Roar Guru
Joined November 2013
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Sports nut who lives, eats and breaths sport. West Coast Eagles and Dallas Mavericks fan...Dirk is king
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The West Coast Eagles have been one of the AFL’s most successful clubs since their inception in 1987. They have 25 finals appearances in…
Some things in sport can be taken at face value, while some other things certainly shouldn’t be. Some players, clubs or situations seem to…
As a kid playing footy, you knew that you needed your stars to play well. It’s a team game but the team is the…
After Round 6, the AFL landscape was taking shape, but it’s been seven rounds since then, so it only makes sense that the situation…
Today’s Aussie rules churn is 24-7. Media stories fly from every angle, teams go from flag favourites to dead in the water from week…
First the bad news. If you take away Dame Lillard’s epic, historically incredible three-pointer from today’s game, the first round has been such a…
So Melbourne are the feelgood story of the AFL right now, and are getting acclaim for the way they dismantled Geelong in the first…
Now, its tempting to write about Andrew Gaff and everything that goes with his thuggish act on Andrew Brayshaw, but let's aim a little…
Michael Jordan was the biggest star on Earth at a time where basketball was stalling. He got knocked down, mentally and physically, in a…
So we are here in the second round after an immense, gripping first round of the playoffs. On paper most match-ups seem a little…
So, the sun hasn't even gone down on Sunday in the States and we have just seen Cleveland squeak past Indiana to level the…
So, as it turns out, predicting the first-round playoff series a week out was fraught with danger, and off the mark. The gripping regular…
The NBA season has dragged on and on, just like the long Australian summer of cricket. Unlike the Aussies, teams in the NBA don't…
2016 is shaping as the tightest race in recent AFL memory, at least at the top end of the ladder. While the bottom three…
The 2015-16 NBA season has been historic on so many levels. The Golden State Warriors, the current champions, broke the 72-10 regular season record…
We have a fair gauge on how well an AFL draft plays out once players reach the 100 game mark. So let's revisit the…
There are young guns everywhere we look, and the quality of young players seems to get better and better every season. There are 18…
We are seven rounds into the AFL season and not only does the top eight seem set, but all eight of those teams have…
The West Coast Eagles are considered to be one of the best teams in the AFL. They made the grand final last season, taking…
We start with a bad team undeservedly getting the Friday night stage yet again, move into a Super Saturday with six games across the…
Hi Anthony, I agree Merrett is a gun but am interested why Wingard or Ellis shouldn’t be counted? They are both under 23 years of age and are already top players, in Wingard’s case he is elite.
Ranking the AFL young guns
Cam, the omission of Darcy Moore was an oversight. If Daniher is in, Moore deserves to be. As for Stringer, he dominates against the lower opponents but his record against fellow top 8 teams isn’t particularly impressive. The Bont is #6, which isn’t that far from top 4 or 5.
Ranking the AFL young guns
Dean, fair comment on Port. Their best is very good and as you say their draw is ridiculously easy and may give them a chance to get on a roll.
Reframing the AFL premiership market
I tell you what, if the Hawks get squeezed out of the top 4 it would be a massive challenge for them to win the flag. You wouldn’t back against them to win an elimination final, but if that was to be interstate it would at least place some doubt in their ability to win
Reframing the AFL premiership market
I don’t see that as a hot take at all Ryan. All things being equal, I don’t see how anyone else can be tipped to defeat Hawthorn in a final at the MCG so the longer the finals go, the more likely they are to win if they are still playing.
Reframing the AFL premiership market
I don’t think you will be far from the mark Michael, the Victorian footy public would crave this ‘Final Four’ given its been 5 years since an all Victorian Grand Final, let alone the last four teams standing all being from that state.
Reframing the AFL premiership market
Appreciate the feedback jax and thanks for reading. I take on board the point on some of the stats perhaps needing more context as well
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
No winner as yet for mine Martin, its too early in the piece to tell. Having said that, the Swans would be very happy with what Sinclair has done while Jetta has been underwhelming for the Eagles and doesn’t look interested, or like he is doing what he will need to do to have an impact.
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
Thanks for your comment Tom. I take ‘flat-track bullies’ as a term to describe someone who succeeds when everything is in their favour, and that is what the Eagles represent. Perhaps I should provide a bit more context around my view relating to the unanswered goal statistic. From my point of view, teams that consider themselves contenders should not only be able to be competitive at home and away, but also (and perhaps more importantly) have the ability to wrest momentum away when things are going against them. During the time that the Eagles have been considered a ‘top team’, they have lost almost every game away from home when they are up against a fellow decent team. Not only have they lost those games, but they have lost them largely on the back of a sustained period of time in which the opponent dominates. Lastly, they are allowing this to happen time and time again. For the Eagles to make the Grand Final last season, despite their indifferent away form and not address these problems in the first three away games of the season despite having almost a full list to choose from and a list profile seemingly built for success is concerning to them and can rule them out of flag contention at this point in time for mine. The sample of nine games is big enough in this case – there are only seven other top 8 teams at any one time, and every time the Eagles play one of them away from the comforts of home you are almost certain to be able to predict the result. I consider that to be a damning statistic and a reflection on them as a team, and is a reasonable sample.
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
Interested to read your take on the situation Ryan, I will keep an eye out!
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
That cycle seems a pretty good bet at this stage Samantha. Exposed form over two and a bit years tells you that not much will change for the remainder of 2016
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
Thanks for your input Don. Given the Eagles are already two games behind third place, and have a history of playing poorly away and against good teams I cannot see how they win enough games to rise up the ladder. Then again, they have just played arguably the three hardest away games so things should get easier.
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
Yes I am a supporter as well Ron and its tough to admit it, but the facts don’t lie. We need to drastically change our away form to avoid being finals cannon fodder
Are the West Coast Eagles front-runners?
Thanks for reading Swampy. Good point re. George’s decision making. I am not suggesting every decision get reviewed, just that those decisions that stink and raise queries about integrity are able to be checked. As for Korver, it is a monumental fall and one that most didn’t really see coming. At his age a gradual drop off would have been expected but for it to be dire is a shock
How are NBA referees so consistently poor?
Nick, in the article I point on that basketball rules allow, if not demand subjectivity in most cases. Ginobili’s toe was on the line, so Waiters counters with a shove in the chest – do we consider that an eye for an eye? In the other case, we are talking a full shove in the back in plain view of the entire arena. If you want to use best judgement on travel and block-charges then that’s understandable, but to take that liberty on seemingly clearly written rules is a little rich. The Donaghy story was intriguing in that he successfully manipulated the game totals and ‘shaved points’ by calling innocuous fouls in the middle of the second and third quarters to get teams in the penalty and into the foul penalty early, and no-one was any the wiser. It just goes to show how bendable the rules of this game are, and that’s without the glaring, high-profile mistakes
How are NBA referees so consistently poor?
So if it is fixed Mr.Bucket, how will it ever get FIXED? Or do we just accept it as fans?
How are NBA referees so consistently poor?
The fact that Ginobili’s toe being on the line is a fair point Steele, the article is as much about how consistently poor the refereeing is and how you can sometimes seem to predict how a game will play out, and who will and won’t get a call.
How are NBA referees so consistently poor?
Good point Alan, there is not another game ‘officiated’ as loosely as NBA basketball and the number of questionable calls and lop-sided foul tallies in big games over the years cannot be overlooked
How are NBA referees so consistently poor?
You know what Stewie, like too many people I have underestimated the Swans (again) this season but they have in effect rebuilt on the fly with those 10 players coming through. Like most years in recent times, I expect the Swans to fly through under the radar, be written off by plenty of scribes and be there at the pointy end especially if Buddy stays on track!
Hysteria, AFL style: Round 3 wrap
Mullo, thanks for the feedback. In case it hadn’t come across in the heading of the article and the three instalments of it so far this season it is in the main an overreaction/hysteria piece.
Hysteria, AFL style: Round 3 wrap
Hi Samantha, thanks for the feedback. As for taking cheap shots every week, I think you might have me confused with another author. Geelong are far from a team that I ‘hate’
Hysteria, AFL style: Round 3 wrap
Dougie, I had intended to imply that this was a home ground advantage for the Dogs but it hasn’t come across that way. Their game style seems to translate perfectly to the Dome and you would think a 7-0 or 6-1 start is not beyond the realms of possibility given their first seven games are in the confines of Etihad
Overreactions to the first round of footy
Would anyone else be in the gun if Krakeour comes in, Brendon? I was thinking White could miss out but that might cause the side to be a little imbalanced. I think Pittard is a key component of an attacking backline
How your AFL team will fare in 2016: Port Adelaide
The bar is pretty high for Wingard isn’t it Franko? Maybe I should have added that he could break into the midfield and become an elite goal-kicking mid as well?
How your AFL team will fare in 2016: Port Adelaide
Michael, the inclusion of Grundy may have been to balance the stocks and might not have been the best choice. As for Mitchell, if he consistently plays the remainder of the season the way he has done so far then he jumps up into the top bracket
Ranking the AFL young guns