Katzilla – yes it was Reggie. I was going through a New York Knicks phase and didn’t like him or Austin Croshere.

Ohtani’s jacket – Im guessing you don’t like MJ. How do you think it would have worked out if Cleveland had played LA in the Finals?

Kobe is a good player, I’m not going to refute that. I don’t think he is better than MJ.
None of you have really touched on the Lakers’ ability to get all of the calls which is something that particularly irks me about them.
In Game 2, they received some serious assistance from the referees and if you don’t believe me, consult Bill Simmons’ running diary of the game.
Did MJ and the Bulls receive the same get out of jail cards as the Lakers have over the years? I guess, you could cite the shove on Byron Russell but who would have called that? And this doesn’t appear to be in the same league as the phantom calls the Lakers seem to get (and which the Miami Heat received in 2006)

Redb I – When the Swans are on, they are as good as anyone in the competition. The classic example is the final quarter of the 2005 Preliminary Final against St Kilda. They were just unstoppable. Stick breaks the heart of many a Swans fan to see the Schneiderman having added Black to the Red and White.

Pippinu I – They definitely played well. Bulldogs are one of the best teams when its comes to playing a dominant side. That underdog streak has always been a strong part of its culture.

Michael C I – The Swans seem to match up well at the Power at the SCG. Not so much the game when the Power kicked a goal after the siren or the one when Paul Kelly did his knee.

Redb II – Wide open? Anyone other than Geelong and St Kilda? This could be the classic year when as long as you make it into the 8, anything is possible thereafter….

Pippinu II – There is a lot of congestion die to there being two clear cut top side and two clear cut bottom sides. The other 12 teams are left to fight it out.

Michael C II – Will be interesting to see how the Swans fare against Collingwood. They are Collingwood’s bunny in the same way that Collingwood are Carltons and Carlton are Sydneys. Go figure!!

Redb I – Collingwood – Carlton? Second game in a row for the Pies that was over at the half.

LK/Redb II – No – its a Catch-22. He is allowed to play a certain way at Sydney, that he couldn’t with Collingwood. And the change of scenery and infusion of confidence does wonders. You could say the same thing about Ted Richards and the Swans.

You all make very good points.
WADA may not need to know where footballers are like they do cyclists or sprinters – that’s one issue.
But Sepp needs to appreciate that the public are more or less tarring everyone with the same brush. And if a player would have zero qualms about diving and milking a penalty, why would he have any issue with injecting himself with something which would make him feel better?

Pippinu – Sure are – the Bulldogs look likely for 3rd place.

Redb I – Not forgotten but I wouldn’t get carried away just yet. Essendon are too inconsistent. The last five weeks they have gone WLWLW. Against St Kilda, you’d think the streak would continue.

WA – I did and to a degree I still stand by it. It just hasn’t been the on-field performances but the recruiting which is infamous. Also they have never hired a coach who had previous AFL head coaching experience. Sure this could be the year they turn it around and if they do – I’ll be the first to take my hat off to them.

Redb II – True. If it wasn’t for their huge fan base they wouldnt be around anymore. It’s crazy to think what South Melbourne/Sydney fans went through for so long. Now the Swans have won a Grand Final and played in another…Who would you prefer to be now?

Captain Random – Good luck! Which is your team?

Onside – 100% – Everywhere you look it’s pure drama.

Rolling Maul – I think you’re the first Potters fan I’ve ever met. How exciting! You’ve just made my day.

Pippinu – Thanks. It is a huge gulf but a team like Manchester City was able to drop two levels and still fight its way back. Not sure how many other teams could do this. Maybe one day Leeds will also be back.

Ben of Phnom Penh – That’s true. FIFA politics ain’t for the feint-hearted (or is it faint-hearted?)

RedB – Just remember they started the 2004 season 10-0…

Brian – Fair enough but I can’t look past the Saints and Cats. You are right about the Pies and the clash – unfortunately doesn’t appear to be that simple

Robd – You are competitive but at the end of the day a loss is a loss.

Pippinu I – Lol! Very cute 🙂

Pippinu II – This is true

Robert B – This is also true.

Savvas – The debate Andrew D started in 2005 about the Swans being ugly. Holland may have been small but they were incredibly talented, one of the greatest teams of all time. They had a 1-0 lead after one minute of the 1974 World Cup final. They could have played out for the 1-0 win but didn’t and lost.

Redb – We all know they can dominate the H&A season – the key is the finals – Grand Final

Michael C I – there already is snow?

Savvas I – I thought this debated closed in 2005 when they won the flag?

Michael C II – When you say Malcolm Blight are you referring to that shoot-out in 1989 when Geelong and Hawthorn clashed. Geelong scored 163 and still lost!

Redb I – Any win is beautiful regardless of how ugly it is. Will always trump going down in style. Just ask the Dutch soccer fans of the 1970’s. They should have won 2 World Cups and ended up with 0 but they played nicely!

Savvas II – But isn’t that the beauty of sport – they we have no idea what we are in store for? It makes the great games even better?

Michael C III – I think Geelong beat Geelong as opposed to the Zone doing so.

Redb II – Yes would have been worth at least 2 votes just for the goal 😉

Hazey I – They are playing the Eagles at Launceston. That is a huge home ground advantage for them.

Hazey II – I wouldn’t have thought so. GAJ would be taking too many votes away from him.

Michael C – It’s always tricking when tipping on a match involving your team. Unless they were playing a top four team or Collingwood I would always tip them when playing in Sydney.

Megatron – They’ve been rebuilding for 25 years! So what is one more year?

Mattay – You are right about the Saints but they are travelling so well as the moment. Should be a great game.

Michael C I – Gary Ablett Jr would be the Brownlow favorite at the moment but then again he was last year as well. Im surprised more people didn’t tip the Swans – playing at home against Carlton should have made them favorites.

Sheek – Terry Wallace’s woes at Richmond have been well documented. The point of no return has been well and truly passed.

Justin – exactly.

Matta I – 100% Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Michael C II – I think its a lost cause.

matta II – its a great question. Tim Lane wrote about Fremantle’s culture last week and much could also be said about Richmonds.

Searly – You are right in both your posts. If the AFL dealt with this privately without going to the media, it would be like it never happened. The hysteria and all the speculation which follows this only makes it worse

Redb – Excellent point.

Redb I – Barry Hall got 7 weeks for his punch on Staker. That puts Williams’ fend into even more perspective.

Redb II – Thanks for posting that 🙂 Makes interesting reading.

Searly I – Good point. Similar reaction to that when James Hird made those comments. Patrick Smith made a good point in today’s Australian. Obviously the sanctity of the umpire must be preserved but trying to crack a walnut with a sledgehammer only creates resentment.

The 1 and Only Master – As Smooth Jimmy Apollo says on the Simpsons “when you’re right 52% of the time, you’re wrong 48%
of the time.”

Redb I – I think Collingwood will accept 2-4. If they get into Greg Williams territory – that is where the trouble could start. The other reason that the 9 weeks was way over the top was because the game had finished and the umpire maybe shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Saying that Carlton said they had no problem with 3 weeks.

DE – Nice pun 😉

Redb II – Opinions are the oxygen which keeps The Roar breathing.

Searly II – Exactly.

Michael C – Yes I think Freo are better than Melbourne.

Kurt & Michael C I – I thought they were specifically talking about Sydney. Comparing Sydney crowds and Melbourne crowds is apples and oranges. Last year for the North Melbourne final, the Swans attracted only 20,000 but what people ignored was that there were 3 NRL games in Sydney that together attracted 20,000

Dave I – there are always going to be nutters at the footy. Alcohol ban for the players? Some fans definitely shouldn’t be allowed to drink.

The 1 and Only Master I – You think the Tigers had any chance against the Dogs?

Michael C II – Good point and also its Collingwood fans we’re talking about. No need to tar the fans of the other 15 clubs.

Kurt II – By and large going to the footy is reasonably safe. If people are in a provactive mood and looking for trouble, it will find them.

The 1 and Only Master II – You’re that definite simply because of Sewell and Lewis?

Jimbo – 100% And don’t forget basketball! When the Waratahs played the Crusaders at ANZ they drew 32,469.

Dave II – Yes a bit of an over-reaction is what is a slow news week.

Millster – True especially those limited-overs games where the first side only makes 140 and renders the second half of the match dead.

Kurt III – I agree with you about the need or lack thereof for the Western Sydney team. Did the Razorbacks ever really take off?

Redb I – Agreed.

Redb II – Apart from the hurt these goons cause, what is also bad is the attention they get which they seem to revel in.

Jimbo – Good point. Think things will build up once the season progresses.

John Ryan – True.

The 1 and Only Master – your name rings true. Care to make any predictions for this week?

Michael C – True. That would have been on the list had it been Top 6 things. Let’s see how they do this week. The clash with Hawthorn should be a beauty.

Hazey – Great result first up for Voss. Will be interesting to see how they do against Carlton.
Pippinu – Maybe – what were you thinking of?
Mattay – Dont doubt them winning at the MCG against Collingwood was big for them. They had a lot of close tussles over the years. They next have St Kilda at home and then go to Subiaco to play the Dockers. They could be 3-0 when they host the Cats in Round 4.
The 1 and Only Master – And then again you have the flipside. Saints have a horrible record at AAMI though – think its something like 4-15. They did win that final there though in 2005 against the Crows. You still willing to bet on the Saints given their poor record there?
Michael C – This is true. Ditto for the Bulldogs and Port.

Looks as though for the while, the story will fade. Michael Clarke is the new skipper and although he was the bowler, he will be able to distance himself from the incident claiming that he wasn’t the captain. I’m sure the press will bring it up on Thursday in an effort to create some sparks so that should be interesting.
The bottom line is that even though Haddin received no formal sanction, the court of public opinion hung, drew and quartered him , even more so given his post-match comments. He has received a yellow card and needs to make sure he is squeaky clean from here on end. One more dodgy appeal or being upset with a bad decision he gets when he’s batting and he is going to cop it like nobody’s business.

You’ve all made some good points.

Haddin has made his first comments since the incident.
“After looking at the replay, my hands were in front of the stumps,” he said. “But the ball, I’m 100% positive, hit the bails first and then came up into my gloves.”
So he opting for a strategy of trying to look like he did nothing wrong which is I think will be worse for him over the long run.
How can he be 100% the ball hit the bails first, especially when it didn’t? What does this mean about taking his word in the future? If he is batting and dismissed in circumstances such as these how will he take it?
When Adam Gilchrist walked in the World Cup semi-final, he probably had no idea that people would attack him for appealing for things which weren’t out, but that’s how things work. People have very long memories and regardless of what happens today, Haddin has made a rod for his back which will be used sometime in the future.

Ricky Ponting had this to say in the post-match press-conference: “It’s a bit much, he’s basically claiming [Haddin’s] a cheat, isn’t he? That’s a bit strong unless they’re 100% certain.
1) They’re 100% certain – now what?
2) I think the team has already exhaust all the benefit of doubt it had.

Like I said before, after Bollyline, Australia had and has to go out of its way to make sure that incidents of this nature don’t occur.

Ara – I think Simon Katich isn’t deemed a one-day player, the same way Justin Langer wasn’t deemed one.

El Capitan I – 100%

JohnB – He would have felt the ball go into his gloves. Either way, what did he have to lose by saying he wasn’t sure?

Harry – Good point.

The Cougar – I thought about it at the time. Basically lower-end batsmen get far less leniency than their top-order counterparts.

neilo – There would be some sort of qualification time he would have to wait but anyway I don’t think the States would be too happy about it.

yeebarr – Another good point. Not sure which of the other keepers is the next in line. Luke Ronchi?

Johnno – Umpire was Bruce Oxenford. He was third umpire at Sydney in the middle of the Bollyline storm. He is a very average umpire.

Mick of Newie I – Yes it will be very interesting.

El Capitan II – We’ll have to wait and see.

Mick of Newie II – Very good point. After Bollyline, I would have thought he’d act differently but doesn’t appear to be so.