Wrap - GF Special

1. Swans. Totally lacked pace in the centre and their inability to take contested marks right across the second half was terrible. Buddy was ordinary. Why he didn't announce himself by shooting the first goal of the game instead of a failed kick to the centre was anyone's guess. Pressure has found him out sometimes. This time of year last year was an unhappy time for him. Rohan needed to step up but didn't. McGlynn was invisible. Mills error prone.

The Umpiring was appalling. The bias was insulting. Keep Victoria safe as the AFL home was clearly the edict. I think the game needs to publicly address this.

The pace and handballing from the Western Bulldogs cut the Swans to ribbons. Rampe and Grundy kept the Swans in it. The Swans had nothing up front. Boyd and the Headbanded alphabet were dynamic in the air. A great game, only missing a live cross to Gary and Mrs Crankypants Jack's house. Just quietly I think Bruce also stole Dennis Commeti's thunder at the end. He needed to back off a bit for mine and honour his mate.

2. Man Mundine continues to confirm that he is the absolute master of idiotic comments by dopey sportsmen worldwide. Boycott the anthem? Wake up. Anthony needs to follow the example of Warren Mundine and think solutions not activism.

3. Cronulla. Monumental games from Barba, Maloney and Fifita largely went unrecognised. Ennis and Prior too. Lewis? Steady, but not in the league of the others on the night. Runs great lines as a backrower and should have kept the arm up for that near miss try. The Sharks dug deep. That last minute or so was enthralling! It could have gone either way. Great game. Better result.

4. Not real impressed with the number of Sharks fans at the post GF fan day. $12,000? It needed to be stage managed more professionally, but as premiers you can do whatever you like! It will take some kind of miracle to keep that team together...Ennis is gone....hard to replace!

What about Bellamy? In charge of the Storm for 14 seasons. He has had a finals appearance every year - except when they lost all points and came last. Six Grand Finals (3 wins - 2 stripped). 5 Minor Premierships. Nine top four finishes. Amazing.

5. Pre game entertainment at Grand Finals. How can this be so consistently bad? Keith Urban looks like a lovely fellow but we'd really rather hear Nicole Kidman sing. Sting was awful. Sambora was hopeless - so was hat girl. What is doing? Jimmy Barnes was exceptional last year...Rolling out Tina Turner's 'Simply The Best' is stretching things a bit too much.

It was intriguing to see a few innovations at the NRL GF to try and catch up with the AFL. Premiership rings (how ugly are they!?) handed over by young kids (from where?). The pre game team handshake was interesting. As was coverage of Todd Greenberg giving hugs to certain players. David Gallop would not have gotten or given that! The victor's dias in front of their crowd (like when the Bunnies won) gives an excellent backdrop and some streamers made a comeback as well...even if theyr got stuck on the high wires. The Clive Churchill announcement was botched! Too soon...no build up...no explanation of how this is decided.

6. Australian Cricket. Can anyone explain how Boland, Mennie and Worrall are our leading bowlers? They are terrible!! Sth Africa smacked us twice. Really smacked us. We are an embarrassment. An arrogant one at that. Imagine the whinging if South Africa sent that quality of bowler out here. Why are these nonsense tournaments important?

7. Daniel Ricciardo. Great win in the Malaysian GP. The shooey...what the hell?

8. A League. The timing of the start of their season is very well done. They know their place in the Australian sporting landscape.

9. Ryder Cup. USA dominated. Good to see Rory getting fired up! Did you see the Danny Willett response to the journo's question "How would you describe your first Ryder Cup experience?". His answer: "Shit". Fair enough.

10. MLB Finals: American League - Boston Redsox, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers. Wildcard game: Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Bluejays. National League - Chicago Cubs, LA Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Wildcard game: NY Mets v San Fran Giants.

Plenty of big games ahead. The Cubs may actually shake the curse of the goat at long last!

11. When did the BIG cardboard face of the player become popular in the NRL crowd!? One for the Indian cricket crowd to work on. They have absolutely dominated New Zealand. The turning Indian decks are something else.

12. Wobblies. Did they play?