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The underdogs for the season, the Kangaroos, have definitely been the surprise packet for the AFL. In a season where many predicted that they would be winning the wooden spoon, they have been in fact one of the strongest sides this year, just slipping from second spot on the ladder after narrowly losing to the West Coast Eagles last weekend. They have indeed been the surprise packet for 2007.
However it seems that whilst the Kangaroos have been making waves on the field, they have not been treated in the limelight by the media. Sides such as Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood (before their three week slump) and the Eagles have been highly promoted by the experts, and whilst the Kangaroos has had their share of successes throughout the year, they have never been the favourite son in the AFL.
The media, whilst giving the club their fair share of praises, have far been claimed as one of the sides to beat. The betting agencies have more often than not backed them as outsiders in most of the matches, and indeed many experts and commentators have not claimed how far this side can travel, but rather how long until they fall.
One ‘expert’ who has been one of the biggest critic is actually one of the club’s favourite sons, albeit a fallen son. Wayne Carey, centre half forward and captain for the Kangaroos during their glory years of ‘90s. At the start of the season, Carey commented that coach Laidley should be removed from the top position after side suffered losses in its first three games. Nineteen rounds later, and twelve wins from the following sixteen games, it seems that he did not have the right idea in what path the club should take.
Whilst Carey has backed off from his earlier comments, a comment that former teammate Laidley took to heart, he has once again taken a swipe at a club that he won two premiership with on Sunday against full-forward Nathan Thompson. On his show on Sunday morning, Carey commented that Thompson should be focusing on improving his injury and fitness after suffering a knee injury before the season, rather than spending time at the Darwin Cup.
This comment was not offensive, however Carey took it a step further when he claimed that he should not be backing horses due to the fact that Thompson suffers from a well-publicised depression. Whilst his co-hosts desperately tried to cut him off, and as the show itself cut to break, it was still overheard Carey commenting “that he will soon be necking himself.”
Mental awareness groups have blasted Carey for the comment, as well have the Kangaroos. Many people are pointing out that how Thompson spends his time is not a major talking point, as it will be next year until he will play football again. Others have pointed out that gambling and Thompson’s condition have no immediate connections. However the biggest point many have highlighted is that this is the second major time that Carey has attacked his former club on national television, and questions are now beginning to emerge about if Carey does indeed have a bone to pick with the Kangaroos.
Carey’s well-publicised separation from the club was not a happy ending, and the contests with his former club when playing for the Adelaide Crows was always a rough affair. With many former teammates still involved at the club (Archer, Harvey, Simpson and the coach Laidley), there is still time needed for the club to welcome back the son that lead them to their first premiership trophies in 30 years, but when he left set the club back ten years.
Whilst Carey and the Kangaroos do not see eye to eye at the moment, many supporters still respect the ability that he showed in the blue and white. There will be a time when he will be able to walk back into the club with respect. However with attacks such as these, it does seem that Carey has some resentment towards the club. Whilst he is known to have foot in mouth disease quite often, he has to learn that attacking the Kangaroos just places him in a bad light.
If Carey commented on any other club in the league, not many people would notice. However because of how well known the rift is between himself and the Kangaroos, criticising the club or players on any aspect will just seem to be said with a hint of venom. Carey will have to learn that when it comes to the Kangaroos, he will definitely have to keep the kid gloves on for the time being.
Until next time, sports minds.
The AFL announced yesterday that they would be reviewing a number of key rule changes at the end of the season, including the contentious and highly debatable hands in the back interpretation used this season.
The ruling, which has been one of high comment and discussion throughout the season, and has been a major factor of a number of games (including the Essendon – Richmond clash in round nine where a hands in the back free kick essentially lost the game for the Tigers) will be considered by the AFL laws of the game committee when they commence meetings at the end of October. Other rules up for review include the number of interchanges used in matches, deliberate rushed behinds and kicking backwards.
Whilst the hands in the back rule has been a major thorn in the league’s side, they have emphasised that they will not be dramatically changing the interpretation. Said Adrian Anderson at yesterday’s press conference that any changes would be considered not just on the numbers and statistics, but rather what is considered “what is best for the game.”
Anderson also confirmed that “there is an legitimate argument to leave the game alone.”
The other rules being reviewed are the rushed behind rules, which clubs are utilising to bring the ball straight back into play (and one ruling which was a major factor in the St.Kilda – Western Bulldogs draw last round), the number of interchanges used in a match, which has risen dramatically over the past seven seasons, and the kicking behind tactics that many teams are using to wind down the clock and keep their lead alive in the last stages of the match.
These three discussion points have been considered by the Laws committee due to the fact of the numbers and figures of the rule being used in the state of play, coupled with how ruling has altered how the game has played over the last few seasons.
The interchange bench has been a constant revolving door over the last few seasons, as coaches and sides are trying to compete with the constant intensity of the modern game. Since 2000, there has been a 235 percent increase of how many interchanges are used in a match, whilst the distance covered by midfield players has dramatically dropped, falling from 17 to 13 kilometres per match.
Rushed behinds have also increased as coaches utilise bringing the ball immediately back into play, increasing to 5.8 rushed behind per game throughout the 2007 season.
Whilst the discussion of viable options for these three rulings will be interesting and full of criticism and discussion, the most will be kept for how they will respond to the push in the back rule. Other than the use of illicit and performance enhancing drugs in the AFL (thanks to the Cousins saga during pre-season and more recently the Akermanis article that has created waves throughout the league), the new interpretation of this rule has been one of the most commented and discussed points of the game this season. Coaches, players, officials, and commentators of the AFL have all thrown their hat into the ring in regards to this issue.
In fact the AFL itself has been defending their recent ruling ever since last October where many staff and players of the league claimed that it would completely change how the game will play, and many players have seriously attacked the new interpretation, especially Matthew Richardson who criticised the ruling after his side’s lost against the Bombers in Round Nine.
Now the AFL have stated that they will not be making dramatic changes to the ruling, but to keep the essence of the games there is no doubt they have to reconsider the interpretation. 2007 has proven that the new ruling has done more harm to the game than good, and whilst many other changes throughout the seasons quickly became old news, this new ruling has constantly been discussed and attacked, even to today. If the AFL really do think they have to change around the rulings to protect the modern sport, the first thing they will definitely do is reconsider this interpretation, and actually listen to the player, coaches and the supporters.
If they actually believe that this is a game that belongs to the people, then there is no doubt that they will have to think about how this ruling effects the game, and not for the better. If the people have spoken (which they have), then there is no doubt that will have to take a step back and really consider what is best for the game as a whole.
What to Watch For: With the finals around the corner, two vital matches in the NRL and AFL will be worth watching. On Sunday, the Kangaroos and West Coast square off against one another in a top four clash as both sides hope to earn a second chance spot in the finals, whilst on the same day the Melbourne Storm will host the Brisbane Broncos in the Grand Final rematch with more at stake, as the injury depleted Broncos are struggling to stay in the eight for even for a slight chance to defend their title.
Until next time, sports minds.
As the football season hits its excitement peak, it is time for us to cast our eye on the NRL competition as the final four rounds can make or break a side as they all try to keep their finals chances alive.
Like the AFL competition, there is still the majority of squads still in contention. In fact thirteen sides could still possibly sneak into the top eight, with St. George/Illawarra, Cronulla and Penrith looking to the 2008 season. The Melbourne Storm and Manly are already earmarked for a finals spot, and from how they have been flowing this season (despite the recent talks on the Storm struggling), they seem to have stamped their places in the top two spots.
Whilst the Storm and Sea Eagles are head and shoulders in front of the competition, the massive group behind them will be fighting tooth and nail to even earn a spot going into September. In fact, currently on the ladder there is only 3 games (6 points) between third and tenth position, and with four games remaining there is still time and opportunity for the lower sides to cause the upset.
So who is in prime position to make such a move? From where it stands, it could be the side that has been the joke of the league for some years until an unbelievable turn around this season, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. With four games remaining against the Dragons, Manly, West Tigers and the Roosters, they would still have to win at least three games to stay in contention, and with Brisbane possibly spinning into a slump with their matches against Melbourne, Bulldogs, Canberra and Parramatta (all four sides needing wins to stay in the finals) , we could be seeing an unbelievable turn of events where the side that has won the wooden spoon for the past two seasons grabbing the number eight spot, whilst the reigning premiers of the NRL competition could be bumped out before finals action.
Whilst the Rabbitohs will bring their own rags to riches story to the rugby league, the Titans will unfortunately not be able to pull off the same in their first ever year within the league. Whilst they have a average line in their next four matches (playing against cellar dwellers Cronulla and Roosters, and top hitters Warriors and Storm), they are simply too far behind to make a strong impact on the ladder. Four wins would scrape them into the finals, but that is far beyond the scope of possibility, and whilst the Titans will not be able to experience their first ever finals shot, they will finish strong and earn enough credibility to be a force in 2008.
As the Titans, Broncos and Rabbitohs are scraping into the final spots on the finals ladder, what of the other position up for grabs? Third spot will be earnt by the Eels, and with the draw the Warriors got last round against the Roosters, it might be the tipping point that earns them the fourth place on the ladder. Fifth, Sixth and Seventh should be kept by any of the sides still remaining in the eight at the moment (Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers) but with such a tight race going into the finals, it will be essentially one game in being ready for September finals action, and being missed out of earning that coverted premiership glory.
As we saw in the AFL, it is quite hard to let a single game slip out of any side’s hands going into the final four rounds of the season. But unlike the AFL, going into the finals will be an especially hard task for the NRL competition. Six spots, two points, and four games remaining. There is no doubt that every single match will have consequences going into September action, but prepare to see some clubs live and die as each game finishes.
And as we look at the tight race, let’s present the;
Finals Fever – NRL Predictor
1. Melbourne Storm 42 points
2. Manly Sea Eagles 42 points
3.Parramatta Eels 30 points
4.New Zealand Warriors 29 points
5. Canterbury Bulldogs 28 points
6. North Queensland Cowboys 28 points
7. Western Tigers 28 points
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 points
Teams To Miss Out of the Finals; Brisbane Broncos 26 points, Gold Coast Titans 24 points, Canberra Raiders 22 points, Newcastle Knights 22 points, Sydney Roosters 21
Until next time, sports minds.
Well here it is. The final month before football fans of all codes gear up for the sport they love. The soccer and union supporters will get into full swing this year for A-League 3/ World Cup as they heat up in September, but the biggest action of course will come from the AFL and NRL leagues as they begin the finals frenzy that envelopes the eastern side, if not most of Australia.
Whilst the action and excitement of the competition swing around every year, and every year the leagues pre-empt how this finals series will be ‘like no other’, but this season they might actually be right.
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Kevin Sheedy, the coach of the Essendon Bombers for the last 27 years and one of the most iconic coaches the AFL have seen, was given his walking papers yesterday afternoon as it was announced that he would not be at the helm of Essendon after the 2007 season.
Sheedy, who has been in charge of the Bombers since 1981, was dismissed from his position after the board announced that they would not be renewing his contract after the current season. Whilst this move was considered a shocking play by supporters and players alike, many pundits were commenting that this would be the final year that Sheedy was in charge of the club since the beginning of the 2007 season.
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In the American sports arena, where all the major codes have been thrown into disarray in the last few weeks with various scandals and allegations (dog fighting and assault charges in the NFL, bribing and illegal betting in NBA), the Major League Baseball has at least a record that everyone can look forward to.
At the moment, Barry Bonds is just two home runs shy of breaking the all time home run records, which is currently held by 60’s legend ‘Hank’ Aaron. This record has definitely been the shining beacon in the major league, and for some years be the constant talking point about who would be the one that would finally break Aaron’s record of 755 home runs.
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In yet another twist during the Blues’ long winded downfall, coach Denis Pagan was given the sack from the club this evening after five years at the helm.
The Carlton directors boards announced tonight that Pagan was relieved from his position, effective immediately, after Carlton suffered yet another massive loss (117 points) against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.
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In a week that the Fremantle Dockers will be yearing to forget quickly, another massive roadblock has hit the western club as their star forward and prominent ‘bad boy’ Jeff Farmer is once again in trouble with the police of criminal vandalism.
Farmer, who earlier in the year was suspended from the club due to being involved in an altercation with a bouncer whilst intoxicated, was reportedly involved with damage to a car in front of a Perth nightspot earlier this week. Today the police questioned Farmer over the incident, and after the interview was charged with damage to the vehicle.
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The Socceroos have finally put their first game jitters behind them last night as they were able to beat Thailand and scrape into the quarter finals of the Asian Cup. Australia, who went into the match having to win to advance in the tournament, finally set a standard of quality team play as they systematically destroyed the opposition in the final half to take the match 4-0, and with it the second place in the group rounds to scrape into the final sixteen.
With the win, the Socceroos have draw up against the winner of Group B in the quarter finals, and have draw once again against the fast growing nemesis, Japan. The match up on Saturday night has quickly become one of the biggest matches this tournament, as not only will it be the pre-cup favourites versus the two-time tournament champions, but it will also see Japan have the opportunity to grab revenge from a side that defeated them in the World Cup group stage.
Graham Arnold, coach of the Socceroos, has been able to inject more action into the upcoming match against Japan, claiming today that the pressure is completely on Japan to win the upcoming knockout match.
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There is no doubt that there is an constant cycle that occurs in the AFL and NRL competitions. Every three years or so the leagues go through an complete wipe of his coaching positions, and we see a huge turnaround of coaches in the space of three months during the off-season. Last year in the NRL we saw a massive change in coaching positions, with five coaches changing around their roles during the post season, and it seems the tides are turning for the AFL this season.
We have already seen the first casualty this year, with Neil Daniher already leaving his role at the Melbourne Demons and the club already in negotiations for the new coach next season. But it seems that Daniher will not be the only person leaving his position this year, but who else is on the chopping block?
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