Bluey
25 May 2001, 19:41
AFLTips.Com Preview News
Round 9 - 25 May 2001
w: http://www.afltips.com/
e: adrian@afltips.com
* Brought to you in conjunction with BigFooty.com -
http://www.bigfooty.com/
* Play the BigFooty Fantasy Footy game here -
http://footy.virtualsports.com.au/?partner_id=1
+----------+
Sorry if you got 2 copies of this :)
+----------+
INDEX
1) Prize Draw
2) Quiz Questions from The Half Back Flanker
3) "Out of Bounds" - Phil Doyle sounds off.
4) "Weekly Round-Up" - previews of all matches from our Regular
Contributors
5) "The Quick Snap" commentary article from The Half Back Flanker
6) Quiz Answers
7) Various info about AFLTips.Com
+----------+
1) Prize Draw
Read about the prize draw here:
http://www.afltips.com/prizedraw.html
Until next time,
Adrian Appleyard
adrian@afltips.com
+----------+
2) Footy Quiz No. 009 - Questions
by The Half Back Flanker
http://www.afltips.com/people/halfbackflanker.html
1. Which team did Hawthorn record its highest ever score against?
2. How many premierships have Port Adelaide won?
3. Who was the first player to kick 100 goals in their debut season? 4. Which player won the Brownlow Medal in 1991?
5. Who coached St Kilda from 1961 until 1976?
Answers are at the end of this newsletter.
+----------+
3) Out of Bounds
- Phil Doyle's Bit
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
"Such Is Life"
Ron Barassi: 'Australians deserve the truth. The truth is too big an issue to be palmed off by the media.'
Lou Richards: 'But I'm sticking up for people I work with.'
Ron Barassi: 'Only as mates!'
- World Of Sport, Channel Seven, mid 70's.
With all due respect to Joseph William Furphy the true border between New South Wales and Victoria is the Murrumbidgee. An SBS World Sport story during the week reminded this column of how the Riverina is full of Victorian pubs, serving Victorian beer to people reading the Herald Sun. Which is no doubt why the ABC chooses to broadcast Brisbane Rugby Union into the area on a Saturday afternoon.
Nerrandera is a border town in this context, much like the larger city of Wagga, being as they are on the 'bidgee, but all is not well in the riverside community as sport becomes another victim of our thriving regional economy. Working class Nerrandera knows that mere survival of your community's football club is no small achievement in itself. Speaking of an absence of community, a little known fact is that Canberra's southern outskirts flank the Murrumbidgee as well.
The freak, 'Spider' Burton, was commenting during the week on the 'lackluster' crowd and lack of atmosphere at Manuka for the Canberra Kangaroos clash with the Sainters. Well, Canberra is a lackluster place. It's a passion free zone. Thirty eight suburbs in search of a city. The only atmosphere you'll find in Canberra is near the sewage treatment works out past the airport.
It was once a football town, until the VFL stood by and watched while the Queanbeyan Raiders worked their way into the hearts, minds and elected offices of the staid citizenry of our Federal capital.
Someone who might feel at home there is the Seven Network's ubiquitously named football reporter Tiffany Cherry.
I thought I'd seen her name in Canberra, in an interesting store in Fyshwick, but I may have her confused with someone else. The name was hauntingly familiar.
Tiffany reported fearlessly and accurately - and with a completely straight face as she signed off - on the bedeviled Fremantle football club.
To clarify my comments last week about Damian Drum and Ric Charlesworth, Drum is there to coach the players to play football, Charlesworth is there to coach them on how to win. Freo are certainly playing football, so it's Charlesworth that isn't doing his job.
Someone who IS doing a job is Joe Gutnick who remains determined to suppress the intifada on the Melbourne board. This snappy piece of populism has been greeted warmly by Sources Close To The Melbourne Football Club, who is looking forward to his second opportunity to vote Alan Stockdale out of office.
Alan was on the ABC last Sunday grizzling about Gutnick's style. It was riveting stuff, reminiscent of Bruce McAvaney's no holds barred three quarter time interview with Ansett CEO Garry Toomey.
Meanwhile, out on the paddock, the Dees were robbed by an appalling decision in the dying seconds where a blatant professional foul and unpaid free kick allowed the Bombers to hang on.
Isn't it funny.
Football's never been fitter, faster and more entertaining, and never have the umpires been so devastatingly crap.
No doubt this is due to the magnificent stratagems of those in Jolimont, who believe that ancillary things like what actually happens between the first bounce and the final siren are not nearly as important as the public image of a sporting code.
This column supports and endorses the AFL's initiative in creating the 'What You Do Off The Paddock' Hall Of Fame.
This will recognise all those people associated with football who have escaped recognition for their malfeasance, or working as investment salesmen, which is pretty much the same thing.
One can understand their morally superior decision to not include Garry Ablett in the AFL Hall Of Fame, god knows no AFL official has ever been found dead in a Kings Cross hotel room with methadone in their system.
And that's the truth.
Phil Doyle - waiting anxiously on the interchange bench.
PS - Out Of Bounds will be celebrating Phil Doyle's birthday this Saturday at Brunswick Street Oval in North Fitzroy, and after the Fitzroy Reds game will be adjourning to the Lord Newry and the Tramways, possibly at the same time.
If you would like to receive the very irregular and factually unreliable Out Of Bounds directly via email then send a message to phildoyle33@hotmail.com. Out Of Bounds can also be seen at the wonderful http://www.afltips.com/ website.
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4) Weekly Round-Up
from our Regular Contributors
http://www.afltips.com/people/
(E-mail adrian@afltips.com if you'd like to become a
contributor.)
**********
Kangaroos v. Carlton
Friday, 25 May 2001 - MCG 7:40 PM
The Kangaroos take on Carlton tonight in what looms as yet another do-or-die clash for the Kangaroos this season. The Roos have partly rectified their disastrous start to 2001 by getting themselves to within a game of the current top 8, but face a few crucial fixtures in upcoming weeks, against mid-table teams, starting with Carlton at the MCG tonight.
Both sides' recent clashes with Essendon have overshadowed the fact that these two teams played off for the 1999 Premiership, and the match does not have the big build-up of other league heavyweight clashes.
The Roos have slowly been building up with solid, if unspectacular, wins against Collingwood and St.Kilda, while the Blues up and down season continued last week with a big win against the listless Brisbane Lions.
Carlton's main advantage will be in the form of their potential matchwinner, Anthony Koutoufides, who provides opposition coaches with a match-up nightmare. Put a running player on him, and he is too tall. Put a tall player on him, and he is too quick and mobile. Lucky for the Roos they have Leigh Colbert. With Kouta expected to play up forward, Colbert seems the obvious match up choice, and gets a chance to prove he is worth the reputed $350,000 a year the Roos are paying him since picking him up from Geelong. It is arguably for this sort of situation that Colbert was recruited.
Carlton appear to have the edge in the midfield based on reputation, with names like Ratten, Camporeale and Bradley being recognised as champions, and the lesser lights in Freeborn and Hulme starting to make names for themselves as reliable ball-
winners. The Roos' midfield doesn't have praise heaped upon it in the same way as carlton's yet it is interesting to note that Stevens, King, Harvey, Grant, Cochrane, Simpson and Blakey have all been in very good form over the last two weeks, and have been the main reasons for the Kangaroos' two wins in that time.
The Kangaroos' forward line seemed to work cohesively last week, as McKernan was able to manoeuvre freely inside the 50 metre arc, without having to worry about cramping Wayne Carey. Given this space to move, he might prove a handful for Glenn Manton, who will be at full stretch to contain McKernan's quick leading and long reach. Steve Silvagni will almost certainly mind Sav Rocca, despite being named at full-forward for the Blues. Carlton's forward line has a good mix of talls, mediums and smalls, with Mick Martyn the likely opponent for the Blues key man up forward, 100-gamer Lance Whitnall. McCartney will more than likely pick up the decoy forward in Fevola or Beaumont, both of whom can kick a few goals on their day. Houlihan and Lappin can also pop up for goals, Houlihan in particular having the ability to kick goals early, and kick goals in quick succession. King and Blakey should get the respective jobs on those two, leaving the much-improved Stuart Cochrane to mind Adrian Hickmott on a flank.
The ruck duels should be fairly even, with Matthew Burton and Mark Porter being two very good ruckman at centre bounces, but not significant ball-winners around the ground. First use of the ball out of the centre will be crucial, so the better ruckman on the night may very well be the catalyst for his side's victory. When in doubt go for the seven footer!
THE VERDICT : Kangaroos by 15 points.
HEAD TO HEAD : Played 132, Kangaroos 42, Carlton 90.
LAST TIME : Carlton 20.9.129 d. Kangaroos 15.9.99, Round 11, 2000 at Optus Oval.
STREAK : Carlton 1.
SINCE 1996 : Kangaroos 6, Carlton 1.
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html
Extra review I received from Phil Doyle - I had to publish it. I think he's been on the sauce:
carlton think they're so bloody good. you can swan around the northern suburbs of melbourne at the moment in the naviest of navy blue, and keep your head held high.
but it's a crock.
because there's another blue in the northern suburbs, it's been away up north, and it's back. leaner, fiercer, hungrier...
north will pump these prettyboys. micky martin has been pining for the space of the mcg. it will be ugly. better pack the ballbag sos.
- phil ph****ng doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Collingwood v. St Kilda
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - MCG 2:10 PM
Football can be exhilarating and very frustrating. This alone will account for the outcome at the MCG while the Pies and the Saints do battle.
Twelve weeks ago the Saints were the talk of the town whilst the football public had the Pies penciled in as wooden spooners. Football can be cruel, just ask the Sainters. Nothing has gone to plan. In fact everything has gone the opposite to the pre season hype that this club enjoyed.
Some people say that this game is a danger game and that the Saints will upset well. As far as i know every game is a danger game and as far as the Saints upsetting Collingwood you would have to be pretty hopeful or at least a one eyed St Kilda supporter.
The Saints might be in this for the first half and that will be it. Look, Collingwood up to now have been a very classy and quick outfit and I cant see this changing for Saturday's clash.
Players such as Buckley Lonie Lockyer Davis Fraser Obree and the ever threatening presence of Malloy will ensure a Magpie victory. The club and players are very aware of the fact they have to win this one as this is also a must win game for the magpies.
St Kilda need to many things to go right. Collingwood need only produce the style of football it has delivered so far. Sorry Sainters, not even the front page of the age newspaper will get you over the line in this one.
Pies by 18 points...
OTHER TIPS
BLUES 17 POINTS
WEST COAST 5 POINTS
LIONS 56 POINTS
HAWKS 3 POINTS
PORT 29 POINTS
CATS 49 POINTS
SYDNEY 15 POINTS
- JoffaMagpie
http://www.afltips.com/people/joffamagpie.html
**********
West Coast v. Western Bulldogs
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Subiaco 5:40 PM (7:40 PM AEST)
Peter Matera will apparently front up for the Weagles on Saturday night. If this happens the Coasters could have a real dip against the in-form Dogs.
Footscray coach, Terry 'Plough' Wallace quite rightly identifies this as a danger game. "We've had games with West Coast in the past which have been pretty tough, uncompromising clashes."
I'm a big wrap for the Doggies, who are traveling well. But I think they'll play their best football against stronger opposition. The temptation to let this game get away from them may prove too great if the Western Australian side can put the pressure on.
The Weagles should also welcome the return of Chad Morrison and key forward Scott Cummings. The Eagles form may be somewhat misleading, with this rebuilding club playing four of the top five sides over the past month.
The Doggies, with four wins from eight matches, seem confident, which can easily translate into over-confidence. Sydney was a rabble at times last week, but they still managed to stretch the Dogs on occasion.
Western Australian football needs something, or someone's gonna take it out the back behind the shed and put a bullet in it.
West Coast have, at times, played well enough this year to win this, and I think they'll just be that bit hungrier.
Weagles in a boilover.
Around the Grounds:
The Kangaroos lose their minds and decide to have a home game in Melbourne - they will beat Carlton, watch.
Pies will do saints, they're hungrier.
Adelaide are on a roll, travel well, and will overwhelm the very whelming Fitzroy Bears at Brunswick Street North.
Hawthorn will do Essendon.
Port Adelaide will miss Matty Primus, and Melbourne won't go to sleep twice in Adelaide this year.
Geelong will surprise a hapless Richmond at Nigerian Political Prisoner Stadium.
South will pump Freo in a fizzer of an affair at the SCG.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Brisbane v. Adelaide
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Gabba 7:40 PM
Superficially, it seems odd that Brisbane will go into this game as favourites after coming off a hiding at the hands of Carlton last week, even more so when you consider Adelaide's runaway win against Richmond defied its long-standing Victorian hoodoo.
It is strongly suspected that Richmond lost the game as much as Adelaide won it, and that Adelaide played only one good half of footy, while the Lions are a completely different proposition playing at the Gabba.
Looking at the teams, it seems Brisbane will have too many running players for the Crows to cover. Mention has been made in the media of the Lions lacking a creative midfielder of Andrew McLeod's ilk, but it is hard to envisage the Crows being able to negate Voss, Black, McRae, Lappin, Notting, Ashcroft, Power, Akermanis and the taller but versatile Chris Scott and Darryl White.
Akermanis should get the job on McLeod, and either Chris or Brad Scott should start on Ricciuto, whereas the Crows third-best onballer, Simon Goodwin, may be used in a defensive role on Michael Voss.
The ruck duel will be interesting, pitting two former team-mates against each other. Beau McDonald and Matthew Clarke appear to be quite evenly matched, doing their best work at centre bounces and throw ins, with a tendency to do little around the ground. The Brisbane midfield will be able to capitalise on the disputed balls at ground level, if neither ruckman dominates.
Adelaide's key forwards have struggled all season, and their latest attempt to fill the full-forwards role has failed, with Adam Richardson being held kickless last week, and being dropped back to the SANFL as a result.
Brisbane, on the other hand, have an embarrassment of riches in the forward half, with Jonathon Brown starring so far this season, Alastair Lynch providing a handy back-up, and Daniel Bradshaw (who kicked over 50 goals last year) being recalled after a poor start to the season. Luke Power and Craig McRae are also likely to contribute, and it is hard to see them being stopped by the Adelaide defence.
Brisbane should look at last week as an aberration, and will be eager to return to play on their home soil at the Gabba, whereas Adelaide may struggle to back up with another win, on a second consecutive road trip.
THE VERDICT : Brisbane by 33 points.
HEAD TO HEAD : Played 7, Brisbane Lions 5, Adelaide 2.
AT THIS GROUND : Played 4, Brisbane Lions 3, Adelaide 1.
LAST TIME : Brisbane 17.13.115 d. Adelaide 11.12.78, Round 20, 2000 at Football Park.
STREAK : Brisbane have won the last 4. Adelaide have not beaten Brisbane since Round 9, 1998 at the Gabba.
OTHER TIPS :
Kangaroos by 15 points
Collingwood by 23 points
Western Bulldogs by 8 points
Essendon by 13 points
Melbourne by 16 points
Richmond by 14 points
Sydney by 63 points
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html
**********
Essendon v. Hawthorn
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Colonial Stadium 7:00 PM
This will be a hard, if unattractive, game. The season opener against North was billed as being a big thing, and Essendon did nothing to set the world on fire then. Last week, after their season had started to get a bit of momentum, they fell away again - and still got the four points.
These guys are mortal. The injury list now extends to 'Prettyboy' Hird, who joins key onballer Blake Caracella on the sidelines this week. This, on top of Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long and Steven Alessio with knee injuries, and the big ask is on at Windy Hill.
Despite smokescreens to the contrary, Chris Heffernan is still suffering from the Essendon Flu, and Sheedy has been reluctant in the past to rush players back from injury. They will lift for this one, and they'd bloody want to. If they played like they did last week they'll get pumped.
Across town the unbeaten Hawthorn operation are rightly aggrieved at the AFL's pooncy decision not to transfer the best contest so far this year to another venue. They should have transferred it to Windy Hill.
It might be the people's game, but the people sure don't run it.
Mayblooms coach Schwab said it was disappointing the game had not been moved.
'I would have thought the AFL would always control the ability to move games. It doesn't look to be the case, so that's disappointing.'
Schwab said the AFL decision would preclude between 20,000 and 30,000 people seeing the game live.
Hawthorn have their own litany of walking wounded starting with key defender Jonathan Hay, who will miss the game after rolling an ankle during his side's win over the West Coast. On top of this Jade Rawlings and Nick Holland are out of the side, which cuts off a bit of their firepower.
There's a good punt on with Hawthorn paying $2.70 in a two horse race, watch that price come down.
The big winners in this game will be Port Adelaide and the Fitzroy Bears, who will get these battered sides the following week. Port might do Hawthorn then.
Hawthorn will blow the game open in the second half and run away with it. They're too quick all over the park.
Around the Grounds:
The Kangaroos lose their minds and decide to have a home game in Melbourne - they will beat Carlton, watch.
Pies will do saints, they're hungrier.
The Very West Coast Eagles will upset a Not So Western Bulldogs.
Adelaide are on a roll, travel well, and will overwhelm the very whelming Fitzroy Bears at Brunswick Street North.
Port Adelaide will miss Matty Primus, and Melbourne won't go to sleep twice in Adelaide this year.
Geelong will surprise a hapless Richmond at Nigerian Political Prisoner Stadium.
South will pump Freo in a fizzer of an affair at the SCG.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Port Adelaide v. Melbourne
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - Football Park 1:40 PM (2:10 PM AEST)
Phil again working his way through the liquor cabinet:
the sanfl haven't scheduled a fixture against this, playing all their games on the saturday.
adelaide is holding its breath. everyone assumed the crows success, back to back premierships was some kind of bizarre underachievement for the state that ends up with all the sh*t out of the murray darling.
but this is the chance for port to go that one step further.
unfortunately they are playing melbourne, who will pump them.
melbourne will get good posession out of the middle, schwarz will play as an untagged decoy - and neil will get together with a few mates after the match like he's just been sittin' in the outer all night.
Primus is a big miss, the dees will play four good quarters of football.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Geelong v. Richmond
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - Shell Stadium 2:10 PM
The battle of the felines should be an interesting clash at Shell Stadium this weekend.
In the past few years, the Cats and Tigers have been a tipster's nightmare and their from this year has done nothing to change that reputation.
If a week is a long time in football then two weeks is an eternity; Richmond desperately do now want to drop three on the trot and fall back with the pack. The Cats are eager to post another win and at 4-5 could easily salvage their season.
Richmond knocked off their hoodoo teams of the Eagles and North but needed to win against the Crows to keep the critics at bay. Geelong have not beaten the Tigers since Round 2 of 1998 which was at Shell Stadium.
Also in the Cats favour is that the Tigers have lost twice as many games as they have won at the Cattery. The Cat's home crowd advantage is not as pronounced as it used to be and they have a 1-2 record this year.
Steven King should prove the difference between the sides and the inclusion of Gary Hocking coupled with the omissions of Matthew Richardson, Nick Daffy and Paul Broderick all point to a Cat win.
My tip: Cats by 30 points.
Other games:
Carlton
Collingwood
West Coast
Brisbane
Essendon
Port Adelaide
Sydney
- David Wiseman
Phil, answering the call after David reported in late:
'siting on a fence both ears to the ground the fat cat still knows the thin cat's around' midnight oil
geelong are gonna whip dere sorrah ass!
richmond are gone buddy! gone, y'hear me!
they should just go away and have a good long hard look at themselves
[You're a true professional Phil ;)]
**********
Sydney v. Fremantle
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - SCG 2:10 PM
Whoops.
Umm - Sydney to win?
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5) The Quick Snap
"Dress Sense"
Comment from 'The Half Back Flanker'
http://www.afltips.com/people/halfbackflanker.html
Remember when your team only had one guernsey? Home, away, finals, pre-season, it didn't matter ... the same jumper was always worn. The only change was dark shorts at home and light shorts away.
How things change.
With the increasing televising of matches, combined with the direction shown by other sports, most AFL clubs now boast at least two different playing strips.
Besides the obvious merchandising opportunities that alternative playing strips provide to clubs, there is also the benefit of being entirely distinguishable from your opposition.
While traditionalists may disagree wholeheartedly with the very notion of their club occasionally wearing a different guernsey, the nature of the game is changing, and both clubs and supporters alike should realise that they must also change with the times.
Each club should have three playing strips ... their traditional (or home) guernsey, which is always used for home games, plus two alternative guernseys where at least one of them can be worn when playing another club and it does not clash in any way with the opposition club's traditional (or home) guernsey.
This would eliminate all confusion amongst players, spectators and television viewers as to which player is on which team, particularly when the game is played in wet and muddy conditions.
It would mean increased merchandising opportunities for all AFL clubs, including the chance to appeal to the younger market with classy and modern playing strips.
But, most importantly, clubs should choose their alternative guernseys carefully ... who wants to see their club changing their strips all the time? Selecting correctly the first time will avoid alienating supporters who might buy a replica playing strip only to see it discarded the following season.
Clubs such as Carlton only being seen in their traditional navy blue may soon become a thing of the past ... let's hope the AFL not only embraces change but does it wisely, allowing for tasteful yet long-lasting alternative strips that will help to modernise our great game.
Feedback to this article can be sent to:
afl.info@excite.com
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6) AFLTips.Com Trivia No. 009 - Answers
1. Hawthorn achieved its highest ever score, 36.15 (231), against Fitzroy in 1991.
2. Port Adelaide have yet to win an AFL premiership.
3. The first player to kick 100 goals in their debut season was John Coleman (Essendon) in 1949.
4. Jim Stynes (Melbourne) won the Brownlow Medal in 1991.
5. Allan Jeans coached St Kilda from 1961 until 1976, reaching 3 grand finals and winning 1 premiership (1966).
Any feedback, queries and/or corrections regarding AFLTips.Com
Trivia, please send an e-mail to:
afl.info@excite.com
+----------+
7) Info about AFLTips.Com
Feel free to forward this newsletter on to your mates.
AFLTips.Com is not associated with the Australian Football League
in any way. We just talk about them. A lot.
The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those
of Adrian Appleyard. I recommend that you do your own independent
research before acting on ANY information found in this e-mail.
In fact I demand it - and let me know what you find out...
If you received this e-mail from a friend and wish to SUBSCRIBE,
go to http://www.afltips.com/ and fill out the form on the front
page.
Copyright (C) Adrian Appleyard, 2001
ENDS
Round 9 - 25 May 2001
w: http://www.afltips.com/
e: adrian@afltips.com
* Brought to you in conjunction with BigFooty.com -
http://www.bigfooty.com/
* Play the BigFooty Fantasy Footy game here -
http://footy.virtualsports.com.au/?partner_id=1
+----------+
Sorry if you got 2 copies of this :)
+----------+
INDEX
1) Prize Draw
2) Quiz Questions from The Half Back Flanker
3) "Out of Bounds" - Phil Doyle sounds off.
4) "Weekly Round-Up" - previews of all matches from our Regular
Contributors
5) "The Quick Snap" commentary article from The Half Back Flanker
6) Quiz Answers
7) Various info about AFLTips.Com
+----------+
1) Prize Draw
Read about the prize draw here:
http://www.afltips.com/prizedraw.html
Until next time,
Adrian Appleyard
adrian@afltips.com
+----------+
2) Footy Quiz No. 009 - Questions
by The Half Back Flanker
http://www.afltips.com/people/halfbackflanker.html
1. Which team did Hawthorn record its highest ever score against?
2. How many premierships have Port Adelaide won?
3. Who was the first player to kick 100 goals in their debut season? 4. Which player won the Brownlow Medal in 1991?
5. Who coached St Kilda from 1961 until 1976?
Answers are at the end of this newsletter.
+----------+
3) Out of Bounds
- Phil Doyle's Bit
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
"Such Is Life"
Ron Barassi: 'Australians deserve the truth. The truth is too big an issue to be palmed off by the media.'
Lou Richards: 'But I'm sticking up for people I work with.'
Ron Barassi: 'Only as mates!'
- World Of Sport, Channel Seven, mid 70's.
With all due respect to Joseph William Furphy the true border between New South Wales and Victoria is the Murrumbidgee. An SBS World Sport story during the week reminded this column of how the Riverina is full of Victorian pubs, serving Victorian beer to people reading the Herald Sun. Which is no doubt why the ABC chooses to broadcast Brisbane Rugby Union into the area on a Saturday afternoon.
Nerrandera is a border town in this context, much like the larger city of Wagga, being as they are on the 'bidgee, but all is not well in the riverside community as sport becomes another victim of our thriving regional economy. Working class Nerrandera knows that mere survival of your community's football club is no small achievement in itself. Speaking of an absence of community, a little known fact is that Canberra's southern outskirts flank the Murrumbidgee as well.
The freak, 'Spider' Burton, was commenting during the week on the 'lackluster' crowd and lack of atmosphere at Manuka for the Canberra Kangaroos clash with the Sainters. Well, Canberra is a lackluster place. It's a passion free zone. Thirty eight suburbs in search of a city. The only atmosphere you'll find in Canberra is near the sewage treatment works out past the airport.
It was once a football town, until the VFL stood by and watched while the Queanbeyan Raiders worked their way into the hearts, minds and elected offices of the staid citizenry of our Federal capital.
Someone who might feel at home there is the Seven Network's ubiquitously named football reporter Tiffany Cherry.
I thought I'd seen her name in Canberra, in an interesting store in Fyshwick, but I may have her confused with someone else. The name was hauntingly familiar.
Tiffany reported fearlessly and accurately - and with a completely straight face as she signed off - on the bedeviled Fremantle football club.
To clarify my comments last week about Damian Drum and Ric Charlesworth, Drum is there to coach the players to play football, Charlesworth is there to coach them on how to win. Freo are certainly playing football, so it's Charlesworth that isn't doing his job.
Someone who IS doing a job is Joe Gutnick who remains determined to suppress the intifada on the Melbourne board. This snappy piece of populism has been greeted warmly by Sources Close To The Melbourne Football Club, who is looking forward to his second opportunity to vote Alan Stockdale out of office.
Alan was on the ABC last Sunday grizzling about Gutnick's style. It was riveting stuff, reminiscent of Bruce McAvaney's no holds barred three quarter time interview with Ansett CEO Garry Toomey.
Meanwhile, out on the paddock, the Dees were robbed by an appalling decision in the dying seconds where a blatant professional foul and unpaid free kick allowed the Bombers to hang on.
Isn't it funny.
Football's never been fitter, faster and more entertaining, and never have the umpires been so devastatingly crap.
No doubt this is due to the magnificent stratagems of those in Jolimont, who believe that ancillary things like what actually happens between the first bounce and the final siren are not nearly as important as the public image of a sporting code.
This column supports and endorses the AFL's initiative in creating the 'What You Do Off The Paddock' Hall Of Fame.
This will recognise all those people associated with football who have escaped recognition for their malfeasance, or working as investment salesmen, which is pretty much the same thing.
One can understand their morally superior decision to not include Garry Ablett in the AFL Hall Of Fame, god knows no AFL official has ever been found dead in a Kings Cross hotel room with methadone in their system.
And that's the truth.
Phil Doyle - waiting anxiously on the interchange bench.
PS - Out Of Bounds will be celebrating Phil Doyle's birthday this Saturday at Brunswick Street Oval in North Fitzroy, and after the Fitzroy Reds game will be adjourning to the Lord Newry and the Tramways, possibly at the same time.
If you would like to receive the very irregular and factually unreliable Out Of Bounds directly via email then send a message to phildoyle33@hotmail.com. Out Of Bounds can also be seen at the wonderful http://www.afltips.com/ website.
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4) Weekly Round-Up
from our Regular Contributors
http://www.afltips.com/people/
(E-mail adrian@afltips.com if you'd like to become a
contributor.)
**********
Kangaroos v. Carlton
Friday, 25 May 2001 - MCG 7:40 PM
The Kangaroos take on Carlton tonight in what looms as yet another do-or-die clash for the Kangaroos this season. The Roos have partly rectified their disastrous start to 2001 by getting themselves to within a game of the current top 8, but face a few crucial fixtures in upcoming weeks, against mid-table teams, starting with Carlton at the MCG tonight.
Both sides' recent clashes with Essendon have overshadowed the fact that these two teams played off for the 1999 Premiership, and the match does not have the big build-up of other league heavyweight clashes.
The Roos have slowly been building up with solid, if unspectacular, wins against Collingwood and St.Kilda, while the Blues up and down season continued last week with a big win against the listless Brisbane Lions.
Carlton's main advantage will be in the form of their potential matchwinner, Anthony Koutoufides, who provides opposition coaches with a match-up nightmare. Put a running player on him, and he is too tall. Put a tall player on him, and he is too quick and mobile. Lucky for the Roos they have Leigh Colbert. With Kouta expected to play up forward, Colbert seems the obvious match up choice, and gets a chance to prove he is worth the reputed $350,000 a year the Roos are paying him since picking him up from Geelong. It is arguably for this sort of situation that Colbert was recruited.
Carlton appear to have the edge in the midfield based on reputation, with names like Ratten, Camporeale and Bradley being recognised as champions, and the lesser lights in Freeborn and Hulme starting to make names for themselves as reliable ball-
winners. The Roos' midfield doesn't have praise heaped upon it in the same way as carlton's yet it is interesting to note that Stevens, King, Harvey, Grant, Cochrane, Simpson and Blakey have all been in very good form over the last two weeks, and have been the main reasons for the Kangaroos' two wins in that time.
The Kangaroos' forward line seemed to work cohesively last week, as McKernan was able to manoeuvre freely inside the 50 metre arc, without having to worry about cramping Wayne Carey. Given this space to move, he might prove a handful for Glenn Manton, who will be at full stretch to contain McKernan's quick leading and long reach. Steve Silvagni will almost certainly mind Sav Rocca, despite being named at full-forward for the Blues. Carlton's forward line has a good mix of talls, mediums and smalls, with Mick Martyn the likely opponent for the Blues key man up forward, 100-gamer Lance Whitnall. McCartney will more than likely pick up the decoy forward in Fevola or Beaumont, both of whom can kick a few goals on their day. Houlihan and Lappin can also pop up for goals, Houlihan in particular having the ability to kick goals early, and kick goals in quick succession. King and Blakey should get the respective jobs on those two, leaving the much-improved Stuart Cochrane to mind Adrian Hickmott on a flank.
The ruck duels should be fairly even, with Matthew Burton and Mark Porter being two very good ruckman at centre bounces, but not significant ball-winners around the ground. First use of the ball out of the centre will be crucial, so the better ruckman on the night may very well be the catalyst for his side's victory. When in doubt go for the seven footer!
THE VERDICT : Kangaroos by 15 points.
HEAD TO HEAD : Played 132, Kangaroos 42, Carlton 90.
LAST TIME : Carlton 20.9.129 d. Kangaroos 15.9.99, Round 11, 2000 at Optus Oval.
STREAK : Carlton 1.
SINCE 1996 : Kangaroos 6, Carlton 1.
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html
Extra review I received from Phil Doyle - I had to publish it. I think he's been on the sauce:
carlton think they're so bloody good. you can swan around the northern suburbs of melbourne at the moment in the naviest of navy blue, and keep your head held high.
but it's a crock.
because there's another blue in the northern suburbs, it's been away up north, and it's back. leaner, fiercer, hungrier...
north will pump these prettyboys. micky martin has been pining for the space of the mcg. it will be ugly. better pack the ballbag sos.
- phil ph****ng doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Collingwood v. St Kilda
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - MCG 2:10 PM
Football can be exhilarating and very frustrating. This alone will account for the outcome at the MCG while the Pies and the Saints do battle.
Twelve weeks ago the Saints were the talk of the town whilst the football public had the Pies penciled in as wooden spooners. Football can be cruel, just ask the Sainters. Nothing has gone to plan. In fact everything has gone the opposite to the pre season hype that this club enjoyed.
Some people say that this game is a danger game and that the Saints will upset well. As far as i know every game is a danger game and as far as the Saints upsetting Collingwood you would have to be pretty hopeful or at least a one eyed St Kilda supporter.
The Saints might be in this for the first half and that will be it. Look, Collingwood up to now have been a very classy and quick outfit and I cant see this changing for Saturday's clash.
Players such as Buckley Lonie Lockyer Davis Fraser Obree and the ever threatening presence of Malloy will ensure a Magpie victory. The club and players are very aware of the fact they have to win this one as this is also a must win game for the magpies.
St Kilda need to many things to go right. Collingwood need only produce the style of football it has delivered so far. Sorry Sainters, not even the front page of the age newspaper will get you over the line in this one.
Pies by 18 points...
OTHER TIPS
BLUES 17 POINTS
WEST COAST 5 POINTS
LIONS 56 POINTS
HAWKS 3 POINTS
PORT 29 POINTS
CATS 49 POINTS
SYDNEY 15 POINTS
- JoffaMagpie
http://www.afltips.com/people/joffamagpie.html
**********
West Coast v. Western Bulldogs
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Subiaco 5:40 PM (7:40 PM AEST)
Peter Matera will apparently front up for the Weagles on Saturday night. If this happens the Coasters could have a real dip against the in-form Dogs.
Footscray coach, Terry 'Plough' Wallace quite rightly identifies this as a danger game. "We've had games with West Coast in the past which have been pretty tough, uncompromising clashes."
I'm a big wrap for the Doggies, who are traveling well. But I think they'll play their best football against stronger opposition. The temptation to let this game get away from them may prove too great if the Western Australian side can put the pressure on.
The Weagles should also welcome the return of Chad Morrison and key forward Scott Cummings. The Eagles form may be somewhat misleading, with this rebuilding club playing four of the top five sides over the past month.
The Doggies, with four wins from eight matches, seem confident, which can easily translate into over-confidence. Sydney was a rabble at times last week, but they still managed to stretch the Dogs on occasion.
Western Australian football needs something, or someone's gonna take it out the back behind the shed and put a bullet in it.
West Coast have, at times, played well enough this year to win this, and I think they'll just be that bit hungrier.
Weagles in a boilover.
Around the Grounds:
The Kangaroos lose their minds and decide to have a home game in Melbourne - they will beat Carlton, watch.
Pies will do saints, they're hungrier.
Adelaide are on a roll, travel well, and will overwhelm the very whelming Fitzroy Bears at Brunswick Street North.
Hawthorn will do Essendon.
Port Adelaide will miss Matty Primus, and Melbourne won't go to sleep twice in Adelaide this year.
Geelong will surprise a hapless Richmond at Nigerian Political Prisoner Stadium.
South will pump Freo in a fizzer of an affair at the SCG.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Brisbane v. Adelaide
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Gabba 7:40 PM
Superficially, it seems odd that Brisbane will go into this game as favourites after coming off a hiding at the hands of Carlton last week, even more so when you consider Adelaide's runaway win against Richmond defied its long-standing Victorian hoodoo.
It is strongly suspected that Richmond lost the game as much as Adelaide won it, and that Adelaide played only one good half of footy, while the Lions are a completely different proposition playing at the Gabba.
Looking at the teams, it seems Brisbane will have too many running players for the Crows to cover. Mention has been made in the media of the Lions lacking a creative midfielder of Andrew McLeod's ilk, but it is hard to envisage the Crows being able to negate Voss, Black, McRae, Lappin, Notting, Ashcroft, Power, Akermanis and the taller but versatile Chris Scott and Darryl White.
Akermanis should get the job on McLeod, and either Chris or Brad Scott should start on Ricciuto, whereas the Crows third-best onballer, Simon Goodwin, may be used in a defensive role on Michael Voss.
The ruck duel will be interesting, pitting two former team-mates against each other. Beau McDonald and Matthew Clarke appear to be quite evenly matched, doing their best work at centre bounces and throw ins, with a tendency to do little around the ground. The Brisbane midfield will be able to capitalise on the disputed balls at ground level, if neither ruckman dominates.
Adelaide's key forwards have struggled all season, and their latest attempt to fill the full-forwards role has failed, with Adam Richardson being held kickless last week, and being dropped back to the SANFL as a result.
Brisbane, on the other hand, have an embarrassment of riches in the forward half, with Jonathon Brown starring so far this season, Alastair Lynch providing a handy back-up, and Daniel Bradshaw (who kicked over 50 goals last year) being recalled after a poor start to the season. Luke Power and Craig McRae are also likely to contribute, and it is hard to see them being stopped by the Adelaide defence.
Brisbane should look at last week as an aberration, and will be eager to return to play on their home soil at the Gabba, whereas Adelaide may struggle to back up with another win, on a second consecutive road trip.
THE VERDICT : Brisbane by 33 points.
HEAD TO HEAD : Played 7, Brisbane Lions 5, Adelaide 2.
AT THIS GROUND : Played 4, Brisbane Lions 3, Adelaide 1.
LAST TIME : Brisbane 17.13.115 d. Adelaide 11.12.78, Round 20, 2000 at Football Park.
STREAK : Brisbane have won the last 4. Adelaide have not beaten Brisbane since Round 9, 1998 at the Gabba.
OTHER TIPS :
Kangaroos by 15 points
Collingwood by 23 points
Western Bulldogs by 8 points
Essendon by 13 points
Melbourne by 16 points
Richmond by 14 points
Sydney by 63 points
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html
**********
Essendon v. Hawthorn
Saturday, 26 May 2001 - Colonial Stadium 7:00 PM
This will be a hard, if unattractive, game. The season opener against North was billed as being a big thing, and Essendon did nothing to set the world on fire then. Last week, after their season had started to get a bit of momentum, they fell away again - and still got the four points.
These guys are mortal. The injury list now extends to 'Prettyboy' Hird, who joins key onballer Blake Caracella on the sidelines this week. This, on top of Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long and Steven Alessio with knee injuries, and the big ask is on at Windy Hill.
Despite smokescreens to the contrary, Chris Heffernan is still suffering from the Essendon Flu, and Sheedy has been reluctant in the past to rush players back from injury. They will lift for this one, and they'd bloody want to. If they played like they did last week they'll get pumped.
Across town the unbeaten Hawthorn operation are rightly aggrieved at the AFL's pooncy decision not to transfer the best contest so far this year to another venue. They should have transferred it to Windy Hill.
It might be the people's game, but the people sure don't run it.
Mayblooms coach Schwab said it was disappointing the game had not been moved.
'I would have thought the AFL would always control the ability to move games. It doesn't look to be the case, so that's disappointing.'
Schwab said the AFL decision would preclude between 20,000 and 30,000 people seeing the game live.
Hawthorn have their own litany of walking wounded starting with key defender Jonathan Hay, who will miss the game after rolling an ankle during his side's win over the West Coast. On top of this Jade Rawlings and Nick Holland are out of the side, which cuts off a bit of their firepower.
There's a good punt on with Hawthorn paying $2.70 in a two horse race, watch that price come down.
The big winners in this game will be Port Adelaide and the Fitzroy Bears, who will get these battered sides the following week. Port might do Hawthorn then.
Hawthorn will blow the game open in the second half and run away with it. They're too quick all over the park.
Around the Grounds:
The Kangaroos lose their minds and decide to have a home game in Melbourne - they will beat Carlton, watch.
Pies will do saints, they're hungrier.
The Very West Coast Eagles will upset a Not So Western Bulldogs.
Adelaide are on a roll, travel well, and will overwhelm the very whelming Fitzroy Bears at Brunswick Street North.
Port Adelaide will miss Matty Primus, and Melbourne won't go to sleep twice in Adelaide this year.
Geelong will surprise a hapless Richmond at Nigerian Political Prisoner Stadium.
South will pump Freo in a fizzer of an affair at the SCG.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Port Adelaide v. Melbourne
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - Football Park 1:40 PM (2:10 PM AEST)
Phil again working his way through the liquor cabinet:
the sanfl haven't scheduled a fixture against this, playing all their games on the saturday.
adelaide is holding its breath. everyone assumed the crows success, back to back premierships was some kind of bizarre underachievement for the state that ends up with all the sh*t out of the murray darling.
but this is the chance for port to go that one step further.
unfortunately they are playing melbourne, who will pump them.
melbourne will get good posession out of the middle, schwarz will play as an untagged decoy - and neil will get together with a few mates after the match like he's just been sittin' in the outer all night.
Primus is a big miss, the dees will play four good quarters of football.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Geelong v. Richmond
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - Shell Stadium 2:10 PM
The battle of the felines should be an interesting clash at Shell Stadium this weekend.
In the past few years, the Cats and Tigers have been a tipster's nightmare and their from this year has done nothing to change that reputation.
If a week is a long time in football then two weeks is an eternity; Richmond desperately do now want to drop three on the trot and fall back with the pack. The Cats are eager to post another win and at 4-5 could easily salvage their season.
Richmond knocked off their hoodoo teams of the Eagles and North but needed to win against the Crows to keep the critics at bay. Geelong have not beaten the Tigers since Round 2 of 1998 which was at Shell Stadium.
Also in the Cats favour is that the Tigers have lost twice as many games as they have won at the Cattery. The Cat's home crowd advantage is not as pronounced as it used to be and they have a 1-2 record this year.
Steven King should prove the difference between the sides and the inclusion of Gary Hocking coupled with the omissions of Matthew Richardson, Nick Daffy and Paul Broderick all point to a Cat win.
My tip: Cats by 30 points.
Other games:
Carlton
Collingwood
West Coast
Brisbane
Essendon
Port Adelaide
Sydney
- David Wiseman
Phil, answering the call after David reported in late:
'siting on a fence both ears to the ground the fat cat still knows the thin cat's around' midnight oil
geelong are gonna whip dere sorrah ass!
richmond are gone buddy! gone, y'hear me!
they should just go away and have a good long hard look at themselves
[You're a true professional Phil ;)]
**********
Sydney v. Fremantle
Sunday, 27 May 2001 - SCG 2:10 PM
Whoops.
Umm - Sydney to win?
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5) The Quick Snap
"Dress Sense"
Comment from 'The Half Back Flanker'
http://www.afltips.com/people/halfbackflanker.html
Remember when your team only had one guernsey? Home, away, finals, pre-season, it didn't matter ... the same jumper was always worn. The only change was dark shorts at home and light shorts away.
How things change.
With the increasing televising of matches, combined with the direction shown by other sports, most AFL clubs now boast at least two different playing strips.
Besides the obvious merchandising opportunities that alternative playing strips provide to clubs, there is also the benefit of being entirely distinguishable from your opposition.
While traditionalists may disagree wholeheartedly with the very notion of their club occasionally wearing a different guernsey, the nature of the game is changing, and both clubs and supporters alike should realise that they must also change with the times.
Each club should have three playing strips ... their traditional (or home) guernsey, which is always used for home games, plus two alternative guernseys where at least one of them can be worn when playing another club and it does not clash in any way with the opposition club's traditional (or home) guernsey.
This would eliminate all confusion amongst players, spectators and television viewers as to which player is on which team, particularly when the game is played in wet and muddy conditions.
It would mean increased merchandising opportunities for all AFL clubs, including the chance to appeal to the younger market with classy and modern playing strips.
But, most importantly, clubs should choose their alternative guernseys carefully ... who wants to see their club changing their strips all the time? Selecting correctly the first time will avoid alienating supporters who might buy a replica playing strip only to see it discarded the following season.
Clubs such as Carlton only being seen in their traditional navy blue may soon become a thing of the past ... let's hope the AFL not only embraces change but does it wisely, allowing for tasteful yet long-lasting alternative strips that will help to modernise our great game.
Feedback to this article can be sent to:
afl.info@excite.com
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6) AFLTips.Com Trivia No. 009 - Answers
1. Hawthorn achieved its highest ever score, 36.15 (231), against Fitzroy in 1991.
2. Port Adelaide have yet to win an AFL premiership.
3. The first player to kick 100 goals in their debut season was John Coleman (Essendon) in 1949.
4. Jim Stynes (Melbourne) won the Brownlow Medal in 1991.
5. Allan Jeans coached St Kilda from 1961 until 1976, reaching 3 grand finals and winning 1 premiership (1966).
Any feedback, queries and/or corrections regarding AFLTips.Com
Trivia, please send an e-mail to:
afl.info@excite.com
+----------+
7) Info about AFLTips.Com
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ENDS