Roar Pro
Joined March 2020
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I care too much about the teams I support to actually watch them play. It's easy to watch with no investment but if Carlton, Sydney Thunder or Arizona Cardinals are on it's too stressful...! Fond of sporting history - there's a lot of that already so I struggle to keep up with new history every year.
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South Africa’s all-time XI had some interesting decisions behind them. A slew of all-rounders throughout the country’s history as well as some celebrated names…
The all-time XI for Australia would capture any audience’s attention whether with bat or ball. The team will be presented in batting order, and…
Everyone has their opinions on what an all-time XI would look like, and the beauty of the exercise is that no-one is wrong. However,…
Now that we have 21 teams based on surnames, it’s time to look at a few selection changes based on feedback and additional research…
The composite team has some of the greatest big men of all time, as well as some current players still going strong. Back line…
The W team has a prolific midfield, a talented forward line and a mercurial backline. Read the previous alphabet teams here. Back line David…
The V team might not have the depth of others, but there is enough quality to trouble some of the best sides. Back line…
With a forward line as potent as the one boasted by the T team, there would be plenty of shootouts. Back line Bill Thomas…
The S team is surprisingly light for scoring options, but with a midfield as good as this, there will be plenty of opportunity. Back…
The R team could have been a true family affair, with the likes of Rocca, Riewoldt, Rankin and Richards all having claims to multiple…
The P team is one that has a fine balance of class, flash and toughness, with several milestone holders among their number. Back line…
The ‘O’ team doesn’t have much out-and-out star power, but can boast plenty of consistency across the board. Back line Max Oppy (Richmond 1942-54)…
The N team is short on depth, but high on quality, with one team's era heavily featured. Back line Ian Nankervis (Geelong 1967-83) 325…
The M team has well over 1000 players eligible to be selected in the squad, so to have reached this 25 is no mean…
We move now to the L team, with firepower enough up front to outscore almost anyone. Back line Wes Lofts (Carlton 1960-70) 167 games,…
Up next is the K team, with three generations of one family all finding a spot in the squad. Back line John Kennedy Sr…
We move to the J team, and one of the most dynamic forward lines of any squad thus far. Back line Horrie Jenkin (Fitzroy…
Time now for the H team, which combines class and toughness on every line. Back line Ross Henshaw (North Melbourne 1971-83) 167 games, 11…
We move now to the G team, which has a much more modern influence than we have seen so far. Back line Les Gardiner…
We move on to the F team, with such a bevy of fantastic key position players that fitting them all in was a challenge…
“4. Can’t the AFL leave well enough alone with [subject]?”
Come on Tim, you know the answer to this is always ‘no’. I’m only mildly surprised the annual calls for a night Grand Final haven’t kicked off yet.
As a Carlton fan yeah that was a bad call for the mark/non-mark but it again shows the folly of isolating umpiring decisions from late in the game only and not any other time. And anyone seriously suggesting that umpires rig games for specific clubs needs to pull their head in. They’re just as fallible as Harry McKay or Charlie Curnow playing on from the goalsquare…
Six Points: Clutch kings do it again, footy's dirtiest player, and debunking 'Vic-centric' fixture myth
The Cricket Aus Youtube channel has recently started a 24hr stream of ‘Gold’ – highlights from 91/92 against India and back through the 80s. Haven’t seen anything more recent than that when I put it on of an evening but surely the 92/93 Frank Worrell Trophy has to be in there.
It’s great as someone who grew up with the 94/95 Ashes as my first memories to see what I had missed only a few years prior. There’s something comforting in the nostalgia of it all as well as being able to see the likes of Dev, Botham, Lloyd, Richards et all strut their stuff rather than just reading about it.
Reliving the Eighties and a great era for fast bowlers
Might have a bit to do with Tim giving them a full article praising Alex Pearce’s resurrection – none of the other games given an in depth review have been mentioned except for Adelaide’s veterans. There are 17 other teams you know 😛
Six Points: Commonsense solution to score review influx, and why this star Tiger should get two weeks
Good idea for an article series that – looking back at clubs’ past drafts and ranking them. IIRC Cripps was a reach at 13 as well (pity about the other two picks in that draft even if Holman has made a nice career at GC).
AFL pre-season notebook: Is this man about to fix the Dees' biggest problem?
Riewoldt in 2004 is the biggest oof of air that has ever been taken out of me watching a game. Utterly incredible.
Tarrant in 2001 rolling over the pack along with Gerald Healy claiming that the Royal Decree was that it would be the MOTY (only for Moorcroft to have his say later) was an absolute belter.
McPharlin in 2005 a worthy call for at least a HM for mine.
Also taking place in the game that Andrew Walker took the shouldabeen MOTY was Eddie Betts kicking the shouldabeen GOTY dancing around a couple of defenders and goalposts before dobbing it in – Ballantyne’s triple effort was a worthy winner I guess but this was just funny.
Masters of the Air: The ten greatest AFL 'speckies' of the 21st century - and #2 wasn't even Mark of the Year!
Largely reasonable list, I feel as though David Swallow might be a bit low, and much as I love Sam Walsh having him top 3 already is pretty wild.
The list of pick 2s is pretty interesting – I reckon the top 3 would be Nigel Lappin, Jarryd Roughead and Trent Cotchin but there some additional very good players there.
Future stars or false hope? Every number one pick EVER, ranked ahead of 2023 AFL draft
Maxi’s absolutely better, no chance Harvey could do what Maxwell did this week, but damn if Harvey didn’t have some of the wickedest slower balls in the game.
World Cup player stock market: Whose shares are rising and plummeting after Indian odyssey?
I can see that but I would rather it was explicitly stated in that case – it’s an all too common phenomenon in media to ignore the past when it comes to Australian sports and it irks me no matter which sport it is.
That said not having Ian Harvey in the shortlist is also pretty wild 😛
World Cup player stock market: Whose shares are rising and plummeting after Indian odyssey?
“He has vaulted himself into the conversation for Australia’s best all-time all-rounder alongside the likes of Shane Watson, Steve Waugh and Andrew Symonds.”
Keith. Ross. Miller.
All time includes before 1985 ffs
World Cup player stock market: Whose shares are rising and plummeting after Indian odyssey?
No Sunny 36*? 😛
A better option for 1975 would be Clive Lloyd’s 102 in the Final, or Viv’s 138 and Collis King’s 86 in the 1979 Final.
I feel like context is a big thing when talking about the ‘Greatest’ anything. Sure Rohit Sharma has the highest score, but I prefer Bevan’s 78* on NYD 1996 because it shepherded a amazing chase. All that said, a double century when chasing is just ludicrous.
‘Greatest ODI innings ever’: Does Maxi's Mumbai miracle beat Kapil, Viv, Sachin, Gilchrist for best knocks in cricket history?
I remember Chapelli telling a story about that day. Apparently Richards played and missed in the first over a few times and Rod Marsh turned to slips and said, “I thought this bloke was supposed to be able to bat a bit!”
After Richards drove the last ball of the day for 4 one of the slips (Brayshaw? It’s been a while) looked at Bacchus and said, “Yeah, I’d say he can bat a bit!”
Bats hit crazy distances: Joy of six diminishes as modern chunks of willow turn average batters into master blasters
Didn’t Stokes claim a catch – and review it no less – in the last test? Give me a spell. Fielders claiming dubious catches has been around since WG Grace was just growing his first whiskers for crying out loud.
‘Wouldn’t even enter my mind to do that’: Bairstow reignites Ashes stumping furore, accuses Aussies of claiming unfair catches
You mean from the kick that Dean Cox took after shoving Darren Jolly in the back before taking the mark?
Every grand final of the 2000s, ranked first to 24th: Which classic is 'the most underrated decider in footy history'?
The only thing I remember about 2013 is Fremantle’s horrid goalkicking early on taking any tension out of the result and the surreal feeling that they were even there in the first place.
2001 very nearly had an all time moment but Chris Johnson’s sprint through the centre square in the second quarter resulted in his shot thumping into the post instead of going straight through, unfortunately.
2012 is a worthy #1, Goodes’ goal is as good as anything let alone the rest of it.
Around 10 years ago I set myself the task of ranking the 115 premierships from 1897-2011 with a combination of the Grand Final and the context of the year in general. 1970 won (naturally as a Carlton fan) but IIRC 2005 was the highest ranked of the 21st century because of the Demetriou criticism, a 72 year drought, the insanity of the Hall tribunal case, and Leo Barry’s mark. I also strongly remember predicting pregame that LRT would win the Norm Smith and being outraged that he didn’t do so after the game of his career.
Every grand final of the 2000s, ranked first to 24th: Which classic is 'the most underrated decider in footy history'?
No. Just no. There are enough media awards, past player opinions, whatever out there that the Brownlow being an anachronism is needed. Sure the voting can be surprising with discrepancies between coaches and umps, and there is a lot more scrutiny these days now that stats and replays and whatever are readily at hand, but that’s the quirk that makes the Brownlow so interesting.
At least as far back as 1974 people were griping about the Brownlow voting – although in that case it was mainly Richmond people claiming that KB should have beaten Keith Greig – but everything old is new again, it seems.
COMMENT: Lachie Neale's baffling win proves it's time to take Brownlow voting off the umps
I want a Carlton-GWS Grand Final.
I expect a Brisbane-Collingwood Grand Final.
I feel like Friday will be a margin of 20-ish points either way, Round 9 has very little impact as the team lists for both sides will be very different.
Saturday will be a close Carlton win (here’s hoping!) or a big Brisbane win. I don’t think underdog Carlton has the horses to storm the Gabba fortress but we’ve pulled two rabbits out of the hat so far this finals series and we all know how quickly rabbits breed plus other animal metaphors.
Why every team will win their AFL preliminary final... and why they'll lose
STOP!
Whoever wishes to cross the bridge of death must answer me these questions three, ‘ere the other side you’ll see.
WHAT… is your name?
WHAT… is your quest?
WHAT… is a football action?
'Take the colours of the guernseys out of it': Buckley stands by Maynard as Tribunal date looms
The Collingwood legend ‘taking the colours out of it’ in defending a Collingwood player…
Forgive me for being sceptical.
'Take the colours of the guernseys out of it': Buckley stands by Maynard as Tribunal date looms
I think the thing that speaks in Carlton’s favour now is belief. Having beaten Melbourne by a Marchbank’s elbow this year compared to Pickett’s last minute goal in 2022, and then hanging on against Gold Coast to confirm the finals spot and Sydney as the introduction to actual finals there would be a lot of backs suddenly sans monkey.
Whatever happens I expect this to be a close semi, Port-GWS doesn’t have that same thriller-klaxon blaring. Either GWS continues the strong form from the past few weeks or Port rediscovers their mojo.
Should the Blues be... favourites? Five burning questions ahead of AFL semi finals
Have a look at the 1993 list of nominees and tell me that’s not the highest density of superstars to have come out of a class.
Peter Everitt
Shane Crawford
Nathan Chapman
Joe Misiti
Scott West
David Neitz
Nathan Buckley
James Hird
Dustin Fletcher
Matthew Richardson
Brodie Atkinson
Glenn Archer
Saverio Rocca
Darren Kowal
Duncan Kellaway
Mark Ricciuto
Ilija Grgic
Ang Christou
Ricky Olarenshaw
Mark Mercuri
Brad Nicholson
Leigh Colbert
10 club and league greats
6 very good players (and I might be a bit harsh on Mercuri/Misiti/Rocca by putting them in this category)
5 solid role players
And then Brodie Atkinson is the outlier but surely deserved more chances after 25 touches and 2 Brownlow votes on debut.
AFL Rising Star Power Rankings: Every nominee rated from 1-24 - is it Sheezel's to lose in the best crop of young guns ever?
Wow that’s a strong top order even beyond the obvious man at #3.
I had predicted the pace attack to be Richardson/Thomson/Akhtar after a full 2 minutes of research so I’m claiming that 2 out of 3.
Good shout for Mohammad Nissar in the HMs too, one of the first great Indian bowlers.
Team of the Month: an August-born World Cricket XI
The hurdle goal against Collingwood is the single greatest 15 seconds of football I’ve ever seen. Football in excelsis.
Thanks for everything Buddy. 19 years is a hell of a career.
Farewell to Buddy, the greatest player of the 21st century and the game's most awe-inspiring entertainer
Wonderful article and a shame that it took so long for Ron Todd to get his due. Collingwood possibly cost themselves the 1945 premiership by putting pride above ability as having him at full forward rather than the limited Len Hustler in the preliminary surely would have kept Carlton at bay and from there who knows how the GF would go.
I thought he only kicked 672 goals for Williamstown, for the longest time I remembered thinking it was such a shame he ended on 999 senior goals across the VFL/VFA so I’m glad records have been updated or corrected to give him over a thousand.
We’re never going to see a schism like that of the VFL/VFA at that time again – for the best I would say, but there is so much history and interest there to explore.
Banned by the game, shunned by Collingwood but still standing strong: The forgotten story of Ron Todd
I have to say I’m disappointed in Oliver Holt actually being rather balanced outside of the unnecessary quote marks around the word ‘stumping’. But at least we can always rely on Piers Morgan to be completely unbalanced in his role as professional dunkee.
UK View: 'Timid, petrified' Aussies escape in 'galling travesty' - as Pommy Pauline Hanson's hypocrisy exposed
This is copied directly from AAP, take it up with them.
AFL News: 'No credibility' - Freo slam ex-ump's 'spoilt brat' whack at Clark, Dees to challenge Pickett ban