Wrap - Two Left Feet

1. AFL. The AFL has some great traditions. Nothing greater than the black phone with cord on the bench. A cracking piece of retro work from the AFL. That and the trombone and tuba in the team songs... I noticed that at Bank West Stadium the 'Click Go The Shears' song for Parramatta is back. About time. A little history and tradition builds belief. The AFL have been doing it for years.


Come to think of it, surely revisiting footy cards (Scanlen Gum as sponsors of course) would be a huge sales idea for a big enough corporation these days? That or Hutton's Footy Franks. Only problem.. greedy player managers and players who want a cut.




2. NRL. The Titans are on the skids. Parramatta are always on the edge of disintegration... a bad loss to Newcastle. Big loss for the Roosters with Jake Friend out injured. Broncos bounced back and the Sharks need players back. I must say young Bronson Xerri has pace to burn, but has hands like a digital clock. Terrible at this early stage. Nerves? Too keen? He needs to stop running sideways too. A young kid with tremendous talent. Jermaine Isaako's hands for the Broncos are not much better. Basics that define careers. A hard career criticism to shake. Ask Dolf.


3. NRL. Is there a league player capable of becoming the first NRL player to be known by one name? eg. Ronaldo for Cronulla? This one had two left feet sadly.


3A. NRL. Bring back the lower grades on the same day as the NRL fixture. Prelim games (U/23 and Reserve Grade) and get the players off the main field warming up. A ridiculous development - and yet another player (Dugan) injured in the warm up. It brings back images of Tom Raudonikis explaining that he had never seen Lohnro or Black Caviar with the leg up on the rail stretching before running to victory. Take us back to Rex Mossop in the sheds with players on the benches getting their 'warm up' rub downs. Never seemed to be an issue. Is Hunter Douglas still in business?



4. EPL - Liverpool v Man City. The two horse race for the premiership looks like everyone will keep winning and Liverpool will be stranded on second place at a record high number of points. Man City are extraordinary. Their recent run of wins positions them as an exceptional performer in recent years. Fulham, Huddersfield are goone! Norwich City, Sheffield United and perhaps Leeds United are all set for a Premier League recall. This is the true excitement of the EPL!


5. MLB. The Red Sox as current World Series winners are in a world of pain. However don't dismiss the odd bet at present on Boston Bruins - Boston Celtics - Boston Red Sox. Great value possible.


6. Waratahs. They are the perennial underachievers. A narrow loss is far more common than a narrow win. Under pressure as usual. Not sure why they play at Bankwest Stadium... cash obviously, but 10,000 there? More come to Brookvale! Typical opportunistic rugby...looking for a quick buck when they have done nothing significant for anyone west of Eastwood for a long, long time.


7. Swans. GWS have great speed and legs. They minced the Swans. The lack of pace and skill is troubling. Longmire may need to be moved on soon. It is starting to sound like it. Freo and St Kilda on the charge. Geelong and GWS are the big dogs in 2019.


8. Tennis. Noticed that Nadal lost the semi of the Barcelona Open (he has only won it the 11 times!). The clay season is upon us. Thiem is the man now as they head into the French Open on May 20. Roger at 38 years of age may yet do a Tiger! Two in a year might be too much.


In 2011 and 2015, Djokovic held the Australian, US and Wimbledon titles in the one year, but was denied at the French Open. Three held simultaneously, but not the fourth. Federer did it in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and Nadal in 2010. However, Novak looks most likely to hold every Grand Slam title at once. He has won the last three and has 15 Grand Slam wins. Awesomely poised for a 16th!

8. IPL. Loving the regular games. The slower decks make it so even between bat and ball. Easily the best short form tournament in the world. Spare a thought for Ashton Turner...three golden ducks in a row! He hit the match winning three on Saturday night to break the duck (talk about faith by the selectors!). Steve Smith took a cracking catch to dismiss Dave Warner too.


Not a great stage to be doing this. It can affect your pay packet! Dave Warner on the other hand has hit five successive fifties, a record for the IPL, up there with the great Sehwag! Warner is incredible how he plays the slow low ball. A tight, compact defence and attacking disposition is adopted wisely. Very effective.