Roar Pro
Joined November 2010
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22. Sports nut from Brisbane. Can't play so I write: Twiiter: @bethknewman
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I really need to get something off my chest. It's been bothering me for years and I feel like now is the right time…
Mike Hussey, the undisputed holder of Nicest Guy in Sport mantle, exited the international arena on Sunday. Hussey was the epitome of sport's good…
The biggest problem for the Aussie cricket team heading into June's Ashes series is not the loss of Ricky Ponting or Mike Hussey. It's…
The AFL takes a lot of pride in its status as the most entrenched of the football codes. But with the major drafts over…
I'm not in the habit of defending men, but David Campese's tweet earlier this week has compelled me to stray from tradition. I know…
After almost 20 years at the top, Ricky Ponting is leaving cricket. On behalf of, well myself, I want to say thank you, Punter.…
So, it's time to dust off the Kookaburras, slap on the sunscreen and get used to seeing thong tans and hearing terms like silly…
For those are spending another AFL finals campaign reading their teams Mad Monday stories rather than match reports, it can be hard to choose…
One clear message has emerged out of today's NRL rights deal: dollars outweigh fans. The rise in the price tag, now over the $1…
With four gold medals in the last three nights, the London Olympics are starting to not look so bad for Australia. But what struck…
This week something outrageous happened – a red-hot Aussie favourite got narrowly beaten in the Olympic swimming pool. Then, only two days later it…
Karmichael Hunt's after-the-siren goal to clinch the game for Gold Coast on Saturday was one of the best footy moments this year. Hunt has…
When a team plays well, the players get the plaudits. The heroes of a winning team are those who come up with the big…
The Brisbane Lions' emphatic win over Melbourne on Sunday was impressive and has attracted the attention of the AFL community. Before their round one…
American baseball team, the New York Mets, are reportedly considering introducing a "quiet section" into their stadium. The Mets sent out a survey to…
State of Origin is the most anticipated event in the rugby league calendar. The standard of the contest is undisputedly high and the series…
Deafening shouts of “Tebow Time” have been silenced, as Jesus switched teams last weekend to hand New England a resounding division win over the…
It was just a typical post-match function for the Oxford University Aussie rules team. Drinking, chatting and winding down after a gruelling match in…
Many people would think that playing Aussie Rules in the UK is the domain of ex-pat Aussies and maybe a few Irish players with…
The bonus point system has caused a great deal of frustration among rugby fans, because winning becomes less important. When it comes to ladders, the simpler the better. Getting the most wins on the board should be good enough to determine ladder spots.
AFL ladder: Collingwood ‘lucky’ to have double-chance says study
Wallabies definitely look uncomfortable playing under Deans. He seems to be trying to get them to play a type of rugby that contradicts with their strengths ( thus the abundance of Waratahs in the side).
But dropping him now is not going to make it any easier for the Wallabies. It would be better for the ARU to wait until after the Rugby Championship before changing coaches. No coach is going to be able to change things in a matter of weeks. What Australian rugby needs is a well-thought out decision that aims for long-term change, not quick-fixes.
CAMPO: Deans is just not the right fit for the Wallabies
Billo boy, I think this idea is definitely reasonable, particularly in the AFL, with expansion teams and in a year where percentage will really shape the finals sides.
Though, I don’t necessarily think that a head-to-head decision is that much fairer. If two teams play in the State of Origin hangover period and that is the only time that they play, then that a result is not necessarily indicative of their whole season performance.
Head-to-head playoffs are just as susceptible to being skewed and unfair as the percentage/ for and against is, especially if teams have only played each other once.
NRL and AFL top eight systems are unfair
By splitting teams into these sections you could possibly have bigger blockbuster games to finish a season (assuming that teams are in similar positions in a year’s time, which is unlikely) but you’ll also have more games that are entirely irrelevant, if all the bottom teams are playing each other.
Also the possibility that a team from the bottom six moves into finals contention in the next season and they blitz the final month of the season and finish higher than they probably would have otherwise.
Solution for a fairer AFL draw
Agree they need to be accountable but only in the right situations. Not everything is the coach’s fault and it’s worth looking beyond just one person to identify the real issues sometimes.
We are far too quick to call for a coach’s head – patience is required in a lot of situations. The lack of substance to many of hear arguments about coaches is proven by the fact that one win is enough to save their job – if they were in that much trouble and if it is truly the coach’s fault then one game should not change that.
Cut AFL coaches some slack
Focus on grassroots first. The ARU should work at establishing a stronger club competition on the coast and building talent base ad support from there. That should come before any attempt
to establish a super rugby side.
Introducing a new team on the Gold Coast may not hurt the Reds in terms of talent, but spectators are already spread thin in QLD and rugby followers seem to be some of the most fickle. Teams that would be hurt most in terms of attracting players are sides like Western Force, who already struggle to lure players and would be decimated by the introduction of yet another east coast side.
A Gold Coast Super Rugby team?
I don’t see Malthouse going to the Coast. If any experienced coach were to head there, it would be Paul Roos. Roos seemed to actually be interested in coaching a developing side and has coached in a non-AFL region before. I reckon Malthouse loves the big moments too much, and he wouldn’t get many of those with the Suns.
Is Malthouse headed north to the Gold Coast?
Completely disagree – thumpings do not help rivalries. While the GWS players may want to prove Sydney’s arrogance wrong, this is the same with every other team they play.
A history of close, high-quality matches brings people to the games and nailbiting results stick with fans the longest.
A good thumping helps GWS vs Swans derby
Funny article. But I’m pretty sure most Queenslanders won’t lose too much sleep in a series loss, given the absence of Billy Slater and the comfort of having the past six wins.
Why Blues fans should feel sorry for Queenslanders
What do you do with players born in QLD or NSW with foreign heritage then? They will still have a choice – they should be allowed to play both.
State of Origin: Is dual eligibility the answer?
I think simultaneous matches are good for the final week in the regular season – you only need to look to last year’s EPL to see how exciting that can make things.
However, when there are only two or four games on a weekend like in the finals, I, somewhat selfishly, disagree. As a footy fan, I want the chance to be able to watch as many finals games live as possible. I don’t want to have to flick between games. The ANZ issue and the scheduling of the rugby Test at Subi last weekend has amplified a problem which is not really that big of a deal.
Realistically (taking out TV broadcasters’ interests), they should have a Friday night and Saturday afternoon matches where there are only two games on a weekend – that gives travel time for teams and less than 24 hours’ difference with recovery time.
Simultaneous games the answer to AFL fixturing issue