Extra Man Costs Sydney Swans $$$
In case you have been living under a rock since the weekends round of AFL Football there was another drawn game on the weekend between the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne. The talk since the game is the revelation that the Sydney Swans were playing with 19 men on the ground during the closing stages of the game.
It is believed that first gamer Jesse White accidentally ran on to the ground, well that is what the Sydney Swans are telling The AFL anyway and that it was not Darren Jolly. Now of course they are going to say that because of the fact that Darren Jolly actually was involved in the play when the Swans moved the ball down the ground to score the point that tied the game. The Swans just pulled Darren Jolly off the ground because he was the closest player to the bench at the time.
I was listening to Kevin Bartlett on radio station SEN the other day and he was adamant that the 2 points that Sydney got should be stripped and awarded to North Melbourne. Now I don’t agree with Kevin on most things and this was going way over the top I think. The AFL have made the right call on this one in fining the Swans $50,000, the only issue I have is that $25,000 of it is suspended. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 - Anzac Weekend Review - Part 3
In a game that I thought The Hawks should win by 10 goals, the Tigers actually took it up to the Hawks and due to the terrible kicking of the Hawk forwards just failed to get over the line by 12 points. The Hawks kicked 14 goals and 22 behinds and glamor forward Lance Franklin was the worst offender kicking 1 goals 7 behinds. Alistair Clarkson said that they will just put that game in the bank take the 4 points and move on to next weeks blockbuster against the Collingwood Football Club. Matthew Richardson was absolutely brilliant for the Tigers, he started on the wing as he has done in the past couple of games and then moved forwards and also played back where he filled in the space in front of the Buddy Love. He ended the game with 4 goals 27 disposals and 13 marks, he is truly playing some inspired football.
But it was the brilliance of the Hawthorn mid fielders especially Luke Hodge who was best for the Hawks in my book closely followed by Michael Osborne, Rick Ladson, Sam Mitchell and Shane Crawford. And what about Cyril Rioli’s goal! Gee he provides some spark that only the indigenous players can. He is simply great to watch. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 - Anzac Weekend Review - Part 2
I don’t know what is happening down at St Kilda but they are a team that is at the crossroads in this 2008 AFL Football Season. In an incident that you would not want to see as a St Kilda fan, Max Hudgton absolutely went mental towards “The Goose” Matt McGuire for not making a good enough effort in a contest. It is an indication of where the Saints are at. The Saints were not good enough to get over the line and the way they are playing at the moment I think they are in danger of missing the final eight if they are not careful. The leaders of that club need to pull this side together quickly. The Saints gave away a number of stupid free kicks and their skill level was deplorable. Mind you the Power were not that crash hot in the skill department either. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 - Anzac Weekend Review
Well we started on Friday with the traditional Essendon vs Collingwood Anzac day clash and the Bombers were simpy not good enough for a Collingwood side that certainly came ready to play. Not even an inspirational before the game speech by James Hird could lift the Bombers in this one. Simply put the Bombers played unaccountable footy and as skipper Matthew Lloyd and coach Matthew Knights pointed out they were not prepared to put their head over the footy and win the ball.
Paul Medhurst is enjoying the change of scenery at Collingwood and in Anthony Rocca’s absence was the spearhead in the forward line. Medhurst is playing the best football of his career I reckon an he deservedly took home the Anzac Day Medal for best a field. He ended the Day with 6 goals as the Pies went on to win by 73 points, the biggest margin by Collingwood in an Anzac Day clash. Travis Cloke was equally as impressive with 14 grabs and 4 goals. The Bombers were that unaccountable it was not funny and the mistakes they made in their quest of quick movement of the football was their downfall. Still missing a host of stars the Bombers are is desperate need of their return as to are they in need of Matthe Lloyd getting a kick and maybe even putting one through the big sticks. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 Preview - Part 2
Here is a good fact If The Bulldogs win this week, it will be the first time they’ve been undefeated after six rounds since 1946, when they won the first nine games of the season. They should just do that against the West Coast Eagles this week. Th Eagle are in strife and even with a few milestones they just can’t get over the line in this one. Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley on track to play their 150th games, while John Worsfold will rack up 150 games as a coach.
The Bulldogs are playing some good footy and the Telstra Dome track suits them down to the ground. Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross, Ryan Griffen and Lindsay Gilbee have been in good nick and will again be the key for the Doggies. Scott West comes back in at the expense of Jarrod Harbrow and will add some in and under football to the middle. For the Eagles they have brought in Staker, Ebert, Kennedy and Schofield and Fletcher, Nicoski, Seaby and Spangherdid not make the trip. You will think that Matthew Boyd will get the job on Daniel Kerr again being tagged heavily. Something that the Eagles are struggling with, they just find any other mid fielders to step up and help. The Doggies have a strong on ball brigade and will be all over them. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 - Preview
A huge test for The Blues when they tackle the Adelaide Crows at the MCG on Saturday. Out of the team goed Bannister (hamstring), Bentick, and S.O’hAiplin, and you would think that O’hAiplin is finished. In comes Browne, Gibbs, and Hartlett. After 2 wins in a row the Blues will chock full of confidence and the Big FEV is on fire. He will not have it all his own way this week when he comes up against Ben Rutten. Chris Judd had his best game for the year last week with 26 touches and three goals, while for the Crows their main man Andrew Mcleod was outstanding with 34 touches and will need to be watched like a hawk. The Crows have brought back Knights in place of Jacky and he will add a bit of run to the midfield.
The midfield battle will be a good one to watch and both teams have a young Ruck Department. The midfield will be the key and with Judd slowly starting to gain some form their are promising signs for them. But with Ben Rutten on Fevola I think he will find it hard to kick enough goals to get his team over the line. Read more
AFL Football Round 6 - Anzac Day - Freo vs Geelong
The other game being played on Anzac Day will be the clash between the awesome Geelong Football Club and the Fremantle Dockers on Friday Night at Subiaco. This could be an ugly affair if the Dockers are not switched on. The Cats are obviously in great touch and will be looking to put the game beyond the reach of the Dockers early and avoid any crowd assistance the Docker may receive if they are given a sniff of victory.
The Cats have left out Prismall, West, Rooke and brought in Taylor, Gamble, Mumford. While the Dockers have left out Thornton and M.Carr in favor of Headland and Murphy. Matthew Pavlich plays his 150th consecutive game for the Dockers an is a fine achievement. He will need some help though if they are going to get anywhere near the Cats. It looms as a bit of a danger game though if the Dockers are up and about and the Cats are off their game then The Cats may find themselves having their first loss in some time and not go through year undefeated.
I was looking through the lineups and the Geelong side are simply awesome but as Mark Harvey pointed out the Dockers players just can’t be in awe of them on Friday they must find a way of defeating them. Rhys Palmer his a great pick up for the Dockers and is becoming a key for them in the middle of the ground, but will certainly find out where he is at this week against the best midfield in the comp, Ablett, Bartel, Ring a Ding Ding, Kelly and the list goes on. Des Headland and Jeff Falmer will need to step up this week these are the players that need to lead from the front and pull the rest of the team along for the ride you just can’t expect the youngsters like Palmer to be carrying all the load. Read more
Anzac Day Clash Preview
The biggest game outside of the Grand Final will take place on Friday when the Collingwood Football Club take on the Essendon Football Club in the traditional Anzac Day Clash at the MCG. The mind games have started already with the Magpie complaining that they are a tired group of footballers. Although Matthew Knights has only coached 5 games he is on to that one from the Pies.
“I don’t think they’re struggling too much,” he said. “I’m not sure Collingwood are too beaten up, to be brutally honest. They were one kick away from beating North last week, let’s not forget that.”
Both teams are sitting at 2 wins and 3 losses and this game promises to be a beauty. They usually are no matter where they are on the ladder both teams get up for this one and the Bomber may get the great man James Hird involved before the game. A pity he can’t pull on the jumper. Courtenay Johns has been named for the Don at the expense of Nathan Lovett-Murray while Brodie Holland and Ben Reid are both out through injury being replaced by Maxwell and Cook. Read more
Is This The New $6 Million Dollar Man?
Last week the rumor was that Brisbane Lions Superstar Jonathon Brown would be heavily chased by the Collingwood Football Club. If any Club want the Brown Dog then they are going to have put up with some serious cash!
Brown has just began negotiations with Brisbane on a new contract that will keep him at the Gabba for life and will also make him the highest paid footballer in Australia. From all reports he is after a 5 Year contract worth $1.2 Million a year. Not even Wallaby Lote Tuqiri is earning that much. 5 Year contracts are obviously a huge risk for clubs and they would generally favour the 3 year contracts. There have been some big mistakes in terms of long contracts of late, most noteably Aaron Hamill at St Kilda and Justin Leppitsch at Brisbane. A 5 year deal with Jonathon Brown may be a big risk as well. Even though he his the best Center Half Forward in the league, how is his body going to be in 2 o 3 years from now?
What will more than likely get the Lions over the line is that Brown will will qualify for the Veterans List for in the final two years of the anticipated five-year deal, meaning that only half of Brown’s salary would be counted under the club’s salary cap. Considering the new team entering in the Gold Coast and the likely introduction of some type of free agency then the Lions will want to get there act together on this. Read more
Is David Neitz Finished?
This issue was always going to be a talking point this week after Neitz hurt his neck against the Blues on the weekend. I have said it before that I think the Demons had made a poor decision to let Neitz Captain the Club this year and missed a perfect opportunity to blood another younger captain while Neitz was still playing. But considering their start to the season then in hindsight it was probably a good move. Imagine if a Nathan Jones or one of the younger players had taken the reigns at the start of the year and having them have to front the media at the moment.
David Neitz has been placed on the long term injury list now by the Melbourne Football Club and his playing future is in turmoil. It means that he will miss at least 8 weeks. He is a proud man and one that put the Melbourne Football Club’s best interests at the front of his mind.
“A week before, I went to speak to Dean (Bailey) as I was concerned about my form … in my own heart, I had to prove my performance to myself and whether I can keep on going,” Neitz said on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified. “I’m going to retire, I’m going to retire at the end of the year, but I wanted to give myself every chance to get back.
It would be a real shame if he can’t get his body right to finish his career at the end of this year the way he would want to.
