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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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The Socceroos continue their march to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they face the Lebanon for the second time in six days. Join…
To the critics, I say simply, show a little more respect to a Lebanon team that has been steadily improving.
Hawthorn and Melbourne do battle at the MCG in a clash that will go a long way towards revealing where both teams sit in…
I have crunched the numbers and Formula 1 is watching it's GOAT in the making.
Plenty of brothers have played together in the NRL, yet none any better than the Trbojevic's.
Collingwood stare down the barrel of a 0-3 start to 2024 when they face St Kilda in Thursday night AFL action. Join The Roar…
With news breaking of over 75,000 Tasmanians registering as foundational members of the AFL expansion club set to begin play in the 2028 season,…
The Wellington Phoenix play for top spot on the A-League ladder when they tackle the white-hot Sydney FC at Eden Park. Join The Roar…
The Dally M Medal is a controversial award, as evidenced in Round 1.
Carlton and Richmond do battle at the MCG in what feels like the traditional start of the AFL season. Join The Roar for live…
The millionth A-League attendee for season 2023-24 should walk through the gate tonight when Western United and Melbourne Victory meet at AAMI Park in…
After another tricky week of predictions for A-League Men’s football, the competition now enters a five-match round before taking a wee 13-day break before…
It's a Tuesday night A-League blockbsuter as the Western Sydney Wanderers travel south to face Melbourne City. Join The Roar for live scores and…
Contesting the ball lies at the heart of rugby league and the new kick re-start rule.
After a chaotic and sometimes disappointing week in Australian football, A-League Men action begins on Friday night when the Wanderers host Western United at…
I have never raised my hand and struck another human being. I’d like to think I never will. Should I do so, I would…
The Sydney Derby has arrived again, with the Western Sydney Wanderers to face bitter rivals Sydney FC at Commbank Stadium in a Saturday A-League…
The Broncos should be in the hunt in 2024, yet is the squad of premiership quality?
For the first time since 2016, Australia have headed across the Tasman to take on New Zealand for a pair of Tests in the…
After a frustrating week of tipping thanks to several draws, this round looks more enticing for punters.
‘Shocker’ is your word not mine. Took advantage of a dominant first half and contributed. Defensively, was rubbish, again.
Don't believe the hype: Why did Bulldogs fork out big bucks for the most overrated player in the NRL?
Amazing how a player can miss four tackles, at an efficiency of 73.91% and be considered to have a ‘blinder’. He sits 4th on the missed tackle stat, alongside a group of much smaller men who we expect to see there. Two sides of the ball. On one, Kikau is performing inconsistently, on the other, he is the worst in the NRL for big men. Respectfully, I disagree.
Don't believe the hype: Why did Bulldogs fork out big bucks for the most overrated player in the NRL?
I would have thought the definition of cherry picking was to narrow stats down to position: sometimes relevant and sometimes not. Also pretty insulting to ask if I’ve watched any games this year. You are far better than that and we should be able to discuss an issue without adopting Trump-like tactics. 👍
Let’s look at a few of these in isolation.
* 1st for try involvements with 5. One try, three assists and a try contribution? However they assess that. At $800,000, I’d EXPECT him involved in a try a week. He is actually 38th if you remove the positional aspect.
* 2 line breaks in 5 weeks. Mmmmm. Certainly nothing to write home about.
* 58th for total run metres and the 17th ranked forward. Again, for the price tag people could expect more.
* 51st for tackle breaks with 13, in fairness, decent.
* Average of one off-load per week, ranked 34th, with a heck of a lot of lesser paid forwards above him.
* Add these contextual alterations to the appalling defensive stats and penalty concessions, which you’ve ignored and the picture becomes far fuller.
Simply no attempt to kick the Bulldogs while they are down, more a case of calling what I see and there were similar concerns at the Panthers. Pay Kikau $450,000 and you get some value. Overrating is reflected in the money a club has been hoodwinked into offering players without the so-called runs on the board.
We saw it first hand with Tony Williams and I’ll stand by the view on Kikau.
Don't believe the hype: Why did Bulldogs fork out big bucks for the most overrated player in the NRL?
Nicely done Sarah. 100 per cent agree about Hamilton. He is being exposed for the rather lucky driver he was in what was essentially an unbeatable car over a long period of time. Once forced to race in the pack, his true talent is exposed. Compare that to Max and his early stuff as a teenager and the chasm between the two becomes obvious.
Surely there is a cooling off period on the Ferrari contract. If I were them, I’d be acting on it immediately!
Lewis Hamilton lacked, Ferrari fought and Perez impressed: Japanese GP exceeded expectations in earlier calendar spot
But should FIFA accept it? They have nudged it quite a bit over the years but I would like to see them nudge far more firmly.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Punter, rugby competitions in France, Argentina and Italy are so far distant from the success of football that it is an unfair comparison. Australia’s two major codes dominate. A little simulation in ruggers in those countries would not even make the papers.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Shakespeare!
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
And therein lies the problem. FIFA’s stronghold is in countries without two or three other codes competing for market share. They sort of giggle at simulation as part of the game, but probably do not understand the damage that does in some countries where people actually have other options.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
This is a more than fair response but you left out the homophobia!
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Agreed. All sports have simulation as an issue and professionalism guarantees it, but football’s issue is undoubtedly more in focus than any other.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Absolutely mad. One week for simply gesturing, “I’m sick of this, get away from me.” The definition of a clumsy accident.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
How about audio of what is said between the trainer and the player on the ground? One can only imagine.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
You’ve hit on a key point there, a casual observer sees what happens in football and simply cannot embrace the game. Football hurts itself with the nonsense.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
As I said, important not to have Cancar take the fall for all the others, yet it does enunciate the point.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Sadly, I think we all know that they would have had a little chuckle about it after the game.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
100 per cent agree. ANY players who rushes towards a referee should be booked. I’ve been working on an idea that sees referees retreat to the nearest area, ie centre circle, penalty box, goal mouth when VAR is deliberating. No-one should be near the referee.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
No-one. It still astonishes me that football have never chosen to seriously punish cowards who fake injury. Parts of sport are courage and integrity, it appears many are happy to forgo both at times and that is really sad.
Simulation crackdown: If they like the spotlight so much, put A-League actors up before the Match Review Panel
Didn’t watch mate. My mum is losing her sense of reality and needed assistance at the nursing home. Maybe I’ll catch the replay.
Ciraldo responds to Gus taking over Dogs speculation: 'Like talking to your Dad'
That’s the trick I think. He builds the incredible relationships within the inner sanctum, once he departs or that link is broken, the next relationship is formed and people are cast aside. Certainly does have a record severing, as I wrote back in 2022. Yet within that sanctum, he magically convinces the players to buy in. Coaching genius really.
Pinching talent from other clubs only goes so far - building culture is far more important
It was something we reflected on a lot way back when I was in the education game. A guy I worked for came up with what I thought was a brilliant way of thinking about culture….”The way we do things around here.” A little like the old Peter Moore style of thinking and the Bulldog way. It does over simplify, but I often think of it.
Pinching talent from other clubs only goes so far - building culture is far more important
You left out the question mark.
Ciraldo responds to Gus taking over Dogs speculation: 'Like talking to your Dad'
Fair point. I do have plenty of other stories yet very few can be put to print.
Ciraldo responds to Gus taking over Dogs speculation: 'Like talking to your Dad'
When did I say anything about the selection table?
Ciraldo responds to Gus taking over Dogs speculation: 'Like talking to your Dad'
But at least we are improving and getting so much more competitive.
Ciraldo responds to Gus taking over Dogs speculation: 'Like talking to your Dad'
Not sure there could ever be a more multi-sport watcher than me and I am criticised every week by football fans telling me I am a sell-out due to my enjoyment of the AFL and rugby league, which is the game I was first exposed to. I’d suggest when you are across all you probably have the right to comment fairly and draw conclusions, far from an attempt to compare and contrast.
Forget those bringing down the game, what if we embraced the A-League and Australian football cups are actually half-full?