Tag Archives: sydney-swans

Friday musing – cricket, AFL, Sydney Swans……..

Chris Barwin HillsWell I have been concentrating on the cricket in Sth Africa recently and this week is no exception. My observations and reiteration of a few maxims from the last test and the series are as follows:

1) You don’t insert the opposition;
2) You don’t enforce the follow-on;
3) Bowlers win matches, batsmen save them;
4) David Warner says some absolutely stupid things, but he seems to thrive on the pressure he draws  to himself and away from his team mates. A rare breed of sportsman;
5) I don’t think you can underestimate the influence of Shane Warne’s presence in Capetown. Clarke finally produces an innings of some magnitude and the team turns around the disappointment from the previous week;
6) Test cricket is a test of mind and body and Morkel certainly tested Clarke’s body, but his mind  won the contest;
7) The Sth African batsmen could teach our boys a thing or two about a solid defence;
8) Batting first in modern cricket seems to be too much of an advantage. Clearly Capetown was  prepared in the hope that Sth Africa would win the toss again.

On a different tack, the AFL flagged this week that the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in Sydney  would be phased out. Given that Sydney has netted two very big names in Tippett & Franklin in the last two years it is no surprise, but is it fair. It is not my idea, but I agree, that the COLA should be there for the 1st or 2nd year players and rookies, but not for those who are on decent contracts, say greater than $150,000 per annum. Taking it one step further, why wouldn’t the same group of players in other states also be entitled to a COLA. Say you get a rookie from WA coming over to Victoria on basic payments, they are going to struggle financially and will need to get a job to supplement their payments because they do not have the fall back position of living with their parents.

Food for thought.

Have a good weekend!

Sportzfan Radio #170.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!12 September 2010 170.1 – A political discussion starts the program with Daniel finding it hard to work out why, if the Western Bulldogs scored more than Sydney and won the game, why didn’t the Coalition win the election as they scored more than the Labor Party.  The Professor’s reveals that his nomination for the name of the horse the syndicate will be racing is Sir Yorrick.  Dan Butterly talks US sport including discussion of the NFL opening round, the MLB playoff races, the Air Force Academy’s great win over BYU in College football, Lauren Jackson winning another MVP award in the WNBA and Boise State’s fortunes in basketball in the coming season. The Gelding talks racing and chats about his tips for Moonee Valley and the Sydney Colts selections at Rosehill. He says that of the eight selections made by he and the Colt they garnered 5 firsts, 2 placings and a fourth. Mordiboy returns behind the microphone to talk golf and interview Rossdale trainee professional Baden Schaff.