NRL Caught Napping

Blacktown City Council is building a stadium in the Olympic Park Precinct. Local rugby league clubs are now disgusted by move, taking their disappointment out on the Council. Rooty Hill Dragons club secretary, Don Milides, was quoted in the Daily Telegraph,

“They are building up another code while letting down a code that has supported them for years.

Anger that is misguided if you are to take the word of Blacktown Mayor, Leo Kelly.

"They (NRL) have been sitting on their hands," Kelly said. "A lot of the supporters like the old traditional teams like Balmain and Western Suburbs have switched codes and are now following AFL, strangely enough. We've had negotiations with them (NRL). They've retreated to their north shore bunker and we are waiting for them to come back."

So while the bleeding hearts of “Rugby League Heartland” bleat and moan about an AFL infiltration, their ruling body continues to be caught “sitting on its hands.”

Bloody Queenslanders!!!!

Somehow they always manage to steal a try from nothing, a little dummy and a simple pass and Billy Slater is in with 10 minutes to go. We just never looked likely of crossing their line. Some comment.

• If Nate Myles' spear tackle on Ben Cross is not worthy of a send off then we shall never see another send off ever in the game of Rugby League. Tony Archer left his manhood in the change rooms at half time because that was time for him to make a big call. The stage was set, the worst tackle I have seen in a long time, a blue, only for things to cool down and Archer weakly crosses his arms to say it is on report. I think that if Cross had stayed down with serious neck damage then the result may have been different.
• I thought Mick Crocker had a hard head, it takes a lot to rattle him. But he got rattled tonight by the oblique spheriod in projectile motion. As in not an opposition player but the ball as it left Mitchell Pearce's boot. Surely to be the only thing amusing from a NSW point of view.
• Too many NSW players did not perform. I am referring to Jarryd Hayne, Joel Monaghan, Braith Anasta. Wake up fella if you want to be there next year.
• Tries from kicks, a huge beef of mine. What is declared highly skillful in Rugby League is regulation in my main game of Aussie Rules. Anyone can jump over a stationary opposition player. What is skillful in League is being able to move the ball through the hands and bamboozle defensive lines. Pearce and Anasta just didn't have it and resorted to kicking the ball to the wings where well protected Queenslanders such as Slater, Inglis and Folau caught with ease and advanced in metres.
• Only after Queensland scored with 10 minutes to go did NSW finally decide to throw the ball around a bit in an effort to score. But it was all too little too late.

Doing It Too Comfortably

Round 12
Sydney 14.18.102 def St Kilda 9.13.67

Round 13
Sydney 17.12.114 def Melbourne 11.8.74

For the last two games I have been impressed with my team's performances. Although I have a slight fear that it has been just a bit too easily. Even though both teams challenged at some stage during each game the Swans were comfortable throughout.

I am slightly worried because playing comfortably won't be enough against the likes of Colingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong. All teams that we have to play in the second half of the season on the run to the finals.

Collingwood and Adelaide are considered "bogey sides" for us as well, so it will take an extra special effort to overcome the opposition in those games.

Although all my worrying could end up to be ill founded and the Swans could rise to the challenge and come into the finals full of momentum.

We Stole That

Sydney Swans 12.11 (83) def West Coast Eagles 11.12 (78)

Ten goals to three in the second half, but I still think we stole it from a team that played so intensely in the first half. The intensity may have cost the Eagles as it is near impossible to maintain the pressure for a full game. Sydney, as they did little in the first half had the legs to finish the game on a high.

A few comments:

• The Goodes report - didn't look as malicious as most this season, but the head has become untouchable. Not sure whether he will get rubbed out, I suspect not.
• The Staker goal - did appear that the ball was over the line when he kicked it, but the goal ump was right there
• The Bolton goal - I suspect the Perth media will jump on this as a wrong decision. One umpire said he ducked but then he was taken to ground. Something had to be paid, either for holding or incorrect disposal.
• Daniel Kerr - played like the class midfielder that he should be, instead of the 3rd string ball winner, definitely BOG for me.
• Adam Hunter's kicking - much like his hairstyle, it left a lot to be desired. Some misses came at crucial times when momentum was in the balance. All were fairly easy chances.
  

The Last Two Weeks

Saturday 24th May
Sydney 16.9.105 Def Port Adelaide 14.10.94

Just when I thought we had run out of legs we find another gear in what was the first really exciting game I have seen for the Swans this year. So exciting that when Jarred Moore kicked the goal to bring us level again I literally jumped from my chair. The injury of Power sharpshooter, Brent Ebert, late in the game probably helped as they lacked their best performer up forward when it mattered. Somehow we were able to make some breaks from the half back line and use the ball wisely when faced with a vacant forward line. Plus a clever banana from Tim Schmidt and smart roving by Jarred McVeigh and it was game over. Disappointing to see Port Adelaide fans leaving before the game had finished. Surely the traffic isn't that bad in Adelaide.

Sunday 1st June
Sydney 21.13.139 Def Richmond 8.9.57

Watched the entire first half and that was enough to know the result. Words like rout and clinic came to mind as Goodes ran rings around opponents with consummate ease. Jolly and Everitt worked in tandem in the ruck and were able to palm to advantage to easily. Richmond's disposal was sloppy and often led to turn overs. I was impressed with the tackling of Martin Mattner as well as his left foot. Henry Playfair is showing some promise up forward, although I'm not sure where he fits when Barry Hall returns in a few weeks. I think Playfair has done enough to stay in the team. But then who to omit?

So we have the best percentage in the competition yet we are in 5th place on the ladder. Even without the draw against the Kangaroos we would only be 4th. Three very winnable games before meeting Collingwood. Have to win all three if we are to solidify a position in the top four and gather momentum into the Collingwood game. Should be a cracker.

Points To Proove

Interesting to hear the controversy that usually follows the selection of a New South Wales or Queensland State of Origin team. This year is no different with the omissions of Braith Anasta and Scott Prince in their respective teams Five-eighth positions. Some might say that Brett Finch was a bit stiff not to get the halfback spot for NSW.

Those unfortunate not to be selected usually use that as motivation to go into the next game for their club with exceptional vigour. They have a point to prove and it is always interesting to see who is able to successfully make their point and who fails.

I was watching tonights game between Parramatta and Sydney. Parramatta were clear favourites based on the fact that 4 of the Rooster's starting forwards were unavailable due to S of O commitments. Brett Finch should have dominated, disappointingly he didn't. Braith Anasta had a Man of the Match performance to send notice to NSW selectors.

Hall of Fame Tribute Match

What a great game to watch. The best of the best showing what they've got. Some of the passages of play were just magical. Isn't that why we had State of Origin Football in the first place. I'm sure with the excitement surrounding this game that the idea will come up again. Probably to no avail but who really knows.

Every team that was represented seemed to be a winner with no one having a really bad game. Judd was quiet throughout and Kerr got injured early. From a Sydney point of view we had 4 players represented, 2 for each team. I was a bit concerned early as Goodes was very quiet and Bolton took a hit from Brown. Bolton got up straight away and continued and Goodes started to make an impact, especially with being third up in ruck contests.

With no serious injuries coming from the event I think all fans should be happy with their players.

One Spurt the Difference

I know it's a bit late in the week to be doing a review of the game that occurred on Sunday, but hey, only the Hall of Fame game this week.

Pretty simple analysis actually of the Swans v Bulldogs game. Sydney let the Dogs kick 7 goals straight in the 2nd quarter to turn a 15 point lead into a 22 point deficit. Unsurprisingly the margin was 18 points in the end. I wouldn't to give the worst team in the league a 22 point head start yet we let a quality running outfit like the Bulldogs get ahead of us.

Ultimately, 22 points isn't a big lead in the scheme of things, but when you are trying to play catch up footy for one half against a good team it makes your task of winning that much harder.

Sydney came close but the Bulldogs were able to coast home in the end maintaining the buffer they created in the 2nd quarter.

Embarking on Umpiring

This year I had decided not to play footy after having a horror year with quad injuries in which I only managed to play 3 games. It wasn’t until late in the pre season that I decided to attend a training night to become an official club umpire.

The Club Umpire program is a new initiative by the AFL in which each club needs to provide an umpire for certain grades. I like the program as it creates a manageable step for former players and others to have a go at umpiring before taking the leap and joining the umpiring squad.

I have since completed 2 games and have a new understanding and an appreciation for the job of umpiring. It is bloody hard!! So think twice before abusing match officials. Consider how you would like to cop abuse and how you would go making all the decisions. I find myself sticking up for the umpires a lot more now when watching on from the sidelines and dubious calls arise.

Yes I get some decisions wrong, but ultimately I am new to the caper and am trying my best. If everyone were to give this a go I think there would be much more respect for umpires.

Just A Tad Concerned

I am very glad to put the whole Barry Hall incident in the past. But as a result we are lacking a key forward and I felt the lack of forward structure was evident in the game against North Melbourne. Hall's absence means that the opposition's top defender will go on our No. 2 forward, which is at the moment Michael O'Loughlin or rookie Jesse White. Henry Playfair is named in the team to play the Bulldogs which is probably good timing and Peter Everitt's return couldn't be more perfect. He can ad another option up front as well as providing Darren Jolly with much needed assistance. Haven't seen Playfair play so hard to gauge the effect he will have on the forward structure.

Not really disappointed to see Nick Davis given the boot for the game. He hasn't set the world on fire and we definately need players like him firing at the right end of the season. He is a proven match winner.

The Bulldogs are on fire at the moment so while my heart will always say Swans, my head is leaning towards the Doggies.