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Stirling Coates started out as an AFL crowd contributor, and is now the producer of the Game of Codes podcast.
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Last weekend threatened to be the tipping apocalypse but, after a shaky Saturday, most of us got back on track.
The NRL Round 18 teams are in, with the St George-Illawarra Dragons welcoming back James Graham from long injury layoff ahead of their must-win clash with Penrith.
Media reports swirling this morning that St Kilda have parted ways with embattled coach Alan Richardson have been confirmed.
With the finals plot twisting each and every week, tipping in the AFL just isn’t get any easier in 2019.
The FFA has today confirmed CEO David Gallop will step down from his position in December.
The NRL Round 17 teams are in, with top four sides South Sydney and the Roosters both bolstered by big-name returns.
Upsets galore last week saw the finals plot thicken in a big way. With plenty of juicy matches on the menu this week, it’s set to be a crucial week both on the field and on the tipping table.
The NRL Round 16 teams are in, with Origin duty decimating most of the eight teams playing this weekend.
The FFA has today released a statement announcing an in-principle agreement with the New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) to establish independence for the A-League, W-League and Y-League.
The rugby league world has been stunned this morning after an academic study found strong evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – better known as CTE – in the brains of two former NRL players.
The run home to the AFL finals is well and truly upon us, with just nine games remaining for each club for before sweet September action.
Greater Western Sydney are a genuine premiership threat. They have enviable depth, top-tier talent at nearly every position and are, arguably, the most pleasing team to watch play football. So why are the fans still staying away?
The NRL Round 15 teams are in with Newcastle fans are breathing a sigh of relief after Kalyn Ponga was named at fullback for their clash with Brisbane despite injury concerns.
Fairfax Media is this morning reporting that disgraced former rugby player Israel Folau has had his controversial GoFundMe campaign cancelled by donation facilitation service, after the company deemed his campaign was in breach of the terms of service.
Football fans rejoice, the last of the bye rounds is upon us.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has fronted the media today to respond to growing fan unrest as to a supposed crackdown on fan behaviour at AFL venues over the last few weeks.
Last week saw the competition come down with upset-itis once again, with this weekend’s of matches looking to be some of the hardest tips all season.
Ex-Penrith star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will make his debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday, named in the No.3 jersey for his new club’s clash with the Roosters.
Last weekend looked to be the easiest round in AFL tipping history and, after a dicey start, most people would’ve been happy with their scores.
NRL coaches across the country are banking on their Origin stars to full up fit and fresh from Wednesday’s series opener, with just about every player playing in tomorrow night’s blockbuster named to back up for their clubs on the weekend.
It’s a fair point, but we only have five minutes to cover each topic so we can’t get to everything, unfortunately. There’s every chance the Bulldogs and/or Saints will get a good mention if they string some wins together over the next three weeks but, for now, we thought they were the least likely of the six-win pack to get in.
The AFL finals race has been blown wide open: Who sneaks in?
San Francisco has glorious weather and would certainly be a lot more temperate but, from memory, the only decently-sized venues in the city are quite aways from the main population base.
GWS plans for US game moving forward
They do realise playing during the AFL season would mean playing during the blazing Californian summer, right? No thanks.
GWS plans for US game moving forward
The special event services to Olympic Park offer free train travel, but the NSW government still makes you fork out to catch the shuttle buses they run from Central station to the SCG.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
Homebush has absolutely lost its lustre over the last decade, while the SCG is currently a nightmare to get to given the disastrous attempts to build a light rail have decimated the city and inner-east’s roads.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
Both Queensland teams do welcome a huge number of visiting fans to their grounds but, as long as they’re buying a ticket, food and drinks, the AFL doesn’t really care what colour scarf they’re wearing.
It’s the same situation as Florida-based teams in the USA.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
I’ve got no reason to question the legitimacy of crowd figures. As GoSwans mentions in a comment further down, broadcast cameras are on the member’s side at Giants Stadium which actually hides a lot of the crowd. I think this phenomenon actually applies to most stadiums as the cameras always shoot from the same direction the sun shines, usually making the stands on the televised side the ground’s worst.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
Given the number of curiously marquee fixtures the AFL has shipped to Canberra (Bulldogs rematch in 2017?), you quietly wonder if Canberra is actually Plan B…
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
That’s a fair point IAP. I’d also argue (based on participation) there are a lot more footy supporters in Sydney’s west than people realise, they’re just rusted on Pies, Dons, Tigers etc fans who just don’t see a reason to jump ship yet.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
9-4 on the season. Started 3-4 (largely thanks to two huge upset wins by Gold Coast) but in fine form since.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 14
Oops, that was a typo. Thanks for pointing out.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 14
You’re right about Mumford – he looked so far off the pace last Saturday night it wasn’t funny. Hard not to see the North mids getting first use every time.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 13
Potentially, but Geelong had some years of success prior to that and started ’06 pretty well before falling off a cliff. The Dees hadn’t made the finals for yonks prior to last season and haven’t looked anywhere near it this season.
I fear it could more be a case of 2018 being to the Demons what 2009 was to Brisbane…
The dazzling, dreadful Demons have no plan
Those vegan protests the other month were extremely irresponsible and totally unfair on the farmers – you won’t find any disagreement with me on that point.
However, that’s not at all what I was referring to. Lroy said disagreement with a vegan is considered hate speech and I was asking him to find an example of someone simply disagreeing with a vegan and a credible member of the community genuinely referring to that disagreement as hate speech.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
You raise a fair point about this coming out of nowhere Col. If it is the case that the AFL has decided to crack down on this (we don’t really know given it could just be stadium security stepping it up), they really needed to tell fans well in advance that it was happening.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
But if you’re the type that’s offended by the AFL cracking down on people who take umpire abuse too far then staying home makes you a noble protester, right?
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
Veganism and hate speech has precisely zero relevance to what’s being discussed but, for the record’s sake, are you able retrieve an example of harmless disagreement with a vegan being credibly labelled hate speech? Or is this just another example of the absurdum fallacy people opposed to any form of social change are so fond of?
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
Is leaving your seat to approach the umpire’s tunnel and single one out in particular really part of the game? Barracking and yelling from the stands certainly is, but I’m not sure what actually got the Carlton fan ejected is.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
I’ll tell you what, it’s incredible to see the motion for fans and the media to be more considerate of how they speak in relation to players (after Tom Boyd cited mental health as a reason for retirement) totally evaporate in the minds of some when it comes to umpires.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
He wasn’t ejected or suspended for saying what’s been said 1000 times, he was ejected for leaving his seat, seeking out the umpires as they left the ground for half time and delivering his barb personally.
As long as fans don’t do that I suspect they’ll be fine.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
I’m not sure about the ‘maggot’ case, but in the most recent one the fan in question actually left his seat and approached the umpire’s tunnel to deliver his barb.
I’d argue if you’re going to go that far to have a crack you absolutely run the risk of getting tossed.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
You’re entitled to your opinion but I’d strongly argue against approaching someone at the tunnel and calling them a ‘bald-headed flog’ being good-hearted banter.
Why the AFL is right to remove abusive spectators
Hey Flexis,
That’s not stupid at all mate. If it looks iffy on the default font size that’s still an issue.
I’ll see what can be done going forward to make it easier for everyone to read.
NRL Round 13 teams: Most Origin reps set to back up as coaches roll the dice
Thanks for letting us know. Happy to play around with things and see what works for our audience.
What specifically is making it harder to read?
NRL Round 13 teams: Most Origin reps set to back up as coaches roll the dice
Hey Roarers, you may have noticed over the last few weeks we made a transition to a colour-coded table for tipping. Have you liked the changes? Disliked them? Couldn’t care less?
Keen to grab some feedback. Thanks in advance!
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 16