AFL round 18 ‘expert’ tips

His name is KHunt.

It’s ‘Tank’ week

AS debate rages over whether or not the clubs down the bottom are deliberately trying NOT t0 win that 5th game - in order to pick up a second 1st. round draft pick - spare a thought for those of us in close tipping contests. How do we do know who to pick? And why should you care? Anyway, it’s good to see that the new Gold Coast team haven’t woken up to the fact that they’re in the AFL not the NRL and have gone out and signed up some meat-head rugby player as their ‘star recruit’. This is shaping as shades of the Brisbane Bears 1987 all over again, who thought it was about attracting ‘glamour boys’ like Warwick Capper instead of building a real team. Bring on 2011, it should be fun.

Baldrick’s away but he dropped his tips in before he left, so here’s what the ‘experts’ have to say about ‘Tank’ week:

A possible resolution?

The local business ’group’ referred to in previous posts has finally responded in writing as requested. I’m not satisfied with their explanation but, nonetheless, they appear to be putting forward a possible resolution that would see our rights to ‘free trade’ reinstated. It had better be done and quickly.

UPDATE Saturday 1 August: As this matter has been resolved, I’ve turned the comments off. My thanks for all your positive support and I WILL be writing a summary about this unbelievable saga.

Fair trading?

I’m still waiting for the ‘group’ referred to under a previous post to fully explain the reasons they have unfairly restricted our accommodation business  from fairly competing with other accommodation businesses  in Bright. They’ve promised to “formally respond” by this Thursday 30 July.

UPDATE Saturday 1 August: As this matter has been resolved, I’ve turned the comments off. My thanks for all your positive support and I WILL be writing a summary about this unbelievable saga.

AFL round 17 ‘Round-Up’

He sure takes the cake in 'the ugly stakes'.

It must have been a FULL  MOON(EY) …

That’s the only explanation I’ve got for some of the results. Think about it: Hawthorn outclassing & out-pressuring Geelong for 3 and a bit quarters only to shut up shop and let the Cats come storming home from 5 goals down to kick a point after the siren and steal a game they had all but lost (no disrespect meant to Geelong’s effort).

Freo defying its normal last quarter fade-out to fall in by 5 pts.

And Richmond forgetting about draft picks to take a game that Essendon simply had to win.

I give up! Here’s the ’round-up’:

Council ‘missing in action’

No prizes for guessing the CEO is on holidays.

Or are they just asleep in there?

What on earth is the Alpine council up to? Are they doing anything at all? It appears not.

Check out their website, there’s been no movement at all since 10th July.

And, ironically, that notice is about their very poor results in the “community satisfaction survey”!

Looks like they need to communicate more.

AFL round 17 ‘expert’ tips

The most over-rated coach in AFL history.

The Collingwood coaching saga … who cares?

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says his contract saga is “starting to wear thin”. We all know the story: Eddie McGuire wants Nathan Buckley to be Mick’s assistant for a year or two and then for Mick to step aside and hand the job over to Bucks. Mick doesn’t want to play ball because (according to some people) he’s a legend, the greatest coach in living memory, blah, blah, blah.I don’t really care what they do but, as an observation, I don’t think Malthouse is much of a coach at all. Look at his record, 10 years at Collingwood and what has he achieved? Their two grand final appearances were way back in 2002 & 2003 and they lost both of them. Sure, Malthouse coached West Coast to 2 flags way back in 1992 & 1994 but I would suggest that even Dean Bailey (Melbourne’s coach) could have done that. The fact is West Coast were so good back then that they were always going to win a few flags and probably should have won more. So do whatever you like Eddie but just stay out of our faces please – we’re sick of it. Rant over – here are the real ‘expert’ tips for round 17:

AFL round 16 ‘Round-Up’

Better late than never

As I explained in previous posts, I’m running a bit behind in new posts this week. Round 16 is done & dusted and the only reason I’m putting this up is not to break the pattern of the year, which has seen St Kilda win 16 straight so far. So here is the round up of last weekend’s games:

New event for Bright

The 'Semaine Federale' effectively expands the existing Audax Alpine Classic into a ten-day event.

But why hold it in January?

News that the town of Bright has been chosen as the venue for a huge 7-day cycling event broke last Friday in this ABC Online report. It was also broadcast on ABC Statewide Radio & on Win TV. The only reason I haven’t posted about it until now is because (a) I was down in Melbourne for the weekend and I only returned late Monday night, and (b) I’ve been distracted by the still ongoing dispute as mentioned in the post ‘Weird Sh*t’. Anyway, about the event. While I welcome it – and believe it will eventually become massively popular - some of the hype surrounding its announcement is more than a bit over-the-top:

Weird sh*t

UPDATE Saturday 1 August: As this matter has been resolved, I’ve turned the comments off. My thanks for all your positive support and I WILL be writing a summary about this unbelievable saga.

…………………………………………

Sorry for not posting anything lately. Since I got back from Melbourne last night I’ve been experiencing some rather, er, weird discrimination business-wise is probably the best way of putting it.

I don’t want to go into any detail - yet - because I’m still trying to get to the bottom of it, but it involves a group of local business people who (for personal and/or commercial reasons it seems) would like to do harm to my accommodation business. The premise they’re using is that they don’t like me having an opinion and expressing it here.

I actually think that what they’re doing is illegal. Anyway, hopefully it’ll soon be resolved and life can resume as normal. Cheers.

Still in Melbourne

I won’t be home until later tonight so if you’re waiting for the AFL ‘Round-Up’ of round 16, I’m sorry it’ll be a bit late this week. Just as a starter though, what were the highlights & lowlights of the round? Here are a few suggestions:

Highlights:(1) St Kilda reducing Adelaide to a rabble. (2) Collingwood being humbled. (3) Melbourne “taking Geelong lightly” (and paying the price!) 

Lowlights: (1) Hawthorn winning. (2) The Richmond & North draw – it was a matter of who wanted to win it less and, in the end, neither side did.

Off to the footy

I’m heading down to Melbourne early today to see the St Kilda v Adelaide game so I’ll be off the air for a while.

Go Saints.

Top Aussie Sportspeople …

At least they got #1 right ~ Shane Warne.

 … according to the Poms

This is almost an insult to Australian sport. Or it would be if it were not so laughable. The English Daily Mail newspaper has rated Australia’s Top 50 sporting heroes and have they got it wrong or what? I agree with their #1, Shane Warne, but thereafter they’re way out of whack with most of their selections.

Twelve rugby players in the top 50! Give me a break.

Le Tour de France Farce

Cadel Evans may become the best cyclist never to win 'Le Tour'.

How can Cadel Evans win this rigged event?

Australia’s Cadel Evans has finished top 10 in the past 4 Le Tour de France events, including close 2nds. in 2007 & 2008. He came into this year’s event as the favourite even though 7-time-winner Lance Armstrong * (USA) was making a comeback and Spain’s Alberto Contadour, who narrowly beat Evans in 2007, was also returning after serving a ban for drug issues.

However, after 12 legs and at about the half way mark, Evans is in 17th place, 3 minutes behind the leader. He’s still not without a chance but it’s not his fault he’s not right up there. You see, this race - as great an event as it is - is seriously flawed and clearly designed to suit the stronger European ‘teams’, who are heavily financially backed.

AFL round 16 ‘expert’ tips

Stuck for words

I can’t find any interesting footy-related story or think of anything ‘witty’ to say as an intro this week … so let’s get straight into it. Here are Ray’s & Baldrick’s ‘expert’ tips:

Update: ‘Someone’ (I won’t say who) has just suggested to me that tonight’s game between Essendon (northern suburbs) & Footscray (western suburbs) should be called ‘The Swine Flu Cup’. I like it.

Update #2: FUNNIEST FOOTY QUOTE OF THE YEAR

I just heard this on ABC Radio: Melbourne coach Dean Bailey says Melbourne can’t afford to take Geelong lightly despite its recent form slump.

Absolute GOLD !

Buckland Valley Quarry

The author raises some valid concerns.

‘Save the Buckland’?

This letter regarding the proposed 5 hectare quarry appeared in today’s Bright Observer.

I don’t have a firm view on this issue yet but I think that applications for extractive industries like quarries really need to be scrutinised quite heavily before they’re approved.