Tag Archives: collingwood

Australian cricket needs a revamp and quickly!

I often listen to Stan (@sportzfanstan) on Sportzfan Radio calling for underperforming sports administrators and coaches to be sacked. Recently, he has been critical of the Australian Test team’s performance in the Ashes series against England and I would say with good reason.

If I compare how the successful teams from other codes behave – Collingwood in the AFL and St George in the NRL, there are hallmarks that lead to that success. Discipline, elite training regimes centred around world class training facilities, an astute and experienced coach, forward planning for filling the gaps that regularly occur in the playing ranks over time, investment (money and time) in drafting replacements and succession planning.

These hallmarks are not apparent in the Australian cricket team. I am continually surprised at Australian players making comments in the media regarding team selection, injuries and batting order. At best this shows an amateurish approach by those in charge of Australian cricket. Can you imagine for one moment that Alan Didak would suggest that a fellow Collingwood team mate should be playing in place of another?…or that he should be playing on a half forward flank as opposed to the wing? It just would not happen. Please take note James Sutherland.

Australian cricket was once at the forefront of all cricketing nations in all forms of the game. Well out in front of the pack with the rest struggling to remain a respectable distance behind, let alone catch up. Instead of building and laying solid foundations for the future, leading Australian cricket administrators have taken their eye off the road ahead and it has been left to deteriorate to the shambles that it is today.

There is one thing for certain. In this crowded sporting marketplace, it takes little time to lose relevance with the sporting public….just ask the NBL. Professionalism of a high order needs to be injected into Australian cricket and quickly and this means more than changing captains, players, coaches or selectors. An attitude change is required and quickly to reverse the trend.

The Gelding's tips for Flemington on 3 October 2010

The Gelding’s attention like everyone else has been diverted on Saturday to the Collingwood/St Kilda AFL Grand Final replay. Fortunately the VRC decided to move Flemington’s races to Sunday so his attention can now be fairly and squarely on the fields for tomorrow’s races.

As always the tips are on an each way and all up basis.

Flemington

Race 2 Horse 1 – Altius
Race 3 Horse 1 – Skilled
Race 7 – The gelding has yet to make a decision on this race and likes Horse 1 Shocking, Horse 5 Shootout and Horse 9 Typhoon Tracey (listen to Sportzfan Radio tomorrow to hear which one he eventually selects)
Race 8 Horse 4 – Haylist (for the ladies from the Tennis club)
Race 9 Horse 15 – We’re Gonna Rock (also for the ladies from the Tennis club)

Hear the Professor and the Gelding talk about their part ownership in the 2 year old colt Danish Rock tomorrow on Sportzfan Radio.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Sportzfan Radio #172.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!26 September 2010 172.2 – Mordiboy thinks this is a great chance for the AFL to play a night Grand Final. The Professor suggests the AFL could use Mark Seymour for entertainment at the GF replay. Paul says if they used INXS again, ‘New Sensation’ would be ‘Old Sensation’. The ‘F’ word is worried that the first A-League Melbourne soccer derby between Victory and Hearts is going up against the AFL Grand Final replay. He thinks 20,000 will be there to see the game and tips a draw. Mark has jumped off the Heart bandwagon and is heading back to the Victory. In Premier League Mark was surprised Arsenal lost at home to West Brom, shocked Liverpool lost mid week in the Carling Cup and doesn’t look good for Everton on the bottom of the League. Paul talks NRL with the preliminary finals having been completed with the Sydney Roosters belting the Gold Coast Titans and St George getting over Wests Tigers. He will be at the Grand Final next week via a ticket from a friend from another team. Sean joins in from the Royal Show and discusses the problems created for Collingwood and St Kilda by the Grand Final replay and was thrilled to be at his first ‘live’ Grand Final. He also discusses the Commonwealth Games problems in Delhi. Daniel believes if security can’t be improved they should be called off. Paul worries that Todd Carney may miss the Grand Final due to a high tackle. Stan thinks he will get off though as contact was first in the chest region.

Sportzfan Radio 159.2

Magers League Rugby Ball21 June 2010 159.2 – Fiorenti continues discussing the fortunes of the Socceroos and gives his opinion on some underachieving countries at the World Cup, Paul Dalligan highlights the AFL leading the NRL 2 to 1 in the racism stakes, is disappointed at the state of NSW rugby and believes the Cockroaches will make changes and go for youth in State of Origin 3.  He also suggests the Professor’s Canterbury Bulldogs have picked up a likely player in Trent Hodkinson (now with Manly) who kicked two field goals late in the game to help Manly down the Rabbitohs.  The Panel looks at the AFL’s suggestion of the 2012 18 team league being broken up into Conferences and Sean wonders whether that may prevent Collingwood from ever playing Carlton in a Grand Final again.