AFL Talk
November 27th 2008 04:17
Pending allegations of a conflict of interest, the column has been temporarily suspended. It may re-appear in February 2009.
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Murray Middleton
Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Joined February 18th 2008
Number of Posts:
87
Number of Comments:
4
Karma:
7
I am 24 years old. I love writing. I love football. I have combined my two loves to create this blog.
Recent Posts The Anti Nathan Carroll MovementOctober 30th 2008 06:26
My name is Murray Middleton and I am a member of the St. Kilda Football Club. On Saturday morning I was dumbfounded by the news that St. Kilda was seeking to recruit Melbourne’s Nathan Carroll for the 2009 season. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN!
Nathan Carroll is on the brink of being delisted by the bottom club. If he is not good enough to play for Melbourne, he is not good enough to play for the fifteen clubs that sit above Melbourne on the ladder. There is a reason why he is about to be delisted. Are the Saints going to overtake the likes of Geelong and Hawthorn by recruiting Nathan Carroll? Carroll spent the majority of 2008 languishing in Melbourne’s reserves (Sandringham), where his performances were below par. He has much-publicised attitudinal problems - which led to him being dropped from the Demons’ leadership group in 2008 - and is clearly a disruptive influence around a professional football club. Carroll will be 28 years old by the start of the 2009 season. He has only played one year of serviceable football for Melbourne. His best football is behind him. He is not blessed with pace. He is not blessed with good disposal (his disposal is terrible). He is not blessed with good looks. Carroll is a limited footballer. He is the laughing stock of opposition supporters. Our club will become the laughing stock of the competition if we recruit him. Looking at St.Kilda’s recent delistings – Shane Birss, Michael Rix, Charlie Gardiner, Jayden Attard – it is clear that the club has erred in recycling players from other clubs. This is why there aren’t many young prospects at the club. Instead of recruiting deadwood such as Carroll, the club must turn its attention to developing younger players. Throw Sam Gilbert to wolves, throw Jarryd Allen to the wolves, anyone but Carroll. I urge all supporters who share my view to send an e-mail to Archie Fraser, St. Kilda’s Chief Executive Officer. Fraser’s e-mail address is as follows: archief@saints.com.au The message should be titled ‘No to Nathan Carroll’ and should read as follows: My name is (INSERT NAME) I am opposed to the recruitment of Nathan Carroll May intelligence prevail!
The Week of the 1997 Grand FinalSeptember 25th 2008 12:58
As a football supporter there is nothing greater than being a part of grand final week. This week's grand final is the first time in eight years that two Victorian teams have faced off. It should be a great game. Geelong - the champion team - versus Hawthorn - the team on the rise. Will the champion underline their greatness? Or will the younger team prevail and begin their own dynasty? It is the perfect sporting scenario. I have only experienced grand final week from the inside once in my life. It was in 1997 when St.Kilda made the grand final. I can remember it like it was yesterday.
On the Monday I remember seeing my tennis coach, Dan Donnelly, in the street. Dan was a mad St.Kilda supporter. Whenever he would hit a smash he would accompany it by screaming, 'PLUGGER!' Dan was in a delirious mood. As far as he was concerned, the game was already won. He asked my dad if he had a ticket to the match. He didn't. Dan said he would do what he could to help us out. That night Robert Harvey won the Brownlow Medal. He cried like a baby and gave a modest speech. What a champion! On Tuesday we found out that Nicky Winmar's father was in hospital. His dying wish was to see his son play in a winning grand final. 'We need him to stay alive until Saturday,' said my dad. Our anticipation was at fever-pitch. At the dinner table that night I broke into a mocking rendition of the Adelaide theme song. My dad said that the song was banned from our house. Dan Donnelly called to say that the tickets hadn't come through. We resolved to watch the match from our living room. On the Wednesday we went to see 'Year of the Dog'; a film that documented Footscray's 1996 season. I remember standing outside the cinema and my dad repeatedly saying, 'I can't believe we're in a grand final.' It was nice to sit and watch a film about football. I remember the exact point in the film when Terry Wallace stabbed Brendan Joyce in the back to take the coaching reigns. I also remember Richard Osborne asking for the cameras to be turned off when providing his opinion of Joyce. 1996 was a dreadful season for the Dogs. One year later they had come within a kick of making the grand final. It is a funny game. Thurday was my favourite day. My dad and I drove out to Moorabin to watch the mighty Saints train. The entire suburb seemed to be coated in St.Kilda colours. It seemed like the whole state was on our side. Every shop front had banners in red, white and black. It was one of the most exciting drives of my life. Word had got around that Peter Everitt - who had broken his collarbone in the qualifying final - was making a last-ditch effort to play. I was desperate to see big Spider go up against Shaun Rehn. In hindsight, it was the prime of both player's careers. We sat in the grandstand in front of the old coaching box. My dad pointed out Alan Davis, who was sitting in the aisle next to us. Everitt busted his gut on the track, but he could barely run. The crowd cheered every touch he had. I said to my dad, 'Even if Everitt is half fit, he's better than bloody Cook.' At the end of training Stan Alves ushered the playing group to the front of the grandstand, where he conducted a parody of the New Zealand 'haka'. Most of the players were wearing white headbands. Alves was wearing a tracksuit and used a whistle to direct the player's movements. God damn he looked intense. I watched the grand final parade on television and attempted to gauge the player's mindset from their body language. They looked frightened. Matthew Young was ommitted from the team because he was having back spasms. Robert Neill was the shock selection. Neill had only played two games all season. Four months later he was off the club's list. On Friday night we received the news that Nicky Winmar's father had died. 'That's St.Kilda for you,' said my dad. 'This could only happen to one club.' In the grand final Winmar played like a hollow man. At the end of 1998 Tim Watson sacked him. The game was a disaster. Shane Ellen kicked five goals. Today Ellen could walk down the street without being noticed. 'Pitiful' Pittman killed Stewart Loewe. Aussie Jones kicked one of the greatest goals of all time. Barry Hall kicked three goals in five minutes in the second quarter. 'Shit he's got talent,' said my dad. Sierakowski and Neill laboured across the half forward line. McLeod's pace was explosive. Harvey and Burke battled hard, like they always did. And then there was Darren Jarman. He was too elusive for Shanahn. When Jarman kicked his fifth in the last quarter my dad stood up and left the room. He didn't come back for a long time. *Thankyou all for reading my column this year. At this point I am unsure whether I will continue it next season. We'll see. Your readership is much appreciated. And GO SAINTS! -Murray
A Critique of the Brownlow Medal CountSeptember 24th 2008 09:33
Monday night's Brownlow Medal count was a thriller. Wouldn't it have been great if Richo won? It was the last chance for the ageing Tigers champion. In 2006 Scott West had his last genuine tilt. He finished second behind Adam Goodes. West's career was effectively ended today when the Western Bulldogs decided that he was no longer a required player. While one Bulldogs champion bit the dust, another has emerged. Adam Cooney is the first number one draft pick to win the Brownlow Medal. Although he was not the best player in the competition this season, he is clearly one of the most damaging players.
Channel Ten's coverage of the night was dreadful. Andrew Demetriou got off to a terrible start by accidentally reading out the votes for round two instead of round one. How can a person mistake the numbers 1 and 2 on a card? Demetriou attempted to heighten the suspence during the second half of the count by frequently pausing for dramatic effect. If executed properly, the 'pause' can be quite effective. Year after year Demetriou labours in his attempt to exude charisma. He is perceived as a stern, money-hungry ape by the majority of the football public. One night of contrived jokes every year does nothing to counteract this perception
Finals - Week ThreeSeptember 21st 2008 15:55
1. Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs put up a brave performance on Friday night. Last season they finished thirteenth. This season they made a preliminary final and narrowly lost to one of the best teams of all time. There is a clear improvement. The Bulldogs got the jump on the Cats but were slaughtered in the second quarter. Halfway through the third quarter they launched a series of dangerous attacks on the far wing. Jarrod Harbrow played the game of his life. Brian Lake was almost best on ground. Adam Cooney had a disappointing game and appeared to be suffering the effects of illness. Josh Hill - the only teenager on the ground - played an immature match. For the Bulldogs to win, they needed everyone to contribute
The Do's And Don't of the Stock MarketSeptember 16th 2008 09:21
Last week out-of-contract Fremantle ruckman Robert Warnock signalled his intention to play in Melbourne next season. Warnock has already nominated Carlton as his preferred club. Although players are entitled to nominate a club of their choice, a suitable trade cannot always be arranged. Daniel Kerr is rumoured to be on the outer at West Coast. But, as opposed to Warnock, Kerr is a contracted player at the Eagles in 2009. If a deal is unable to be struck during trade week, Kerr will be forced to play for the Eagles. This year's trade period promises to be an interesting one. While Daniel Kerr will be the headline act, several other players will be looking to kickstart their careers.
Brent Reilly - Adelaide (DO
Finals - Week TwoSeptember 14th 2008 14:42
History has shown that the top four teams at the end of the home and away season usually play in the preliminary finals. This season has proved to be no different. For the majority of the season the top three teams have been set in stone. While there were a host of contenders for fourth position, St.Kilda were the fortunate team. Their opponents on the weekend, Collingwood, were forced to travel interstate in the opening week of the finals. They endured a hard-fought final which they deserved to win. In contrast, the Saints' clash with Geelong was over by half time. Both sides rested players in the second half to prepare for their next matches. It would have taken another great effort for the Pies to get up on the weekend.
Both matches on the weekend went to script. The first half of the Bulldogs/Sydney match was a dour struggle in which the game was played mostly on the Swans' terms. In the second half the Bulldogs ran over the top of the Swans. Rodney Eade said after the match that his team was happy for the first half to be a tight contest because they believed in their ability to run over the top of their opponents. There is no chance that they will be able to do the same this week. One tough win does not make up for eight weeks of mediocre football. The Bulldogs will go into this week's match against Geelong as rank outsiders. It is a tag that they deserve
The Top 50 Players In The AFLSeptember 11th 2008 16:49
Below is a list of the top fifty players in the competition. The list is based solely on the performances of the players in 2008. It does not include previous seasons. A player such as Daniel Kerr, who I rate very highly, is ineligable for the list because he has endured an injury-ravaged 2008. It is always difficult to compare one player's worth to another. As Ross Lyon would say, this is just my 'subjective opinion.'
1. Gary Ablett (Geelong
Freewheelin' with AkermanisSeptember 9th 2008 08:15
After last Friday's performance the heat is deservedly on the Western Bulldgos to perform this week. They play Sydney in an elimination final at the MCG. If the Dogs win, they will face Geelong the next week. If they are to take anything out of this season they must make the preliminary final. The Bulldogs only lost one out of their first fifteen matches this season. They have won only two of their last eight matches. One month out from the end of the home and away season the Dogs had already secured third position. There is no doubt that this put them in a difficult position; where they effectively had nothing to play for. All would have been forgiven if they had beaten the Hawks. It wasn't only the loss that has put the heat on the club, it was the nature of the loss.
In round fifteen, prior to the break, the Bulldogs comprehensively beat Port Adelaide in Darwin. The win was soured by an incident that occurred after the match. Jason Akermanis, the most outspoken player in the competition, gave in to crowd pressure by producing his famous handstand. It was a seemingly minimal incident. Yet it was clear from the response of the Bulldog's senior players that the club was disappointed in Akermanis. Television footage after the match showed Akermanis being 'ignored' by teammates in the change rooms. Although the club has publicaly denied that any rift opened up as a result of the handstand, their record since (two wins, six losses) speaks for itself
Finals - Week OneSeptember 7th 2008 10:45
1. Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
On Friday night the Hawks comprehensively beat the Western Bulldogs. Much talk has surrounded the performance of Lance Franklin. He kicked eight goals and was clearly the best player on the ground. 'Buddy' loves the big stage. The bigger the stage, the better his return. Rodney Eade opted to play Dale Morris on Franklin. Franklin had kicked five goals by half time. Brian Lake did a serviceable job in the second half. He was able to match 'Buddy' for strength, but lacked athleticism when the ball hit the deck. Franklin is the one player who will have the Cats hierarchy worried
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