Melbourne Storm spear the Sharks, look unbeatable in 2018
It was set up as potentially one of the most brutal and robust games of the season.
Stuart Thomas
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Stuart Thomas is a sports writer, freelance journalist and copywriter who made the jump from Roar Guru to Expert in 2017. A former trainee professional golfer, his sporting passions are broad with particular interests in football, AFL and rugby league. His love of sport is only matched by his passion for gardening and self-sustainability. Follow him on Twitter @stuartthomas72, connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn and see his work at https://www.stuartthomas.com.au
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Graham Arnold: On a hiding to nothing or the chance of a lifetime?
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After another week of inappropriate nudity, it was nice to finally watch some footy and wasn’t it brilliant?
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Forget mad Monday, how good was freaking Friday in Melbourne?
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My wife’s home village is Basloukit in the snowcapped mountains of northern Lebanon.
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Very true about the cards. I thought there was a degree of brutality about some of the pressure, others may prefer a different word or phrase. Fair call. I know there was at least one Sydney player who was brutal, although he has returned to the Central Coast.
Graham Arnold: On a hiding to nothing or the chance of a lifetime?
Fair call AG, yet I did point out that it was a common tactic and that Sydney was blessed with the tools to execute it well. Whilst there is a physicality in all teams these days, Sydney were able to make that aspect quite intimidating. I also chose the word ‘bully’ quite intentionally. Bullying an opponent in sporting parlance is not necessarily a negative thing. Certainly used in a different manner to the way it might be in the workplace.
Arnold’s men were excellent bullies, it took a hell of an effort to stand up to them and Victory physically matched them, as so few teams have done. There were certainly some real discrepancies in free-kick counts and whether these were real or perceived is certainly debatable yet the questions remains whether a similar approach can work for the national team. Personally, I think not and hope Arnold has another layer of strategy waiting to be implemented. I hope!
Graham Arnold: On a hiding to nothing or the chance of a lifetime?
Great work Thomas. Enjoyed this and sets out the battles taking place tonight. Sydney should be too strong and City might just edge the Wanderers.
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I’ll be up there for the Mariners vs Sydney clash, would love to catch up.
Every A-League team's 2018-19 one-word mission: Part two
Nice Evan, enjoyable read. Especially in that prolonged vacuous period in the month leading to the A-League. Victory look a far better team on paper this season; a scary proposition.
Will this year's Big Blue be a meeting of the A-League's best-ever squads?
Agree with everything there Waz. He did tell everyone they would get rolling when all the troops returned. New signings look good and Taggart is potentially the buy of the year. Just what they needed and I really like him as a player. I hope he can find 15 this season. Part of me would like to see Aloisi succeed purely because I like him. Certainly one of the more gentle and subtle managers we have.
Every A-League team's 2018-19 one-word mission: Part one
Whilst researching his contract status, I must admit I was a little surprised. Deal was done early 2017 I think. Was a three year deal.
Every A-League team's 2018-19 one-word mission: Part one
The cannonball is valid, was a little playful with the wild finger attack though. I thought people would see through that.
Forget mad Monday, how good was freaking Friday in Melbourne?
I wasn’t comfortable commenting on something around which I had not formed a full view. Working quite briskly as the game unfolded didn’t permit a detailed look at replays. I tend to look at some of the more contentious issues the next day, rather than say something that misrepresents the moment. As for the ‘eye’ incident, my tone may have shifted a little. League should always be fun. Although Smith didn’t seem to be enjoying the experience. Cheers.
Forget mad Monday, how good was freaking Friday in Melbourne?
I stand by my claim that it was a wild finger attack to the eye.
Forget mad Monday, how good was freaking Friday in Melbourne?
Definitely not. We have had enough agendas flying around this week.
Forget mad Monday, how good was freaking Friday in Melbourne?
3′ – Hawks on top.
Richmond 0.0 0 Hawthorn 0.0 0
Be quiet Jose, gain some perspective and come visit the A-League
3’
Pressure in the front third is enormous from Richmond. Hawks under the pump.
Hawks 11.6 72 Tigers 14.2 86
Be quiet Jose, gain some perspective and come visit the A-League
3’
Pressure in the front third is enormous from Richmond. Hawks under the pump.
Hawks 11.6 72 Tigers 14.2 86
Be quiet Jose, gain some perspective and come visit the A-League
3’
Pressure in the front third is enormous from Richmond. Hawks under the pump.
Hawks 11.6 72 Tigers 14.2 86
A keeper, a keeper, my kingdom for a sane keeper: EPL Matchday 4 wrap
That first night will be special. I agree about the tearing down of stadiums that were built in the last thirty years or so. I guess legislation and the expectations on facilities changes but surely we can build something with scope made for minor tweaks and refurbishment in the future. The knock down rebuild is obviously costly and inconvenient for all.
Western Sydney Stadium takes shape and the Wanderers start packing
Already talk around South Sydney and Canterbury using the ground when they are wandering around Sydney without a home. ANZ is to be refurbished and that affects Dogs, Rabbits, Tigers, Dragons and Eels. Although Parramatta should be well and truly in its new digs by then.
Western Sydney Stadium takes shape and the Wanderers start packing
Paul,
A correction on your correction. There were discussions at the time about building a new stand. New CEO Denis Fitzgerald seemed to have it quite high on his to do list, yet no formal decision had been made. That was 1981 and the Eels were homeless for some time until the new stadium was announced in 1984. They were actually playing their games at Belmore for some period.
Western Sydney Stadium takes shape and the Wanderers start packing
I was with you there Joe.
Homesick? Suck it up, be a man, and blame someone else instead
Lebanese football has been on a considerable upswing lately. Asian Cup qualifying was impressive and they have drawn Saudi Arabia, Qatar and North Korea in their group. A better team than many realise and I am looking forward to watching them play. Currently they sit at their historically highest ranking of 79. Big improver in Asian football.
Tim Cahill vs Lebanon: A significant match in the context of our times
The match against South Korea three days earlier will no doubt be used for that purpose. Hard to imagine the same eleven being used just three days apart. Plenty of scope for Arnold to experiment a little and still celebrate the career of Cahill.
Tim Cahill vs Lebanon: A significant match in the context of our times
All good advice I’m sure Buddy. Thanks. Hoping for a fun trip. A bit of a bonus to squeeze some football in as well.
Mark Rudan: More of the same or a fresh start for the Phoenix?
Thanks mate, much appreciated.
Should be a lot of fun. Can’t wait for it.
Mark Rudan: More of the same or a fresh start for the Phoenix?
The Melbourne Demons have belted the Greater Western Sydney Giants by 45 points at the MCG to secure a home final in September.
It was one way traffic for much of the contest as the Demons cut the Giants to pieces through the middle of the park. GWS were not able to slow down the speed and agility of the young Demons as they ran off the half back line and despite looking good in attack early, succumbed to the Demon’s pressure.
A close first quarter had the Dees in front by a point but by the early minutes of the third quarter they had asserted their dominance and skipped clear for an easy victory.
GWS will now travel home for a clash with cross town rivals Sydney in two weeks time, whilst Melbourne will host the Cats in a massive Elimination Final at the MCG.
Final Score
Melbourne 15.12 102 GWS Giants 8.9 57
Melbourne Demons vs GWS Giants: AFL highlights, live scores, blog
Great to have these three matches to really iron out some of the creases. I am really looking forward to what Mr Arnold brings to the team. I find myself feeling like a believer. I’m not sure why, but I think he might do a little better than some may think. Either way, he won’t be there to make friends. Expect more of the same from GA. From a personality sense that is. From a footballing sense, lets hope we see something quite different.
Graham Arnold: On a hiding to nothing or the chance of a lifetime?