Why Akermanis won’t coach an AFL Football Team
I wrote a post the other week about why I thought Nathan Buckley would most certainly coach an AFL Football team and how he just commands respect when ever he speaks etc. I just don’t think Jason Akermanis has that.
No Buckley or Voss
Yes Jason Akermanis will have had a decorated career winning 3 Premierships at Brisbane and a Brownlow Medal when he finishes playing, but I just don’t see the leadership and directional influence on the ground from him that a guy like Buckley or a Michael Voss for that matter display, not that that one factor makes a good coach but you are going to lead a group of men into battle week in week out and I think that is a quality that a coach should have.
On the other side he is a very self confident man and confident in his own abilities and would have no doubt learnt a lot from Lethal Leigh Matthews both positive and negative, and Rodney Eade, two very different but good coaches in their own right. But the question I have is could Akermanis be taken seriously?
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Should the AFL amend their Drug Policy?
There is growing momentum among the AFL Clubs towards the AFL to amend its drug policy, which I guess is nothing that is all that new but with the AFL to meet with the Federal Government and the ALFPA in early 2008 the policy will be high on the agenda.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide are the latest clubs to express their opinions towards the policy and how it could be improved. I think most clubs are of the view that the three strikes rule needs at least a review and that more testing needs to be conducted.
The Policy
The AFL’s drug policy is very closely tied into that of the Federal Governments stance on illicit drug use, and both parties have common goals they are trying to achieve. Yet there are still misunderstandings about the AFL’s policy. I remember when the ex Treasurer Peter Costello said something along the lines of: the code was not tough enough because players were not named or sanctioned until their third offence, and that the AFL code allows people to be caught without suffering any consequences. But from what I understand this is not what AFL’s policy does.
A few misunderstandings
Talking to a lot of football followers there are still a lot of people who misunderstand what the AFL’s policy is all about. The AFL have quite a comprehensive policy in the treatment of initial findings of non-performance enhancing drug use in that they use medical intervention as the first response, probably better treatment than you and I would get. Most of the misunderstandings are centered on the 3 strikes rule. The assumption is that the AFL doesn’t take any action until a player is caught on the third occasion.
This is simply not true. Read more
The knockers keep coming for the Kangaroos
What is it with these footballing greats knocking the North Melbourne Football Clubs decision to relocate to the Gold Coast?
Some of the comments from these people really surprise me. I mean here we have Ron Barassi a two time North Melbourne Premiership coach (1975, 1977) and arguably the biggest footballing identity saying that it wasn’t his preference for the club to stay in Melbourne. What!!!! This is one person that I would have thought would have been 100% behind the club, but he says his opinion is that the “game is greater than any one club”, which is fair enough, but try to explain that to the members of the Kangaroos or any club for that matter. What would happen if the Collingwood Football Club was in a similar situation? A good business man Eddie McGuire is, but there would be a never ending riot if he decided that would be best for the Pies. I am sure he could see all the positives in it from a business sense but he would do everything in his power to get the same result here in Melbourne I am sure of that. What would the great Ted Whitten and Chris Grant think of a decision about relocating the Western Bulldogs?
We then have outspoken football identity and Kangaroo great Sam Kekovich saying similar things about the decision: “We had everything to gain and nothing to lose,” the former club champion said.
Then Alan Aylett: “Even if I don’t agree with it, all you can do now is wait and hope. Time will tell.”
Here are 3 high profile football identities that have big profiles and a lot of pull in a lot of different areas of business and football and instead of getting off there arse and trying to help their club they are taking the easy option and having a go at the club for doing their best to “Stay in Melbourne”.
It is sad to see that the history and passion of a club in today’s AFL landscape is lost on these types of people, which I would have thought to be the opposite. I am sure James Brayshaw and his board are just taking note of the comments being said by these people and creating a nice little collection to be pulled out at a later date when they have successfully done what they set out to achieve and prove all these people wrong.
All you North Melbourne fans head on over to the Kangaroo website and sign up now!
How will Collingwood fair in 2008 ?
Collingwood fans would probably be pretty disappointed with their 2007 season finishing 6th, but their finals campaign was almost brilliant, only losing to the eventual premiers by 5 points in the Preliminary Final. Magpie fans could not have expected any more from their side. Both the Magpie hierarchy and fans would not be expected anything less than a top 4 finish this year and a Grand Final berth. The retirements of Buckley, Lucuria and Clement will be huge in an off field sense. Those 3 provided a great deal of experience and football knowledge to the young list which is difficult to replace. And there a some players that will be playing or their careers one would think.
Let’s take a look at where I think the Magpies can take that one extra step in 2008. First let’s look at the additions and deletion from the 2007 list.
ADDITIONS:
Jaxson Barham (Geelong Falcons)
Cameron Wood (Brisbane Lions)
John McCarthy (Dandenong Stingrays)
Tobias Thoolen (Bendigo Pioneers)
Rookie: Kevin Dyas (County Armagh, Ireland)
DELETIONS:
Retired: Nathan Buckley (veteran – outside list), James Clement, Paul Licuria
Traded: Ben Davies (Kangaroos)
Delisted: Guy Richards, Daniel Nicholls (rookie)
The Ruck Department is a deficiency
Top 7 Quotes and Cliches from the 2007 Draftees
A Draft couldn’t go by without the plethora of quotes and clichés that have now become customary for the AFL Draftees each year. Now that all drafts are out of the way and all the AFL Lists are in I thought I would recap on a few of those quotes and clichés that we have heard from this years batch of youngsters. It must be all the media training that they do at draft camps, TAC Cup etc that teach them what to say to the media after they are drafted because we tend to hear the same things every year.
Here are my top 7 from this year:
- “I would have happy to go anywhere”
- “It’s definitely a dream come true. I’ve been working towards it my whole life, so I’m pretty rapt to be here,”
- “Now that I’ve been picked up, the hard work starts here,”
- “I’m really excited … I can’t wait to get down there and get into it.”
- “The first day when they stood us up in front of everyone, that’s probably the most daunting it’s been; looking around and seeing all the faces that you’ve seen on TV and have grown up watching. But you get to know them and talk to them and they’re just normal blokes.”
- “It was really good. I loved being out there kicking the footy with the boys, and I really enjoyed it,”
- “I am just stoked and my feet haven’t really touched the ground yet.”
Have you heard any more from this years group or other classic ones from years gone by? Post a comment and let me know.
Is this kid the new Jason Akermanis ?
What a way to enter the AFL scene that speak you mind from day 1. That is exactly what Western Bulldogs draftee James Mulligan has done. From his huge experience in the AFL the kid has come out and said the North Melbourne Football Club were “DUMB to turn their back on south-east Queensland.” and “There is definitely enough support here. The Kangaroos were dumb for not making the move.” Big statements from a 1st year draftee and I am sure the Bulldogs are pleased with him already talking about the possibility of returning to the coast when the 17th team is up and running.
Rodney Eade would have definitely pulled him aside and given him some quiet advice one would think. Probably along the lines of stick to the clichés and leave that sort of stuff to Aka.
I am sure he can expect a grilling from players for this one.
The Gold Coast Magpies ?
Settle down magpie fans I don’t think there is any possibility in the entire world that the Collingwood Football Club would even entertain the idea of moving to the Gold Coast, although Brodie Holland maybe praying they do, so he cantan his muscular body. But your president is a pretty smart business man and he can see the $$$$ signs rolling past his eyes when talking about the Pies playing games on the Gold Coast. He is not bad at promoting the Collingwood brand either, the confidence he has and some of the comments he makes maybe the reason so many people from rival clubs can’t stand him. Take this comment:
“We pull great crowds wherever we play and we would be obviously a big hit.”
If that doesn’t ooze arrogance then I don’t know what does ! But if the AFL want to enter the Gold Coast with a bang then Collingwood may just be their golden ticket.
Is Aylett jumping off a sinking ship?
Are the Kangaroos a sinking ship and Rick Aylett is smart enough to get off? That is what it looks like to me. James Brayshaw may put on a confident and brave face in the media for the benefit of all the Kangaroo supporters, but behind closed doors he must be literally crapping himself. Aylett may have cited personal reasons for his resignation but there is no way that is the truth ! He doens’t think the North Melbourne Football Club will survive here in Melbourne and that the Brayshaw business model is not going to succeed. We should all applaud Rick Aylett, not for his thoughts about the club but at least he has the North Melbourne Football Club at the front of his mind and left in the best interests of the club.
Brayshaw has announced his new board on Wednesday, they include former coach Denis Pagan, Melbourne QC Will Horton, Perth businessman Geoff Lewis, Mark Brayshaw, Ron Joseph and Stephen Head. At least they now have a board that is unified in the cause and all want the same thing.
The Kangaroos massive job certainly isn’t getting easier, while the AFL said publicly that they would support the decision either way they definatly have a weird way of showing it. For starters the AFL have swapped their round 1 NAB Cup clash against Brisbane from Cararra and they are now playing the Western Bulldogs in Darwin. They have moved their community camp from the Gold Coast to East Gippsland.
Brayshaw is kidding himself if he thinks this is not “Payback” for their decision. They certainly won’t get any help from the AFL from now on. As I have said before there is a great deal of apprehension associated with the Brayshaw plans be we all hope they succeed
How will they go? “Time will Tell”
How will the Essendon Football Club go in 2008?
Lets talk some footy
Seeing as there is not much talk about the real football stuff at the moment, I thought I would start a few posts about the prospects of some of the teams for 2008. First cab off the rank is the Bombers.
What is in store for the new look Bombers ?
In what was the biggest change at the Essendon Football Club in its history, Kevin Sheedy was sacked and Matthew Knights instated as Senior Coach. Out goes Kepler Bradley, Richard Cole, Mark Johnson, Mark Bolton, Scott Camporeale, Chris Heffernan and James Hird and in comes a host of youngsters:
NAB National Draft
Cale Hooker (East Fremantle)
David Myers (Perth)
Tayte Pears (East Perth)
Darcy Daniher (Calder Cannons)
Pre Season Draft
John Williams (Morningside)
Tom Bellchambers (Tassie Mariners)
Wayne “Duck” Carey, is he the real deal?
The eagerly anticipated battle of the codes between Willie Mason and Barry Hall might be a fizzer with the Swans putting a dampener on preceedings, but Wayne Carey has now put his hand up to take on the big man from the Sydney Roosters. I guess the $1 million price tag may be to much to pass up.
I have read and heard on numerous occations that Carey can handle himself in the ring, with the Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer saying that he wouldn’t want to fight the “Duck” and he is the best fighter he has seen. I can’t remember if that was before or after the fiasco with Anthony Stevens? (see the footage below and you be the judge). Carey has the lingo down pat, he said that he would fight Mason “any where, any time”.
I just think Mason just wants to belt the crap out of anyone in AFL circles ! First there was Big Bad Barry, the Swans turned that down, then he moved onto Brendan Fevola, Carlton turned that down, now Carey.
