Roar Guru
Joined October 2012
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I work in the Recreation space of Local Government. Love all sports, particularly Rugby Union. Particularly interested on how sport can better society at both grassroots and elite level.
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I'll start by indulging in some nostalgia, and explain how I fell in love with Southampton. It all began in the 1990s on the…
As the world watches on in horror at the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the world's biggest sports organisations need to start taking a hard…
I’ve always been a bit unsure about David Warner. Sometimes I loved his tough, attacking cricket, particularly through that golden 2014-15 period. Since those…
Carlton bashing resumed this week with new of the departure of CEO Cain Liddle, meaning this season has seen the departure of a president,…
Next year will mark the tenth year of AFL Media, an organisation who seem to perennially swing between being an independent body creating and…
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has been pushing the AFL to set a timeline for the introduction of a Tasmanian team. The problem that Gutwein…
Fox Footy ran a story titled “Heritier Lumumba listed his nickname as ‘chimp’ in AFL Record” – a clickbait article which looked as if…
We will remember 2017 for the rise of Sam Kerr and the Matildas, the launch of AFLW and the widespread acknowledgement of Ellyse Perry…
There has been a stench coming out of ARU headquarters for a while, and like a jerk that farts in a freefalling elevator, they…
The AFL Commission got it wrong when in re-awarding the 2012 Brownlow Medal. Everything the medal stands for was lost in 2012. It need…
It is time Tennis Australia put its hand up and realised that its player development model isn't working. Our players are technically brilliant, but…
After his failure against Pakistan, the curse of the number three batsmen is set to add Alex Doolan to its list of victims. Andrew…
Cricket, football tennis are some of Australia's favourite sports. They are now also some of our most tarnished. It is time we realised that…
I am going to come clean. I used to be homophobic. Not in a hatred sense, but in the colloquial manner, where you don't…
The sporting public seems content with Australia's three defeats at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. While a couple of honourable defeats might be enough…
Here are the top five most important and intriguing group stage matches that this writer is looking forward to at the 2014 FIFA World…
New Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert is in Brazil with the English World Cup squad, yet how he got there is different to any of…
'Interactive' is a word commonly flung around by sports organisations, but the reality is that our codes either don't understand the potential of social…
If there's one delivery I look forward to more than any other, from year to year, it's the first of the Boxing Day Test…
Lucas Neill will not last forever. He is 35 years old and should be thinking about golf and a midlife crisis, not continuing to…
I remember Brett Lee having an appeal turned down, and obviously mouthing the the F bomb on the reply. Richie says, “Obviously, Mr Lee agreed with that decision, because he said, ‘Fair Enough'”.
Gotta agree with the top 5, maybe swap 1 and 2, however no one standing up for Dazza Eastlake?
Best commentators of all time
Best to win with style, we can handle some wins without style, but we cannot handle losing without style..
Can Bill Pulver bring a change of luck to Australian rugby?
I mentioned in an article about code hoppers that Dean Brogan won flags with the Adelaide 36ers and the Power. LeBron James at CHF? Hell Yeah!!!
HEAL: American basketballers a better bet than Folau for AFL clubs
I suppose for the pupose of the article I considered someone who changed sports at an elite level. Otherwise literally every sportsperson would be a hopper.
Why are we so angry at Izzy and the code jumpers?
Corrrect Bobo, I think half the reason he went to union was because Parramatta were mucking aroound so much and getting no closer to making him an offer.
Why are we so angry at Izzy and the code jumpers?
klestical,
Well written article, but again, I dont think Rugby League is taking over the world as you write. I also think we ARE in a crowded football market- sure the a-league is new, but football had the participants, just not its act together. I do look forward to seeing what your ideas are, as it has left me on a cliffhanger, but if it involves uncontested scrums..
Why rugby union must innovate or die: Part I
oh no deebhoy I didnt think you were having a go, I just wasn’t sure if you were unhappy with the message or the messenger.If people think that the press is a bit AFL friendly now though, wait until the league has a media centre controlling ALL the stories coming out…
A positive culture leads to sporting success
deebhoy, do you think that there is no problem, and the story is false, or that wilson is just making unfounded allegations, regardless of how close she is to the mark?
A positive culture leads to sporting success
Christo and TC, I believe your both correct, but I think a young man is more likely to be deeply influenced by a whole group of teamates who act in the right manner rather then a set class when they misbehave like schoolboys.Hence why culture is so important. It is basically positive peer pressure.
A positive culture leads to sporting success
Nice article HH. Campo had some good points about Robbie Deans a few weeks ago, but just undid his work and lost respect. I don’t think Georgina Robinson is soft, either. Her articles on the tour are reports on events, not opinion pieces. I also like the way (so far) she has shown some class and let everyone else defend her, and stayed out of it. There’s no problem with a difference of opinion, but that tweet was an epic failure of a cheap shot.
Campo, don't let the hair and boobs fool you: women are equals in sport
It is basically an 10 month holiday. The 2 months of trackwork beforehand is obviously so he is prepered for spring carnival. He ruins the sports integrity, and they say “your suspended but make sure your back for the big rides next year”.
Is horse racing too dirty to ever clean up?
Base it on the big bash, franchises perhaps, and few internationals to make it more exciting, and go town to town for a few weeks- DOW and CBD, you may be on to something!
Rugby Sevens the key to fix attacking woes
Interesting question onside, however, I believe the Wallabies are the summation as they are the best we have. Also, remember Im talking about sevens for juniors, not all the way through the system and age groups, in order to increase the base levels of basics skills that players have.
Rugby Sevens the key to fix attacking woes
Adkins probably has a bit of time as he got Saints the double promotion from npower League 1, however he probably be looking for some better and more experienced defenders and GK in the january transfer window.
Premier League: Which manager faces the sack?
Thanks for the comment Shahsan. I absolutely agree with you that some player are suited to one and some to the other. I am talking more about using 7s Rugby at Junior level as a means to increase motor skill development. I also agree that, especially at adult level, size means nothing, However at junior level, before tackling techniques are fully developed, big kids tend to be the easieast way forward. That is my point- it is a big kidwith everyone else following him. The problem is that the other team memebrs then miss out on valuable time on the ball, and the big kids get used to using their size rather then ball skills and proper technique, and it leads to underdeveloped players all round.
Rugby Sevens the key to fix attacking woes
Well written Justin, it will be interesting to see if they put the foot down or he retires first. Is it known who he put the bet on with?
Racing needs to make a statement in Oliver inquiry
Thanks for the comment rl, you were right about about the oils lyrics, and I may well have been a bit harsh on Cummins…though I’m not conceding just yet.
Deans isn't Aussie rugby's only problem
I think you are on the right path dasher, we need to start moderately, hence my idea of starting the new comp atteched to the Super franchises as a way to reduce start up costs. Sheek, you are also on the mark, but I pose a question- do you think the market for domestic Rugby is already taken up by the Super franchises? New clubs will be competing for rugby supporters with Super clubs as much as super clubs compete with each other, after all, especially if the competeions overlap or run concurrently. Perhaps the comp, therefore, could run during the international season, but then does that elimintae the pathway for elite players to improve?
Deans isn't Aussie rugby's only problem
Justin, I must say I am quite humbled to have such a well respected expert comment on my article. However, I am obviously quite a lot more sceptical about things then yourself.
Firstly, I should clarify, when I was talking about profits it was in regards to government and betting agencies. The 2011 Tabcorp annual report shows that they achieved $220.2 million dollars in Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) through wagering. They also claim to have a 43.3% market share. That is a large income stream to protect.They are tied to racing through the SKY racing channels and $322 million dollars they distributed to the “Victorian Racing Industry”. This means the industry needs to keep Tabcorp happy, and Tabcorp wants betting. The government is also tied in to both the racing and betting side. Like betting agencies, Governments have a large revenue stream to protect.The Australasian gaming council reports that in the 2008-09 financial year, state governments collected $388.36 million in taxes from racing, with Victoria accounting for $125.04 million. You must also remember the spring racing carnival generates tax for the government through other boosts to the economy such as tourism, wages and alcohol tax. I cannot see a situation where these stakeholders such as Tabcorp or Government, would want these revenue streams jeopardised by damaging the product. Why would they then bring more of these scandals to light?
You also state there isn’t enough money in horse racing to be profitable for owners, it is done for love, and prizemoney provided by gambling helps. If it is costing so much, with little hope of return, surely this is more of an incentive to gain income from other means, even underhanded? Especially if the love for the sport is there, but the revenue stream is not?
I agree that horse racing would continue if gambling money was taken out, but it would have to be an almighty replacement in income to keep the industry in the size and state that it is. However, I also argue that there would still be betting- be it betting overseas via the internet or through illegal bookmakers- and therefore darker and less noble temptations for participants would still be lurking.
I would love to be proven wrong by the racing hierachy on their incapability to take meaningful action. However, the fact Hines knew about D.Oliver’s bet and said nothing, compared to the fuss around Smerdon getting busted, makes it seem like Smerdons fine was as much a media stunt to please the public and stakeholders and make it seem like they were on top illegal activities. I went through the histories as a pointer, perhaps, to the future.
Again, Justin, thankyou for your comment. I realise I am quite sceptical, but I think that there is worse yet to come and money will be at the heart of it.
I look forward to your article on jockeys placing bets.
Is horse racing too dirty to ever clean up?
That is a terrible story Heff. Too often horses are the victim of greed. According to the Herald Sun report, horses doped with EPO would die later because after doping finished, their bodies could not replace the lost blood cells they gained artificially. Jumps racing is also putting these great animals at unnecessary risk for nothing but profit (I understand there are serious issues with training of teh horses and the design of the jumps). Also for your father, who would have of course become attached to the horses and the sport (as all owners do) only to be esposed to something so hideous. Unfortunately, I cannot see anything but token efforts to reform the sport in the near future.
Is horse racing too dirty to ever clean up?
Thanks for the comment Christo. Do you think a bit of the problem with sport journalists is that racing is only relevant at carnival time (in Victoria, Spring Carnival, for example) whereas, relatively, there isnt really enough interest year round from the general public to make a worthwhile story? I also agree with your comment about other sports- perhaps people where happy to have racing and gambling in the same lot as long as thats where they stayed, leaving the other sports alone.
Is horse racing too dirty to ever clean up?
Thanks for the comment. I think, however, that problem gamblers will bet even if they know the race is dirty. Most people have a bet at spring carnival, but it is those that are chasing their losses which keep the industry going all year round.
Is horse racing too dirty to ever clean up?
I lost my respect for Deans when he continually used Quade Cooper. I think by the end of some games he was the only one person in the country who stillw anted him on the park. The Wallabies now play like they are trying not to lose, not to win. Sterling was right, do the hard yards and it will open up. You don’t need brilliance in attack, just intelligence.
Actually, bring Sterling back to play. He could coach as well! And maybe become Prime Minister if he wants to.
Too late to sack coach Deans: Mortlock
This is why I have reservations about hawkeye. That ball clearly turned in more the simulated trajectory showed. Also, I was bought up taught that if you get struck on the pads not offering a shot you are in all sorts of trouble. Hawkeye doesn’t facor that.
LBW and DRS are leaving a conflicting mess
Thanks for your really helpfuland constructive comment BBS, next time I’ll put in more pictures.
Should Ellyse Perry continue playing two sports?