AFL round 19 (2011) ‘expert’ tips
"The media done it!"
It’s “I’m a victim too” round
Disgraced ex-Victoria Chief Police Commissioner Christine Nixon has provided the perfect title to this week’s round of AFL Footy. Releasing her biography Fair Cop (written with Age journo Jo Chandler, herself not exactly a credible person in my opinion), Nixon has come out all guns blazing claiming that (get this), her fall from grace was all orchestrated by the media and the Police Association, capped off by the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday bushfires that found she failed in her duties on that fateful day.
Yes, poor Christine, who was about to retire anyway but, thanks to the tragic events of 7 February 2009 when 173 Victorians died on her watch, was instead appointed to a brand new job as head of the bushfire recovery task force - a position she then held for a further 18 months or so … on a salary of about $380,000 per year! – has had the audacity (ably assisted by Chandler) to not only write a book that attempts to rewrite history and point the finger of blame at the media, but to also go into the papers (in The Age of course) and on TV (7.30 Report) to basically claim:
“I done nothing wrong. The media done it and I’m a victim of jealousy, anti-women & anti-fat freaks and media bias. Ya see, Black Saturday ruined my life too!”
Well, it was certainly words to that effect. But give me a freakin’ break – Christine Nixon had a pretty good run in the media as Chief Commissioner for about 8 years before her bizarre appearance at the Royal Commission where, in addition to coming across as a complete nong with no idea of what her responsibilities were, she failed to tell the whole truth as to her activities, actions & whereabouts on Black Saturday when she was supposed to be the person in charge of emergency operations during the State’s worst ever disaster.
Christine Nixon is as much a “victim” of the media as what the (possibly related?) cocaine-snorting, 17 yo-bonking, disgraced former AFL footy manager Ricky Nixon is (see, there’s the footy connection!). I just wish she’d retire gracefully, stay out of our faces and off our TV screens. And STFU. Go away, Christine, we’d all prefer to forget you.
So, getting onto the round, it’s over to the footy ‘experts’:
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Ray (8 ) (95)
Nth Melbourne v Carlton : Well, I need to catch up.
Bulldogs v West Coast : See above … PLUS the Eagles have a couple of big outs (Kennedy & Nic Nat) and it’s @ Etihad.
Geelong v Melbourne : Geelong has some big outs too but so what? I am not so stupid as to pick against them @ Kittyland.
Fremantle v Hawthorn : Freo were very unlucky last week against WCE and will not lose 2 home games in a row.
Gold Coast v St Kilda : The Saints have even ‘rested’ Nick ‘the jaw breaker’ Riewoldt.
Collingwood v Essendon : Watson in but Hurley out – the Bombers can’t take a trick. Poor Hirdy is in tears.
Adelaide v Pt Adelaide : Cwaigy has gone and the players might respond, but this is the battle of the cellar dwellers. How long before Port folds and the two SA clubs are merged into one? The truth is that the State isn’t big enough for two AFL teams.
Maybe another perfect eight seven coming up?
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Rox (7 ) (97)
Here they are
Carlton
Eagles
Geelong
Saints
Hawks
Collingwood
Crows
Cheers
.
Greg ( 8) (102)
Carlton
Bulldogs
Geelong
St.Kilda
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Adelaide
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Baldrick (8) (104)
Greetings Ray,
CARLTON v Nth.Melbourne
Footscray v WEST COAST
GEELONG v Melbourne
Gold Coast v ST.KILDA
Fremantle v HAWTHORN
COLLINGWOOD v Essendon
ADELAIDE v Pt. Adelaide
Cheers
.
Promoting 'Beautiful Bright'.
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It looks like it’s “Catch up or give up” round for me – I’ve gone for some roughies.
You sure have, but I’m interested that 2 of you have gone for the Doggies. You were saying how awesome the Eagles were a minute ago.
Yeah Rox, but read the comment next to my tip:
the Eagles have a couple of big outs (Kennedy & Nic Nat) and it’s @ Etihad.
They are huge outs and the Bullies are just the team to take advantage of it @ Etihad. I still think WCE will go very close to top 4, although I reckon they won’t go far in the finals.
It looks like “Give Up”.
It was looking good for you for a while.
Yeah, I really thought I’d got off to a flying start there until the last quarter. Bloody Judd! He’s carrying that whole team.
Looks like I’m destined to finish last in my own comp.
Better than me finishing last. Take one for the team Ray.
You create the rules Raymond, change em now before it’s too late.
Another Grevillea Gardens fridge magnet less this year. How long can this go on?
Okay, from now on I get two pts for every correct tip, while you lot only get one. Fair?
I’ts your comp, nothing to do with being fair for crying out loud.
Maybe I should reserve the right to change my tips after the event? You know, sort of like how they run council elections.
Almost anything goes. There’ll be an air of uncertainty from week to week. This could be fun.
If I’d had this rule in last wek I would have got 16 to your 8.
But as it stands this round I’m on 0 to your 1 – even with the double points.
You can fix that quick smart.
I could bring in a ’6-goals-in’ rule just for me. North only lost by 3.
Oh, it’s ‘Give another win @ home to Geelong round’, I see. That might make a good title to next week’s round too – they’ve got 2 games in a row @ Kittyland where, as we all know, they haven’t lost a game in, what, about 4 or 5 years?
Okay, Geelong hasn’t lost many games at all in the past 5 seasons (they’ve lost a few to St Kilda though – on neutral territory), but to give them something like 7 games per season down there, where they have a clear advantage, is disproportionate and unbalanced. No other Vic side even has a home ground and must play ALL their games either @ Etihad, the MCG or interstate.
Yes, I realise that the 7 interstate sides get a huge home ground advantage too, and in more games than Geelong does. But they also have to cross the nation to play every 2nd week. And, besides, that’s a different issue.
The fact is that Geelong is getting favourable treatment above & beyond the other 9 Victorian clubs. The other thing is it aids Geelong financially. You see, they don’t play top sides down there, only clubs like Melbourne. A Geelong v Melbourne game @ Etihad would be lucky to pull 20,000 people and (apparently) if it doesn’t pull at least 30,000 or thereabouts, they actually lose money. Whereas even a crowd of 20,000 @ Kittyland (which is nearly its capacity) would still make them a handsome profit. See what I mean, the strong get stronger.
Why should this be allowed to continue? I have not heard one valid argument in support of it.
(There – that should set the ‘Cat’ among the pigeons)
Next you will be suggesting that the pies have an advantage playing their home games at the MCG
When was the last time we played Collingwood, Hawthorn, St.Kilda, Carlton etc. at home? Obviously we’ve been sent to everyone else’s game so they have a chance to beat us.
To be honest, I don’t care where we beat teams.
No, Greg, so many other clubs play @ the MCG too. Geelong plays 7 @ Kittyland, whereas no other club (obviously) plays more than one there. And Geelong trains there. Then there’s the home town crowd – in fact I don’t think any opposition supporters would get in! It’s a farce. (And Baldrick is noticably quiet on this, which is futher proof I am right!) Cheers.
Oh, I spoke too soon. Yes, as I said, you only play the lower-middle clubs there but that’s still an advantage over them and a percentage booster. It’s an advantage that the other 9 clubs don’t get – for instance, Melbourne would do a lot better if they played you @ Etihad. So would a lot of others.
How does the fact you play better teams at NEUTRAL venues put you at any disadvantage? It doesn’t. Ergo, you guys are getting a leg up. And more $ssss. Didn’t help you keep Gablett though!
Btw, the way it’s going down there today it looks like Bailey will be the next coach to go. I blame the Kittyland deal.
No, you should blame all the draft choices we didn’t get.
Couple of slaughters in progress
You got plenty in the first half of the last decade. Selwood, Bartel, etc. Then you got Gablett under father-son rule. Don’t cry “draft picks” – how is Geelong being a top side lately been a disadvantage? Same goes for the Saints since 2004.
Not crying at all. I’d be crying if I was a Melbourne supporter. We’ve done alright but I give credit to good management at all levels after we were called a basket case. We went on with it, many teams didn’t. Handbaggers tag gone. Lightyears since our last premiership tag, gone. Underperforming, gone.
We’ll be in decline again before too long but I reckon we’re already managing the transition. Still the greatest hurdle to bridge and conquer is the Scum no matter how much we win by today.
Yes, Rox. Geelong 130, Melbourne 10, and they’ve only just started the 3rd quarter!
And WCE 69 Bulldogs 26 – and I picked Footscray! I think I’m going to have to invoke those RD only rules.
Yes, Badlrick, I agree with all that. But you DO get an advantage via the Kittyland deal. Even if it only gives you an extra one win per year, or even an extra 10 – 20% in percentage, that’s a big advantage and a leg up to help stay up.
C’wood? Don’t get me started – how often do they play interstate and who? Oh, they played GC away last week? Wow. And how many big revenue exclusives do they get? The list is endless.
It ain’t fair I tell ya.
It’s a train wreck down @ Geelong. There will be consequences too:
1. Bailey will go.
2. The goal that was clearly touched will spark outrage and (hopefully) lead to video replays of close/disputed goals being introduced next year. It was a shocker.
3. (This one’s wishful thinking) Someone in the mainstream or some other clubs need to raise the issue of Geelong getting to slaughter weaker teams down there. This is devastating for Melbourne and it mightn’t be happening if it were played elsewhere.
Geelong by 186 pts.
They’re going ballistic in the crowd but eveyone who is not a Geelong supporter would see that the result was appalling and not good for the game. It’s more like a junior footy result. That sort of carnage was clearly greatly enhanced by the venue. It needs to stop.
Not all Geelong supporters are ballistic. Everything in context but you ascribe far too much importance to KP. No wind to speak of. If it were Williamstown’s ground I would say, yes, conditions favour the home side.What would you say this 186 points would have converted to at the MCG today? If the Dees are insipid, do you think the Melbourne outer would have made them rise to such an extent?
I’d say it’d be half that margin, Baldrick. How is it possible to “ascribe far too much importance to KP”? They train there. It’s a different shaped and longer ground. Then there’s the local support. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the team’s fault. No one can blame Geelong players for winning by as much as they can and they were great. But I watched a bit of it on Austar and it was a training drill. Melbourne were clearly like a fish out of water. My only point is I think the AFL is being overly generous to the Geelong FC and is providing them with percentage and $ boosters if not certain wins.
Oh well, the premiership’s in the bag for Geelong now. Unless, of course, the Saints do over the GC tonight by a similar margin (it’s up there at their home ground).
Oh and, of course, the impacts on a club like Melbourne from a game like this will be devastating and maybe out of proportion to their true status. It’s imbalanced and we’ll lose teams through things like this – I mean, who would coach Melbourne now? Who would play for them (Scully will go for sure, now)? And, worst still, who will go to any Melbourne games for the rest of the season, apart from opposition supporters? It’ll do wonders for Buller though.
Bulldogs come from 50 pts down, get 6 up with 5 minutes to play and … go down by 8. Baldrick & Rox 3, Greg 2, Me 1. I give up!
Go Baldy and me!
You’re both headed for a perfect score. C’wood & Adelaide are certs.
Btw, I should mention last night’s game on the Gold Coast. I should but I’d rather not. I’m glad it was only on Fox, meaning not many people saw how crappy it was and that the Saints continue to fly in under the radar. 20 pts was far from impressive on the surface but, well, speaking of the surface, that ground up there was wet & slippery. And it’s so bloody big. GC have some exciting, fast young players and now (having watched a full game of them) I can see why some people are saying they’ll be a real force within a few years.
Getting back to the ground, it’s bizarre the way that at one end there’s a giant TV screen directly behind the goals meaning that as a player runs in to kick at goal he’s staring at a giant picture of himself doing it. It must be off-putting.
No such thing as a cert. The Suns are starting to look very good. It won’t take them long to be a real threat.
I think you’re safe for your first ‘perfect’, Rox. Do try to contain yourself.
Yeah, the GCS are exciting – like a team of kids.
Struggling to contain myself.
Well, if you get it, Rox, you’ll have to celebrate somehow. How’s hubby’s health – is he up to it?
Btw, and this raises a possibly interesting scenario & comparison, I see Geelong is playing Gold Coast down @ Kittyland again this week. So this is another example of how the AFL lets Geelong boost its percentage & support by sending lambs to the slaughter down there. I wonder what will happen if there’s a repeat of yesterday’s carnage. Will all the commentators be calling for Guy McKenna’s head like they’re calling for Bailey’s today?
I feel very sorry for Melbourne for having to face the Cats at ‘the house of pain’, but I feel more sorry for Bailey who is surely dead-man-walking after that game, which might not have been such a blow out if it’d been played elsewhere.
I reiterate: I think the result was an indictment of the AFL.
Wow, what a long first quarter (36 mins). And Essendon 8 goals to C’wood’s 4. You might not be celebrating tonight after all, Rox.
Don’t worry, Essendon have 2 men down and the Pies will surely come back and finish them off in the end. I mean, they’ve got the, er, ingredients in their diet to do that.
9 goals to 4, early in the 2nd. Geezus.
Early days
Here they come!
Oh, I step out for 10 minutes and it’s now 64 – 53. Prediction: C’wood by about 50.
I underestimated them – C’wood by 74. And it looks like your ‘perfect’ is safe, Rox. Adelaide 22 up at 1/2 time.
Well done, Rox, on your first perfect score here at AO. Are you celebrating yet? Rox …. are you there Rox? Oh, sorry.
Btw, I should mention Baldrick also scored perfect – for the 3rd time this year!
Ray 4 (99)
Rox 7 (104)
Greg 6 (108)
Baldrick 7 (111)
I have officially given up and next week I might even pick GC to beat GFC. At Kittyland.
Bailey is gone.
Should have added, I’m sorry he did. I like the Dees, and I had some time for Bailey too.
Yes, I agree. He had the players on side but how the hell do you get Melbourne up when the admin is just not serious about success? That losing culture and ‘living on their past 50s & 60s domination’ rubs off and you can see it. They’re not a serious AFL side, no loyalty from the fans and no real commitment @ board level either. Exception J Stynes but it seems to take his illness to get them the slightest bit motivated. That’s poor.
I think this excerpt from the HSun sums up how badly and hastily Melbourne have reacted:
Huh? They only lost a game at ‘the house of pain’, albeit by plenty but they are still in contention for the final 8 with 5 games left so why sack the coach just yet? No hope of making the finals now. They’ve over-reacted and have gone back to square one. Well, futher back than that. Move to Tassie or disband is my suggestion. What a hopeless & aimless club they are.
And of course, Eddie McGuire buys into it. From The Age:
What a charming man.
Eddie McGuire has about as much charm as Mr Fatso AntiCarbonTax
Less. At least Fatso is not wearing a C’wood scarf.
*snort*
Oh, you haven’t told us how you celebrated the ‘Perfect Score’ last night, Rox. Dinner, champagne, dancing and, um …. ?
I watched MasterChef.
Oh, that’s disappointing.
Quiet satisfaction was sufficient.
Good stuff Rox, true champions are humble.
Yes, the true champion of the AO tipping contest 2011, who has so far had 3 perfect scores and who leads all but Greg by a bloody mile, is ever so humble. I will give him that!
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/call-for-tanking-probe/comments-e6frf9io-1226107965323
Kennett – all class
Yeah – and then he’s got the hide to say Garry Lyon should “butt out” of Melbourne’s business! Errrrr .. I think Jeff’s the one who “butts” IN on all the other clubs’ business. Butt out, Jeff.