1. Michael Hooper has long been a concern. Fronting up and leading the Wallabies grandly as our most capped captain ever. His physical health - let alone his mental health - has always been of concern. A legend of Australian rugby and he wants a break. Fair enough. Tests against the Pumas don't rate that highly in the minds of most... players and fans. A good win nonetheless and to beat Cheika may be the best reward of all for many of the team. Cooper will be a loss with an achilles injury.
2. Commonwealth Games Medals. At one stage earlier this week it seemed like they were giving out the gold medals with the chocolate inside them, but a great reward for so many fledgling and emerging athletes. Some tremendous efforts however. Emma McKeon is just superb as the GOAT. The Oliie Hoare's 1500m win was outstanding! The relay...not so great. We have so many young athletes achieving excellent results and getting a taste of what is needed for further honours.
3. The Hip Drop NRL tackle. This needs to be barred and Brandon Smith can consider himself very lucky that he avoided suspension. He is developing quite a bad judiciary record, but nothing on Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves or Tariq Sims who are the kings at the judiciary. They have a reserved seat each.
4. Buddy Franklin. When an experienced legend seeks too much of the salary cap and injury and retirement hovers, they need to be cut free. Wally Lewis was the famous example and then the Broncos created a dynasty. Buddy may go to the Gold Coast or Brisbane by all reports. Good luck to him, but the Swans need to be future focused. For them to be in the top four now this year is incredible really. Parramatta hung onto Sterling and Kenny for years after their expiry dates. No loyalty these days. Everyone wants a competitive team, but not all teams can play a GF.
5. F1- Daniel Ricciardo. Surprised with talk of his axing from McLaren? Daniel loves the glamour, but his top ten finishes are not enough for the elite level. 5ths and 9ths may pay bills, but don't win championships or favours by team owners. 12 top ten finishes last year...only four this season so far. More excuses than an after school detention session with kids.
6. NRL - Parramatta. Great win v Manly, but the Manly club is all over the place at present. An injured Keiran Foran heading north at year's end, may be on the same plane as Buddy. I cannot see him completing that contract at all. Parramatta were steady and young Jake Arthur played well. He defends well for a newbie and a couple of smart plays. I think it is his height that throws people. The tallest halfback in Australia and lacks a bit of speed. His kicking game is not as great.
What Moses' absence has revealed however is that Dylan Brown is an absolute gun. A $1M player who needs a long long contract. He will win comps. The impact that Junior Paulo (the M4 biffer) and RCG have when they come back on in every second half is amazing, but Parramatta fall in a hole without them.
7. Ricky Stuart. A desperately poor post match comment about a player who it seems some ten years ago may have been an insensitive and inappropriate clown. However, for a super experienced head coach to blast someone publicly in a press conference is not on. Ricky is sounding crankier and crankier. He needs to retire and explain the horrendous results for his team. 2019 Grand Final, finals in 2020 and now a tenth place (2021) and something similar in 2022. It is not good enough with his roster. He has had blow ups with all sorts of people in the club, players and media...and refs as well. Time to visit Centrelink.
He's going as well as the Tigers...they are truly terrible. Bad attitudes. How does Channel 9 pick these spectacularly poor Sunday afternoon games?
8. Anthony Griffin. His days are sadly numbered. When you get rid of Assistant Coaches, it looks like you are not taking responsibility. This is not lost on the players. He is in trouble. No doubt there will be a review happening soon, bring Gus back in and then he is on his way. Nice guy, but too many off cut recruits which divides a club already famous for BBQs and blokes jumping over neighbour's fences and scooting away in the dark to avoid police (Kenny Edwards style). Not a semi-final in sight. Awful really.
9. Collingwood. A cracking win v Melbourne on Friday night. They are roaring after 11 straight wins. At some point they need a let down, but their ferocious defence and intensity is a far cry from the Nathan Buckley days. They will go close because they are fit and smart, using angles really well across the park. Melbourne? They will be back. Maxie Gawn was on fire with nearly 30 touches!
Richmond are a danger team... so well coached. The Western Bulldogs are nearly gone, but super talented! The Swans v Collingwood game next week will be a cracker!
10. Adelaide Crows - 2018 Pre Season Camp. Possibly the most famous stuff up in years - and revisited every year too. How this could ever occur is beyond everyone. A massive financial legal case looms.
11. EPL and Scottish Premier League is back already! Not much of an off season at all. Liverpool 2-2 v Fulham was a shock. Saleh is a gun. The newly promoted Notts Forrest will need to do better after a 0-2 result. Everton, lucky to stay in the top flight, have already lost in Week 1. They are under close watch! Big win by Tottenham v Southampton.
12. Kyrgios... into another hard court US circuit final in the Washington Open, but the lack of ATP points from Wimbledon has him sitting around 60th in the world. Unlucky. Playing like a top ten player at present.
13. BBL. Good to see Dave Warner clean up from Cricket Australia for the BBL. He may never reveal all about the sandpaper fiasco and how much the bowlers knew after all.
The BBL Draft has a million dud players in it, but hopefully better options ahead. The Romanian bowler, Pavel 'The Bodyguard' Florin, surely won't play.
If you thought your bowling was bad..."Well...you can see that he hasn't been playing cricket for decades"... understatement of the century. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmOyLYpxX-Y
No comments:
Post a Comment