JT Promoted

The Key Question being asked over the past few weeks as the Eels had strong form, was how will JT handle becoming an assistant coach?

The answer is that he won't have to.

Oxfam Walking Challenge

My Mate Bevan took on the Oxfam Trailwalk this year.

Unfortunately it seems he had to pull out about half way round the 100km Journey, but despite the fun he has personally had, his team has raised a decent slice of money for the Oxfam Cause.

The walk is a decent slog, I have walked part of the track before (just the bit near my house), and I think the effort involved would be lots of fun, if nothing else.

So here is another minor sport congratulations. The effort involved (especially when feeling sick) is definately worth the weight in Gold.

If you want to sponsor Bevan, simply go to his website, and follow the links to the team.

The Hair Ball

I guess I should comment on what has been happening in the media recently in regards to Darrell Hair.

He is a match official who has for a long time tried to be fair, and has called things when others have been afraid to.

Without much further evidence there is no real suggestion that he was being biased. It seems more so that he was just getting sick of the gamesmanship that has accompanied certain actions.

Many prominent former players might disagree with me, but it appears to be simply a case of a man being attacked for doing his job.

At this point, I am quite happy to call him not guilty.

Testing the Long-Range Predictions

Two weeks have passed since I boldly suggested some predictions in the NRL and the AFL... How am I going.

NRL
"Sea Eagles (26) - How they respond to a tough run home will shape their entire season." - Result on 30 points with two wins.
Eels (24) - Their current form (see previous post) should see them finish in the top 4, and from there it is anyone's game. - Result, Finish Round 24 in the top 4.
The others:
If the form of some of the top eight has been underwhelming lately, it has still often been better than those outside. - None of the teams outside the eight have a reasonable shot at it anymore.

Assessment - Pretty close to the mark.

AFL
I Said

1. The Swans actually look like they deserve to win games (unlike in June)
2. The top 3 non-Victorian teams look stronger than the 4 Victorian teams in the finals.
3. Sydney will have to beat both the West Coast and Adelaide to win a second premiership.
4. If Sydney lose against either Adelaide or West Coast in the first week of the finals, then they will still have to beat them both to win the premiership.

Result -
1. They still look good.
2. The top 4 Victorian Teams are all in there now...
3. The make up of the major finals is now uncertain due to an Adelaide form slump.
4. If Sydney lose any games from here on in, it could be fatal.

St Ives Div 6R Shock Loss

In a result that will send shockwaves through the nation, Mt Colah have beated St Ives in the Ku-Ring-Gai District Soccer Association All Age Division 6 Reserves at Cammeray.

After creating many chances, but failing to execute them, the valiant warriors from St Ives were set back by two well executed headers in the box, and never quite recovered.

This means the season is over for Pete and his fellow travellers, though he expressed his deep thanks for a good hard effort this season, and wished Mt Colah the best in the semi-finals.

Soccer Night Photo Gallery: Australia 2 - Kuwait 0

Fire Up Boys

Australia open up their home game qualifiers in the Asian Cup tomorrow night at Aussie Stadium (the SFS).

The local boys from the A-League are set to star, and we can qualify in one simple result, a win.

Stay tuned over the next few days to see action shots from the event.

Serves him right

I am generally proud of my record as both a match official and a player, in that time, although I have copped some abuse, I try not to dish it out anywhere near as often.

Being a superstar in sport should carry some degree of responsibility. It is fair to ask players to care about how their team goes from week to week, but it is a different story to somehow assume that this makes them above the law.

I like Joey, but he deserves all he gets for abusing a touch judge. There are better ways to express frustration than simply unloading some expletives.

The Emerald Green

The photo to the left is from my Soccer Team's website, taken at training early in the season. At the time I was still unsure whether I had made a good decision to try and play this year.

What I can say, and this is a definate comment, is that this year I have gotten to know some great guys, and appreciated how we work together as a team.

Yesterday we had our final hit-out before the semis, and because we have spent a month waiting for some soccer to play, we came out hungry for some action.

A 5-2 win seems pretty cool, especially given the way in which we have dropped off the intensity so many times in the past when playing well. Just a shame that a few good saves have kept me off the scoresheet again.

Next week should be Semi-Finals. Go St Ives!!!

The Night is for Hunting

In the last NRL wrap, there were five key games highlighted for this weekend, in relation to Finals qualification.

With four of them now played, and everyone convinced that the Tigers will win tomorrow (I can still hope), there are a few things worth noting.

Manly look strong (this hurts to say that).
The Eels are in the top 4 at least temporarily (unless Brisbane win tomorrow)
Wests still have a chance.

The Real Analysis
Manly have probably saved their season with their win, a tough run home is still ahead.
28 points should be enough to qualify for finals footy.
26 Points is probably not going to be enough.
Again the teams on 22 seem unable to take their chances

Anyway... Interesting Times

AFL - Unleash the flood

Having watched the Western Bulldogs scrap a win last week I had reason to reflect on flooded defensive lines.

In AFL, possession + field possession = points.
In a more civilised sport - i.e. Soccer, possession + field position = anything.

The Western Bulldogs have managed to make the situation for teams opposing them look more like a soccer result, and tend to score frequently on the counter attack.

AFL is more tribal and geographical than even league, so I guess I will express what really matters.
1. The Swans actually look like they deserve to win games (unlike in June)
2. The top 3 non-Victorian teams look stronger than the 4 Victorian teams in the finals.
3. Sydney will have to beat both the West Coast and Adelaide to win a second premiership.
4. If Sydney lose against either Adelaide or West Coast in the first week of the finals, then they will still have to beat them both to win the premiership.

Long-Range Predictions (NRL)

Paul G didn't make any definate prophecies about who wouldn't win this year, which means I have had to wait longer to discover where the teams are sitting in relation to the major National Sporting Codes.

World Cup fever has finally subsided enough to get a clearer picture for the trajectory of the different teams. I will start with the NRL.

Melbourne (38) - They have hot a very strong patch of form. It is hard to see them losing before the finals. But like many years, the Minor Premiers don't necessarily get the end reward for their dominance.
Bulldogs (32) - A bit up-and-down, but will end up putting in a strong finish and be there or there abouts when it all ends.
Broncos (26) - On their current form, they might just stay in the eight, but not do much more.
Knights (26) - Their form has been cyclical. But they are dangerous when they get moving.
Sea Eagles (26) - How they respond to a tough run home will shape their entire season.
Dragons (26) - Not as tough a run-in as faced by some of the others, but may find it difficult when the finals come. Look like they will probably make up the numbers.
Eels (24) - Their current form (see previous post) should see them finish in the top 4, and from there it is anyone's game.
Raiders (24) - They are sitting in the eight, but because of their for-and-against are most vulnerable to the wannabees on 22 points.

The others:
If the form of some of the top eight has been underwhelming lately, it has still often been better than those outside. All but three teams are within eight points, so anything may still happen with four weeks to go, but for those seeking to make up the numbers, a result this weekend is probably essential.
Broncos (26) v Storm (38)
Bulldogs (32) v Dragons (26)
Panthers (22) v Roosters (18)
Knights (26) v Sea-Eagles (26)
Tigers (20) v Raiders (24)
Sharks (22) v Eels (24)
Warriors (18) v Cowboys (22)
Rabbitohs (8) - Bye

So who is Pete's Pick?
At this stage, I think the shaping Bulldogs v Storm Grand Final may be interesting, but I can't rule out a Parramatta upset in the Preliminary Final, especially now the September dead-weight has possibly been removed.

The Parramatta Bandwagon

Having spent a number of years living and breathing the air around Parramatta, I can tell you probably two things which are certain at the moment.

1. They are probably excited to have a team showing such good form at this time of the season.
2. They are probably nervous that somehow once again they will find the ability to lose a big match in September (and probably the week before the grand-final as is their form).

They are on such a roll at the moment, having slowly rolled St George into the mud tonight, extracting a fair revenge for their last outing against them on a Friday Night.

Church St will be abuz at the moment, but since as a boy I used to love going to see Jason Taylor's tricks in the Black and White at Campbelltown Sportsground (now Stadium), I can hardly think there is a better option to lead them through this finals series. Just a shame that JT's move to assist at Souths next year effectively leaves this as his only chance for a while to coach a premiership.

Learn up them rules

Sports Websites don't tend to get too creative all the time.

But this effort by the Sydney Swans and the AFL has to rate a mention.

The quality of the presentation is a bit quirky but interesting, and it provides a good way of understanding more ways of what is a pretty strange game (on a world scale anyway).

If you don't like the swans, you may get a little bit sick from the Sydneyness of the site, but it is worth a look.

I guess that solves it

A moot point I have asked a few people related to the ability of the Lebanese to play in the Asian Cup Qualifiers over the next few weeks while they are dealing with a Hezbollah-induced time of turmoil.

We have an answer. They Won't.

The full effects of this for Australia are not quite known yet. Fortunately, the games against Bahrain and against Kuwait should still be going ahead.

Update: Lebanon are out. Three team qualifiers now... Australia qualifies if they come first or second...