Crawford Should Have Gone Out On Top

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

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

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

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

The NRL Grand Final

Manly 40 defeated Melbourne 0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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