Roar Guru
Joined July 2013
54.6k
Views
53
Published
263
Comments
Love AFL, rugby union and cricket. Great to have an opportunity to write. On Twitter @reschsreal
Published
Comments
Saturday's classic fulfilled a childhood dream to attend the MCG on grand final day and watch my beloved Swans in action. Having been blessed…
The Sydney Swans' dismal qualifying final result was the red and white's fourth consecutive loss in a finals match, dating back to the 2014…
The first weekend of September is a great time of year for a few reasons. (1) If you live in the Canberra region like…
On Monday, the AFL released its 40-man preliminary All-Australian squad. As in any year, there are bolters and shock omissions, a glut of midfielders…
While North Melbourne were generally on the money (albeit not with the delivery) to not offer Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo…
First it was the cricket, with the Australian side thrashed three-zip to a team we have previously only ever lost to once in the…
Oh dear. Shaun Marsh will now be padding up for the 2016-17 summer of cricket. The likes of Mohammed Amir, Wahab Riaz, Morne Morkel…
With two rounds left to play in 2016, the race for the NAB Rising Star Award is down to two players, Callum Mills of…
Riding on the coattails of a magnificent sevens gold-medal victory in Rio, Australian rugby has been presented a wonderful story and opportunity. Despite the…
In what continues to be such a wonderful race for the top four, one unfortunate shellacking stood out among a significant number of champions'…
We're three quarters into the season, and with the top eight settled, at least ten clubs will be turning their attention to 2017 as…
Super Rugby Finals are upon us, and amidst the raft of deserved doom and gloom written on The Roar recently regarding the state of…
From the outset, this is not an article to come out and bag Hawthorn saying they are lucky three-time premiers. The proof is in…
226 points were put on the five Aussie provincial sides in arguably the darkest weekend for Australian provincial rugby, inking another chapter into this…
Given that hardly anything separates first to sixth on the AFL ladder (and seventh to eighth are snapping at the heels), I thought it…
Following a dramatic outburst against Fairfax political correspondent Caroline Wilson, there have been calls for Minister for Immigration Eddie McGuire to stand aside from…
Amid the fallout of another poor showing by the Wallabies on Saturday night, a significant amount of commentary has focused on the lateral, stagnant…
Last weekend, Lance Franklin moved into 13th on the AFL's all-time goal-kicking list, quietly passing Saverio Rocca in the Swans' heavy loss to GWS…
It has been an interesting year for Australian rugby. Following a tremendously successful Rugby World Cup campaign, the Wallabies returned home under Michael Cheika…
Following yesterday's revelation that David Pocock has been forced out of the Wallabies-England series with a fractured cheekbone, the debate regarding Michael Cheika's current…
PD – right with you on this one.
Ben’s completely missed the point – everyone reckons Cotchin was having a go at the footy – but this is not how the MRP has assessed these cases this year. It simply proves the point – the tribunal is irrelevant come Grand Final week.
The Cotchin decision was the right decision and we all know it
Sloane one would be interesting if his feet left the ground – I would need to look at it again. When I saw it on Fri night it struck me more as two blokes with a huge front on collision both going for the ball. Ellis to me is more a fine – but again if his feet left the ground it could create more interest.
MRP and AFL caught in a Cotch 22
I dont think he went out to give him a concussion. Any my comment is on how MRP have adjudicated hits to the head this year in these similar circumstances.
MRP and AFL caught in a Cotch 22
Axle – while I agree it would be harsh decision – what about Cotchin’s two punches earlier this year? I dont think we would be having this discussion now.
MRP and AFL caught in a Cotch 22
True Tiger – I agree he was going for the footy – however the way the MRP has gone this year it creates a very interesting dilemma. I certainly think he should play, but if he does (on what they have adjudicated already this year on similar things) there is no point having them sit in GF week. Good luck this week 🙂
MRP and AFL caught in a Cotch 22
Not under-rated in my view – one of the two or three greatest ever.
Will Buddy be the last 1000-goal legend?
Agreed – physically he puts himself in great position, but unforunately those shoulders can’t go where they used to.
Will Buddy be the last 1000-goal legend?
Cam – Hawks one week – Swans the next – you must be in seventh heaven!
Few points to add to your great article.
How good is the Swans drafting despite all the restrictions and dribble that has been imposed on them? All those players who have sought opportunities elsewhere – amazing list. It show-cases how good that department is – if it was a Melbourne club’s recruiting department they would be nominated for OAMs!.
One key point – it is not the injuries letting the team down – it is the very poor performance of the experienced players. Grundy and Smith are way off at the moment in defence, and one of the worst culprits who was spared your wrath above was Kieran Jack. He has been terrible. Parker has read too much of his press about being a top 10 player.
Going forward, anything from McVeigh is a bonus but not guaranteed – you could see last year he had lost the penetration in his kick – those wonderful and under-estimated 40 metre pinpoint passes were 20-25m – the curse of tightening calves and hamstrings.
I still think Longmire needs to work his forward structure as well – it just seems to be all about lining Buddy up on the left side of the field 55m from goal. They desperately need crumbers around Sam Reid – no front and centre is killing them.
Young team and they won’t be far off again in a year or two.
Injuries no excuse for flailing Sydney
You are onto something with Parker – but the Swans disposal by foot has been their achilles for a long time. Buddy is their best field kicker by a long shot, and without Rampe the team lacks significant precision.
The other aspect is they suffer at both ends of the ground in going up in groups leaving no one committed for the crumb.
The real reason the Swans are losing (it's not the youngsters)
Well prepared – bowlers yes. But Steve Smith hid some very fundemental cracks in the batting – and to even start Mitch Marsh was unforgivable at the expense of Khawaja.
Three major reasons why Australia's tour of India was a failure
Agreed – shame first half of last year he was awesome as a ruck forward.
Round 2's biggest winners and losers
The skills one is interesting – Collingwood contain a multitude of what Jack Dyer would say are ‘good ordinary footballers’.
I still think their recruitment strategy (with a bit of bad luck along the way) is fundemental to their issues.
Jessie White is a case in point – can tease with an outstanding 3 goal game at centre half forward, then goes missing for 3 months. He has been doing it for a decade now and the fact Collingwood extended his contract is a sign of their malaise with recruitment strategy.
Chris Mayne? 4 year deal for an honest player?
How is it that Collingwood lack basic skills?
Cat – fair defence – and I am happy to cop being ‘lazy’ for suggesting North without having done further work. But having 10 Victorian teams in an 18 team national competition, with two fledgling newbies in that non Vic group – is that the national game?
But that aside, what has come through when I did this that the above does not crazily change the structure of the draw as I had initially thought.
By way of example, currently Collingwood only travel interstate 5 times this year, the Bulldogs 6, the Cats 6 and Hawthorn 5 (noting they go to Tassie) and Bombers 6. There would be 5 interstate trips for Vic clubs in my scenario.
I think having a VFL conference acknowledges the strength of the tradition of Victorian football and influence on the national comp.
Anyway – was good to get a bit of debate going and appreciate your thoughts.
The AFL needs a national revamp: Here's how
Redb – have they had time to build a culture???
The AFL needs a national revamp: Here's how
Solid point. Out of interest – in past 5 years we have had one Vic vs one interstate team.
The AFL needs a national revamp: Here's how
Cam – wondering if you were itching to reference Richmond as 2 and 0? 🙂
As a Swans fan, you summed up Mitchell really well – his disposal lacks the polish of the Hawks vets that left.
Little too early to right them off finals – but certainly agree shot on the flag.
The Hawks are gone, finals and a flag beyond them
No – Swans fan in NSW. Less I hear Eddie McGuire bleating about inequality and unfairness the better 😉
The AFL needs a national revamp: Here's how
Nailed the three points very very well.
I would add a fourth – Lehmann cannot coach/select. The Khawaja non-selection is horrid.
On a positive – I still think the other thing that needs to be applauded was the work of both quicks and tweakers over the four Tests – we only got belted in one innings – which is a superb achievement.
Three major reasons why Australia's tour of India was a failure
A very VFL focus unfortunately Tim, and I guess our inherent bias will always come to the fore.
I would argue that you could have the 05-06 tandem as an almighty duo of GFs, both contrasting yet pulsating played between the same teams.
The 2012 GF is also right in there – just the quality on show from the two teams that day with the Swans pinching it.
I would also have the 1989 as number 1. The old man and I have a DVD of that game and it really was where old footy meets new.
Five grand finals that truly deserve their 'classic' status