and now we trade.

 1.       Firstly, some self-appeasement. Before you promote others you must be able to promote yourself. It was the night of August 13th, and we quote “Nat Fyfe, if you can get anything over $3 for the Brownlow, just remortgage the house, don’t be subtle”. Not only have we seen many readers cash in, but all the home loan re-financing in doing so has re-stimulated the economy. Brilliant.

2.       174 votes from 173 games now, that’s just insane. Two medals, and then the one he lost to Matt Priddis by a vote even though he lost a week through suspension. In a market that asks “does he win another Brownlow?” I’d happily flutter on ‘Yes’.

3.       Anyway, back to the gratuitous love bites in the mirror section of the column, many said the Giants might make this close, some even picked them. Utter trash. Last week we led with the Tigers by 5 goals plus, and the only reason we didn’t go higher was just to be nice. So for anyone who turned Fyfe winnings into Tigers 39+, well done; this isn’t just a shit hot read each week but looks after your hip pocket as well.

4.       And lastly in this real look at me section of the column, Marlion Pickett. We declared right back the mid-season draft he was a gun, a steal of a selection and would be in the Tigers’ best 22 by year’s end. Nailed that call right out of the screws, that’s four all day, out through extra cover, don’t bother running.

5.       And what a game he played whilst we’re on him, looked assured, looked like he deserved to be out there on such a stage, in such a team. In fact I know the backstory might over-elevate how one could have seen his game, but in that second term I thought he was influential as any, especially getting the ball inside 50 (led all Richmond players on the day pretty sure). I know Martin has a sexy stat line, but for making a real difference, it was Pickett who could have snared the Norm Smith easily for mine.

6.       I get the Martin BOG pick, and what a resume that is now, but the influence Pickett had in getting the ball inside 50, plus Riewoldt who hit the scoreboard just as much as Dusty, I don’t think it was as clear cut. Houli too has now had two great Grand Finals and been pipped for the Norm twice. Shouldn’t go unheralded that.

7.       Mind you, what if Jason Castagna kicks straight, is it his Norm? Seriously influential in the second, very, very noticeable indeed.

8.       Tigers were 9th at the end of Round 14. Without Rance a show of coming back. That’s just a super effort.

9.       And then the Giants, are they the second best team of the year? Probably not. West Coast? Ended up fifth and barely made it out of the second week? Collingwood? On paper, probably, but you don’t feel great about it. Sure, might have been the best opposition for Richmond on the day but it was always going to be a Tigers flag this year post bye, no-one else was going to defeat them Saturday more to the point

10.   And also on GWS, even with all those really poo years when they came into the comp fronting up with teams fresh out of the creche, that was the Giant’s lowest ever score. Incredible.

11.   Justin Longmuir gets the Freo job, yeah mad. I got nothing on that. Scotty Burns looks favourite for the Crows too. Excellent. Top notch. I too have nothing on that.

12.   Bold 2020 prediction, one that doesn’t involve the Tigers coz that’s just too easy? Carlton Collingwood Grand Final. We’re seeing a pattern of teams launching from the bottom six of the table, Richmond, Collingwood, then Brisbane this year – a very talented Carlton with a good trade period could be that next iteration. And we also tend to see a revengeful prelim final loser make amends the year after, could that be the Pies next year, to then set up an almighty Grand Final for the ages? Get around it.

13.   Trades. Now stay woke. We now have beyond saturated press on this stuff now, and most of it will be as relevant as the nutritional information on a maccas cheeseburger.

Firstly. Herald Sun reported “Essendon says Joe Daniher will be a Bomber next year”. The only quote they used from Essendon was “the facts are he’s contracted for next year”. That headline and that quote are by no means joined at the hip. Not even close. And secondly, today, "The Swan to set to push Reid out of Pies", when Ben Reid has actually re-signed for 2020, and the ‘Swan’ in question is the untried Darcy Cameron, never played a game, not the reincarnation of Barry Round. So please, don’t say you haven’t been warned.

14.   That all said, lets see. Seems like Carlton ends up with Jack Martin, Eddie Betts, then one of Dan Butler or Tom Papley. I know it might not seem like much, but with a fit Sam Docherty returning, geez, bet against Carlton making the eight next year at your peril. I know, its Carlton, but you can’t say they’re not due.

15.   Tim Kelly, wants to go to West Coast, can they make it happen, probably not? Freo definitely can, so with the Cat this year actually out of contract, he might be destined for the draft if he doesn’t go Dockers. Could end up in purple after all.

16.   Sam Powell-Pepper and Orazio Fantasia, that ends up being some sort of swap deal for sure.

17.   After all that jazz, I reckon Joe Daniher stays. Story got ahead of everyone I reckon.

18.   Gold Coast, geez, how about that for a rescue package. And it is just that, a rescue. Top of the draft priority pick this year, middle first next year, end of first the year after. Plus they get Darwin as their zone and, when it comes to academy players, they can get them without clubs making bids for them. Massive package. Ludicrous. Here’s why, bear with, I’ll keep this as short as possible:

Last year, lost Tom Lynch, but got pick 3 for it in compo, got Izak Rankine, who I think is the most talented kid of last year’s lot. They also lost Steven May to Melbourne but got pack pick 6, Ben King. So yes, seeing their ex-skipper win a flag 12 months on stings but they’re not the first to see that happen, and they’ve already been really well compensated. We move on.

2017, lost Adam Saad for a second rounder, yeah sure, too lost Ablett back to Geelong after getting him for nothing in the first place, he did give that club a Brownlow. They also had pick 2 that year but spent it on getting Lachie Weller from Freo. Exactly! Their first pick was pick 19, Will Powell, yet Tim Kelly went five picks later.

Lastly, 2016, lost Dion Prestia but got pick 7 back, lost Jaeger O’Meara but got back 10. Went to the draft with 4, 7, 9 and 10, drafted Ainsworth, Scrimshaw (left last year for Hawthorn for squat all), Brodie and Bowes. Potatoes the lot of them. Meanwhile, Richmond got Shai Bolton at 29 and Jack Graham at 53.

Futhermore, in those same three trade periods, the Giants lost Jack Steele, Cam McCarthy, Paul Ahern, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Caleb Marchbank, Jarrod Pickett, Devon Smith, Nathan Wilson, Matthew Kennedy, Will Setterfield, Tom Scully, Dylon Shiel and Rory Lobb. The only player of note they’ve gotten back for losing so many has been Tim Taranto.

And just made a Grand Final.

So there’s three things here, one, its not a Suns issue, the Giants have lost heaps too and been just fine, sure, no-one of Tom Lynch’s quality, but it stacks up. Two, they don’t need more picks or access to picks, look at their track record, it hasn’t mattered any which way. And three, yes losing Lynch stings, but they’ve already been well compensated for that, its not as if they’re not getting back to the pointy end of the draft to restock.

Summing up, the Suns just need to stop making mistakes, or move. Whether they get picks, or go for Shaun Burgoyne, whether they get pick 1 or pick 50, whatever actions they take and decisions they make, they need to be good ones. Remember when retention wasn’t a Gold Coast issue but a Queensland footy issue, funny how that disappeared so quick it kinda makes you question how real a problem it was for Brisbane in the first place? Either Chris Fagan and Luke Hodge are in essence God and Jesus respectively, or it’s a non-issue. And then the Suns package today becomes a joke.

Either the Suns get out of this mess organically and its been a waste of time and way too much hot air, or guess what, they’re still desperately shit in three years post-package and Tassie is knocking on Gil’s door asking how much more than can do.

Anyway, where were we…

 19.   Footy Show Grand Final on Wednesday rated as well in Melbourne as the Front Bar did the following night. Interesting. Watch Nine commit to something for next year, not sure what, maybe it’s the Sunday Footy Show boys or something else, but a prime time offering from Nine next year got rubber stamped essentially off those numbers. Will it work? Let’s wait and see.

20.   And for anyone who thinks rules have ruined AFL, that score review or any adjustments to the laws have made it too hard to stick with after all these years – you’ve got nothing on the Rugby World Cup. The great game of Rugby, that’s always being very hard to referee anyway with all the tackles and rucks, has become impossible and any true-blue Aussie watching the Wales game Sunday, would make any nay-sayer AFL sceptic send Steve Hocking a Christmas Card. There’s always someone worse off, I assure you.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Bugger

FAR too many assumed we’d be having the biggest grand final in over 30 years this time last week 

Half-time Friday night we all thought we’d got it wrong but alas regular programming prevailed and they then expected Saturday to be the breezier of the two prelims .

Yeah nah.

Now we have third playing sixth in a Grand Final no-one saw pre-season, mid-season, to start the finals or even last week when it was a one in four chance.

Expect the unexpected they say. And they are usually right on that.

 1.       Tigers just win, by five goals plus. As soon as that siren went Saturday, and thousands of male Collingwood supporters suddenly sprouted innies, thousands of Richmond fans grew really firmly in the trouser knowing it was only the expansion kids ahead of them next week now. Giants have won two games by under a kick in the dying minutes, once lucky, twice you’re kidding yourself, three times though, yeah nah.

2.       Actually, lets knock out some Brownlow before getting back to the on field. Interesting year, probably the greatest field of live chances going in for some time. So much analysis available these days that someone out there will get it right but about a dozen others, whilst looking super schmick with their spreadsheets and formulas, will be way off. This column has no idea although liked Fyfe for a while. Gets 2 or 3 votes in each Dockers win. Nice platform.

3.       Otherwise, three randoms to watch – Boak, Yeo and Treloar, could easily podium. And a real smokey from the clouds? James Worpel. One for the exotics.

4.       Back to on field, let’s go back to Friday. Cats missed a Scott Selwood type in the midfield. Getting ahead was one thing, and they did that well to their credit. But when it got tough in the second half, when the Tigs were coming, they lacked grunt and determination like the Giants showed in the final term Saturday, to get the job done. And to be honest its plagued them since the bye too. Can look flashy, can score, but when it needs to get ugly for 15-20 mins, think back to the first half of the first final too, no dice. Kinda like when its past 2am on a Bucks night, usually phantom, usually pass out, usually Ryan Babel.

5.       Alrighty, Saturday. Yikes. Wet weather clearly didn’t favour the Pies. No excuse but it mattered. Why? Well would you like to know who trained in a down pour midweek? The Giants, in their main session. Probably the best training session in that football history given the conditions that eventuated.

6.       So – and thanks to Rohan Connolly for this, who I’m shamelessly stealing from – between 2008 and 2015 only one Qualifying Final winner of 18 lost a prelim final. The last four years where we’ve had a pre-Finals bye, it’s a 4-4 record. Look at the Pies, didn’t turn up until three quarter time, the Tigers at least turned up after half time. Plus last year, the Pies had no right in their matchup with the Tiges and jumped them something shocking in that first half. Might be something to it. Might not be wrong, but there’s something to it.

7.       If you look at the Pies, Tigers and Giants, on balance this all looks about right. Richmond since 2017 probably deserve at least one flag and a go this weekend at a second. The Giants these last four years probably deserve a Grand Final appearance for their body of work. And Collingwood these last 18 months, a toss of the coin Grand Final result probably sits about right for them too.

8.       Difference between Richmond and Collingwood? One covered their injuries a lot better and was better set up for the pointy end as a result. Injuries aren’t the reason the Pies lost Saturday or that they would have been underdogs to Richmond had they won, but it’s the reason Richmond has a better list and is likely to win a second flag in three. Case in point – Richmond’s reserves win the Grand Final a week before their Seniors probably win as well, the Collingwood reserves didn’t even make the VFL Finals.

9.       Bucks getting questioned a bit in the media, ‘oh, that’s 22 years now without a flag, ho hum indeed’. Relax. On that basis we should give Bob Skilton a call, interrupt his midday movie to let him know despite his three Brownlows and everything else he means to South, his Hall of Fame Legend status is getting revoked coz he never won a flag. And that his spot will be taken by Tom Barrass instead, because he has actually won one. That Buckley hasn’t got a flag isn’t news, it might be factual but its not a story. The idea that obviously would clearly yearn for one is also factual, but not a story. Please be serious.

10.   Matt De Boer was excellent on Saturday but then again the Collingwood mids weren’t requiring a tag to be kept quiet. Does he got to Dusty and try and ruffle him again like he successfully achieved last time in Sydney? Won’t matter, Martin goes forward and kicks four on him in that case. Whether Martin gets shut down in the midfield by De Boer or not won’t prevent a Tigers’ flag anyway, lets not bother about that discussion all week.

11.   Norm Smith tip – no Tiger is in better nick than Shane Edwards, otherwise Bachar Houli for a little value with you preferred corporate bookmaker. But Titch onball will be as dangerous for Leon Cameron as nailing your Tinder date in Bali. You better put a clamp on that otherwise you’re in big trouble.

12.   Marlion Pickett was BOG in the VFL GF yesterday. We know that the Tigs have held over Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh in lieu of the incredibly-stiff Jack Graham being doubtful to get up for Saturday. But back on May 28th we said this lad, who was playing for South Fremantle four months ago “would be best 22 by year’s end”. We’ve left it late but whilst McIntosh might be the safer play, Dimma will go very close to debuting the Western-Australian in the hope his mercurial style might just be perfect for an occasion like Saturday. If he’s picked, remember where you heard it first. Or read it first, even.

13.   Presume Kevin Sheedy is on standby to present the cup to Phil Davis and Leon Cameron should the Giants salute, the link to Richmond notwithstanding. The GWS best and fairest is the Kevin Sheedy medal, and unless you’re looking to Chad Cornes or Izzy Folau it has to be Sheeds. On the Tigers side, I think about Dale Weightman, otherwise Matty Knights or even Chris Newman if you want to go more recent.

14.   So yes, Richmond has been the pick for a while and it remains the pick. They are beatable though. Last four games their opponents all had strong chances they didn’t take. Eagles down here, in the wet, stuffed it and lost by a kick. Brisbane the week after got spooked but did a lot right but too late. First final, Brissy again, they kick straight they’re in it up to their eyeballs and then Geelong was leading by 21 points at half time, kick straighter its over five goals and the Tigs are staring down a repeat of last year. They’re not invincible, but it was only ever going to be a hot Essendon or hot Collingwood who stood a chance this finals series. Yet the Bombers lasted as long in September as Saturday Night Rove and then the Pies made a mess of it like The Veronicas on a Qantas flight.

15.   This column gets it right far more often than most and has banged on about the Clarkson-assistants theory for some time. This week’s Grand Final coaches, both ex-Hawthorn assistants. It will mean that after this weekend the last seven premierships will have been coached by Al Clarkson or one of his ex-assistants. Incredible. By this column, that is.

16.   More people in Sydney watched the Giants on free to air Saturday afternoon than people in Melbourne watched the Storm on free to air that night. What do we make of that?

 I love Victorian footy as much as the next Ted Whitten. This column still lapses occasionally and refers to Fitzroy instead of Brisbane, and it’s only been 20+ years. And whilst this column’s position on the Gold Coast experiment is well documented, the idea of a team in Western Sydney has always made sense to me. The population out there alone is more than Perth, Adelaide and Geelong combined.

 So to see GWS successful, largely on their own merit now (Gold Coast with the same concessions stuffed it, and you didn’t see Toby Greene playing on Saturday did we), is a good thing for the comp. Leave Gold Coast and Tassie aside, mind you.

17.   Speaking of Victorian footy, can we just kick the AFL reserves team out of the VFL into a legit reserves comp, and let Williamstown and Port Melbourne and Werribee actualy duke it out for a proper VFL title? Williamstown are long-storied VFA club who were looking for their 15th flag in 155 years of history. They lost to a team who sat out two of their players because they might be needed this coming weekend in a different comp. Don’t like it. Split the AFL reserves from the VFL. And the SANFL…

18.   Great to see Glenelg, another historic club in this country, win its first flag in 33 years. And yes they were playing Port Adelaide, their biggest rival, but half the opposition Sunday were Port Adelaide’s reserves, not SANFL players, so it’s a similar story. Great for the Bays to get up, but let the SANFL Magpies be just that, and then Port and the Crows can have separate reserves teams playing reserves footy.

19.   Speaking of Williamstown, feel for Willie Wheeler. Just a knockabout VFL footballer who had the win on his boot twice in the last term, so to lose by under a kick is devastating.

20.   Still not bothered by trade chatter. It’s all glorified brainstorming and suggestion permeating from the Herald Sun lunch room. When something remotely close to an actual story emerges I’ll get interested. Until then I’ll pass on Ralphy and Sammy and Jay-Z getting far too eggplant about what boils down to guesswork or stuff they dreamt about the night before when their partner slept at her friend’s house once again.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Greene, Eye-Gouge Monster

AND then there were four. 

Two redemption stories, a minor premier seeking validation and an underdog looking for quality over quantity 

Richmond were fantastic in 2017 and arguably looked better the following year. A grand an opportunity to go back to back you’d never see yet in the penultimate weekend they stuffed it. Tipping they’re still dirty.

Collingwood, the winners that night a year ago, came from nowhere to lose agonisingly a week later. Tipping they’re dirty on that still too.

Geelong has a monkey on its back the size of Naomi Watts’ co-star in that 2005 film set in Skull Island. The minor premier yet not rated a legitimate flag chance. They’d be dirty on that.

And lastly the Giants. Third prelim in four seasons, no-one has put together a more consistent body of finals work without tasting ultimate success. They’d be dirty they haven’t converted a golden opportunity yet.

Lot of get-even stories going on, three will go unsatisfied, yet one will succeed and nothing will taste sweeter.

  1.       Start with Toby Greene – still don’t get it. Last week, Bont, that was either a free-kick at most or a couple weeks for doing something properly grubby and in need of a spell. A contrived outcome later and he plays last week, instrumental in their win. Given the margin you could say he misses through suspension it’s a Brisbane win. Now, he gets a week and its upheld, but on the vision available the Bont incident looks worse. Don’t get it.

2.       Theory – Michael Christian wanted to see Greene go to the Tribunal last week on a serious charge where the Tribunal could come to its own conclusion, away from the constraints of the matrix Christian uses, and the Giant gets a suspension through that channel. It didn’t work, an agreed guilty-verdict into fine-only eventuated and the Christian plan failed. So this week, to avoid that happening again, he gave the suspension up front so Greene would have to work down from a week instead of the Tribunal working it out from scratch.

3.       As of writing this his suspension has been upheld but surely the Giants appeal on Thursday. Costs them $5,000, it’s a free hit, and given the size of the task Saturday afternoon and how important he is to them, they’d be mad not too. I expect them too, and in reality, it’s a 50-50 to be a success such is the crazy case it is.

4.       It’s an impressive four-year block for the Giants after that win last Saturday. Lost that epic prelim by a kick to the Dogs three years ago, were really in that prelim against the Tigers the year after a long way in, remembering they didn’t have Dylan Shiel for three quarters, and once again into a prelim this year. Leon Cameron has his detractors but they say winning a flag doesn’t just take planning and talent but a little luck as well. Given he continually gets this far, maybe that last ingredient is all they’re missing?

5.       Last one on GWS, from a league perspective it was actually encouraging to see that the left of screen displayed decent Giants coverage in the crowd in Brisbane Saturday night. Not a massive contingent but hardly the token couple-dozen of the early years, there was something half-decent for what is still a club shy of ten years old representing what is otherwise rugby and soccer heartland. Encouraging.

6.       Right, Brisbane. Told you so. This is a team who had zero injuries until Mitch Robinson and a draw softer than the Russians paid for at least year’s World Cup, so straight sets doesn’t surprise one bit. This is not a top four team, it’s probably a sixth to eighth team at best. Straight sets dot com, doesn’t surprise this column one iota.

7.       Luke Hodge though, what a jet, enormous career, huge for the Lions the last two years too, and we just love the look of Jarryd Lyons motioning to the two-time Normie winner for a chair off and the Colac product in body language alone gave it the “nah mate, cheers”. Love that. Well done Hodgey, certainty for a Hall of Fame Legend status at some point you’d think, with that resume.

8.       How was the Sam Reid ‘George Gregan’ impersonation on the game-winning-goal? Three or so posessions before the jockey Brent Daniels cheeky checkside, pretty sure it was Reid who dished the ball out like he was given a freshly-baked jacket potato unawares, very quick hands but by the letter of the law incredibly illegal. Umpy was never going to see it but gee, if only he could, would have paid a forward pass for sure.

9.       Speaking of umpiring, that spirit of the game free kick nonsense with Adam Kennedy and Charlie Cameron. My Lord. I hope the umpire mistakenly meant the stuff about constant niggle where a free is awarded if its just too much. But otherwise, under the letter of the law, Cameron coming back on was not injured. Play on. Ridiculous.

10.   So umpiring, was a shocker this weekend. Match Review and Tribunal not good either. Who is responsible for that? Old Steve “having a shocker” Hocking. My mate is just enduring the nightmare to end all nightmares. Rules, done nothing, scoring, down, I can’t see any portfolio he looks after better than this time last year. Lift Steve.

11.   Oh, and whilst we need to whack some folks – how about all that fuss about Mark Blicavs out of defence against the Pies and it cost them the game. They brought Rhys Stanley back in and where did the Blitz play most of his footy in the first half, a first half where the Cats played well? On the wing! David King was the main culprit. So we know not to ask him about the Geelong backline like we don’t ask him to be designated driver. Low blow, but he doesn’t read this, too busy with the behind the goals vision looking for Blicavs on Kennedy or Darling. He’ll be a while.

12.   So this week, what we got. Richmond playing a better Geelong but without Hawkins. Anyone see that going any other way than a Tigs win? Didn’t think so. Surely last year’s cock up doesn’t repeat. So one inner-suburban army of hundreds of thousands will bombard all of us in Grand Final week.

13.   Then, the day after, weather-pending the greatest collection of Collingwood supporters in one place ever since Pentridge hit capacity once back in the late 80s, hosting a GWS who have been tough for two good weeks but can they go again? The Pies might like the wetter conditions, the mosquito fleet up forward and a classy onball brigade. So we might end up with another huge inner-suburban army up and about in Grand Final week. Giants are in decent nick but, very decent nick.

14.   Good to see the Gulls make the VFL Grandma this weekend. Not just coz we like Willy almost as much as Liz Taylor, but because if it had been Richmond reserves versus Essendon reserves it would have been mega scratchy. Let’s just call the VFL for what it is, what used to be the well-respected VFA is now just the AFL Reserves comp with appearances by Port Melbourne and Williamstown. It’s a magoos competition and this Sunday one club will be caring more about the GF the Saturday after, the other will be hellbent on winning so they can secure a local real estate agent as a sponsor the year after to pay for the club jumpers.

15.   Jordan De Goey, oh, not worth the risk, he has only played ten seconds of footy in seemingly eight months and is made of tissue paper and is missing a limb and has Rickett’s. One thing though, aside from the German witchcraft and the fact he will have 22 days between the first final and a potential Granny – he hurt his hammy against Geelong in the opening two minutes but ran out, to little impact granted, most of the first half before heading for the tracksuit. No gratuitous stride out where the back door comes off the hinge and there’s the full dramatic hobble off the ground like you’ve got a bad case of pins and needles. Sure, he has a bad history, but this was not your typical tear. If the Pies win, I think he is a certainty to play Grand Final day.

16.   Ashes, all done. But please, Timothy. If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a million times: if you win the toss, nine times out of ten you bat first. On the tenth time you think about bowling, but you bat first. We lost the fifth test at the toss.

17.   Davey Warner. Couldn’t middle shit. You know you’re going busted when Stuart Broad gets you LB and doesn’t even bother turning around to appeal, he goes immediately from delivery stride into celebrating to gully. Was his brand new baby daughter on the eve of the Ashes a distraction enough? Perhaps. Was it just one bowler having him by the pills and otherwise, if Broad wasn’t playing he could have averaged say, 40? Possibly. Or, he averages 59 in Australia but averages less than 34 overseas. That’s telling. Remember, Steve Waugh and Allan Border, proper batsmen who don’t mind if your TV is an OLED TV or something from ALDI, they actually averaged higher overseas than at home. Proper batsmen.

18.   We need to find a new opening pair asap. Not bothered by playing Warner again, because if we do he’ll score a mount of runs against Pakistan and New Zealand on home conditions, but all it does is delay finding his successor for when we need to win tours, I dunno, in India, or England, or anywhere not at the SCG basically.

19.   Cam Bancroft, only averaged 11 from his two tests, sure, but gee, they swiftly moved him on because he was so bad, he was bringing such bad cricket juju to the place they brought in Marcus Harris who went on to average 60. No. That’s not right. Harris averaged 9 from his three tests.  Brilliant. Harris is now averaging 24 from 9 tests. Bancroft has 10 tests @ 26. Semantics perhaps but I’d be picking the sander before the Victorian first come the summer. But we have four Shield matches before the Gabba, I want to see Matty Renshaw ton up, get into the test team again and stick.

20.   And I love this, Steve Smith, missed a test and an innings but still amassed 333 runs more than the next best for most runs in the series. That man is a freak.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Spud

1.        Far greater and more important tributes will be paid for Danny Frawley on fair greater and more important platforms by far greater and more important people. 

But whilst it will not go undersold here that he was a cherished, beloved and legendary father, husband, friend, captain, teammate, coach, leader, colleague, commentator, analyst, he was also a great and important personality in so many of our lives. 

Chances are, and it helps I know the vast majority of this column’s recipients, that most who read this would at some stage have engaged in the weekend Triple M football coverage, be it a must-have outlet in consuming their footy media or as a knockabout way to unwind on a weekend. 

The week is for work but the weekend is to rest and to play and for so many of us it meant the Saturday Rub and their self-deprecating, piss-taking, barley football-themed banter that we all enjoyed and got a lot from. 

Spud was paramount to that. We may not fully at the time but now can appreciate how much his work on the wireless gave to our lives. To this day we could all remember how memorable, funny and enjoyable all of that was. 

For me I think to when he spent ten minutes giving Garry Lyon a complete once over on his demeanour in his return to rescue Melbourne, it was some of his best work. “The Sheriff’s back in town!” Or any of their 360 feedback session were great, too when he christened Tony Jones as Chompers or went for ‘Haircut’ Timms, the list goes on. Hit up YouTube or the Triple M footy podcast and reminisce. 

So for us, we remember Spud for many things, be it Bounce, Richmond coach, or St Kilda legend. But in amongst that and so much more we pause, remember and thank Spud for the laughs, memories and outlet his personality provided us all every weekend. A tough day was always lightened by the humour Spud brought every single time. 

The last ten years may have been tougher than Spud deserved but he leaves behind a legacy to be proud of. Not just in terms of football and then entertaining so many of us, but with regard mental health too. 

RUOk day is this Thursday and Spud was an ambassador for it. But one day is never enough. Every day and any day is a day to check in with someone. And perhaps don’t literally ask them if they’re ok, have a longer chat than usual with someone you cherish, get a sense of where they’re at. Or better still, have a conversation with someone you only just know that you otherwise wouldn’t. Get a read. And if you think something’s off – you’re probably right. 

And if nothing else this Thursday, or Friday, or later today – do it because Spud would want us too. 

So to Spud, please rest easy now big fella, you’ve earned it. The troubles are behind you but the impressions you’ve left on many, those who knew you or many like us that only felt like we did, will live on for eternity.   

Rest up now, mate.

The rest of this seems trivial but let’s drift elsewhere...

2.       Patrick Dangerfield. Looked immense in that second half, in fact it appeared he was single-handedly dragging his team within a sniff, and given the margin in the end was just the ten points credit it to him for that. But in the first half, going the other way, he was to blame as anyone in a hooped jumper. Danger had as many tackles for the game as De Goey did. In the first half where the Pies were running ragged, it was the Geelong midfield who weren’t up to stopping them, and no.35 was one of the main culprits. Sure. When you’re that good running ‘that way’ then you might be forgiven. But in a big final, where the game was lost in the first 40 or so minutes, not running ‘the other way’ kinda makes all that jazzy, sexy, look at me stuff in the second half all a bit redundant for mine; it’s the reason he is playing this Friday and not having a weekend off, really.

3.       Silver lining to the De Goey injury – this column isn’t sold he, Elliott and Stephenson are ready to click in the same team. Sure, they’re all clearly best 22 so on talent alone no De Goey is a net loss, no question. But the impact, negatively, of not getting the best out of one or two of that trio because the meshing, the chemistry, the most effective structure to play them in doesn’t exist, or exist yet, is one worth avoiding. Doesn’t mean De Goey’s injury is a good thing, doesn’t mean their premiership chances are assisted, if anything they’re worse off. But it’s a problem that goes away, at the same time, which is a silver lining for sure.

4.       Six of Darcy Moore’s intercept marks were contested. Not six of all his marks, but six of his intercept marks. That’s phenomenal. And how many gooses in the media wouldn’t have played him. Please be serious.

5.       Blicavs into the ruck on Friday changed the game? Yeah nah. Lets look at this properly. Firstly, the weather decision was trash because anyone with a weather app saw the forecast rain was never turning up. But don’t forget how small the Pies forwardline is. Brody Mihocek is barely a tall and that’s all the Maggies have. If anything have a go at the Cats for not dropping Harry Taylor on matchups, but that’s another point. Blicavs in defence wasn’t going to change a thing, and if anything is fractionally more trustworthy as a ruck than Rhys Stanley. But Stanley, Blicavs, Brad “Pill” Ottens, its up against Grundy so the point is moot anyway. Either way, the game was over because the Cats midfield didn’t work hard enough and the game plan stank.

6.       Brett Deledio is a star and what a bit of teamwork that was in his final game. Cooked the calf really early on but kept going to honour rotations for his teammates. A tremendously talented player crueled by injury and no Tigers fan forgets he left only 12 months before the premiership drought was broken. And no hard feelings at all for seeking success elsewhere, it would have been richly deserved. Onya Lids.

7.       Geez Shane Edwards was good on Saturday night, but its all about Dusty. Yes, Martin was a total freak show when he touched the ball, but it was six snags, predominantly from inside 50 groundball, hardly a hard-working performance. He had as many disposals on the night as David Astbury, so lets be sensible.

8.       But back on Titch, 29 touches, six tackles, eight clearances and a goal. The coaches gave Martin nine votes in the Gary Ayers Medal, sure, but Edwards as well got nine too. Did he get a mention anywhere Sunday morning? Hardly.

9.       Riddle me this. Jeremy McGovern threw Matt Guelfi into a Bunnings chair on the boundary at Optus a few months ago. Got a week. Nic Naitanui with similar if not a tad more force throws Zach Merrett into the fence, gets off. If Merrett’s head hits the edge of the fence that’s properly serious. So would the penalty then be more? Or does Nic Nat get off because Merrett was fine, despite the action? Or does hair-pulling allow such a reaction? Don’t get that.

10.   And, lets not forget, in the AFLW there are rules saying long-hair must be tied up, to avoid hair-pulling deliberately or accidentally. But Nic Nat, who looks great by the way, love the dreads, can free-flow to his heart’s content.

11.   And further again, hair in the NFL is considered part of your uniform. So technically pulling Nic Nat’s hair might be a high tackle but if you get a bit below the neck you might be alright.

12.   The Toby Greene one confuses me. He mustn’t have eye-gouged. If he did, give him life, but if he hasn’t, fair enough. Now it all looked very rough and getting close to line-crossing, but a hefty fine just confuses me. It’s a free kick or its lots of weeks. Not some contrived in the middle result. Then again, for mine, what would’ve been better was some greater flag-flying from Bont’s teammates, Greene had a week to do whatever he liked to Bont and that grub shouldn’t have had such a luxury.

13.   Still rated the Dogs’ season, bitterly disappointing end but that lineup, keeping fit, has fourteen plus wins written all over them next year. A ‘buy’.

14.   Giants, play like that again they are a show. But would you trust them? Last time these teams met, in Sydney, the GWS rolled over, but can look like worldbeaters otherwise. No idea.

15.   Brissy, yeah, just got spooked, had enough pill to probably keep that thing closer a lot longer but stuffed their chances and made a right mess of it. Sudden death footy now so they might have another win or two in them but they’re cutting it fine.

16.   Richmond still wins the flag for mine. Their toughest game will be Friday week. West Coast wins this Friday, say, and does it really well, the Eagles are probably the best chance this comp has of preventing a second Tiger flag in three. Because if not, the Tigs will be very difficult for the Pies or Lions (or Giants) the week after, making amends for the lost year last year. West Coast are a tricky team to play against, in good form, anywhere in the country. I still think Richmond wins that prelim matchup though, but not as easily as the odds may say.

17.   How good is Steve Smith. The fact he is averaging over 100 in first innings since his first test century? That if he had played Headingley he’d be the first ever to score 1000 runs in a series during this Oval test match? Or that remarkably his average in the last Ashes over there was actually higher than this one? Freak. Total freak.

18.   And Steve Harmison can sod off the salty prick. Says no matter what Smith will always be remembered as a cheat. Now Steven. We only remember you for your accurate line and length to second slip and your wobbly guts that used to shift side to side in your run up. If you’ve got nothing nice to say then stick to your Weight Watches program and aim for the stumps next time my old mate.

19.   And yes, we cut it fine with the test going to the last hour, threatened by a draw caused by bad light, but we have been the far better team. Australia has declared three times this series, England only once, Australia has two scores over 400, England only one, Australia has only one all out score under 200, England has three. And total wickets so far, England 67, Australia 74. Clear to me.

20.   Rafa Nadal wins number 19, one within Federer. Last two years now, has made five finals, won three, Fed, two finals, won one. Djokovic, who is on 16, only four finals but won them all. Federer is seen as the GOAT (if its not Laver) but five years older than Nadal, so surely finishes up before, likely to be overtaken by the Spainard, and is 4-10 to Nadal in Grand Slam matches, 10-14 to Nadal in Finals and 3-6 to Nadal in Grand Slam Finals. If Federer is better than Laver, and Nadal ends up with more Slams than Federer, surely Nadal is the GOAT?

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Scott Emblebry

WE didn’t need it

The bye, I know we’re only two days now from the first final, but can you remember the Richmond-Brisbane game over a week ago now?

Hardly.

So sure, there once was a hint of logic to putting a week off in after the last round, but ultimately we don’t need it.

I look forward then to Steve Hocking making a good decision and removing it from next... what am I kidding, he’ll probably extend the break out or tinker it to make things fractionally worse, as per his resume so far in the job.

Less negativity, lets just crack on.

1.       Dead set no order to this ramble this week, so if you stick with this to the end and you’re not in a headspin you’re already unwell, seek help. Firstly, the Legends game last Friday, I don’t know if its all AFLX’s problem although that certainly didn’t help, I got that wrong last week. But is the Friday in the bye just the worst timeslot for it maybe? It works middle of the season when really well promoted? Or done its dash? It had a ripper line up of former stars but Saturday Night Rove got a bigger audience the next night. Shame.

2.       All-Australian team last week, not only did this column utterly nail the shit out of it, but the small differences, this column had it better. No-one loves a Central Districts player like this writer but James Sicily for Shannon Hurn was a no brainer on 2019 form. Also, this column has a black and white persuasion but Scott Pendlebury out, Patrick Dangerfield can take his place and Gary Ablett, an actual half-forward-flanker, gets into the team. Charlie Cameron was no.1 for small forwards, Michael Walters was no.3. Little Gaz was no.2, so if you pick Walters you’re picking Ablett first. Otherwise stellar work by all the team at Get Serious really.

3.       Sam Walsh, Rising Star, yep, no brainer. Yet like Luke Darcy, this column gave the five to Rozee first. Think it was lineball but prefer the South Aussie just. As for best player out of this draft pool anyway? Neither. Bailey Smith. Will. Be. A. Gun.

4.       The Collingwood skipper plays his 300th this week, that’s some achievement. Sure, Bud played 300 two or so weeks back and we under-covered that a bit, although he spent an eternity on 299 so we almost forgot, to be frank. Pendles is a five-time All-Australian which in the modern day is elite, and will almost certainly retire the Collingwood Footy Club’s all-time games record holder which is as prestigious as it comes. With a Norm Smith too. Probably a Brownlow win short of one of the greatest CV’s we’ve seen.

5.       Is he a top-five Magpie? His coach would be up there, as would Bob Rose, probably Nuts Coventry on goalkicking stats alone as well. But whilst you have to consider Daicos, McKenna, Len Thompson, even Darren Millaine, Albert Collier, Syd Coventry, Pendles probably makes it. Not sure exactly where, but his career won’t be far off his coach when its all said and done.

6.       Alrighty, some finals, and we start in Perth. The Bombers are not without a show here. The Eagles are susceptible at home, big time. Really bad loss to Port, lost to Collingwood who were spluttering big time beforehand, and didn’t fire a shot in resistence the last term. And then, with a top four spot, possible top two finish even, on the line against a Hawks team outside the eight, looked really poor. Yes, Clarko is a genius and the Hawks had a bit to play for as well, but the Dogs winning made that redundant in a heartbeat. The Eagles are no sure things to anyone.

7.       The Bombers in the first term against the Pies Round 23 showed their credentials. Run and gun footy, resembling a team who is five goals down at the start of the last, just going for it, it was working. If they can get that footy going and get scoreboard reward for it, they’ll go a long way to making the Eagles work really hard to protect home court. We think the Eagles win, and for all we know it’s a massacre and the reigning-premier stamps their case on the competition, but if the Dons push them a long way I wouldn’t be shocked one bit. McKenna, Saad, quick fling and sting footy, it can certainly do it.

8.       Friday night it’s the Cats up against a team who might have to shout Hawthorn dinner the week after if it was to win. That Hawks victory in Perth didn’t do squat to their season, but it gave the Pies a home final, which despite finishing lower on the ladder than this time last year actually is a better result. Pretty simple for Collingwood, win, and they don’t leave the ‘G again with a home prelim final their next fixture. For Geelong, this might be their toughest game, a win here probably gets them West Coast the week after, followed by whoever loses Saturday night. Get into a prelim and their top spot finish gets some overdue validation.

9.       Two main things to look for to determine the result – can the Pies forwardline work with all the returning talent, and can they kick straight. Firstly, Elliott has come good without Stephenson or De Goey, De Goey looked good when Stephenson didn’t last year and vice versa, all three at the same time either looks like Christmas, or two of them will lack any impact, which doesn’t work. For mine, and this won’t happen, inject De Goey in the midfield where he scares the BeJesus out of opppisition coaches, and see if Stephenson and Elliott can gel. If they do, and the team can be accurate when they get chances against a stingy Cats’ back six, they’ll win. If not, Geelong all day.

10.   The game in Sydney Saturday arvo is intriguing. All the love is for the Dogs and rightfully so. Playing some of the best footy we’ve seen all year. But its not Hawthorn three-peat footy, or Brisbane three-peat. It’s possibly not as good as they were in 2016. So they won’t just roll on through four weeks of footy and win their third flag like that. But Saturday is definitely doable, and they probably deserve to be favourites.

11.   But. The Giants aren’t chopped liver. And they won’t just let the Round 22 loss simply happen again. This is a team full of talent, sure, the loss in Canberra to Hawthorn stunk, but won’t be a pushover back at home. I actually expect them to get up.

12.   Saturday night, watch Richmond find a new gear. Not sure whether the Lions get spooked, or whether they start really well but don’t sustain, but the Tigers look as good as 2017, if not as good as last year where they looked almighty until the Pies stunned them in that infamous prelim. They are tuned to perfection, barley got out of third gear against a red-lining Brisbane last game, and the fact its up there doesn’t hurt them one bit. Brisbane will impress, look nice, show glimpses of maybe being competitive if they make the prelim final on the other side of the draw, but I don’t think anyone in the comp, at any venue, beats Richmond this week.

13.   So what does this all mean? Richmond probably gets to the Grand Final with a win this week. They’d face a prelim which is likely to contain the loser of Friday night or West Coast, which won’t be easy. That will be their toughest game of the finals but a repeat of last year seems unlikely. Making amends is written all over the Tigers’ campaign. The only catch stopping them winning a second in three years is down to whether the winner of Friday can show enough and then in the prelim to stand a chance.

14.   West Coast ain’t doing it. Yes, making the Grand Final playing the second week happens a bit, happened last year with the Pies going the long way, but the Eagles having to win three finals in Melbourne, or two in Melbourne and one in Brisbane, ain’t happening. Just won’t. Nup.

15.   The Dogs are a sneaky show should the prediction above go wrong. If they can win in Sydney, well, I think they’d be more than a sneaky show to take it up to the loser of Saturday. Say its Brisbane, and Richmond flexes their muscle in victory, the Dogs got within three goals of the Lions at the same venue only recently and certainly have three goals of improvement plus in them on that performance.

16.   Most likely straight sets contender? Brisbane or Collingwood. The Lions get done by the Tigers then it was all very admirable but all too good to be true, so dropping the semi to Footscray is more than plausible. And, if the Pies were to be poor Friday, with more questions than answers, to then have to front up to a sudden death final the Friday after against that team who did it to them last September twice, its all there for the West Coast to twist the knife into the Pies once again.

17.   So, early September, who wins the flag? Richmond look better than 2017, and as good as 2018. And last year they stuffed up. As for who they play? The winner of Friday, which looks too close to call. But either one probably doesn’t stack up to deny the Tigers the silverware anyway. Maybe Collingwood because “if” they make it that far they will be legit. Although if Geelong can win week one and week three in convincing fashion they’ll be more than a fun chance come the 28th.

18.   Do we need constant trade talk so early? Probably not. Especially when it’s barely speculation, its just pundits’ ideas and theories. Keep this to October gents, September is the best month of the year.

19.   Couple on cricket to finish – Mitch Starc needs to get a gig tomorrow night. Alongside Cummins and Hazlewood, he just has to. Critically too as well, as a left armer coming over the wicket, he’ll provide some rough for Nathan Lyon bowling to the English right-handers, something he hasn’t had all series, at the biggest-turning wicket of the five.

20.   The last we’ve seen of Usman Khawaja? Stiff, has a very nice record although boosted by his home-test performances. But on the other hand only gets a cap because no-one else would bat three. So if Laburschagne can continue his excellent progress by batting between the openers and the returning Smith, then it probably is. Wrong side of 30 and next summer Will Pucovski is coming so the competition for spots will only ramp up.

[getseriouser]

2019 GET SERIOUS State of Origin teams

LONG this column has advocated for the return of State of Origin. But alas, and it’s a strong rebuttal, the logistics of such a revival make for work too hard. 

However, ten-game Big V veteran Garry Lyon last week on football’s preeminent analysis program Front Bar, when asked by the game’s best, hard-hitting journalist Mick Molloy, certainly promoted the naming of a team even if such a fixture wasn’t to be held.

“Answer me this Garry, why don’t they still just symbolically hand out the jumper?” Molloy poised.

“They should,” the five-time All Australian, former Demon captain responded.

“Even if they don’t play,” Molloy continued, “like they do All-Australian, here’s our Big V best 22 of the year, because that would still mean something.”

“It should be on their resume, at the end of their footy career, (for example) Patrick Cripps, he is a Western Australian, he should be a (hypothetical) eleven-time Western Australian player, and I’m (really big on that); and (Marcus) Bontempelli should be recognised as Victorian player,” Lyon suggested.

Mick. Garry. Next time we get a beer the first one is one me. What common sense!

So, without further ado, and to be honest these teams where in the can for this week anyway but the timing from the lads last Thursday is just gravy, let’s name the 2019 teams for the three main states (sorry Tassie), as if they were to actually pull on the boots.

Therefore, unlike the All-Australian team which is constructed for naming-sake only, knowing there are no repercussions for picking players out of position – this is the opposite.

In an ideal world, and anyone who knows this column well, we’d have a game in March to look forward to, so we’re pretending at least that this is the case.

Alrighty, no more dribble, here’s South Australia:

FB: Rory Laird (Adelaide) – Phil Davis (GWS) – Shannon Hurn (West Coast, captain)

HB: Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide) – Tom Jonas (Port Adelaide) – Ryan Burton (Port Adelaide)

C: Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide) – Shane Edwards (Richmond) – Jared Polec (North Melbourne)

HF: Lincoln McCarthy (Brisbane) – Tim O’Brien (Hawthorn) – Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)

FF: Orazio Fantasia (Essendon) – Darcy Fogarty (Adelaide) – Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn)

Foll: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) – Chad Wingard (Hawthorn) – Lachie Neale (Brisbane)

Inter: Jack Redden (West Coast), Bryce Gibbs (Adelaide), Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn), Jack Graham (Richmond)

 Not their strongest side in their history but still an interesting one. Totally bereft of key position talent but O’Brien and Fogarty the last month saved the selectors bacon, otherwise it was picking a ruckman out of position or putting all the eggs in the Justin Westhoff basket.

Onball ain’t super strong but with Grundy and still some decent players its competitive at least, and the backline is pretty robust, not short on talent even if not at the level of the other two teams below.

In truth there were a few too many drafts the last five-seven years without top-end SA talent but the last few drafts have plenty so come back in a few years and this team looks a lot better. Now the Vics:

FB: Tom Stewart (Geelong) – Michael Hurley (Essendon) – Nick Vlaustin (Richmond)

HB: Lachie Whitfield (GWS) – Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne) – James Sicily (Hawthorn)

C: Jackson Macrae (Footscray) – Dustin Martin (Richmond) – Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)

HF: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide) – Tom Lynch (Richmond) – Gary Ablett (Geelong)

FF: Jordan De Goey (Collingwood) – Jeremy Cameron (GWS) – Toby Greene (GWS)

Foll: Max Gawn (Melbourne) – Marcus Bontempelli (Footscray) – Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Inter: Luke Shuey (West Coast), Josh Kelly (GWS), Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide, captain)

 Lots of stiff blokes here. Houli gets pipped by Whitfield, Houli had the better year but we’d prefer Whitfield if we’re actually playing a game next March. Vlaustin picks himself for a pocket. Stewart and Sicily in the same team is bananas 

Treloar, Worpel, the list goes on for stiff blokes in that midfield. But wanted to pick some inside blokes as we’re planning for a ‘real game’ so Cunnington and Boak get a Guernsey.

Lynch demands centre-half-forward and can relieve Gawn in the ruck for all of a few minutes when needed, otherwise it’s a forward line where everyone is the best in their respective position. Now for their equals right now, the Sandgropers:

 FB: Ben Stratton (Hawthorn) – Alex Rance (Richmond) – Brad Sheppard (West Coast)

HB: Lewis Jetta (West Coast) – Jeremy McGovern (West Coast) – Jason Johannisen (Footscray)

C: Mitch Duncan (Geelong) – Nat Fyfe (Fremantle, captain) – Bradley Hill (Fremantle)

HF: Lance Franklin (Sydney) – Rory Lobb (Fremantle) – Michael Walters (Fremantle)

FF: Jack Darling (West Coast) – Josh Kennedy (West Coast) – Liam Ryan (West Coast)

Foll: Nic Naitanui (West Coast) – Patrick Cripps (Carlton) – Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Inter: Tim Kelly (Geelong), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Elliott Yeo (West Coast) Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn)

Right, this team beats the Big V, it just does. And its arguably the state’s best ever team, that we’ll never see. Firstly, yes, Lobb, have to pick him to relieve Naitanui and to be honest, as centre-half-forward, his best footy at the Giants before moving home certainly can’t be scratched at. Plus Buddy at this age is more than happy to dominate the arc 

Midfield is ridiculous. O’Meara as the eighth wheel, Jesus Christ.

And the backline balances shutdown and elite speed of half back with the best contested mark in the country at centre-half-back. 

Insane team.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Crows Dive with Pyke

NO-ONE likes waiting around 

Here we are, after a cracking crescendo to the end of the home and away season, where permutations and calculations saw an enthralling final eight set, and now we’ve got a week off.

The end of season bye came in not just because the AFLPA wanted more rest in-season for its union, but too the AFL saw an integrity issue with the final round and stars being rested.

Yet last Friday Essendon rested some of their players still, and from all appearances, with no disrespect to Hawthorn, West Coast rested all their team too, so what’s the point Gil?

Ah well, get in the garden, Father’s Day as well, it’ll be Thursday night in Perth before you know it. We hope.

 1.       Bit of a mixed bag this week, no footy for the last weekend in August, we’re a bit lost, but let’s start with West Coast. Last three games against good teams they’ve lost now. And two of those games were at home, the narrow loss to a then spluttering Collingwood and then one out of the box to a Hawthorn team who finished ninth. Not the kind of form you’d want in attempting to defend your title, especially when it now requires four wins to do it.

2.       So some still pick West Coast to go all the way, based on what we know about their best footy. But we must realise it’s less about the talent and some about the path there. To win the whole thing, weeks two through four would mean either three wins in Melbourne against Geelong or Collingwood, then Richmond, then Geelong or Collingwood, or, week three might be in Brisbane followed up by Richmond the week after. For a team that served that up against the Hawks, when top four was on the line, they ain’t doing any of that.

3.       Brisbane has a tough assignment too. One point win over Geelong at home and then Richmond was always comfy despite the stats and the margin. So first week is no gimme, but do that they’d earn a home prelim against Geelong or Collingwood, maybe West Coast, before copping Richmond at the MCG again most likely. Somewhat plausible but I don’t see three wins in them. If they lose first week they’re done and dusted, especially if the Tigers can beat them up there, they’d be cactus if they come down and play them again, or a hot Cats or Pies, down here.

4.       Just a random one, you know you’re talking to a Victorian, South Australian or Western Australian when they speak about the speed of the wind prevailing in a measurement of goals. “Hey, go put some washing on, it’s about a four-goal breeze out there”. Love it.

5.       The Pies looked really nice against the Crows, but it was the Crows and we’ll get to them. Aside from that, awful when it mattered against the Giants, not on the Tigers’ level and the Bombers win was unconvincing. If you back them in it’s on potential but the evidence on form is still a massive question mark.

6.       Mind you, overall, the Maggies are 7-4 against fellow top eight teams, which ranks first, the Cats are 5-3, Tigers are 5-4. Both the Eagles and Lions are only 4-4.

7.       I know this might not be the best version of the Giants we’ve seen the last four or so years, but geez they’ve been stiff. Could argue in 2017 and 2018 they were the second best team in it, only narrowly beaten by the eventual premier in the prelim. Too, they lost Cal Ward in the Dogs prelim early and Dylan Shiel in the Tigers prelim as well, so bit of sliding doors then who knows? Last year, narrow loss to the Pies in a semi-final. So in reality, whilst Cameron cops it for his record, the GWS really have been mighty close.

8.       Gee Chris Scott keeps banging on about venues. Let’s be clear. Last five years Geelong has had 11 home games at the MCG, outside of finals. You’d think going by his rhetoric they’re an 11-home games a year team down the highway. If it’s good to host home games there during the year, I don’t think you can labour the specific.

9.       Further, oh, it’s the Pies home ground, well yes that’s true. But in terms of home ground advantage, 100% of Geelong home games at GHMBA are home games, they are its only tenant, whereas only 57% of Collingwood home games at the MCG are true home games, the other 43% are against fellow-MCG tenants, neutral games in essence. For Victorian teams, there’s hardly any home ground these days anywhere, no advantage to be captured during the home and away, unless you’re Geelong of course.

10.   Don Pyke might be in the gun. Two schools of thought. First, it’s not yet two years since they played in a Grand Final. Furthermore, he has two years to run on a contract. But. Second school of thought, which I starting to subscribe to, is that despite all of that in his favour, has he ever regained the players properly since the 2018 pre-season? Have they looked any good since the 2017 granny? Think about the last two weeks, with finals implications on the line, they’ve looked putrid. The last Showdown is telling too, Port hammered them by ten goals no less. We may let him go into 2020 but then see more of the same and the decision makes itself. So if that looms, might as well act now and get the restart that playing group obviously needs.

11.   And also, Adelaide, by far the oldest list in the comp as well, so when you’re finishing 11th with that hanging over your head, lots needs to happen. Lots.

12.   If the Suns get handed pick two as a concession that’s a farce. It would firstly not be an objective reaction to assessing their situation, but secondly it would be not only incredibly overs for a club that doesn’t deserve, nor do well with drafting and development of players anyway, but it would be a contrived result based on a specific regards the upcoming draft pool. The top two standouts this year are two best mates from Melbourne, Noah Anderson and Matty Rowell. Both go to school at Carey, both in the Oakleigh Chargers program, both elite midfielders with different skillsets that as a package deal, as best mates, look immense. So for the AFL to deliberately land, potentially, on a concession to hand them pick 2, so they can grab both boys in the hope they are more likely to stay up there because they’re with each other, just stinks. Would hate it.

13.   Speaking of the Suns, they say they got over 7,000 to the Suns-Giants game on the weekend. No chance. No more than 3,000 paying attended, tops, with a couple thousand freebies chucked in for good measure. Poor Stuey Dew, will likely be 1-10 or 2-9 by the bye next year, and we’ll still have no strong answer to the question ‘is he a good coach?’ or not. For all we know he is Van Gogh without any access to paint.

14.   Steve Coniglio re-signs for seven years. That wouldn’t happen at the Suns. If he was on the Gold Coast he could be lured elsewhere for a can of Sprite and a Curly Wurly. But taken unders to stay in Sydney, speaks volumes of getting that franchise right, and embedded. Big difference to the Gold Coast where Jack Martin was so eager to tell the club he was leaving he almost told the runner Saturday night.

15.   And with all this trade stuff heating up, my Lord, how many numpties now throw darts at anything or have five bucks each way on every horse in the race, then letting us all know about it when a couple of the tickets in their pocket are winning ones? Its bad journalism. You know what we should demand in footy media? You know what proper trade-breaking, player movement coverage looks like? One word. “Woj”.

16.   Like this one – a leading psychologist (as opposed to those back of the peloton, off the street psychologists that are never quoted) has said that “not keeping score in junior sport is part of the ‘wuss-fication’ of an entire generation, with young kids not learning how to be resilient”. Knock me down with a feather, halle-bloody-lujah!

17.   All-Australian tonight, my team will be somewhere, but also the Rising Star is soon as well. Could google when it is but I’m not bothered, and we know Sam Walsh just wins, will be a gem for that club. My 5-4-3-2-1 if I was voting, if I’m honest: 5-Connor Rozee, 4-Sam Walsh, 3-Sydney Stack, 2-Cameron Zurhaar, 1-Mitchell Lewis. No judge will do anything like that, but that doesn’t make them right. I think Walsh is a gun but I just think Rozee is a special, special talent Victorians don’t appreciate enough. Zurhaar is a beast and helped win North two or three games by himself, and Lewis is the Hawks’ Roughy replacement, as a 20-year-old – yeah I’d be happy with that.

18.   Why are we naming an All-Australian squad of 40 the week of the final 22 being announced? Makes no sense at all. Why stop there? Why not name a 60-man shortlist then, last week? A top 100 after Round 16. Or, maybe after each Round, Hunger Games-style, tell us five blokes definitely not making the All-Australian. Or, maybe just maybe, we don’t worry about all of that and just tell us the team on the night? Don’t know. Maybe too radical.

19.   Legends game this Friday night, and its AFLX which caused a massive stink. Hate to say it though, it might, might, actually be better. Think about it, all AFLX really is, is on a smaller ground, doesn’t need tackling and the ball moves around quicker. Sounds like the perfect ingredients for older blokes who aren’t keen on amassing big GPS numbers on a standard-sized oval. Don’t like AFLX at all for normal players, but for the legends, made for TV, for charity, I think it maybe works out for the best?

20.   In this bye week I’m allowed – want to give a shout out to Roy Laird. Who? Last weekend he coached his 357th and final game for Central District in the SANFL after 17 seasons. He coached the Doggies to seven premierships and two runners up, the only success for Centrals in their history, won 22 of the 30 finals he coached and finishes with a 66% winning record. Freak. It’s been too long to get Centrals into this column so this week, we say well done and good luck to one of the greatest coaches the SANFL, and footy in general, has seen.

[getseriouser]

2019 Get Serious All-Australian Team // Team of the Decade

Get Serious 2019 All-Australian Team

 FB:          Tom Stewart – Harris Andrews – Dylan Grimes

HB:         Bachar Houli – Jeremy McGovern – James Sicily

C:            Tim Kelly – Marcus Bontempelli – Jackson Macrae

HF:         Gary Ablett – Jeremy Cameron – Michael Walters

FF:          Charlie Cameron – Ben Brown – Jack Darling

Foll:        Brodie Grundy – Nat Fyfe – Patrick Cripps

Inter:     Patrick Dangerfield – Lachie Neale – Max Gawn – Elliott Yeo

 Stewart’s a gun, Andrews and McGovern are the two best key backs in the game. Grimes has to get a guernsey too. Bachar edges Rich off a half back flank for mine, more touches and rebound 50s. And Sicily gets in because he runs the show, intercept marking, kicking skills, the lot 

Wanted to pick actual wingmen but couldn’t. Brad Hill was the one I’d go, but it would have been at the expense of Macrae or Yeo. So no dice. Boak was stiff, he was in the mix against Yeo as last chosen but went Yeo just for his tackles (number two in the comp), clearances and inside 50s.

Treloar is also stiff but him or Neale, its Neale easy. Also where’s Dusty? Well Tim Kelly has his spot. Shuey, Dunkley and Cunnington also stiff but who you leaving out? And as for Hugh McCluggage, yeah great year no question, but not upper echelon just yet young man, not there yet.

Hawkins is stiff but went the Coleman medallist and the guy who had the Coleman lead going into Round 23. Also, went Walters who many aren’t, why? He is 10th overall for goals, only Charlie Cameron has more as a small, second for small forwards with inside 50s but averaged 22 touches a game which is top 90 overall. 12th overall for score involvements and 12th overall for tackles inside 50 as well. Legit star and he, Ablett and Cameron are the clear top three small forwards for this team.

Grundy starts in the ruck but Gawn’s year is too good not to just reverse what last year’s team did with the ruck positions. Dangerfield on the bench is a bit weird but its him or Cripps starting for mine, toss a coin, I don’t mind either way really.

Get Serious Team of the Decade 2010-2019 

Note, this is for the ten years in question, so if someone had a great career 2002-2014, I only judge them on their body of work 2010 onwards. As well, someone who burst on the scene 2016, they’re up against guys who have dominated ten years of footy, it’s hard to go past them.

 FB           Josh Gibson  –  Alex Rance  –  Nick Smith

HB          Luke Hodge  –  Daniel Talia  –  Corey Enright

C             Joel Selwood  –  Patrick Dangerfield  –  Gary Ablett

HF           Robbie Gray  –  Lance Franklin  –  Luke Bruest

FF           Cyril Rioli  –  Jack Riewoldt  –  Eddie Betts

Foll         Todd Goldstein  –  Nat Fyfe  –  Sam Mitchell

Inter: Dane Swan, Josh J. Kennedy, Scott Pendlebury, Dustin Martin

 Rance and Talia are the best two key backs of the last ten years, Hurley was a maybe. Nick Smith shut down small forwards all decade so a lock, Gibson and Hodge were instrumental in many flags and Enright is a hall-of-famer.

Midfield, tough, so we checked all the candidates against the Brownlow, medals won and votes, but also All-Australians. Dangerfield has the most votes in the nine years we know so far, 180 all up, Swanny was eighth in that with 139. Next best was Priddis with 128 but couldn’t see a spot for him.

All of the mids chosen had three All-Australians at least, Danger has six, Pendlebury and Selwood five, except Fyfe who has only two. But won a Brownlow and has 141 votes since 2010, on par with Mitchell and Martin. Judd doesn’t get in because his career was more so the prior decade, four of his six AA jumpers were 2000-2009, Cripps is on his way but has come on too late for this in compared to the others who are named.

Robbie Gray is a lock, four-time all Australian and a proper forward/mid, Bruest has a marvellous CV in the forward line as well. Rioli and Betts have owned pockets all decade, and Bud and Jack have shared the Coleman between them pretty much since 2010. Josh Kennedy gets a bench spot because he isn’t that far behind them, and then its daylight for tall forwards.

Goldstein gets the gig for consistency; others have popped up but not over ten years. Gawn, but only really recently, Sandilands but not the last five years, Naitanui has had highs but then not a massive body of work. So without there being an obvious choice, Goldy gets the gig, who has been very good mind you.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Polly, what a Cracker

LAST weekend didn’t disappoint 

...Unless you were Don Pyke. Or Ken Hinkley. Or the Wallabies. Or Steve Smith.

Could be worse. Could be Ross Lyon.

But then again, Ross got a million dollars and starts his off-season early, he isn’t the former Archbishop of Melbourne exhausting the appeals process.

We digress.

 1.       Old news, sure, but when you’re the greatest ever sportsperson out of Western Australia and you’re easily top ten footballers of all time – don’t care, Polly was and will always be remembered as a star.

 Graham Vivian Farmer died last Wednesday aged 84, a ruckman who changed the game. He was an Indigenous Western Australian plying his trade in Victoria in the 1960s, a situation not so straightforward. He played 356 games for East Perth, Geelong and West Perth, won five flags in the WAFL and one with the Cats, alongside ten best and fairests.

Best accolade though? He got a freeway named after him, the main road bypassing Perth CBD east to west. The man is a legend, and we often talk about who is the greatest of all time, Matthews, Carey, Ablett, but if someone said Farmer you’d respect that choice. Rest easy Polly, you’ve earnt it.

2.       Hard to follow that up with earnest football comment, but let’s try, and we’ll stay in Perth with Ross Lyon. Tough call. Freo had beaten five of the top eight teams this year, so hardly super dodgy form. Sure, I understand the idea of a refresh, 2013 was a long time ago with little to rave about since, but with a fitter list, and Tim Kelly next year, who would bet against Ross getting this team above twelve wins?

3.       Both losses in the Derby hurt this year, especially the second one which showed, in a proud, two-team town, that the Dockers were well off competing with the Eagles. But still, you had one of the better coaches this decade who has coached very well at times this year, so unless the Freo hierarchy uncovers the next Al Clarkson in their process, it’s hard to see them being better off by not seeing out 2020.

4.       No doubt, no doubt whatsoever, that had Ross Lyon been available before North or Carlton locked in their caretaker, they would have taken Lyon instead. I thought Damien Barrett was getting cynical criticising the Roos for going too early – well there’s his justification.

5.       St Kilda hasn’t locked away Ratten, and the last man to coach them to a Grand Final, three of them in fact, is now available. They need a coach, and Lyon is the best man out there. Is it too weird? Nick Riewoldt and Brendan Goddard both endorse the consideration, and whilst they are biased, it’s a good bias – they know how good a coach he is. It’s a new admin at Moorabbin than the one Lyon walked out on, so it would be more plausible than you’d think.

6.       And on St Kilda whilst we’re at it, it’s a good spot to take, if they can keep Jack Steven but still get in Bradley Hill, who they are favorites for, plus get the likes of Roberton, Geary, maybe even McCartin fit next year, it looks very promising very quickly whoever is in charge.

7.       We mentioned Carlton caretaker – a word of warning on the Teague train. Right now he is coaching the team like a ‘mate’, we all saw the vision of the rapturous applause from his players when he walked into his appointment press conference. He is working well because there’s no repercussions, its all flourishing on a wave of enjoyment and likeability. But when they start next year 1-4 and Teague needs to dish out a clip, that’s not going to work; the players have warmed to him like a mate, when he isn’t, he is their boss. This could go sour really easily.

8.       Studs up with Jack Riewoldt on Sunday, Jesus Christ whats going on there? Now  lets applaud Steve Hocking for strong leadership Monday in undoing the wrong – no, not in this column. It’s Hocking’s accountabilities that put that new interpretation in there in the first place. He had made nine rule changes this year and now at Round 22 has to adjust an interpretation. He has been awful the last 18 months our man Steve.

9.       Brisbane, big win, but gee it is using all of its luck. Not only with their favourable draw this year but to then steal a game off Geelong by a solitary point, where Patrick Dangerfield had an open shot on the run to make it four goals and game done in the last? This good fortune can’t keep continuing, surely…

10.   South Australian teams on Saturday night, wow, so ok, lost by a combined 152 points and lost about 12% between them in one go! That’s hard to do.

11.   Meanwhile the Giants in two weeks have had consecutive goalless second halves. The last team to go back to back games without scoring a goal in either second half? University.

12.   Bud plays this weekend, game 300, the big fella got there!

13.   Whisper going around is we might cop Coldplay for the Grand Final entertainment this year. The Killers worked two years ago, Black Eyed Peas last year not so much. Coldplay, maybe, we’ll see.

14.   Interesting Grand Final week at Channel Nine. So, Wednesday, not Thursday, we have a Grand Final Footy Show, much like the usual Rod Laver arena productions of years gone by, Eddie, Sam, Billy, that crew. Then Thursday is clean air (conceded to Front Bar) before Friday night we have the Sunday Footy Show panel doing a pre-Grand Final edition in prime time. Talk is they’ll see how that goes in that slot with a view to it moving from Sunday morning to Thursday night in 2020, to be their new competitor to Seven. Stay tuned.

15.   Couple on the cricket – firstly the booing of Steve Smith. I don’t care so much to fund a documentary into it, but that was properly off. The booing of he and Warner when they come out to bat normally, or field, 100% fine. But to cop a blow so eerily similar to Phil Hughes, to retire hurt but come back on, that’s phenomenal. To boo then is seriously low.

16.   So Headingley, no Smudge, mind you Laburschagne wasn’t the worst coming in – remember, already had a 1000 runs in England for Glamorgan this season so not fresh out of the Shield. Harris likely in for Bancroft, Pattinson probably comes in for Siddle.

17.   Toss important. Not so much who wins it, but I think the Aussies best chance is bowling first. England bat, our bowlers hopefully keep their score low and we can then look for a first innings lead. Conversely, we bat first, fail, and without a Smith 140 to rescue us, we will be chasing the game big time. We lose this test we go to 1-1 with two tests remaining.

18.   Bledisloe 2 – now that’s what I’m talking about. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t like it, but the skepticism this column had for the Wallabies win in Perth, justified, the All Blacks are still streets ahead of anything we can conjure up. Mind you, number one in the world right now, and for the World Cup next month? Wales. Go you good thing!

19.   Still on rugby, want to highlight the Barrett family. Beauden Barrett is probably the best player in the world right now, plays full back but is naturally a flyhalf. He has seven siblings, four brothers who play rugby, two of those who are also All Blacks. But his sister Zara is the true star of the family, and the Barrett family are doing a lot of good off the back of it. Zara has down syndrome and instead of being the hidden child in an otherwise famous family, her story and personality are being celebrated bringing a lot of positive awareness to sufferers and families alike across New Zealand. Beauden and his All Black brothers Scott and Jordie get her on the field, cherish and promote her like the proudest big brothers out there, is one of the better sporting tales you’ll come across. "People with Down syndrome need to feel loved and included,” Beauden said. Well bloody done to them I say, great stuff.

20.   And lastly, some baseball. Want to highlight Bryce Harper’s work last week. His Phillies playing the Chicago Cubs, score is 5-1 Cubs going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Phillies scrounge out two runs to get it to 5-3, before losing two outs. Bryce Harper is the last batter, he is the last out. He then is on two strikes, before, with the bases loaded, launching a 95mph fast ball deep into the crowd for a walk off home run, getting the Phillies the unlikeliest comeback win 7-5. Find the vision of the homer, it’s ridiculous. Philadelphia have committed $400m+ to get the six-time All Star, and that moment was huge. Seriously, YouTube it. Do it.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: A bit unfit and a bit fat, but that’s alright

LAST Saturday night was just weird.

This column, with tongue firmly in cheek, prides itself on its gambling connection (Nat Fyfe, if you can get anything over $3 for the Brownlow just remortgage the house, don’t be subtle).

So to think of the possible odds for North to score only one goal, into Doggies 21 goals in a row, into the Wallabies highest ever score against New Zealand, sweet Jesus what a multi.

Then looking ahead to this weekend, first plays second, third plays fourth, another must-watch weekend of footy.

Oh, and Lord’s starts tomorrow night. You’re welcome.

  1.       Positive up front, and how bloody good is Roughy? Gets a send off this Sunday and rightfully so. 282 games but remember he lost a good chunk with his cancer battle. Almost 600 goals and was a key member of four flags. Two All-Australians and a Coleman too to boot. Bonafide legend. Onya Rough.

2.       Ben Simmons gets another mention, but I’m kinda confused. Don’t get me wrong, this column doesn’t resile from the stance his ‘late withdrawal’ from the Boomers-Team USA game was stinky, especially after he just signed a new contract; he isn’t jeopardising getting a new one. He has been paid. But now all the other shade getting thrown his way seems a bit tall poppy. The Crown thing was a complete non-story, sure, not everyone’s a 200 million dollar NBA player, but how many bastards are getting knocked back from the cas every minute? And then coverage on perceptions of petulance and what not, when the coverage of his philanthropy in and around paid gigs isn’t quite sexy enough so it doesn’t happen? Look. Whack him for not suiting up for the Boomers. Aside from that, this has been a good return home, not a train wreck some media outlets would lead you to believe.

3.       Speaking of train wrecks, the Bombers, my word. Sure, the game was horrendous and that’s been spoken about. But to do that when clearly the whole week leading up was how they would respond to the thrashing to Port a week earlier. Like that? So either Freo cops a twice-as-motivated Essendon this week looking to make amends for a fortnight of crap, or things do indeed come in three’s?

4.       Dogs were ace though. They get that fling and ping footy going, dish, dish, then hammer down the field almost Mighty Ducks flying V style, its amazing to watch and incredibly effective. Might be playing off for a finals spot last round at Ballarat against the Crows. Would be good to see them make it, even if they have dropped some dud games this season.

5.       Josh Dunkley was a scroungy forward type in the premiership year, then been a bit ‘yes, no, not sure’, but the last two months works harder than Lance Armstrong fresh from a Priceline visit. Lovely story, hope this blooms into one hell of a career. Kid can play.

6.       Speaking of kids, this column has adopted ‘the Fog’. Darcy Fogarty, a country kid who is 6”4 and almost 15 stone in the old, lump of a lad, can seriously go. Sporting Mark Riccuito’s old number, he was taken at pick 12 in the 2017 draft, and this columnist is very happy with who the Pies took at pick six despite that player now being suspended for too much time on the pick six, but was eyeing off the Fog to end up in black and white, such was his potential. Boom junior, great size. Last weekend finally gets a breakout game, five snags against a good West Coast backline over there; he will own that goal square for a decade that boy. The Fog. Very much ‘a buy’.

7.       And how the AFL gave the Rising Star nom to Oscar Allen over Fog is a travesty. Not like you could have missed Fog’s game, whilst Allen booted three snags at one end, not hard to see the Fog dominate at the other, wouldn’t have thought. Morons.

8.       Crouch brothers, a fan, not at Fog levels but still. 88 touches between them, 10 tackles, 15 clearances, 12 inside 50s. Without them, Eagles win easy by eight goals if not more. The two Ballarat boys can play.

9.       Enjoying the Al-Clarkson version of Chad Wingard. Was too happy to wear long sleeves on a dry but cool day in Adelaide and get away with not doing extras. Now, in a club that bans long sleeves and embraces adversity, strength through struggle, he is looking like an AFL footballer. Playing majority onball of late, has had over 20 touches the last month and averaged 28 the last two weeks. Upward trajectory for him I sense.

10.   Freo win that, its an easy three votes for Nat Fyfe and that come Brownlow night might be the votes that sets off the flash photography. Should still get the three but now might be a sneaky two. Either way, this column did appoint the Bont as the best player in the comp, last three weeks the Freo skipper has averaged 32 touches, eight clearances and a goal a game. It’s Bont over Fyfe just right now. Just.

11.   But Jack Steven gets votes for Sunday, played well, good to see him out there first and foremost. Had a terrible year away from footy and we hope that its only good things from here on out, but gee he is a good footballer when going. Quick, exciting, skillful. Hopefully a big 2020 in store for him.

12.   And low and behold, Dann Hannebery played some good footy too. What a surprise to some, hey? But look, that game on Sunday is the kind of value the Saints could use. If he can produce more of that over the next 24 months, too stay on the park, despite all the nay-sayers at the start of the year the move for St Kilda will have been incredibly shrewd and well justified after all.

13.   Good stat on Fox Footy Monday – Richmond has only played one game against a top four team all year, that was Geelong a few weeks ago and got spanked. Further, West Coast have only played two top eight teams after Round Six, once was a win over Essendon, but given last Saturday that’s not much to write home about, and then a home loss to Collingwood a month or so back. Form line questions much?

14.   And its why we still question Brisbane. Have 15 wins on the board but have basically played Frankston Dolphins seven times. Now after last Saturday I’m not as sold on this theory, but give Essendon some confidence back, and some of their absent stars too, if the Bombers and Lions played each other 10 times, say on neutral ground, the Dons win at least five for mine, no doubt. Their records against top 8 teams are basically identical. Alas, on different paths though.

15.   Christian Petracca only had one game above 20 touches before Queen’s Birthday, and that was against the Gold Coast. Since then he has had a few. He is an absolute front runner. Needs to get out of Melbourne and get under a Clarkson or Chris Scott who’ll make him work. We’ve highlighted Wingard at Hawthorn, something similar might just extract the amazing talent out of the former no.2 pick. He should be a Cripps or Dangerfield in the guts, but is playing like a poor man’s Jack Gunston. Disappointing. So is his club too in 2019 for that matter.

16.   Steve Coniglio, its GWS or Carlton it seems. Reckon the Giants would be stiff to lose him given they let go of Shiel, Setterfield, Lobb amongst others last year because of a cap crunch, particularly when it came to keeping cash aside for Josh Kelly and Coniglio. Still think he stays, I think if he was to go it would have been home, and I don’t see WA acquiring Tim Kelly and Coniglio this year, and Kelly is a definite.

17.   Kelly gets to Freo, I think, don’t see the Eagles making it work without a surprise. Brad Hill definitely comes back to Victoria off the back of that, but probably not Geelong. Jack Steven to the Cats still has legs, if nothing else to get back to Lorne, near family and friends – would be ideal given his mental health. But too, if the Saints don’t think they’re winning a flag within three years, then Steven who turns 30 around Round One next year, it just makes sense then despite his overwhelming love for the red, white and black.

18.   Ashes, quick one, reckon they’d like to play Mitch Starc but they may go in unchanged. Josh Hazlewood definitely plays Headingly in the third test though, as it starts only a couple days after the Lord’s test finishes, very quick turnarounds. Cam Bancroft plays tomorrow night, and just needs to get a gutsy 30 I reckon either innings to stay in the team. Langer loves him, and can see the potential. But remember, if Australia wins this test, England would need to win all three tests left to get the Urn. A draw and England will need at least two more wins but don’t forget, two of the last three tests are in the British Autumn. Don’t need Jane Bunn to tell you how wet that gets.

19.   So those Wallabies huh? Where’d that come from? Want to see more though from this weekend’s inevitable loss at Eden Park, coz the form line doesn’t stack up. Two matches ago in South Africa still looked mighty concerning. So yes, awesome, great stuff, but I’m reluctant to trust in it too much. However, Samu Kerevi, he is a superstar. Remember his name. Most talented rugby player we’ve had in a generation, an equal to someone going through the courts right now we won’t mention. Between him and James O’Connor, there’s the pairing that could propel the Wallabies deep into a World Cup that until recently they had no rights to do.

20.   And we finish with Perth. Specifically Optus Stadium. So they’ve had a NRL State of Origin, they hosted Manchester United and now smashed out an amazing Bledisloe Cup fixture. Meanwhile, we no doubt have the strongest ever WA Origin side in our grasps and it’ll never play a game, more specifically nor at that amazing ground. Littered with Brownlows, Colemans, All-Australians, Premierships, it’s a crying shame. So, if you don’t bring it back for good, at least let the people of Western Australia see their greatest ever team at a venue that’s clearly good for everyone else’s spectacles but not one of our own? Gil. Fix it.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Smith’s crisp, Root buried

WHAT a wonderful time of year for crap weather? 

Footy has three weeks left with a lot still on the line and the Ashes is entrenched in prime time for the next four weeks.

Work from home, charge your phone only so you can use Menulog and just remember to rotate your couch cushions after each test match – no-one wants a sofa with permanent bum indentations, it’s unsightly.

 1.       We’ll get to the Ashes soon enough, but let’s cover off the air conveyance. And how the Swans were dudded. Well maybe not super much as they’re not making the finals any which way, but maybe Richmond or Brisbane, perhaps Collingwood or Essendon, by the massive missed free kick on Sam Reid in the dying seconds. The Giants lose that and their stranglehold on a double chance goes. Only one mistake, lets not crucify the umpire, but gee for ramifications it’s a doozy.

2.       Brisbane, looked like the Scraggers were some go for a while there last Sunday twilight, but once again those Lions chalked up another win and how bout their flag credentials they say? Yeah still not for me. They have the Gold Coast this week, wow, another game against a bottom ten team, and in Queensland. This team is in form, no doubt, but the validity of that form does not befit the record they have. It might be enough to win them some finals, sure, but this is not a premiership team.

3.       The Lions have had no injures, and have a league-high ten players who have played every game so far. Consistency at the selection table compared with teams like Richmond and Collingwood who have had periods without such luxuries, has been worth a win or two in itself for Brisbane, no question.

4.       Yeah, so Geelong. The record since the bye, for the position on the ladder they were in going into their week off, has to be amongst the worst in the comp relatively speaking. So when is a slump actually reflective of where you’re at? No-one would give them a show in a final against Richmond, so would need to somehow avoid them with GMHBA finals against interstate fodder and hope for a good run. For a team on top, 14-5 and 130%. Remarkable.

5.       Gold Coast, my Lord, this is supposed to be a team ten years past putting out teams not up to standard. At least back then it was ok, they were on the L plates, you knew they’d be super rubbish but it was all part of finding their feet. Now they’re just a middle-aged moron on the roads and you can’t give them an out for their shit driving, to maintain the metaphor. Remember, they lose their last three games, this season will equal their bad years of 2011 and 2012.

6.       Looks like we might be set for one South Australian team to finish eighth but without room for both. The Power’s upset over the Dons last Saturday probably gives them the advantage to take the final spot looking three weeks ahead, and at their cross-town rival’s expense. And if that’s the case, given the lopsided Showdown a few weeks ago, that eventuality probably seems about right.

7.       We haven’t had a draw yet, usually we’re good for one or two, other than 2016 we have always had a least one since 2014…. I didn’t say that all these thoughts had to be interesting, but at least this one is accurate.

8.       Blake Caracella to Essendon, that’s one or both of two things. Firstly, Caracella is a genius, his first year with Richmond was 2017, and look what happened to that coaching box, went from sackable to winning flags. So great bit of IP for the Bombers braintrust there. But also, could it be a little bit of what St Kilda did with Ratten last summer. If, and it’s a big “if”, you’re looking at reviewing your senior coach, why not get a talented assistant in early so such a replacement might already be under your roof. Almost like a succession plan, but unofficially.

9.       Adam Treloar was gutsy on Tuesday, just plain gutsy. Didn’t need to talk about his battles, and on such a public forum. But whilst it may have been therapeutic for him, the good it could do for so many other young men to accept, nor no longer dismiss, their struggles as human and to find ways to manage their wellbeing, was fantastic. Having a great year this year, and that’s not just on the field where he is looming large for the Copeland Trophy, but seemingly away from the field as well. Important stuff, won’t back down on that anytime soon. Keep talking.

10.   Some kudos to pot belly Jay Z Clark, who penned a very good angle on the Rising Star for 2019. Sam Walsh looks a runaway winner now, even myself a self-confessed Connor Rozee admirer acknowledges the Blue’s midfielder has it. But Clark points out that the Hawks’ James Worpel is only narrowly ineligible for this year’s award, and had he had played one fewer game in 2018 he’d be right in the frame for the gong this year. And it’s a good yarn, Worpel is having such an under the radar year, we know about Mitchell and O’Meara, but the kid from Bannockburn is a serious 200-plus games midfielder in the making.

11.   The Joe Daniher/Tom Harley thing stank a bit. It’s all come out now that its fine and nothing to see here, but yeah even so, it just stinks a bit. I know we’re all allowed to have mates and more often than not its nothing more than what it is, but sometimes when it looks a bit off it probably is. He isn’t leaving Essendon, but he ain’t as happy at Tullamarine as he could be, is my guess.

12.   Only one game, his first since Round 15, which was his first since Round 11, but 29 touches and five tackles for Bryce Gibbs on Saturday. He’ll be 31 at the start of next season, and who knows whether the Crows think they can get close again soon enough whilst the ex-Blue has something to offer, but clearly there’s still some value in him yet. This year has been strange but the game certainly hasn’t gone past him. Could be cheap if indeed Gibbs looks for a third club too, good value.

13.   Righto, some cricket. Steve Smith, well bugger me. 12 months out. We all saw that press conference at Sydney airport, that was a human being utterly broken. Not just an emotional guy but a sensitive sportsman, often had sleepless nights as captain such was the toll cricket had on him mentally. But to come out and hit 140 twice in the same match, first up, like seriously what the hell? Best since Bradman chatter can continue in the pub and that’s fine, but that was one of the most impressive batting displays you’ll ever be likely to see.

14.   So they’re coming for Cam Bancroft. I don’t buy it yet. Dave Warner did just as little, and sure, has the career to back up quite a few more chances, but unless you’re adamant Marcus Harris does any different you’re backing in the decision to go with Bancroft. Further, don’t forget the last red-ball hit out before the first test he looked a cut above anyone else, and that it is properly trying facing English quicks, in England, with a brand spanking new Duke. Not easy. He has another two tests for mine to get past 50, and I’m sure in four innings he can manage that.

15.   So the bowlers. Cummins is our best quick, he always plays, take him out of the dilemma. With a deck a little green, Pattinson was a great choice, and whilst he didn’t take a ton of wickets, he was only ever going to be a threat in the first innings and he did that. Siddle too, really impressive, I think he goes again at Lord’s. So Starc might get a look for Pattinson in the second test, but then third or fourth test, if we saw Hazlewood, it wouldn’t shock. Don’t think of the guys missing out as being dumped or dropped, think of our bowling options like your spice rack at home, and each test is like a different cuisine, requiring different flavour combinations.

16.   As for England, yep that top order stinks. And no matter how good a Bairstow or Stokes might be, any quality middle-order batsman will feel the pinch when they’re walking out at 3/30. And Rory Burns, nah, that’s the flukiest ton you’ll ever see. He isn’t quality. So unless someone pops outta County Cricket between now and breakfast, that’s a problem that will only continue to plague them throughout the series.

17.   And bowling, Jimmy Anderson wont play at least a couple more, for mine he is a ‘maybe, just maybe’ if its say 2-2 heading into the Oval. Otherwise nup. So in essence, get past Stuart Broad and that’s about it. Sure, Joffra Archer will play and look scary, but so is facing Shaun Tait, and look at how that Test career went. Great with the white pill, but in five-day cricket, let’s see.

18.   So Ben Simmons. The initial drawcard piece for the Australia-Team USA blockbuster. But to be honest he never was going to play. Its why the NHL doesn’t send players to the Winter Olympics, its why we don’t have State of Origin anymore in AFL and why it wouldn’t shock me to see proper NBA stars start forgoing Dream Team duties at Summer Olympics. But then he gets a squillion tax-payer dollars to promote Victoria whilst he is here, back home in the off-season. Can’t play basketball but can take a cheque for being here besides. Not great Ben, I do kinda get it, but its not great.

19.   As for Aussies to get behind, how did Nick Kyrgios get a mention so low down? Seriously, the tennis and personality he brought to the Washington Open was magnificent. Clearly a loose cannon, but when he is good, be it his on court form or his professionalism alongside it, he is very, very good. If your dog at home was the world’s best companion, but occasionally barked way too much and played up, would you keep it and work on those bad habits, or put it up for adoption? Kyrgios may never fulfill perfection, but I tell you what, there’s only five or so better chances for the US Open later this month. Don’t. Be. Surprised.

20.   And Fraser Anning has this month filed for bankruptcy. Nothing else to add, but worth a mention.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Shayna Jacked Up

VERY different year this for once, which is good 

Usually we have a couple frontrunners out on top who almost make everyone from like third or fifth down redundant.

Not so this year. Top is clearly top, but not $1.50 with the bookies. The favourite has only just got into the top four, yet without its best defender. Third place is a wildcard at its best, and is there still something valuable out of fifth through seventh to come? Every chance.

All to play for.

  1.       Trent Dumont first up this week. Monday night on Channel Nine he spoke about his mental health battles. “Sometimes I still struggle to speak about it, but I was really flat. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

 “I called off all 21st birthday celebrations and closed off myself to everyone in those times. I did think about potentially what it would be like if I wasn’t around anymore, would I be doing everyone a favour? I never put it into action, but I definitely had thoughts about potentially suicide.”

 This issue ain’t going away, we had Majak last year and now we have just another typical 24-year-old talking about something that 200 Australians attempt every day. It ain’t going away.

 Keep talking.

 2.       Melbourne. Deplorable. Look at their close games. One point win to Gold Coast. Yes, a two point loss to Adelaide in the NT but two five point wins over Hawthorn and Carlton. Imagine if they were 2-16. So could have easily been. And it’s nothing to do with injuries. Aside from not being able to start numbers off the square anymore tactically, there’s no other real difference. Damming stat, St Kilda looked so much better than them on Saturday and were a year younger on average and a whole lot more inexperienced. Dees have to try and top up and go for it, otherwise, maybe like the Pies, it’s almost clean out start again time. Deplorable.

3.       Tom Lynch wasn’t a top 50 player in the comp for a while, maybe he might just prove that he is before year’s end. Certainly capable of being the best key forward in the game, no doubt.

4.       How bad was that Crows camp last summer? 2016 they went 16-6, 2017 they made the Grand Final after going 15-6-1, so it wasn’t a year out of the box. Last year 12-10, but 12th, and now 9-9 and just hanging on to 8th.

5.       Rumblings the Crows would part with Don Pyke. I can sort of get it. He clearly has, not so much lost the players, but good players are not playing well under him anymore. Rory Sloane doesn’t fear opposition coaches, nor does Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts is droppable, Brodie Smith was a weapon, now he is far less – you really get the sense, sadly for Pykey, that the chemistry between coach and optimising his talent has gone.

6.       Rhyce Shaw wins the North job. Good. But not great. The three wins he had from his first four that got him the job, Richmond when they lost three in a row without any fit players, Gold Coast, and Collingwood which looking back from where we are now – ‘so what’? Is he an upgrade on Scott, absolutely, is he the answer and gets North their fifth flag, almost certainly not. They did try and tempt Horse and Simo, to be fair.

7.       David Teague, if anything he is more compelling than Shaw. Why? What the players are doing for him. There is no more loved coach in the comp by his playing group than Teaguey. Could have easily won seven straight. I think with the talent on that list, and whatever momentum you call this, you almost need to give him first rights. Let him ‘caretaker’ into next year, so to speak.

8.       So Brad Scott then, well, some say he is a fool for going early. No dice. Leaving so soon into the year he got a bigger break from football than otherwise, plus, whilst he was positioning himself for a role in 2020 he ultimately appears to miss out on, the fall-back is that he gets his full payout from North which is over $700k. Laughing. Mind you, I reckon he’ll have a footy role next year anyway, not as a senior man, but think developmental or football department head of, something like that.

9.       Jake Niall made a great point about how the Tigers got their injury issues out of the way whereas the Pies’ timing is awful. Richmond is basically fully fit again outside of Rance, Collingwood’s just getting worse. In four weeks Richmond’s going to be unbackable for a second flag in three years, Collingwood needs to hope with some form and fitness it can be regain half a chance of winning an elimination final.

10.   Mind you, Pies yes, this is a bad spot and the injuries need review, but even though the current slide precedes a lack of player availability lets go back to the Giants game two weeks ago. When the Pies got it back to four goals, ‘had’ they gotten up and won, regardless of the Tigers result they’d still be second or third favourite for the flag. Small margins here. And whilst they were vastly different games, Richmond won last Friday by 32 points, the equivalent late-season blockbuster last year, Richmond won by 28 points. Don’t get me wrong, don’t jump on the Maggies, but let’s not forget, yesterday was still July, still a ways to go here folks.

11.   That said, Richmond still wins the flag for mine. We know the bit about beating Geelong first final to make a prelim, or somehow getting Geelong in a prelim going the other way. But, the only potential banana skin comes up if they were finish fourth, beat Geelong, get the week off straight into the prelim final. Meanwhile, West Coast beat Brisbane first week, the Lions get the double chance semi final at home. They would be play the winner of Essendon, Collingwood, who could get enormous belief by winning that elimination final and would fancy themselves then the next week. If the Bombers, for example, then topple the Lions they’d then get a date with Richmond in a prelim. The Tigers, playing one game in four weeks basically, are sitting ducks to a fellow big Melbourne club racing at them like, I don’t know, the Pies did last year. That elongated theory aside, Richmond’s home.

12.   Hawks are going to miss the finals, and they should not be. Losing to Brisbane in Tassie, alongside the failures to Melbourne in Round 7 and Saints in Round 4 will cost them eighth, where they’d be good enough to compete. Injuries, transitioning list, all that aside, this team has beaten Geelong, Collingwood, GWS and lost to the Eagles by a kick in a thunderstorm, they’re worthy. Or should be, anyway.

13.   Some swimming before the Ashes. How’s about the hot bed of mess that was. It does sound like there is something plausible about the suspect supplements that young Shayna has got herself in trouble with, but that’s neither here nor there, diligence doesn’t care for youthful slip ups. But the Swimming Australia leadership, namely Leigh Russell who was a mental health coach last time I checked, has failed here. Yes the anti-doping process is harsh, but you kind of feel Jack’s copped it worse off the back of it.

14.   And yes, Mack Horton makes his stance but then Jack gets done, bad look perhaps. But mind you, Horton was protesting Sun being there in the first place with a WADA appeal pending, at least with Jack once her results were declared she was sent home, it was a more cut and dry situation. I think we should be happy to still point fingers elsewhere providing we accept that we’re not immune whether you’re a systematic cheat or a blasphemous professional.

15.   Right, the cricket, only a couple hours away. Bancroft over Harris seems contentious but a couple reasons why they went with the Sandgroper sander. Being right-handed helped, if we went Harris six of the top five are all lefties, and that’s just too much. Especially too in an opening pair it is better to have left and right. But also there’s a fear on Harris outside of ‘Shield conditions’. He looked ok in the test summer, but didn’t blow anyone away. And if you’re a good batsman in Australian conditions against State bowlers, you can cash in. Bancroft has had a couple better moments, for Australia A but also for Australia, but too recently for Durham, where he has shown maybe his skills and toughness go up that extra level. That will be key against Anderson and Broad with Duke balls in English conditions.

16.   Jimmy Pattinson, what a story. He had a back like Stephen Hawking only five minutes ago and now he is bustling and breathing fire with Duke in hand and will definitely get some LBW’s. Remember, last summer at home, six tests, not one quickie got a leg before. Pattinson is going to be beating the bat and hitting lots of pads and lots of poles, no question. Castles should go a-flying. Great story.

17.   Now, Pete Siddle, he is the other one, might even get a go too tonight. Why? Well the answer lies with Tim Murtagh. Who? He is the ‘not-quick’ Irish seamer who took five for bugger all at Lords last week in the first innings against England. Bowls a very tidy, tight, nagging length and gets a little wobble off the seam, which on our decks gets you smacked, but in England with some cloud cover you’re unplayable. If 38-year-old Murtagh can get Michelle Pfeiffer’s at Lord’s, imagine what Siddle might be able to do somewhere. Will play.

18.   England’s top order is the key. We said in the World Cup the lower order was their Achilles heel and early on it was, but back end of the tournament Roy and Bairstow got going and they deservedly won the World Cup. Ashes, red ball, it’s the opposite. The top order is their weakness which is not where you’d want it. At least in one-day cricket when Roy and Bairstow get going they protect the middle order, in test cricket it’s going to go wrong from the start. Joe Root does not want to bat three, at all, not one bit – but such is their issues at the top he is. He will probably still bat well, but if doesn’t, they could be four for not much and that is a problem they can’t afford too often needing to win something like three of the five tests.

19.   Predictions? Nah dunno, I know that because it’s later in their summer, in fact I think two tests will be in their autumn maybe, there is every chance we draw a test due to rain interruptions. So the Poms will need a 3-1 result to get the urn back, or 2-1 if we lose two tests to weather. I reckon Australia wins at least one test, and if the batting is ok at worst, good at least, then that’s probably two wins and the urn is retained. But India nobbled our batting at home, it’s now Anderson and Broad and over there. Might come down to Warner and Smith, they go ok, we win, they miss and the batting still is a problem, we don’t, England does the World Cup-Ashes double.

20.   Lastly, A-League got some good news, Channel Ten will air two games a round this year on the main channel, which is a great result in all honesty. However, kind of trumped later in the week when the NBL announced its SBS-ESPN deal, which sees every afternoon game on SBS (three plus games a round), and all primetime games on ESPN, away from the Fox Sports channels. That would not be cheap, big leap of faith by ESPN. Larry Kestelman runs that sport as well as the FFA tries to bury its sport into the ground.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Calombaris back pay

FIVE games to go. If the AFL home and away season had a ‘clocktower’ moment, then this is it 

You’d need to be near abouts now if you’re to make your run, if not then you’re out of the running.

But if you are close, and have got a bit going right for you, you’re a bang-on chance to be amongst the contenders when the whips are cracking.

A bonafide premiership favourite will emerge from this round – it’s time to get serious.

  1.       So here’s where its tricky. Let’s look at the top teams quickly:

·         Geelong have lost three of their last five, those losses to teams outside the eight

·         Brisbane outside of their win to the GWS haven’t beaten a top eight team since Round One, aside from a one-point win over eighth-placed Adelaide

·         West Coast barely beat Melbourne and Hawthorn and lost to a spluttering Collingwood in Perth

·         The Pies looked a mess against the Giants and have bad losses to North and Hawthorn not too far back

·         Before this weekend where they defeated ninth, aside from the GWS win two weeks back the Tigers are 3-3 in their last six and the other two wins were against 18th and 14th

·         The Giants looked good last weekend but had lost their last three games, all to top eight teams

Point being – anyone of the top six has holes in their credentials. All six are good enough to turn this around and mount an insurmountable charge, but if a couple of these faded off into the wilderness, out in straight sets, wouldn’t shock me in the slightest. Dead set open for anyone this year.

2.       Now Essendon though, different story. Won four of their last five, six of their least seven, and beaten two top eight teams the last month. In actual good form unlike the teams above them and have the Suns, Power and Dogs all in Melbourne the next three. Look out.

3.       Right now, ignoring betting prices, I’d much rather bet on Essendon to win the flag than Brisbane. Not even close.

4.       Six teams have played nine games against the current top eight. A further nine have played seven or eight. Two however have played just the five – Carlton and Brisbane.

5.       That all being said, whoever wins Friday wins the flag, and right now with Richmond favourites they remain the tip. The Tigers win, they will finish in the top four, and either get Geelong week one, and win get a home prelim, or lose, win week two, and get Geelong in an MCG prelim. Conversely, if the Pies can get up, beat West Coast in Perth and Richmond in Melbourne within 14 days, then they regain worth, the same logic would apply. Simple.

6.       Those Pies last week, sure, but look at that Giants forwardline. When the Pies’ midfield turned up its toes, there’s three forwards for GWS over 6”4 and a resting ruckman too, yet Collingwood selected Jordan Roughead and some mediums. There’s your definition of a field day.

7.       Last one on the Pies – Robbo went pretty hard on the stats for Mason Cox’s demise and all that. He is a long way off the form from last year’s prelim, no doubt, but its only one round prior where he took more marks than Tom Lynch and kicked the same amount of goals, yet a week later Cox should be deported and Lynch is Royce Hart? Stats can be funny at times, Robbo though is always comedic.

8.       Speak of tall forwards, not quite Franklin and Roughead but I like the look of Mitchell Lewis next to Tim O’Brien for the Hawks’ fans. Lewis has wonderful forward craft for a youngster, who too is a lovely size, and O’Brien has as good a set of hands for one clunk marking in the comp. Bit of continuity playing together and there’s your ten-year forward line Hawthorn. Very nice.

9.       That free kick paid to give Brisbane another win they just didn’t need, my Lord. I know, its only one decision and Leigh Fisher, ex-Saint, was the one that paid it and he is usually pretty good. But for a club getting the rub of the green everywhere, gee, have you seen a more false record than the Lions right now?

10.   Brett Ratten opened the Saints gameplan up nicely and I don’t think that win was purely down to the ‘first week up-Caretaker coach’ thing. He made some subtle changes and it looked a treat. Just need to polish a few more things, get fitter as a list, and they can be top eight in no time. Lock Ratts in for next year at Moorabbin.

11.   Speaking of the Saints, reckon Hunter Clark becomes the kind of Shannon Hurn, Luke Hodge, style renowned backline general who is not just skilled and effective but presence alone only boosts the St Kilda back six a few extra percent. Got a huge career ahead that kid.

12.   And after this column what, two weeks ago, before Richo got the arse maybe, foreshadowed that if Freo and Ross are no longer, for reasons of their own accord, maybe just maybe its Lyon 2.0 down at Moorabbin? And then old mate Caro, fresh from a sojourn in the south of France wants to borrow from the Get Serious conspiracy theory trash can and run it as serious news on 3AW? Wilson. Get the bloody hell serious, won’t you?

13.   Gold Coast currently 3-14. Last five games to round out the year: Dons, Pies, Lions, Hawks in Tassie and Giants. That’s got 3-19 written all over it. Now in their first and second years when they had all those kids, were horrendous and getting smashed most weeks, even those sides managed to win three games in each of those years.  So for this to be their equal worst season, equal with two different years in which those sides had legitimate excuses, is phenomenal.

14.   EJ Whitten Legends game, moved around of late but is usually a late August piece. This year, back to Melbourne after a year in Adelaide, but is penciled in for AAMI Park, not Marvel. They’re going down the AFLX route. For shame.

15.   Some non-footy to finish – Mack Horton, gee that’s gutsy. Say what you like about sportsmanship and I get that, I do, but the fact this Chinese guy sneakily served a suspension a couple years ago and has a pending appeal, against him, by WADA for getting off a charge last year, I don’t blame Horton for making a stand one bit. Big target on his back but sometimes we need people like him. I rate it. Mack Horton – a definite Buy.

16.   But how about little Ariarne Titmus. The teenager from Launceston who took down Katie Ledecky who is in the conversation for greatest female American swimmer of all time, such is her aura. Ledecky is only 22 and has won five Olympic golds and 14 World Champs golds. Yet the 18-year-old from Tassie swam that last 50 like it was Australia Day at your mate’s Triple J party and swallowed in the champ whole. What a legend, remember her name won’t you?

17.   Cricket Australia – what?! Haddin XII vs. Hick XII, Australia vs. Australia A, and not even a stream for me and my mates to grab a couple cold Asahi’s on a winter’s evening and settle in? The greatest intra club ever thought of and I have to follow it on tweets from Peter Lalor? Madness..

18.   Gotta hand it to New Zealand. Won the Netball World Cup, a couple weeks after basically winning the Cricket World Cup. Holds the Women’s Rugby World Cup title and in three months when the Mens’ Rugby World Cup kicks off you can see where that one is going too. This is a nation with a population smaller than Sydney. Props to those Kiwis I say.

19.   Belinda Sharpe, first female NRL referee last round, nice on by her. AFL has had a couple games umpired by the ladies as well but cricket, why has there not yet been a female umpire a men’s match? Seems the first place it could have happened. Cricket, work that out please!

20.   And my new favourite team – Western United in the A-League. Have assembled a decent squad actually for their first campaign starting this October, but the comedy that is their stadium continues. Based out of Geelong and Ballarat temporarily as they build their “100% privately funded stadium” out the back of outer-west Tarneit, their ambitions are as lofty as the ignorance and corporate incompetence of the FFA who awarded them a license.

 The update though this week was gold, as it is “is set to be funded by the proceeds of nearby residential property projects, including in some high-density areas, and underpinned by a commercial zone.” This is an area currently kilometres from the nearest real estate mind you.

 Also it’s noted that “A nearby railway station is also planned, with a town centre ‘potentially’ being developed by the council. Investors could emerge with ownership of assets worth tens or hundreds of millions more than their initial outlay. It could make annual profits and investors could later sell their stakes for capital gains.” I know El Chapo has been locked up again, but he would just love this sorta stuff the ol’ Tiger, what a humorous little tale this is developing into. It’ll never happen.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Most Boundaries?

WHO would you rather be? 

Jye Simpkin, who lost touch on Anthony McDonald- Tipungwuti in the dying seconds Saturday afternoon?

Maybe Trent Boult, who took the catch cleanly off Ben Stokes before stepping on the boundary to result in a six?

Or Roger Federer, who had two match points for his 21st slam before ultimately losing the fifth set to his Serbian rival?

Probably Alan Richardson, who has had no luck with injuries, has shown a lot on field to be honest, and doesn’t even make it to the end of July. Simpkin, Boult, Federer – they could only blame themselves for minor errors. Richo? Probably couldn’t have done anymore, even with the benefit of hindsight.

But that’s footy.

 1.       So we start at St Kilda – we thought Richo would be ok given the circumstances we described last week. But the writing was on the wall that with his record, over six years, there just wasn’t enough to justify the faith Hardwick and Buckley received. So now, is it Brad Scott, the guy who walked early to be on pole position for a vacancy, or Brett Ratten, the former Hawks’ assistant who the Saints got ‘mysteriously’ last offseason to be ‘just’ an assistant coach?

It’s rather simple. Brad Scott’s career winning percentage as a coach, is 50%, Brett Ratten, despite being at Carlton, is also at 50%, he got sacked in a year he went 11-11, not something like 6-16, and for the Hawthorn three-peat was in the coaching box next to Clarkson. If its out of those two, sorry Brad, you’re just not even close despite making yourself available for exactly such a scenario. Ratts is not just a good caretaker, he is the next in line for a senior gig – period.

2.       Mind you, here’s a theory. There’s a coach out there right now in a long-term gig, who if you believe the whispers on the nose with his board and even his supporter base as well. This same coach also has coached the most Grand Finals in the last ten years aside from Al Clarkson. And, this same coach, whilst leaving on suspect terms, also has a lot of credits still in the bank with the Saints. That coach is Ross Lyon, a 50-50 chance to be moved on by Fremantle, the coach who has a record of making Grand Finals and who could come back to Moorabbin and try and go one further than 2009/2010. Sure, left on less-than-great terms but the current admin wasn’t the admin when he walked. I couldn’t rule out a reconciliation and an almighty chapter two in the Lyon-Saints story.

3.       As for Carlton and David Teague, wow, he isn’t just going right on the park with results, he has got that playing group completely sold. Ross Lyon’s greatest strength is the bond he forges with the playing group, you still hear St Kilda legends talk in such high praise for their former coach, its very noticeable. The same things are emanating out of Ikon Park for ‘Teaguey’. And whilst Chris Judd, despite the shocking attempt at a false backtrack, and the Board wanting an experienced coach, the playing group is that enamoured with playing for Teaguey, and if the results stack up, he has to be a strong contender to continue for sure.

4.       So whats this say about Brendan Bolton? Usually, and like I make the point with Ratten earlier, Al Clarkson assistants are money. Last three premiership coaches, all former Hawks’ assistants. But Bolton is the outlier? Now too that David Teague has swept the playing group off their feet. We thought Bolton was a bit stuff, blaming the long-term rut Carlton has been in for his non-success. But in hindsight, was there something about the Bolton approach that despite his well-credential apprenticeship, he just wouldn’t cut it? Now, I’d say most probably.

5.       Have penned something about the Gold Coast being salvageable in more detail, but gee, this is a rabble of a club. At one point, Round 16, 2014, they were 9 wins and 6, in the eight and looking like making their first finals campaign. Gary Ablett does his shoulder against the Pies and misses the rest of the season. Since that injury, they are 24 wins and 78 losses. That’s five-win season pace in basically five years of football. In that time West Coast have had time to be awesome, then shit, then win a flag. It’s a long time of real mediocrity.

6.       But remember, the AFL has pumped in over $200m into the Gold Coast, so the idea of a quick retreat to engage Tasmania needs a fair bit more than what you and I think of over a cheeky pint on a Friday night. Tassie prospects look good, but the AFL-Suns breakup ain’t that close with that sort of investment to date, I’m sorry.

7.       Quickly on the cricket. My Lord, that’s the worst rule of all time. At least with soccer, whilst we don’t like penalties deciding a world cup, they don’t stop at five spot kicks each and declare the winner based on who had the most shots on goal within the 90 minutes. Or in tennis, if it ends two sets all, six games all declaring the winner on who has hit the most aces. Just terrible. ICC, get serious.

8.       Mind you, did you know, that if two teams finish equal eighth in the AFL, exact same for Points, but also the exact same For and Against, that to decide who plays finals and who finishes ninth, in the official rules, would come down to a coin toss. Dead serious.

9.       And I tell you, smokey for middle order in the Ashes – Matty Wade. Second most Shield runs in the summer just gone behind Marcus Harris, and has smashed not only two white ball centuries for Australia A in England, but in his first red-ball hitout in the same tour hit a ton as well. No other middle order candidate is banging down the door, so Wade’s every chance to get a gig at 5 or 6 at this rate.

10.   Can we pin the balloon somewhat of the Brisbane Lions resurgence? Bear with. From Round 6 to 17, 11 games of footy, only four games against top 8 teams from last year, or worst still only two games against current top 8 teams. If you go from Round 6 to include Round 21 coming up, that’s five games only against last year’s top 8 and still only two games against teams currently in the 8. It gets worse – they play the Gold Coast twice before their first games against Geelong and Richmond in the last two rounds, and when you isolate records against current top four teams they are as good as Carlton, or records against current top eight teams as good as Footscray. Soft draw much?

11.   Speaking of Footscray, please, please, I know its not a well-thought through argument but please revert to Footscray and not the Western Bulldogs. The nostalgia on Sunday was just terrific, and to play the original song at the end was something diehard Doggies fans, or should I say Scragger fans was awesome.

12.   Couple on Carlton, good and bad. Firstly good, the breakout star of the comp might not be Sam Walsh, but Harry McKay. Have called this very early in the season, but after another strong aerial performance against Sydney where he took nine marks, its Round 18 this week and the 21-year-old still leads the league for contested marks. If a forward is leading that category these days and not say a Jeremy McGovern for example, that’s epic. He is a star.

13.   Bad news, again, this column called it early too but finally the Blues dropped Mitch McGovern for being pudgy. Never good to fat-shame someone, but you’re getting paid that much, I could say a lot worse than advising the Blues new-boy to you know what, maybe say no to seconds at the dinner table occasionally yeah?

14.   Good to see the folks at the Herald Sun read the opening installment to the Get Serious Top 50 last Thursday. No-one talks about Robbie Tarrant’s value until this column got him in at number 48, and low and behold a couple days later a piece on their website about whether he is the most underrated player in the league? Not to this column’s readers he ain’t, move along now, but nice to know they’re on board with the Top 50.

15.   I know there was a lot of love for Tippa’s winner on Saturday night, and his overall game too which was fantastic. But has anyone dished any kudos to Jayden Laverde for his role in that goal? The gather, alluding a couple Roos and the handball execution under that much pressure, I thought it was as outstanding as the finish. Well done Jayden, we noticed.

16.   West Coast, hmm, David King still thinks they’re Christmas. I though they would win enough games to get top two, but that took a shot with their loss last Friday. They smashed Freo, but only just beat Hawthorn in the wet and capitulated to Sydney last month at the same venue where Carlton won just last weekend. Not motoring just yet, they are not going back-to-back, can’t see it. My flag tip as of July 16th – Richmond. They just have to finish fourth to play Geelong and its done.

17.   Jack Darling, often maligned by this column, and today is again no different. Sure, he has at times looked like John Coleman, but if you can’t stand up in perfect conditions against Brayden Maynard, who you made look like Stephen Silvagni on a Stephen Dank supplements program, then you’re only as good as your last performance for mine. Kennedy, first up, on a very good Jordan Roughead – excused. Darling on a bloke he had both inches and kgs on, didn’t fire a shot. Poor.

18.   Pies might lose Pendles for a match, a month, not sure, but that was much better, that last 45 minutes was as good a footy against solid opposition as you’ll see. When West Coast lost to Sydney, they were trash. But for two and a half quarters last Friday the Eagles looked like the machine of late last year. So the performance by the Maggies, alongside the return of Taylor Adams and Jeremy Howe this week, is very much a good news story in lieu of their September aspriations.

19.   Orazio Fantasia’s form since the story, or non-story, about his desire to be traded home to South Australia, depending on which version you believe, has been mightily patchy. And its either because the story is true and he is off-guard lying about it, or he can’t handle the distraction of a rumour with no substance. My gut feel is still the former.

20.   And lastly, completely random – why do some people think petrol pump hoses only extend ten inches? Why do they whose cars have the petrol cap say on the left hand side of the car, prefer to queue up behind six cars for a pump on the left, when the pumps on the right are totally vacant. I’m yet to see a fuel hose that would not extend all the way around or over a Hummer if need be, so please, if your guilty of this basic human shortcoming – why?

[getseriouser]

HOW TO SOLVE THE GOLD COAST..

A second team in Queensland was a no-brainer, but was the timing right? Was it worthy of team 17, or is it more a team 19 or 20 discussion? Timing to one side, it was unpopular and has been delivered without the right execution. Ultimately, however, expansion into Queensland was a correct strategic, long-term decision.

So to that, it would be corporately irresponsible to withdraw on that long-term commitment so short into that plan. But to that point, there also needs to be corporate responsibility to navigate a problem that needs serious attention.

Gil says their existence alone benefits all clubs off-field, but are they still benefiting other clubs by being a liability in their own sense and taking away league resources that could be better spent elsewhere, saving country footy, boosting grassroots, etc.? Right now that’s a definite no.

That’s all a lot of words but it’s pretty technical the position the AFL finds themselves in. What we do know is that publicly they will support the Suns to the hill, in the same way an under fire coach always has the board’s full support right up until the axe is wielded.

But if the AFL has any skill in governance whatsoever, the full-blown commitment to what was a solid idea at the start has to be reviewed. Doesn’t mean they plot their withdrawal from the area so soon but you have to work out a strategy that justifies the initial decision to avoid such a worst case scenario, if possible.

This is a club that can’t grow past 11,000 members and whose average attendances since inception if anything are declining. This requires serious change, and it’s not just going to come from improved on field results, this is the Gold Coast remember, the renowned ‘Bermuda Triangle’ for sport in this country.

So how do they do that? For mine they need to rebrand as the Southport Sharks.

I don’t mind if no-one south of Tweed Heads might not recognise that name. But I’m not interested in them, they’re not going to become a member or attend games at Metricon. Who you do want to engage though are the locals. And if there is one brand with actual cut through on the Gold Coast, it’s the Southport footy club; a club who first went after their own AFL license in the mid-1990s.

They’ve been playing local footy for 60 odd years and are the reigning NEAFL premiers. This though is not just a knockabout footy club located on the Gold Coast, it’s a well-run entertainment business and successful brand in itself. The Sharks are a huge hospitality organisation up there – all their facilities are first-class.

Sure, their financial strength is off the back of pokies to some degree but it’s only been recently where AFL clubs are able to succeed without the same type of gambling revenue, and they’ve had millions coming from national broadcast rights to help compensate. Besides, the Sharks aren’t just a pokies and bistro, they even have a Mantra Hotel incredibly amongst other money-generating assets.

They have over 60,000 members, and sure, most of them are after discounted pots at the bar or specials off the bistro, but regardless they have a business model that clearly engages the locals into bonafide revenue streams, and importantly have a captive audience to market to.

For example, if you surveyed some locals on the streets of Surfers Paradise you’d get the same recognition for the Gold Coast Suns as you would for Southport Sharks. In fact you’re just as likely to find someone who knows of the Suns full stop are as you are to run into a Sharks member. And remember, one is one of eighteen clubs in the preeminent national football league, the other at its core is a NEAFL club who plays against the GWS reserves.

I see strong parallels to the Port Adelaide journey in the AFL. Port Power started in 1997 and it was only 15 years or so in that they were floundering, putting down tarps on seats at Footy Park – they were battling for relevance in the shadows of the all-conquering Crows.

Once they tapped into the Port Adelaide that really goes back a lot further, as far back as 1870 in fact, and they incorporated that Magpies history and identity into the AFL club, alongside the move to Adelaide Oval the joint then flourished.

Look at the fans that turn out week in week out at their home games, check out their scarves – they are adorned with both the Power and Magpies logos. This club was strengthened once they combined the cookie-cutter brand developed for the national competition with the legend that is the SANFL Magpies. “Never tear us apart” is basically “Magpies, Power, SANFL, AFL, whatever – we are all Port Adelaide”.

So the Suns lose the flimsy identity and become the Sharks, giving the AFL a much better chance to be recognised locally and subsequently grow from within the marketplace they need to tap into. Channel Seven television rights money is fine, but it’s getting the Cavill Avenue set to spend and too buy into something they can relate to.

Combining this rebrand with some onfield success will consolidate that off field optimism, of course. But that’s totally doable. Look at the eulogies given to the Brisbane Lions as recently as 24-months ago. The club was in a massive hole, such as those notorious issues with player retention, Elliott Yeo, Jared Polec, Sam Docherty, to name a few – it was all doom and gloom for Queensland footy.

Fast forward to the Fagan-Hodge era and the plucky Lions are currently top four and quite the success story. It’s no fluke, you get the right people, the right plan – even the Lions turned the inconceivable around.

So if the Suns become the Sharks, that proven, existing, local off field success could be leveraged. Alongside some 2019 Lions-inspired on field success and even though we’d much rather be in Tasmania, the second club in Queensland could actually work quite well after all.

[getseriouser]

GET SERIOUS: Top 50 - 2019

IT'S not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Marcus Bontempelli stands tall, not just literally but too comparatively against all peers, all of the more fancied usually bandied around when ‘game’s best player’ conversations are had.

It’s a who’s who of the game’s best mids in the top ten, with a couple potato gems from opposite ends of the field in there too.

The Get Serious top ten:

10.        Elliot Yeo (West Coast)

9.          Tom Stewart (Geelong)

8.          Stephen Coniglio (GWS)

7.          Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)

6.          Luke Shuey (West Coast)

5.          Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

4.          Dustin Martin (Richmond)

3.          Patrick Cripps (Carlton)

2.          Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

1.          Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Yeo is a freak. Strong, agile, quick, incredibly skilled. Vital to the Eagles’ success he dominates the centre square but too can kill it all over the field. Superstar.

Now Tommy Stewart is only a couple years plucked out of local footy but wow, what an impact. The best backman of any sort in the league by some way, his intercept and rebound abilities alongside defensive smarts make him seriously that good. Coniglio is the definition of a premier onballer. A jet. Moves well, finds the pill and just kills it when he gets it.

Jordy is a freak. Onball he is a bull that can dominate the centre square. Up forward though, be it playing tall like a poor man’s Ablett Senior or on the ground like a, well, Ablett Senior, he is as close to unstoppable since prime-years Buddy.

This man won a Norm Smith on a day he didn’t have a tonne of midfield mates and the opposition midfield was stacked. Shuey is supremely underrated, maybe as he plies his trade on the west coast, but is impossible to tag, has enormous influence on the game from the guts and is the quintessential match-winner.

Danger and Dusty we know. Both capable of running the show themselves. Still got it, still elite, still easy top five guns.

Crippa is beast and is easy top three. Has more influence on games now than Dangerfield and Martin, remembering he plays for lowly Carlton, those two have played in perennial finals sides. Going to dominate for some time.

Cripps is very good, Fyfe is just a bit better. Can do a little more outside and totally takes over games like few others ever. Won one Brownlow already, could seriously poll enough again this year. Megastar.

And the Bont. A couple weeks back, we said, in comparing him to Cripps and Fyfe, that he does what both those kids do well in the trenches but he is that little better because moves around like a 6″3 wingman with vision like 2010 Scott Pendlebury to boot. Also is one of the best kicks in the comp. The most complete player in it. The best.

                                    ---------------------------

A good big bloke always defeats a good little bloke, they say.

Before we nail out the top ten players in the league, a few of the league’s best taller types make the top 20.

Let’s get this done with.

20.          Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

19.          Harris Andrews (Brisbane)

18.          Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)

17.          Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne)

16.          Max Gawn (Melbourne)

15.          Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

14.          James Sicily (Hawthorn)

13.          Tim Kelly (Geelong)

12.          Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)

11.          Josh Kelly (GWS)

So I lied. Daniher could be the best tall forward in the league, might be, but in reality its Kennedy. In the right year nudging 80 goals again isn’t out of the question and no-one else can could come close. Great mark, great converter, just a huge big-game player. Meanwhile, Andrews is now the premier fullback in the league. Might not know being hidden up in Queensland but seriously, he is never beaten anymore. Looks like Dustin Fletcher in his hey day. Very good.

This bloke came second last year in the Brownlow, which was overs but not the biggest surprise. Sidebottom is as clever and skillful an onballer/wingman you’ll find. Had an amazing 2018 and this year and is a genuine match-winner.

Cunnington is a bull. Good old country boy who doesn’t say much, but gee, in tight, is there any better? Not flashy but very few win as much ball in close and tackle as hard. Jet. And as for big Maxy, in any other year he is the premier big man, dominates the ruck like few we’ve seen in our lifetime and is an elite contested mark too.

Whitfield is stiff to not make top ten. So, so good off halfback, one of the best kicks in the game if not the best, quick, agile and a great decision maker. Utterly awesome. Speaking of half back, Sicily is almost as good a kick, almost as quick, but at 6″2ish and with elite marking skills to boot, he is as valuable a player in this league.

The Brownlow favourite can’t make top ten. Tim Kelly just wins it and is always productive. Sure, only a couple years in to his AFL career but looks like a 200-game superstar capable of a Brownlow, or a Norm Smith more to the point. Electric. And as for Grundy, whilst a ruckman is always up against to take home Charlie the big Pie could do it. Enormous at a stoppage, be it hitouts or clearances, but picks up 20+ and marks as good as any. Immense.

Josh Kelly could be the game’s best midfielder. He isn’t but damn he is close. Beautiful mover, is as good inside as outside, and when he plays well, picks up 30, the Giants win. Going to have one of the great careers, no wonder North threw everything at him...

                                     ---------------------------

Getting serious.

Less chat, more suspect placings in the guts of this Top 50 please.

Without further ado.

30.          Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

29.          Jeremy Cameron (GWS)

28.          Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)

27.          Joe Daniher (Essendon)

26.          Toby Greene (GWS)

25.          Jackson Macrae (Western Bulldogs)

24.          Michael Hurley (Essendon)

23.          Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)

22.          Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)

21.          Lachie Neale (Brisbane)

Cotchin is a gun I used to underrate, but seriously, that goal alone in the Geelong Qualifying Final in 2007 alone signifies how good he is - won’t look as nice on a wing or in delivering a lace out pass but for serious guts in a final, unparalleled. And effective too. Cameron still has it, leading the Coleman, enough said. And Pendles, even though not quite at his Norm Smith-winning best, hasn’t lost a stride and is still going to amass another 15+ Brownlow votes this year.

Daniher when fit is the most dangerous key forward in the game. Period. Don’t agree, go watch Anzac Day this year again. Better than any other tall forward, promise you. Greene might be the best small forward inside 50. Can mark, crumb, kick a set shot, kick a miracle snap, tackle, seriously he rates highly for everything a small to medium forward should do. Awesome.

Macrae has become a dead set gun. Beautiful kick, great runner, excellent decision maker. Massively under appreciated. Hurley, as important to Essendon as anyone an has a mortgage on a key back post in the All-Australian team as long as he is fit. And awesome with the ball in hand too, to boot.

Robbie Gray is a jet people east of Tailem Bend might not get. As crafty and mecurial as you’ll find, awesome at winning 30 in the guts or if full-time forward can seriously kick a bag despite being under 6″. A superstar, no-one has been better in Showdowns ever, compared to him.

McGovern is the premier centre-half back in the comp. And where intercept marks are king, he is that good he is invaluable a commodity you’ll find. And Neale could pinch the Brownlow this year showing he was pretty good playing second fiddle to Fyfe in Freo last year, winning their last two B&F’s too just quietly - can seriously play.

                                      ---------------------------

You thought the first ten were contentious, got nothing on these.

How we could have the reigning Brownlow medalist so low? We know better than the umpires and most of the football media?

Yes, in fact, we do. This is the rolled gold list, remember?

So, 31-40, enjoy:

 40.          Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)

39.          Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

38.          Rory Laird (Adelaide)

37.          Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne)

36.          Dayne Beams (Collingwood)

35.          Shannon Hurn (West Coast)

34.          Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)

33.          Brad Sheppard (West Coast)

32.          Michael Walters (Fremantle)

31.          Eddie Betts (Adelaide)

 Brayshaw had a very underrated year last year, except by the umpires. He wasn’t a genuine Brownlow top three, but top 40 players in the comp, sure. Very likely type. Mitchell isn’t higher because if he was as good as doing something with the ball as often as he found it, Hawthorn wouldn’t lose a game. Sorry.

Laird is probably the best back pocket in the game after number 33. Beats his man but as good out of the backline as any in the comp. The recruit of Higgins to North has been a massive tick, at times last year a genuine Brownlow-worthy season, when he is on as good a midfielder in the comp.

Beamsy, well, almost had him out , but then I reconsidered his 2018 season at the Gabba, it was elite. Goal-kicking midfielders as good as him, could argue 36 is too low. Still a jet when fit.

Bunga Hurn is a gem, one of the most dependable defenders in the game, but for his kick and thighs alone, plus his leadership too, a star. Love him. Clarry is very good, having a lean year but who isn’t down at the Dees, but could be higher if we’d done this nine months ago, big, tough, clean, isn’t that far off Cripps but it’s a tight list.

Brad Sheppard is the best back pocket in the game. Period. And whilst there’s mids and forwards all over this list, and sure, they won the flag without him last year, don’t underestimate this guys skill in the Eagles winning a lot of games.

Walters is perhaps lucky to be in the 50, but I’ve seen enough this year to get him this high. As crafty a forward pocket as there is, like legit, mecurial stuff. And has poked his head into the guts too and looked good. Very valuable.

And we can’t have this list without Eddie. Still got it. Still brings the house down. The most loved bloke in the game and I kinda wish he was higher. A magician.

 ...Next week, we add 21-30 where we have the two best key forwards, and the two best key backs in the game, as well as a Brownlow medalist and Norm Smith medalist.

                                         ---------------------------

The moon landing. Cathy Freeman’s gold medal at Sydney. The night the Socceroos qualified for the 2006 World Cup.

All historic, landmark moments where you remember where you were and who you were with.

Today will be another of those days, as this pokey little column launches its inaugural Top 50 for the 2019 season.

This is as simple as it gets: its my top 50 players as it stands right here and now. A few on this list have only played a couple games this year, two haven’t played any, but it doesn’t matter, don’t over think it or make it too scientific – these are just subjectively the best 50 Australian Rules footballers we have in 2019. 

That’s it.

So without further ado, we kick off with 41-50, leading up to revealing the top ten in a few weeks time.

 50.          Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)

49.          Dylan Roberton (St Kilda

48.          Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)

47.          Matt Crouch (Adelaide)

46.          Isaac Heeney (Sydney)

45.          Nick Vlaustin (Richmond)

44.          Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong)

43.          Shane Edwards (Richmond)

42.           Nic Naitanui (West Coast)

41.          Lance Franklin (Sydney)

 So Jack sneaks in as our number 50, we have missed seeing him the last two months but still a genuine gun forward despite not being typical key position size. A great career. Don’t forget how good Roberton has been for St Kilda the last few years, immense defender and we hope he can get back to good footy soon. Ask any Saints fan how important he has been the last two years especially.

Tarrant’s top three for key backs in the league for mine, rarely beaten and deserves AA considerations this year, very underrated. As is Matt Crouch, just finds the ball, a less glamourous Dane Swan in some regard, very good footballer we don’t know enough about this side of Bordertown 

Heeney is a jet, probably the most valuable player on Sydney’s list and can do exciting things at any position really. Vlaustin I think is Richmond’s most important backman, the taller guys work off one another, are somewhat codependent, but Vlaustin is the glue. Little Gaz has been great as a forward, obviously was perennial top ten if this list was done prior but has now forged a great little niche on a flank in 2019.

Shane Edwards was a flighty half-forward flanker but now a genuine class midfielder. Think Port Adelaide-era Shaun Burgoyne sorta. Really like him. Nic Nat is still a freak who despite the ruckman position being overrated, he certainly is not.

Big Budweiser, gee, like Ablett would have dominated the top ten of such a list for years, but now, whilst he still has that magic, not only is it rare given his ability to stay fit but old father time is limiting his impact when he is fit.

 ...Next week, we add 31-40, where we have a Brownlow medalist, three more defenders and the game’s most adored individual.