The Wrap - Finals Fever

1. AFL. North Melbourne have a spirit that is amazing. Always battling and never faltering. Into the Prelim Final v Swans. A huge effort for a comparative minnow. They get a week's grace, but sadly it will be no longer. The Hawks and Swans in the GF for mine.

2. Like Geelong, Manly appear to be waning. They need a clean out. I'd sooner have Matai than Watmough. Leader. However, Manly rarely lose two games in a row.

3. Souths were impressive, but turning it up at the end has shown a bit of weakness. Their 80 minute concentration has been an issue for a while. They continue to churn out big and talented outside backs who are tough - and not salary cap sponges.

Three first half blow outs for Souths, Bulldogs and Cowboys...interesting.

4. Davis Cup Tennis. Beat the Zkalathumpian team. We seem to be celebrating returning to the World Group these days (top 8 in the world), rather than winning the thing.

5. Roosters. Looked good, but met a Panthers team who were very committed. Great to see Matt Moylan doing well. He spent a lot of time working at my school two years ago and is a genuinely great lad. Down to earth, funny and sincere.

Soward was outstanding under pressure. Funny how Gus speaks of this:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/how-penrith-panthers-put-grey-days-behind-them-20140906-10dato.html

Well worth a read of this after last week's Parramatta spat.

Also, I note Hasler has extended the winning culture of the Bulldogs in finals...amazing steel at that club.

 

6. The Paul Green blue checked Cowboys shirt is very hard on the eyes. Looks like an F1 Motel curtains has been removed and put together by the seamstress who used to work at the Pizza Hut restaurants. Thurston is an immortal in waiting. He is the best we have seen since the King.

7. I noticed the commentary team very affirming of the refs this weekend. A change of tune? Tiring of the whinging across the field by all players to refs. It needs to be eliminated...and very quickly, lest the game become a farce at all levels. Yet to see a ref change his mind.

Nothing an automatic thirty metre penalty could not fix. This would sort it out real quickly.

8. Wallabies. Did it tough v Argies...However, the Link has a great record as coach. He has value added.

9. Noticed the Great White Shark has been using a chainsaw...could he have be cutting down those tall poppies of today's game...or maybe it is the Majors which always had the wood on him?