Tag Archives: andrew-demetriou

Friday musing – AFL, Tania Hird, Andrew Demetriou…..

Chris Barwin HillsWell it is not very often I am angry on a Friday morning, after all it is the end of the week, however this week is different.

On the day before the Bombers first game of the year Tania Hird decides to give an interview to the ABC about some of the events of last year with regard to Andrew Demetriou and the so called “tip off”.  Why bother?  I can understand her wanting to support her husband, but save it for a book once he has retired.  It does not help the club one iota and certainly doesn’t help her husband who is already suspended, it just rekindles a story that all Essendon supporters and I am sure most football supporters are heartily sick of.

While I am back onto the Supplement Scandal I must say that Demetriou’s comment that he or anyone at the AFL didn’t inject anyone is quite childish.  He has said it on a number of occasions and it is not funny, it is not clever and it is not the point.

I am also puzzled about the ASADA findings.  A couple of weeks ago we were advised that the final report had been referred to a retired judge to consider if there was enough evidence to issue notices against any players.  Subsequent to that we now hear that ASADA are to interview Stephen Dank.  Should that not have happened before they finalised their report and sent it to the judge?

Let us not forget that the games have started and what an interesting first weekend of football.  The GWS must be one of the longest price winners in AFL history and they didn’t just win, they romped it in.  I think they were paying $11.00-$13.00 for the win and the Swans were $1.04- $1.05.  I don’t know what it says about either side for the coming season because you would not write off the Swans to still finish in the top four and equally the GWS finishing in the bottom four.  Maybe it is a portent for the future of both clubs beyond this year.

The Gold Coast beating Richmond was not a great surprise, although I am sure the Tiger supporters were very buoyant before the game.  Freo winning was expected, but the way they disposed of Collingwood after quarter time was very clinical and Ross Lyon could afford to rest Nathan Fyffe before 3/4 time.  It never ceases to amaze me how often Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Dayne Beams get around 90 possessions between them, win lose or draw.  Port beating Carlton was also not a great surprise, Port play Etihad well and Carlton don’t.  The Cats have also saluted at home, which was also not a great surprise given that it is over ten years since Adelaide have won at Kardinia Park.

Roll on the rest of round 1 and may the discussion be around the games and not all of the outside rubbish.

Have a great weekend!

Sportzfan Radio back on air this Sunday

MarkThe Professor will be back behind the microphone this Sunday from 5.00pm on 88.3 Southern FM with John O’Callaghan, Mordiboy (aka Fatman), Paul Dalligan and DC Coutta in the line up talking AFL, NRL, Paralympics, sports betting, the NRL Almanac and a whole lot more.

We’re back and better than ever!

 

Sportzfan Radio 7 August 2011 #213.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!7 August 2011 213.2 – John O’Callaghan joins the Panel and says the AFL are becoming like the AOC with their skullduggery and non accountability to stakeholders. He says Andrew Demetriou should not be running the AFL.  John cites tanking as an example and refers to Dean Bailey’s press conference during the week.  He also talks about the clear breach of the AFL rules in the signing of Phil Davis by Greater Western Sydney. Nicole Chvastek joins the Panel to talk about Dean Bailey’s revelations on tanking and the way the AFL has dealt with it. They also discuss Jeff Kennett’s comments about Garry Lyon taking on the Football Director’s role at Melbourne for only a short period of time. Paul Dalligan talks about what is happening in the world of rugby league and this week’s round of NRL matches. In addition, he discusses the article written about him by Fred Sherman that appeared on Yahoo Sports following his recent trip to see the LA Dodgers.

Sportzfan Radio #196.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!3 April 2011 196.1 – The Panel discuss Daniel’s football injury and Sportzfan Stan has another shot at Andrew Demetriou, this time over head high injuries and calling for players to be prevented from launching themselves into packs and from jumping in the air to make contact. The question is posed ‘Will Melbourne Rebels or Gold Coast Suns have the better season?’…the Panel unanimously vote Rebels and have a discussion on the Super 15 competition. Paul Dalligan says the Suns were a disgrace against Carlton. The Gelding discusses his and the Sydney Colt’s selections for yesterday’s races at Moonee Valley and Rosehill. Whilst not as effective as in recent weeks, the two experts managed to pick a couple of winners and places. He awards an S-Hit ride for Craig Williams ride on Brazilian Pulse. There is some discussion about Daniel Eade’s failure to attend production meetings at the Great Western Hotel. Daniel is clearly struggling on pain killers with his references to people wearing short sleeved shirts and ties, Sipowicz & Homer Simpson.

SportzfanRadio #191.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!27 February 2011 191.1 – Daniel thinks it was a stupid idea for the AFL to draw Greater Western Sydney in the NAB Cup as yesterday’s game was a farce. Sportzfan Stan notices he has been moved away from Daniel after last week’s show. The Gelding says Carlton would have had a better practice game with the ‘possibles’ playing the ‘probables’. Daniel doesn’t understand why the AFL is expanding, he thought 16 was the prefect number. Sportzfan Stan says the increase is so the AFL can get more revenue. The Panel then discuss whether Andrew Demetriou’s payrise is appropriate and if Friday night matches should be shown live. Sportzfan Stan says 1.8 million people want to watch Better Homes & Gardens so the football should be delayed. Sean Callanan comes on to talk social media and enters the fray saying the AFL should get innovative and look for a partner that delivers an ability to watch the game on line. The NFL and NFLPA discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement are headed to social media with a hashtag of #NFLlockout. The MLB have an all access for all season I-phone/I-pad app called Major League at Bat which is good value at $18. AFL clubs have begun to use You Tube with a channel to release news and magazine type shows. The Gelding talks horse racing and Caulfield’s meeting where there were three Group One races including the Blue Diamond Stakes. He was successful picking three winners from four selections and awards Craig Williams the S-Hit ride of the day for his ride on Response. There is a discussion about the horse that the Professor and the Gelding have an interest in, Danish Rock, it should run a race by August at the earliest.  The Panel discuss who was the best James Bond and the Gelding says he always thinks of Sean Connery as James Bond and this follows on to whether ranking movies stars is a sport.  Daniel thinks it is.  The Panel then move on to talk cricket and the One Day World Cup and who should replace Doug Bollinger.

Sportzfan Radio #185.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!16 January 2011 185.1 – The Professor, Daniel, the Gambler and Sportzfan Stan are back for 2011, bigger and better than ever. There is some discussion to start the show about Sportzfan Radio’s Christmas party and the Gelding now being a greyhound expert as well. They also discuss the first radio broadcast of an ABL game in Victoria from the previous evening by Southern FM.  The Panel then discuss Stan’s call for the sacking of the AFL’s Andrew Demetriou over the decision of choosing Virgin Blue over Qantas as the airline transporting the teams.  Dan Butterly talks US sport including the NFL playoffs and selects New England to beat the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons over the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears over the Seattle Seahawks.  Dan also talks about some of the coaching changes at NFL teams who haven’t made the playoffs.  He wraps up the College football season and says it will be interesting to see what the NCAA do about the Cam Newton situation and possible rule infractions as it could be that Auburn may not hold the national championship they won.  He is still all for a BCS playoff series whether it be an 8 or 12 team series and would like to see that in place sooner rather than later.  The Gelding talks racing from Flemington and discusses the winners and losers in racing from the weekend’s meetings.  The Panel then look at the Australian cricket team, the chairman of selectors, the CEO and the coach.  Stan calls for an inquiry to be headed by Ric Charlesworth.  Daniel says it’s good that Stan is finally giving someone a job given that he has sacked so many over the last few months.  Stan says Tim Nielsen’s record as a coach on a win/loss basis is terrible and he should be sacked.

Sportzfan Radio #166.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!8 August 2010 166.1 –The Panel talk about the AFL using technology for deciding whether a goal is kicked or not.  Stan says maybe the umpires need regular checks on their eye sight as over a period of time mistakes can affect the outcome of games.  Marie Baker makes a return to the show with her US report and says human error is part of sport so why sweat over mistakes made by referees.  She believes Brett Fravre is a drama queen who needs his own annual reality “decision” show and doesn’t think Shaq changing NBA teams again will affect his legacy.  She also feels Tiger Woods probably won’t get back to the top in golf and that A-Rod’s 600th homer as the youngest person ever to reach that mark, may not be enough to get him into MLB’s Hall of Fame.  The Gelding provides the answers to Saturday’s racing at both Flemington and Randwick.  He says it was a tough day with many long priced horses saluting and elects not to award the S-Hit ride of the day to the jockey of Bonindi but does say her ride “lacked imagination”.  No luck again for Queen Asa this week although she did run fourth so getting closer to a placing.  He tells Travis that he has no plans to run it in the Spring Carnival.  The Professor looks at the farcical situation with the Commonwealth Games venues in Delhi being incomplete with only 60 days until the start of the events.  Daniel believes the Games organizing committee should adopt the Andrew Demetriou line  “Everything is fine….there is no problem.”  A National Baseball League will finally return to Australia in November with 6 team competing.  Daniel is surprised that Stan can remember back to baseball in the late 1920’s.