A two-week build-up to the start of the season from the close of the Wizard Cup, so let's get this thread rockin'... Opening fixtures for Round 1 -- and note the early start, due to this round falling on Easter weekend... Thursday, 24th March Brisbane v St. Kilda -- at The Gabba, Brisbane, 7:40 p.m. Melbourne time Saturday, 26th March North Melbourne v Carlton -- at Telstra Dome, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Melbourne v Essendon -- at the MCG, 7:10 p.m. Melbourne time Fremantle v Port Adelaide -- at Subiaco Oval, Perth, 7:40 p.m. Melbourne time Sunday, 27th March Sydney v Hawthorn -- at the SCG, Sydney, 1:10 p.m. Melbourne time Richmond v Geelong -- at the MCG, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Adelaide v West Coast -- at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Monday, 28th March Collingwood v Western Bulldogs -- at the MCG, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time I'll have the major news updates within, and with a bit of commentary as well. Also, one other question... whither our tipping competition this year? What shall we do? Do it "in-house", on separate threads, or do it through another online link? Any ideas, for the tipping comp?
I've started a poll & thread to try and get people's ideas as to what to do... input greatly appreciated.
*bump* My Round 1 AFL tips are in... Thursday, 24th March Brisbane v St. Kilda -- at The Gabba, Brisbane, 7:40 p.m. Melbourne time Saturday, 26th March North Melbourne v Carlton -- at Telstra Dome, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Melbourne v Essendon -- at the MCG, 7:10 p.m. Melbourne time Fremantle v Port Adelaide -- at Subiaco Oval, Perth, 7:40 p.m. Melbourne time Sunday, 27th March Sydney v Hawthorn -- at the SCG, Sydney, 1:10 p.m. Melbourne time Richmond v Geelong -- at the MCG, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Adelaide v West Coast -- at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time Monday, 28th March Collingwood v Western Bulldogs -- at the MCG, 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time
A couple of talking points in the news on this Wednesday morning... Brisbane v St. Kilda Saints fire up -- The Age Fraser Gehrig, a.k.a. "The Carpet Snake", is ruled fit and ready to fire against the Lions Time for Brennan to lift -- The Herald Sun Gehrig to play, Harvey in doubt -- The Herald Sun Richmond v Geelong Wallace accuses Ottens of greed -- The Herald Sun Thanks for the bulletin-board material, Terry... I hope Brad Ottens kicks six against your mob 'Hypocritical' Wallace tickles Cats -- The Age Ottens must deliver for Cats -- The Age Tim Watson column Tigers fans ready for Ottens -- The Herald Sun More articles and talking points later on today...
From Triple M's website (including them because, after all, they're the best radio callers in footy)... Two audio clips: Colbert fit and firing -- Triple M Radio (Melbourne) Demons motivated by (memory of) Broadbridge -- Triple M Radio (Melbourne) As for Triple M's weekend schedule, they'll have the following matches, all live (Melbourne times listed)... Thursday 24 March 7pm-11.30pm Brisbane v St Kilda at Gabba Saturday 26 March 12n-6pm Kangaroos v Carlton at Telstra Dome 6pm - 11pm Melbourne v Essendon at MCG Sunday 27 March 12n-6pm Richmond v Geelong at MCG Monday 28 March 12n-6pm Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at MCG The AFL's official site will have live audio links to Triple M's match coverage.
Two items from the AFL's site, pertaining to teams named by Brisbane and St. Kilda for tomorrow night's season opener... Saints name Gehrig Lions counting on experience Elsewhere, on the topic of the Lions against the Saints... Lethal backs Bradshaw -- foxsports.news.com.au
Other articles from Thursday morning's media... Posting links from The Age at least for now, seeing that the Herald Sun's site is temporarily down... Richmond v Geelong Cat coach swats barbs aside good onya, Mark Thompson Melbourne v Essendon Bombers out to avenge insults Kevin Sheedy is not happy Moloney's dream start Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Searching ruck exam for debutant Fanning as Collingwood go looking for more options for depth
And more content on the Terry Wallace-Brad Ottens row, surrounding the Richmond v Geelong clash, Sunday at the MCG... (all articles from the Geelong Advertiser) Unfazed Terry towelling boosts Cats (Andrew Bews column) And in other Geelong club news, membership numbers are way up over this time last year, by about 30 per cent (if my calculations are correct)... Cats strive higher And on long-time Cats midfielder Peter Riccardi... Riccardi's future focus (about retirement talk after this season that might still be a tad premature)
The season is on! The Round 1 opener, earlier tonight at The Gabba, between Brisbane and St. Kilda: [result]Brisbane 18.8 (116) St. Kilda 13.15 (93)[/result] Will's comments: [result]Nick Riewoldt, St. Kilda's gun forward/midfielder, kicked three of the Saints' goals before exiting with a feared cracked collarbone. If that injury is confirmed, Riewoldt could miss up to eight weeks. The Lions won despite not having five usual first-choice players available for selection, and clinched the four premiership points by running the game out in the final term, breaking open a close contest to win by 23 points.[/result]
ahhh, finally the season starts! Scott Defends Reinwoldt Bump ""If the question you are asking is 'did we go after a guy who was clearly injured?' Then no," Scott replied after the match when asked about his version of events. "He was clearly affected (by the injury), but 'did we know he had a broken collarbone?' No - he was running back to his position to continue playing the game."
The day-after news round-up, from Melbourne's media... Post-match article -- The Herald Sun Riewoldt aftermath article -- The Herald Sun Post-match article -- The Age
Other articles of note from today's Age, with reference to some of the weekend's other games... Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Buckley back for Pies' start Sydney v Hawthorn Debutants to take Hawks to the ball Melbourne v Essendon Dees, Dons battle for Broadbridge
Saturday morning's articles of note, from Melbourne's assorted media... North Melbourne v Carlton Roos and Blues looking to the same destination -- The Age Rohan Connolly column Laidley wary of Blues -- The Herald Sun Fremantle v Port Adelaide Second flag within Port's grasp -- The Age Port not letting cup overflow -- The Herald Sun Time of truth for Dockers -- The Age Melbourne v Essendon Demons face day of remembrance for fallen mate -- The Age Injured Johns eager to repay Bombers' faith -- The Age Why Sheedy's 25th will be no party -- The Age For the love of Troy -- The Herald Sun Defender Nicholson not ready for Dees -- The Herald Sun Neitz walks with giants -- The Herald Sun Sydney v Hawthorn Nowhere to hide for Clarkson -- The Herald Sun On Hawthorn's debutant coach Old fans adopt new Swans -- The Age Adelaide v West Coast Ex-teammate a target -- The Age "... Adelaide's Simon Goodwin predicts 'harsh times' for former teammate Tyson Stenglein when he returns to South Australia with his new team on Sunday..." Richmond v Geelong Team news: Cat to miss opener -- The Herald Sun Cameron Mooney to miss out for Geelong, while the Tigers' Greg Stafford has been dropped to the 2's Feline ferocity on the cards -- The Geelong Advertiser Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Pies train at the 'G -- The Herald Sun
For live audio of this weekend's games, there should be some links on the AFL's official website -- but I'll try and find a direct link before the North Melbourne v Carlton match, which is up next, about 90-plus minutes from this writing. Pre-game show's on Triple M right now... from the best footy callers on radio. The "Listen Now" link should work.
One thing about the Riewoldt incident is that if he's going to be out for at least four weeks, it's going to throw the chase for the Brownlow Medal up for grabs, especially since (1) he's going to lose opportunity on some votes he would have otherwise received, and (2) he was the odds-on preseason favorite heading in. Some other aftermath from the incident... Nick to miss four -- The Herald Sun AFL has power to act against Lions -- The Herald Sun Lethal dismissive -- The Herald Sun Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews weighs in Precedent set -- The Herald Sun Uproar will do more than league's reaction -- The Herald Sun Mike Sheahan's commentary Fair or foul? -- The Age Disgust over Riewoldt treatment -- The Age Lions defend rugged tactics -- The Age (St Kilda coach Grant) Thomas fuming over 'hard' Gabba -- The Age Lions kill spirit of the game -- The Age Greg Baum's commentary
There is one thing here that I am going to say. Since when has bumping a player been a reportable offence? I can tell you I am an umpire and bumping ain't a reportable offence. It's not in the rulebook.
It's very true, Suzi. Only on this ocassion, it resulted in a cracked collarbone to one of the AFL's feature players. But the risk of that happens every time any player walks out onto the field. If this gets anywhere close to the Tribunal, it'll be a travesty... even further proof that the game is headed towards being completely sanitized.
Live audio and score updates (direct link) -- afl.com.au That, and the direct link to Triple M radio should still work, as well...
As I'm preparing to listen to the Richmond v Geelong match from the MCG, Triple M's pregame show has reported that Cameron Mooney, Darren Milburn and Tom Harley are all out through injury for the Cats. Yikes, this is going to be harder than we thought.
Saturday's results and media reports in Sunday morning's papers... North Melbourne v Carlton, at Telstra Dome: [result]North Melbourne 16.9 (105) Carlton 12.13 (85)[/result] Post-match report -- The Age Post-match report -- The Herald Sun Post-match feature #1 -- The Age Post-match feature #2 -- The Age Post-match feature #3 -- The Age Melbourne v Essendon, at the MCG: [result]Melbourne 15.13 (103) Essendon 8.9 (57)[/result] Post-match report -- The Age Post-match feature #1 -- The Age Post-match feature #2 -- The Age Post-match feature #3 -- The Age Post-match report -- The Herald Sun Fremantle v Port Adelaide, at Subiaco Oval, Perth: [result]Fremantle 13.10 (88) Port Adelaide 7.11 (53)[/result] Post-match report -- The Herald Sun Post-match report -- The Age
No Mooney, no Milburn, no Harley, no Sanderson... no worries, mates. Richmond v Geelong, Sunday at the MCG: [result]Richmond 15.8 (98) Geelong 25.10 (160)[/result] Sunday's other games... Sydney v Hawthorn, at the SCG: [result]Sydney 18.10 (118) Hawthorn 8.7 (55)[/result] And Adelaide v West Coast, at AAMI Stadium, in Adelaide: [result]Adelaide 7.11 (53) West Coast 9.10 (64)[/result] One match left on the long Easter weekend -- Collingwood against the Western Bulldogs, at the MCG.
Video review of 1st week of football season: http://afl.com.au/video/sitelet/pl-ext.asp?M=3&B=256&O=4912290&T=P&F=video