Can’t see myself doing the Brumbies game though. My first kid is due a few days earlier, so I’ll be lucky to be able to get it on the TV while nursing the bubs I suspect …

Gallop is just not up to it ! – he’s not capable of carrying Demetriou’s bags.

1. Australia to be awarded the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2. Australia to beat England in the 2010 WC round of 16, on penalties with John Terry to miss the decisive spot kick. Australia to go on and beat France in the quarters, after that i don’t care.
3. Sydney FC to beat Melbourne in the A league GF.
4. The NRL to go an entire season without a single assault on women. For their reward, the players to be given the opportunity to partake in a public urinating and defecating competition.
5. Michael C, Redb, and our dearly departed friend Pip, to have a road to Damascus experience and embrace all that is good about the beautiful game.

I want to add a wish that an Australian can reach 3 figures in the Pakistan series….

But for me, it’s been his carry-on in this month that prompted the particular wish in question here. It seemed there for a bit we couldn’t go a day without Demetriou needing to tip more kero on the WC bid fire, and as you’ve even said, a lot of this whole debate is still based on speculation and guesswork.

Of course he’s just doing his job, of course he’s wanting to protect his turf, but I can’t help but think a lot of it was designed not to throw a cat amonst the FFA pigeons, but just to get AFL in the news in the off-season.

You say it’s a cheap shot, but I’ll stand by my comment. You’re not seeing Gallop carry on like this, despite sharing many of the same concerns the AFL does. Demetriou is almost coming accross as the lone party-pooper when it comes to the WC bid.

And really, unless you are Andrew Demetriou himself, how is me saying this any different to any other comment made about any other sports administrator around the country? And if you’re not AD, why does it even bother you so much that you feel the need to defend him?

People to stop bagging Brad Haddin.

people on theRoar stop rubbishing Andrew Demetriou as a sport.

the amount of rubbish that has been attributed to Demetriou – it’s a joke and only the result of people NOT listening to what he says and painting their own pictures.

thus, again, this article has failed this test – with “Failing that, I’d be content if Andrew Demetriou could speak in public without a soapbox.”

Yup – - nice little cheap shot that one Brett.

I’ve got something of a solution though – my desk is directly below a mezzanine level kitchenette, which includes a telly. Right as we speak, some kind soul has left the volume up at a level where I can hear it quite easily!! Which will be great until someone switches over to Oprah

If he hasn’t tried to make a burst for the World cup I think the fire has faded, if the prospect of the world cup can’t get you up nothing can.

Like most returning overseas players they like to give a bit back to their local comps if they can before they fully retire. I’d reckon Dukes has this in mind.

Redb

But my choice of Adelaide is very strategic. For Dukes world cup preparation he needs plenty of games and Adelaide if they make the finals are along with MV the two teams that will play the most games between now and South Africa (due to the ACL). Adelaide also need a marquee and something to make Friday night football more interesting (which every second week is #### Adelaide).

As the season stands now it’s very hard to split SFC and MV with perhaps Melbourne shading it, add Dukes though and their goes that contest.

Perhaps he will find religion which will draw him to the city of churches…..

It’s not a big ask because I don’t even support Adelaide and only chose them because they have ACL fixtures coming up and aren’t Melbourne Victory.

Thanks Santa

I’d like to see an A-League club sign a marquee player who scores at least ten goals a season. – YES (I’m betting Fowler will)
I’d like to see John Kosmina start a blog on The Roar and join the ‘lunatics in the asylum.’ – NO
I’d like to see Pim Verbeek sing the national anthem when we qualify for the 2010 World Cup. -YES
I’d like to see He Who Shall Not Be Named get a start for the Socceroos. – YES
I’d like to see Wycombe Wanderers make the FA Cup Final so I can make fun of Craig Foster calling them ‘Whycombe’ again. -NO
I’d like to see Melanie McLaughlin. – YES (But from a long distance – I was ripped off!)
I too would like to see the AFL take Tasmania’s bid seriously. – NO
I’d like to see someone other than Central District win the SANFL flag. – NO
I’d like to see an Australian tennis player make it to the second week of a Grand Slam. YES
I’d like to see Casey Stoner win back his title. – NO
I’d like to see Chris Vermuelen win a race. – NO

So my wishes for this year:

I’d like to see Australia win the World Cup
I’d like to see Chelsea win the EPL, the FA Cup and the UCL
I’d like to see He Who Shall Not Be Named make the squad and actually get on the park at some point
I’d like to see Adelaide United crawl out of the massive hole we are currently in and have another red hot go at the ACL
I’d like to see Melanie McLauglin – but up close this time!!!
I’d like to see someone or something publicly humiliate Andrew Demetriou
I’d like to see Danny Green annihilate Anthony Mundine
I’d like to win AFL Dream Team
Once again, I’d like to see someone other than Central District win the SANFL flag…please Santa please!!!
Also once again, I’d like to see Casey Stoner win back his title

Now it just so happens that I am meeting Kersi Meher-Homji and Vinay Verma for a beverage midway through the first day of the Sydney Test match (Sun Jan 3), and so if any other Roarers are going to be at the SCG on Day 1, then please, come on down and join us in the bar-beer garden area behind the Churchill Stand.

The other opportunity that might present itself could be when the Tahs host the Brumbies on Sat 24 April. And maybe with the extra time before then, this might be a more doable option??

On another matter I want to enlist your support. I tried – in vain – to organise a Christmas Drink for the Sydney Chapter of the Roarers – the idea was well received by the Zs but they were too busy to take it seriously. There is a lot of camaraderie amongst many of us so I thought a once a year bash at pub convenient to public transport at Christmas time (when all are in festive/party mode) might be a good idea. What do you reckon?

And Santa can be mean, all depends how good you’ve been. My wife works in retail and the other day heard a lady tell her two boys to behave themselves, and that if they didn’t “you forget I’ve got Santa on speed-dial!!”