Wrap - Married to the Swans' Trombones and Tubas

1. AFL - The Swans. Getting better speed on the break as the year unfolds. They have smalls doing some fabulous on-ball work. By rotating these guys, the slower experienced blokes are being faded out. McVeigh is still the most composed player in the AFL. Unbelievable vision and control.

What is happening at GWS? They have all the best players and are languishing in 11th! Injuries sure, but there is something wrong there... Geelong have also been incredibly disappointing too sitting in 8th position. Awesome roster and terribly inconsistent performances.

West Coast look the goods, beating Richmond comfortably. The form of the Hawks losing to the Brisbane Bears is terrible.

2. NRL. The Rabbits have bounced back in 2018. They keep winning when no one expected them to do it. George Burgess is in fantastic form. Saints keep charging on and Cronulla win ugly more often than not.

Cameron Smith. How good is this bloke? Cooling the heels at present, but retired from State of Origin with a cracking record. However, it was a bit of a surprise.

I need to ask the question about Kevin Walters. Is he as good as they say? I suspect this may have swayed Cameron Smith. He has fallen out with Bennet, overlooked Slater last year, fell out with Bennet again...left the Broncos. I suspect there may be a few who are over him.

3. Biff. The effort of Manly in Melbourne was impressive. The Storm have more errors in them in 2018 than ever before. The biff from Curtis Scott was ridiculous behaviour. Sucked in a beauty by Dylan Walker who is famous for his niggle. Two sin binned for Manly was a silly get square. The Storm go on like they have lost the comp when they lose a game. Maybe that is what makes them do good.

I must say, a bit of biff is good for the game in a weird sort of a way too!

4. NRL Joke. The stupidity of the NRL is amazing. How can the sin bin not be timed officially? Hello, maybe the bunker has a job there...? Absurd. Amateur hour.

5. Waratahs. The Tahs seemed incapable of concentrating for extended periods. They led and surrendered it badly last week v Crusaders. However, 15-0 up at half time v Highlanders ended in a great win. First Aussie Team to beat an NZ team in two seasons!

6. Cricket. The new Foxtel Cricket Commentary Team of Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Allan Border, Brendon Julian, Mike Hussey, Mel Jones, Isa Guha and Michael Vaughan could be a refreshing change. Timely to see Slats, Chappelli, Healy, Taylor, Clarke in the commentary dustbin. Sad, but true. Once Richie and Tony went, the writing was on the wall. 

I still think Kerry O'Keefe and Damien Fleming are two commentators you need on your team to make it more human.

7. A Goose On the Loose. Is anyone upset that Kenny Edwards has been sacked? Finally one less clown at Parramatta. Ten to go. The NSW Police transcript of the latest incident:

“Gees, check that licence plate...that car might have a banned driver... yep, suspended licence” 

“Yep (sirens)”

(Cut to...person running away from said car).

“What about that? That’s Kenny Edwards. I can tell from the man bun and the wooden spoon in his back pocket. Who would have thought?”... 

8. FA Cup Final was always an iconic game for us growing up. Often it was the only soccer we ever saw on TV. Chelsea v Man United. A battle for the ages. Typical shocking decision which sways big games. I wonder what would happen if the rule was you have to win by two goals to take the bickies?

Wrap - Air Swings of Life

1. Australian Cricket. Justin Langer appointed coach.  One of the great sledgers and competitors. Maybe he will bring a new attitude that won't involve and dodgy tricks or ploys. I recall a trick Justin played in a test with knocking off bails in Sri Lanka that raised a few eyebrows. Hard to see our intensity lessening under Langer, but standby for the selection of Hilton Cartwright and a few others from WA....Shaun Marsh, our perennial under performing batsman will be delighted too. Both have not done a lot in England county cricket this summer either.

2. NRL. The strength of the Storm and the Roosters is starting to rise. What a pathetic effort from the Warriors who at home lost 32-0. They started well this year but it may have been a mirage. The Roosters’ forwards were strong. Big hits! The strength of Souths under their new coach is starting to bite. A great win v St George.

Cameron Smith is a legend, but there is a grubby underside to his play sometimes, including his work on destroying Kevin Proctor’s groin this weekend. He needs to be rubbed out for a few weeks to galvanise his respect for the game. Disappointing and unnecessary.

Clint Gutherson was meant to save Parramatta. His air swing to cost his team a win sums up their season. They have nothing as a team. Ageing players and no hard nose leadership. Recruitment of players who make poor decisions on and off the field never helps. Spiralling. Now Kenny Edwards is involved in yet another incident of ill discipline fleeing police on a suspended licence. The ill discipline just rolls on. Who do you recruit then? Paulo who has a chequered past too.

3. AFL. The Adelaide showdown. Both Adelaide AFL teams look red hot this year. The West Coast will be hard to toss and both Swans and Hawthorn look to be declining at the same rate. GWS need a rocket with their mediocre efforts proving very troubling. At least Carlton broke their duck.

Such is the strength of the AFL, every game is so intense and the crowds so big that each takes on a finals feel, no matter what position they are on the table.

4. Super Rugby. The Reds pathetic. Fancy letting the Japanese team put 50 on you. Rebels and Brumbies played in front of three dogs. The Tahs blew a 29-0 lead and lose 32-29. How can you do that? Foley’s boot didn’t help. Our losing streak v NZ teams just keeps growing. We are sliding away ever so slowly. They booted the Penrith Emus...who's next? The Waratahs?

5. F1. Riccardo in Spain is again too far back on the grid. He does this too often in qualifying. Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton surges on, pressing to be the best ever!

6. Tennis - Clay Season. Dominic Thiem from Austria looks sharp on clay, beating Nadal in a shock loss. No matter, Nadal will be hard to beat at Roland Garros.

7. New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. They are enjoying the greatest of seasons at present. Both have had record streaks and the intense rivalry is captivating! The best in the business right there.

8. EPL Relegation Race. The drop has almost been finalised - Stoke, a fast finishing West Brom and  Swansea (unless an unlikley ten goal disaster strikes). All others breathe a sigh of relief and start recruiting. The financial loss by being 'dropped' is immense. Very few recover within ten years!

9. Tiger Woods. Streaming up the leaderboard in the Players Championship at Sawgrass (love that name)...can he do it? It would have happened ten years back, but now (?). Playing with Speith will lift him on the homeward turn.

Wrap - Knock Knock...Owen Who?

1. St George. Oh when the Saints...What a cracking team they have this year. McGregor has not really been sighted and his typical whining voice and negativity seems to have evaporated. Ben Hunt has been superb. Euan Aiken outstanding. Dufty too much speed. James Graham has really added a lot up front to them too, while his Bulldogs teammates flounder. I wonder whether we are going to select three Bulldogs forwards again for NSW in 2018...Klemmer, Woods, Jackson. Surely not. It should be Frizzell, de Belin, Vaughan. A toss up between McInness and Souths' Cook. He has pace to burn. This worries tired defences.

The NSW backline will look really different in 2018. Addo-Carr will have to be there. Pace! Damien Cook and most of the Saints pack...Can't see any players from the Tigers, Sharks, Raiders, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys or Eels making it.

2. AFL. I must say that the Swans were horrible this week. No rhythm. Their form at home this year has been abysmal. Losses to Port, the Crows and now North, who are generally dreadful. They did worse last year at 0-6, but they are not helping the faithful. No banjoes, trombones or tubas required for the song this week.

3. Super Rugby. Only outdone by the Waratahs who faced the humiliation of being sent to Brookvale for a gig that no one cared about. The Crusaders blew the Rebels away and the Blues brushed the Tahs aside as pretenders (which we all knew).

4. PGA Golf. Nice to see JDay in contention in the Wells Fargo Championship. Great name for a tournament. Hopefully he can hold his nerve in the final round.

5. A League. The Melbourne Victory are the gun side under pressure domestically. How the Sydney FC side can think they are the best team is beyond me. Premier's Plate, but no premiership. Not good enough and their demise was picked some weeks back. Berisha is a name that will be remembered for many years to come. Great season by the Newcastle Jets, but not good enough sadly.

6. EPL. The late season resurgence of West Brom is staggering. No hope to stay in the top flight a month back, they are now leaping skywards, but could be too late. Three perish. Stoke (30 points) are gone, but West Brom (31), Swansea (33), Southampton (33) and Huddersfield (35) are looking over their shoulders. Man City have the premiership banked. The race is almost run and won.

7. IPL. Getting quieter for the Aussies. Mitch Johnson has barely taken a wicket. Lynn can't get past 10 all of a sudden and Darcy Short is out of the Rajasthtan Royals team altogether. Christian and Maxwell are silent. Cutting not doing a lot. Tye still picking up a few wickets here and there.

Wrap - The Behemoth

1. B-League. We've been saying it for weeks, but Sydney FC losing to Melbourne Victory in the A-League semi final is a huge upset. They bow out as minor premiers and the Newcastle Jets take on the Victory for the silver dunny seat trophy.

What about the EPL? The relegation heat climbs. West Brom won something at long last but are doomed and Stoke, Southampton, Swansea and Mooy's Huddersfield all need wins desperately. West Ham lurk dangerously close to this lot.

2. NRL. Liking the Storm all of a sudden again. They looked brilliant v the woeful Warriors. You want to like the Warriors, but they are too often dreadful. The Dragons look a class above. What a difference James Graham has made to that pack...and no nonsense from Dugan. Really like de Belin's work post man bun and Ben Hunt is showing excellent form and is doing it quietly without media. Worries for the Cowboys, Sharks, Sea Eagles...even Parramatta had a shock win. Would still like to see some more off loads from the Parra forwards. Newcastle keep surging on in a great story. Really like this Kayln Ponga. Class act.

That ANZAC game of Saints v Roosters is just about the biggest ticket in town now in NRL outside of the GF. Always an exceptional game.

Super impressed with Anthony Seibold and his work as coach of Souths. He has them working hard on the field and believing in each other. They are alive again.

3. AFL. How about the Swans win against Geelong on the weekend without Franklin? That was outstanding. Amazing strength against a crack outfit away from home. They did what the Crows did to the Swans last week. Cue the trombones, tubas and banjos... "Cheer, cheer the red and the white...".  What about the roar of an AFL crowd? nothing quite like it. Huge sport about to obliterate all others on the winter map in Sydney.

Some worrying signs for a few of the teams still...Brisbane and Carlton still on ZERO points. St Kilda not much better... West Coast and Richmond are blasting teams away. Impressing.

4. Daniel Riccardo is carving it up at present in the GP world. Lots of rumours about a shift in team. It is a big money game. I'll be surprised if the cash is not there to keep him.

5. Super Rugby. Read an article in the weekend papers which announced the death of rugby in Sydney. Penalties, clumsy scrums, silly advantage rule, more penalties and ref ego... can't agree more. We will remember the great days of full stadiums and champion players. Will it ever come back? Nurse? Undertaker?

6. Pace. The greatest of assets in sport. May not help in darts, but any football games, athletics, horse racing. Pace wins.

7. Cricket. Good to see Gilly heading the way of the Fox cricket commentary cheam. Hopefully Fleming will get there and Kerry O'Keefe. Australians want analysis, insights and a bit of a laugh. Time to change it up big time.

I noticed Matt Renshaw has hit his straps in England. He might just start playing for them if we are not careful. He was born in the joint. Aussies are struggling in the IPL. Lynn and Short struggling.  Maxwell OK. Tye pretty good. But the wickets are changing into low scoring turners now at this time of the year. We struggle on those decks.

8. NFL. Google this Souths forward who was drafted into the NFL...amazing size and power:
Jordan Mailata. Awesome.

Wrap - IPL Craziness

1. Craziness. If anyone thought this weekend was a crazy one in Australian sport, they were right.

The amazing poor form of Australian teams in the Super Rugby is beyond belief. The game is in real danger of becoming irrelevant forever, being put into a suitcase and being pitched out into the sea. The zero-zip-zilch scoreline for the Waratahs...losses to the stale Reds, flat Rebels and pathetic Brumbies is going to get horrible very soon. The New Zealand teams cannot wait to get hold of us and absolutely punish us again. And on this weekend's form, they will.

Fancy the Swans losing to a depleted and disappointing Crows outfit. The Swans need a mid field clean out with youth, toughness and pace. Extreme pace.

Then the NRL where the Tigers lost the impossible to Newcastle, the Saints lost after having rarely if ever been beaten by the Warriors before, the Sharks trumping Penrith and the useless Eels even won without drugs, road rage, police issues, extortion, cocaine, domestic violence...they won. Who would have thought that the ever injure J. Hayne is out again. A great signing.

The Federation Cup women's tennis team did their best to lose, but got away with it.

The women's soccer lost to Japan 1-0 and Andrew Bogut is coming home to play with the Kings.

2. Manly. Well if anyone thought Jackson Hastings was going to get sympathy, it won't be any time soon after the Manly capitulation. The destabilising effects of poorly disciplined players needs to be assessed closely by clubs. Never sign a bloke who makes super poor decisions in life. Guess what? He makes a similar standard of poor decision on the field.

Liking the new Souths team. Doing well. However Sam Burgess is a thug. The poorest record on record in the modern game. Jim Comans would have straightened out Sam.

3. Arsene Wegner finally is to depart Arsenal. Overdue, but has set many records. Rarely won an EPL premiership, but loved a little mid week silver plate or mug here or there to get the cash rolling through the wallet. A long term coaching legend really.

4. NRL. The dropkick that wasn't. The video ref is the greatest drop kick of the lot. Fair dinkum.

5. IPL. Some fantastic batting by some modern legends. Chris Gayle hit a ton the other night 104 off next to nothing; the great Shane Watson did likewise and then the mercurial AB De Villiers - the best player in the world with Kohli - hit another one. Three in three days. Chris Lynn doing well and the great Andrew Tye and Ben Laughlin are also cleaning up this year. Billy Stanlake not so...Darcy Short running himself out in most matches to date.

6. A-League. Once again Berisha has scored in an A League finals game. He's enjoying Australia over Albania.

7. Trapeze Artist. What a great run on the weekend. Strong when it counts. Two cracking runs in a fortnight. The unluckiest one...El Dorado Dreaming...a flying finish impeded.

8. Rafa Nadal. Back on the clay of the Monte Carlo Open. Has won it 10 times! That made him the first men's tennis player in the Open era to win the same title 10 times. Amazing. Playing the Japanese opponent Kai Nishokori, it will surely be 11 tonight and the No. 1 world ranking will be his again. Legend.

Wrap - Right Cricket

1. Cricket TV Rights. News at Channel 7 as the new home for cricket commentary. The arrogance of Channel 9 has finally taken its toll. A lazy commentary, old fashioned and not in tune with social media that focused too much on blokes who the fans could not stand....Healy, Slater and Clarke are done. How Channel 9 think the tennis will be any better is beyond me. Maybe fewer egos. Free to air TV is cooked. It is on its last legs and they know it. Fire sale. Foxtel will clean up too.

2. NRL. Dragons and Panthers are the stand outs. Tigers have been superb too. Superb strength, youthful forwards and better pace than most. The misery of Parramatta rests with a team who have too many dumb footballers who make poor decisions. They need a ‘no dickhead’ policy. Sadly, Arthur has recruited a lot of them and either cleans out the lot or goes with them. What a terrible underachieving club at present. How do you fall so dramatically after a decent 2017? Unwatchable.

They have scored 44 points this year. Awful. Radradra’s loss was going to be massive....and it is. They need pace and size. A lot of their roster has been retained too long - Beau Scott, Michael Jennings, Tim Mannah, Jarryd Hayne, Brad Takairangi. The lack of a speedy hooker costs them too. 

There’s not one better local kid than some of these time wasters? Surely. The local kid is needed to save them. They need to go local and rediscover their soul. Moses’ defence is horrible. The number of wooden spoons being exchanged in the Hills area at present is outrageous. Tim Mannah is a lovely bloke and would make an excellent next door neighbour. Not so sure about his leadership in a crisis. He has not off loaded the ball in eight seasons.

Parramatta's consistency however cannot be doubted.

3. AFL. Brisbane Lions’ effort v Richmond was pathetic. 17 points in a game is awful. Carlton have also proven to be hopeless again. The Suns should hibernate too. The Crows not much better. Western Bulldogs were much tougher v the Swans. The Swans are bright. Back in the mix. The close games matter.

4. Waratahs...four in a row after the win v QLD at the SCG. Bonus point win, but the big NSW winger - Taqele Naiyaravoro - what a prospect! However, NZ teams will unpick a whole heap of problems with this team. Execution was pretty poor at key times. The Reds lacked attacking flair. 

5. A-League. What about the A League...Jets 8 v Central Coast 2. The Central Coast may need to close the doors with that effort. Terrible. Sydney FC completely dominant. Just a little unsure why they get so excited about being minor premiers when a final series looms. It is not Europe. The Western Sydney Wanderers have also been put out of their misery. No finals for them.

6. The Commonwealth Games has been and done. Highly competitive in certain sports eg. Netball. However when is men’s netball going to make its appearance at the games? An inconsistency and travesty. Great to see Kurt Fearnley wave the flag at the end. He is a true champion. A heap of medals across his challenging, yet glittering career.

7. EPL. The race to disgrace hots up as they try and beat the relegation stigma. Champions League semi for Liverpool. Tremendous stuff for the Kloppster who is an absolute fan favourite with his energetic antics.

8. The Masters Back Wash. Not a fan of how the media has tried to sour Patrick Reed’s win at the Masters this week just gone. Popular or not, he won with style and good grace. A phenomenal effort under immense pressure. The performance of our Cameron Smith was pretty special. 

9. MLB. How about the Boston Red Sox and their start to the MLB Baseball season? 12-2. Their best start since 1918! Not bad.

10. Winx. Awesome at 25 wins. Another framed memento to bid for at a trivia fundraising night! Interesting to hear Hugh Bowman say post race that he had ten or twelve lengths on all the other horses was amazing. Belief.

The run of an absolute old favourite - Who Shot The Barman - in the 3200m Sydney Cup was awesome too. Get on that thing at big distances. Best run of the weekend: Alizee in the Coolmore. Extreme pace when it mattered. One to watch.

11. Chinese Grand Prix. How outstanding was Daniel Riccardo? Possibly the nicest Australian sporting talent we have world wide - and possibly the most talented.

Wrap - Fun and Common Games

1. The Masters. How amazing is this tournament every year? It is truly the spectacular highlight of the golfing calendar, if not the world sporting calendar. Reed has excelled but may fold late. However, two eagles today speaks volumes of his character and skill. McIroy looks the stronger as he seeks the rare career Grand Slam of golf. Leishman played brilliantly early, but everyone will be looking for Reed to fall over and storm home late. It has play off written all over it. Ricky Fowler looks sharp too.

2. Michael Clarke just does not get it.  He presents himself as the rescue man and then backs away from it all as the public backlash gathers momentum. Incredibly disrespectful to Tim Paine. Times might just be getting tougher for him as the aftershave range slows down, the hair gel dries up, people struggle to remember his deeds, the memoirs book returns to stopping the average family caravan from sliding into the side fence and his signature becomes one wanted more by the tax office than the general public.

A saviour of cricket? Certainly, even without much practice, he would be a better bat still than Handscomb, S. Marsh (duck or a hundred) or Khawaja, but he is part of the poisonous culture that emerged...so are ex-captains Steve Waugh...Ricky Ponting.

Michael loves a front page spread of a Sunday paper - a publicity hound - and if it does not work for his lovely wife, step in, amp it up and appear to be the saviour. No thanks. The new Bob Simpson? Hardly, although both played for Western Suburbs cricket club.

3. The Commonwealth Games. A stunning glittery celebration of what? Being part of the Queen's lands? Hard to see their relevance any more, but it does give our athletes an opportunity to be part of history.  I am thrilled we are beating Papau New Guinea, South Africa (track work starts soon to address this) and India (why do they not swim?), but, while prestigious, is a Commonwealth Gold medal too easy to achieve in certain events? Maybe blue ribbons like those at a primary school athletics carnival may not be too far away.

England in particular look like they have forgotten how to compete after their Olympic glory in recent years.

World records are incredible at any time, but you just sense that every medal comes with a free tattoo on the Gold Coast. I am still liking that new Jim's franchise on the Gold Coast - "Jim's Tattoo Removal"...vans that tour around spraying off the local artwork and correcting spelling errors on body parts.

4. NRL Tips. Who picks the Tigers to beat Storm (twice in a month) and Warriors to crush the Cowboys? Knights to stave off the more fancied Broncos? Gold Coast over Manly? An incredibly tough gig is this NRL tipping business in 2018. Very unsettled and probably a great thing to see in the game. The Cowboys, Broncos and Storm are all struggling. Maybe a changing of the guard.

5. The Eels. The Eels sit anchored to the bottom of the table. And why would that be? Easily the most disappointing club team in all Australian sport. I have had to break my own ban or I will never be able to mention them again. 0-5 is awful from a team who are now revealed as unfit, lazy and spineless. Self indulgent. No strong forwards making yards. Ill discipline. A rabble really. So many of them make bad decisions. Zero accountability. Brad Arthur may be on the skids very soon.

That new home ground of theirs may never be filled by them. They last won a comp 32 years ago. It could well be another 32 years. No Parramatta fans have ever confidently entered a weekend of NRL over the last 30 years believing victory was imminent.

6. AFL. Buddy Franklin is phenomenal. He has developed into a much stronger team member with greater versatility, but his boot remains lazer like. A tremendous Swans win over GWS. Melbourne looking stronger finally. Brisbane a touch unlucky. Carlton awful.

7. Happy Clapper. This horse continues to amaze. A great name and a greater stride. Dominates on the Sydney stage. Impressed with the strength of Luvaluva in the last race at Randwick as well. Run of the day was Trapeze Artist which beat Redzel. Redzel may just be fading a little from where it was last year, but it is still quick. Still waiting for Merchant Navy to return to the fray. A more sensational turn of speed from a horse you have never seen.

8. EPL. ManuU showed some steel to knock over Man City over the weekend 3-2. The relegation race is narrowing too. West Brom, Stoke and Southampton look ready for the League below, but there is always a surprise or two.

9. IPL. Good to see the IPL get back underway. I could not believe how slow Shane Watson looked in the field, but he got two wickets (2/29 off four). However, some of those local Indian players grow wings and strength in this tournament. Look for the names Hardik and Krunal Pandya. Awesome.

A real shame Indian cricketers are not involved in the Big Bash. Cricket Australia should be encouraging it big time. The standard of Big Bash cricket is flagging without them.

10. Mick Fanning. A final curtain falls on his fine career at Bells. One of his greatest legacies? The bottle top opener in the underside of thongs range. An Australian must.

11. Super 15 Rugby. Who will stop the NZ team dominance? The Tahs are looking a bit sharper (but it was the Sunwolves) while the Reds fell in a heap to the under performing Brumbies. Even so, they don't seem to be missing Uncle Quayde.

12. Connor McGregor. Goose. Galoot. His attack on that UFC bus defies belief. A disgrace.