The Bench Report - Vlog

A future for women in the AFL?

We hear a lot these days about the decline of the traditional gender defined roles and stereotypes in society. And we can all think of someone that we know in our lives who confirms this trend, whether it be a stay-at-home dad or the lady who drives your bus.

At the moment, highly skilled women in the game are not taken seriously. Events like the Brownlow medal awards ceremony exacerbates the problem, with commentary regarding the best and worst dressed partners of the attending male AFL players appearing in Women’s magazines.

Former Collingwood played turned radio and television commentator, Brian Taylor, made the following remark about women in the sport.

"Now they're there after every bloody game. Why? What's going on here? I'm not sure that's a good thing for footy."

This sort of criticism is concerningly widespread.

Journalist Beverley O'Conner, first female director of the Melbourne Demons club, recently wrote an article on the issue stressing that women should be taken seriously in the game.

“Our involvement is not only as wife or girlfriend, but as physio, trainer, coach, umpire and player. From boardroom to changeroom, the participation of women should not still be up for discussion in 2013.”

Chelsea Roffey: The AFL's first female umpire and goal umpire in the 2012 grand final.
(Source: ABC)

However, a fair question to ponder is whether or not such a physically violent and aggressive sport will ever appeal to many women. After all, it is statistically the most dangerous sport in Australia (according to the Medibank Private Safe Sports Report 2006, based on patient presentations to Australian hospital emergency departments and general medical practices).

So will there be a more publicised AFL competition for women? Like the W-League in the soccer, for example. Currently the AFL Women’s Championships struggles to make a story in any media outlet. The top Google search result for ‘afl women's round 2013’ is the website for the 2013 AFL fixtures (for the male competition). For now it seems that Aussie Rules - like the other four football codes, remains a clearly male-dominated game in almost every aspect.

- Lachlan Lewis

Rugby League - State of Origin My Blues Side Part 2

In my previous blog I named my 1-7 for the NSW Blues for this years State of Origin Series. I have them lining up as follows:

1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce

Today I will reveal my 8-17 as well as my prediction for this years series.

Front Row - Paul Gallen and Aaron Woods

Paul Gallen is normally a backrower however with Blues front row stocks seemingly low I have him playing in the front row. He has won a man of the match reward in the front row and plays in the middle of the park anyway. Aaron Woods is only 22 and playing for the struggling Wests Tigers yet he is the form front rower of the comp. He is in the starting side as history shows its easier for a debutant front rower to get involved if he starts the game.

Hooker - Robbie Farah

The best hooker from NSW. Was named the NSW player of the series last year and if he didn't play for a inconsistent club side he might be known as the best in the comp.

Second Row - Greg Bird and Ryan Hoffman

Greg Bird is in great form and represented Australia last month as well as being an incumbent from last years series. Ryan Hoffman has not played for NSW since 2009, however he has represented Australia in recent times. He was man of the match in the city country fixture and would be the form front rower in the side.

Lock Forward - Luke Lewis

Another incumbent. Although he had a change of clubs in the off season he is still the same player. He has been a cornerstone of the Blues pack for years and that won't be changing anytime soon.

Bench - Kurt Gidley, Anthony Watmough, James Tamou and Trent Merrin

Kurt Gidley nabs the bench utility spot on experience (he is a former blues captain) and versatility  He can cover the whole back line (1-7) and can play hooker and lock forward. Anthony Watmough is a proven performer off the bench for the Blues and will add impact when he is injected into the game. James Tamou made his debut last year, and although he is a Kiwi and changed allegiances to Australia just so he could play State of Origin, he is still a great prop and will deserve his selection. Trent Merrin, along with Aaron Woods beat out Tim Grant, Tim Mannah and Willie Mason for the two free front row spots. Trent Merrin played previously for the Blues under Ricky Stuart. However he was never able to make his mark. He is currently playing better than ever and looks ready to prove his worth in the rep scene.


So here's the team:

1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Paul Gallen (c)
9. Robbie Farah
10. Aaron Woods
11. Greg Bird
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Luke Lewis

14. Kurt Gidley
15. Anthony Watmough
16. James Tamou
17. Trent Merrin

And now for my prediction. 2-1 to the Blues. Finally NSW will claim a series, at least that's what my heart says. My brain is still undecided.

-William Le Messurier-

Rugby League - State of Origin My Blues Side

State of Origin, the on and off field pinnacle of our game, is fast approaching. The NSW Blues will be looking to end a 7 year losing streak to the Queensland Maroons. Last year under Ricky Stuart we came closer to a winning series than we had in the previous 6 attempts. Now under the coaching of Laurie Daley we look to improve on that with a series win. The following blog will contain the Blues team I would select and why.

Fullback - Brett Stewart

He is the incumbent from last years series, and although he is not in the same class as the two Maroon fullbacks Billy Slater and Greg Inglis he did a fine job last year and there are no other NSW fullbacks in better form.

Wingers - Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris

I know I know, no Nathan Merrit again? Yes he is the form winger in the comp but he still does not deserve to be selected ahead of these two. Brett Morris was is the incumbent for both NSW and Australia, did a good job of replacing Akuila Uate in last years series. Whilst Jarryd Hayne is a proven performer for NSW on the wing and has been an institution of the NSW side for many years. Sorry Nathan but to quote the line from Happy Gilmore "Better luck next year".

Centres - Michael Jennings and Blake Ferguson

In the centres I have the incumbent Michael Jennings who is in great form for his new club the Sydney Roosters and has the attacking game which can really trouble the Maroons defence. Whilst my other centre is unlikely to be selected, he should be. Josh Morris, although a great centre, doesn't quite have the x-factor of the Raiders' Ferguson. Blake has been in career best form in a struggling team and paired with Michael Jennings could create the attacking centre pairing NSW has been waiting for,

Five Eighth - Todd Carney

Firstly I'll tell you why his rivals missed out. Josh Reynolds missed the city country game which hurts his chances but also compared to Todd Carney and James Maloney he is too inexperienced in games of this magnitude. He did not set the world on fire during his grand final appearance last year. James Maloney had a shocker in the city country game and has only been able to put his foot forward when his team is running a muck on a low down rival. Todd Carney is the incumbent, and he showed on the weekend in the Sharks golden point win over Newcastle that he is over his injury and he's still got it.

Halfback - Mitchell Pearce

This was a two horse race between Pearce and Adam Reynolds. Mitchell won out due to his experience in the Blues team and his proven combination with both Todd Carney and the hooker (to be revealed in the next blog). Adam although talented needs to prove his worth in a struggling team to be chosen over Pearce who can shine whether his team is up by 20 or down by 40.


Well that's the 1-7 of the Blues team, in the next installment the forward pack, bench and a prediction on this years series will be revealed.

- William Le Messurier -

Expansion - When, Where and How

Let's face it, 10 teams for the A-league is not sufficient.

Yes, the 10 teams we have are competitive and there is no superpower dominating the league a la the norm in Spain, England and Germany. Yes, the salary cap works and is necessary to ensure equality within the league. 

But 10 teams are simply not enough to allow the domestic league be taken seriously as one of the top 20 leagues in the world, let alone Asia.

Simply put, we need more teams. Ideally, for a market like Australia 14-16 teams is the viable amount.

More importantly, we need to make sure that new teams added in are competitive and receive the same treatment and concessions provided to the Western Sydney Wanderers from this season. We need to assist the growth of the game by capturing the minds of new markets and demographics, so be it bandwagoners.

In addition, the administrative body must ensure that no more cases of North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United are to happen again. That would only set the A-League back 10 steps from the 3 steps it has taken this season.

Expansion should only be conceptualized within the next 5 years if, and that's a big IF (capitalisation and everything), regular season crowd averages are hovering around the 13.5-15k region and the league progresses from the competitiveness that has been seen in the 2012/13 season.

If that is to occur, the most vital element to the success of an expansion club is meaningful community engagement, especially in areas if soccer is not the favoured football code. Meaningful community engagement includes school appearances, local soccer club apperances (especially with the youth), seeking sponsorship from local businesses and etc. This is what separates expansion clubs from being seen as a franchise a la NBA style or establishments seeking integrity and dignity.

A good example that the A-league can follow is the MLS. Similar to the A-league, in America the MLS is influenced by the sporting norms that dominate other American sports. Both A-league and MLS have a finals series popular in other sports. The MLS carefully assesses which markets are viable, looking into the participation levels of soccer within the region and viability for rivalries with other clubs and whether the area have rectangular fields. Two good examples of expansion teams in the MLS are the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders, two areas steeped in soccer traditions and with vociferous fanbases.

Without further ado, here are my recommendations for potential expansion.

• Canberra - it perplexes me how the nation's capital has not received a team considering the popularity of the W-league team and the pedigree of Australian soccer stars. The infrastructure is more than available.
• Tasmania - the continued neglect of the AFL to tap into Tassie can be taken advantage of by the FFA. Similar to the NRL's overlooking of Central Coast, the FFA can slowly penetrate Tasmania and provided the team achieved consistent success, Tasmania has the potential for success.
• South Coast/Wollongong - anyone who has followed the NSL prior to the establishment of the A-league can never forget the epic 2000 Grand Final. Down 3-0 at half time, clawing back the lead and eventually winning in one of the longest penalty shootouts I've witnessed. This is another region steeped in soccer history and with legends such as Scott Chipperfield, the South Coast has the potential to be a force.
• Auckland/Christchurch - the FFA could do no wrong by tapping into the North/South Island rivalry that exists. NZ soccer is currently experiencing a golden generation; future prospects such as Marco Rojas and seasoned veterans such as Winston Reid plying their trade in the premier league. The FFA must capitalize on this.
• Another Adelaide team - it is said that many reasons behind the lack of Adelaide United's support lies behind the grudge held by old Adelaide City fans after the demist of the NSL. Adelaide has a proud soccer history in Australia and an Adelaide derby would further fuel interest towards the game.

Stop this scurrilous mongering: Demetriou

The CEO of the AFL, Andrew Demetriou, has today come out in defence for the Essendon Bombers. The embattled club has been at the centre of an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) into allegations that its players have been using illegal supplements.

Andrew Demetriou
(Source: afl.com.au)

Media attention has lately been focused on an admission from the club's former sports scientist, Stephen Dark, that players had been given now banned anti-obesity drugs. The club is said to have approved the use of the drug based on a document supposedly from the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) which approved of the substance’s usage. The problem is, the drug was never approved and Dark appeared to ignore WADA’s request for him to consult Australia’s own anti-doping authority (ASADA) for more information on the drug.

Even if you haven’t been following the saga, chances are that you have at least heard about it on the news bulletins. The Bombers undefeated start to the season has been mostly overshadowed by the ASADA investigation. However, Demetriou suggests that some of this commentary is in fact being generated by Essendon’s rivals in what appears to be an attempt to further demean the club.

"The sooner some of our clubs, not all, but a small few, stop this sort of scurrilous mongering, the better. Because it's not doing anybody any good at all," he said.

"I remind people, they are fully co-operating. They came forward. They are not running away. They are part of this and they know it's going to take a while and we need to let it run its course."

Listen to the interview on radio 3AW here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iSDOoPSCdkk

The Bombers are likely to claim their sixth straight victory against winless Western Sydney tomorrow afternoon.

Enjoy the weekend of footy!

-          Lachlan Lewis

Super Rugby 2013 - The Reds Revival Has Arrived!

Many people - including myself - doubted that the Queensland Reds could mount a challenge for this seasons Super Rugby title.

The bar has been set extremely high at the Suncorp Stadium ever since the Reds maiden Super Rugby triumph in 2011 with Reds fans expecting their side to be at the very least in the top 4 sides in the competition and the 2013 season was no exception. However, after losing to both the Brumbies and Force in the opening 5 rounds of the season and recording somewhat unimpressive victories against the Waratahs and Hurricanes many suspected that the 2013 season would be the end of the Reds domination of the Australian conference.

In addition to their struggles on the pitch, the Reds also had to deal with a lot of off field troubles at the start of the season. Quade Cooper was still not 100% fit and his falling out with the ARU was a considerable distraction, captain James Horwill had also been plagued by injuries for almost a whole year and was also not 100% fit, key back rower Scott Higginbotham had left the Reds for the Rebels and there were also hints that key man Will Genia was becoming discontent about how the club was being run.

No Higginbotham? No Problem!

The round 5 loss to the Force in Brisbane ironically marked a turning point in the Reds season thus far. Since round 5 the Reds have been undefeated, recording 4 wins and a draw against the leaders of the Australian conference, The Brumbies. Some may say that 4 wins and a draw is not all that impressive but once you examine the nature of these results one can see that the Reds are truly back on their horse!

To reverse a 24-6 belting they received at the hands of the Brumbies in round 1 to draw 19-19 in Brisbane - a match they were unlucky not to win - was their worse result after all! A first ever clean sweep over the New Zealand conference is the pick of the Reds revival with home wins over the Hurricanes and the Blues and impressive away wins over the defending champions the Chiefs and the Highlanders. Add to that a win at home to the South African conference leading Bulls and there is not much that stands in the way of the Reds repeating their 2011 triumph in this vain of form.

It is not as if the off-field soap opera has stopped at the Reds either. Head coach Ewen McKenzie has officially announced that he will step down at the end of the season and Digby Ioane's future for next season looks like it lies in France, yet these factors were not enough to affect the Reds performances in recent weeks.

So with 37 points seeing them comfortably sitting in 4th spot, a mere 3 points behind the conference leading Brumbies, it looks like the Reds have yet again established themselves as a serious contender for the Super Rugby title in 2013.

- Vladimir Aleksov

Rugby League - The English are Coming!

Lee Mossop, Gareth Hock and Mike Cooper

These are three names the average Australian Rugby League fan has never heard of. But in England they are three of the best forwards in the European Super League. What they all have in common however is that they have all signed with National Rugby League clubs in the past week. Hock and Mossop have signed for the bottom dwelling Parramatta Eels and Cooper has signed for the St George Illawarra Dragons.

In doing so these players have signaled the start of the English exodus to the NRL. With the increased NRL salary cap the trend of Australian players leaving the NRL for Super League are fast becoming over. Top English players will now be chasing the cash found in NRL contracts. England's best player Sam Tomkins is expected to be the next to join the exodus with the Warriors, Titans and Roosters all chasing his signature.

But was are the consequences in this?

Well the standard of the Australian game will only get stronger with the best Australian, New Zealand and English players all plying their trade in the down under in the NRL. This will lead to more fringe first graders getting less game time as NRL clubs look to bolster their squads with seasoned English players rather than fringe first graders. In England the local game will suffer as England's best leave. However in the long run, this will lead to English clubs developing more first graders for the English game, thus improving their depth.

The English National Rugby League team may benefit the most from the exodus. As their best players ply their trade in the NRL they will become battle hardened and will bring that experience back to the national side as they try to compete with Australia and New Zealand.

William Le Messurier

Marquees - Are They Worth The Money?

The 2012-13 season of the A-league has widely been acclaimed as the best season since the the inaugural season in 2005-06. Crowds have soared dramatically, atmosphere within grounds is feverish and most importantly, the game is starting to get relative positive mainstream coverage (shock, horror !). 

I could be diplomatic and say that the administrative capabilities of David Gallop taking over from Ben Buckley was a highly instrumental factor. But let's be serious here.

It was all about the marquees this season. So in answer to the question in the title, yes, a resounding yes but only under certain circumstances however. One just has to look at the dynamic impact of Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono this season. 

The impact of ADP is just staggering for Sydney FC. Despite being signed on a two-year contract worth 2 million per season, the matter of fact that he has been excelling despite playing in an under-performing squad has seen SFC see a monetary return. 

• Approx. 500k AUD in SFC merchandise was purchased on the first home match against Newcastle Jets
• Reported that SFC have accrued AUD 5 Million in revenue, selling the past 3 seasons worth of merchandise in 1 season
• Tallying the highest home figures on their away games for every side bar Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Heart and Newcastle Jets.
• SFC are responsible for 42% of the A-league's total viewership
• A lucrative broadcasting deal with RAI in Italy to broadcast all SFC matches - such is the appeal of Del Piero.
• 18.5k average for season crowds in 12/13, an increase of approx 6k.

Heskey definitely drew in those interested in the EPL whilst Ono displayed his technical qualities to gain himself credibility.

But have all marquees been successful in the history of the A-league? Quite frankly, no.

Let's cut to the chase, despite the improved quality of the A-league we will always hold the European leagues in higher regard. Those are the superstars, we only have potential superstars and even then that's not even certain. Hence when the seasoned pro's come over, many will be interested. Dwight Yorke, Juninho and Robbie Fowler are great examples.

But for every Yorke, there is a Mario Jardel. Unfit, overpaid and goal-less. Not exactly the best example of a marquee in a fledgling competition. Even with Juninho, he struggled with injuries that limited his appearances. Romario should have been an excellent marquee, if the a league existed in the 1990s. Signed at 40 purely for the gimmick of getting his '1000th' goal, which possessed none of the aesthetics of his famed goals in his peak.

But why did clubs go back to marquees if there was a risk of producing another Jardel or Romario? Simply put, many of the fans of soccer in Australia can be described as 'eurosnobs'. As in, fanatical about the European leagues and will outlandishly claim some sort of superficial link to their clubs (the best are the Man United fans) but refuse to provide any support to the domestic league, when their attendance would truly be appreciated. Especially in a league where some teams need to hit 15k to break even (the league average for this season is 12.5k, only two clubs averaged OVER 15k.) Unfortunately, if the games wanted to broaden its appeal, it has to cater to as many demographics as possible and the eurosnobs are one of many subgroups.

However, due to the success of this season, many former-eurosnobs that I keep regularly contact with have grown to accept the flaws of the A-league and appreciate its charm, many thanks to the marquees of course.

Despite my personal insistence on developing and nurturing local talent before they (eventually) head off to one of the many European leagues, marquees are vital in attracting higher crowds (hell, us soccer nuts are giving the NRL a chase at times, again if only Johnny Warren was still here to see this...). I've compiled a short list of marquees which I think are worth pursuing:

• Park Ji-Sung - the popularity of the man in both Korea and Korean expatriates is staggering. Sign him up and you will get almost every Korean possible in any of the towns/cities where an A-league team is situated inside the stadium.
• Marcus Tulio Tanaka - This one falls under the Ono category. Obviously not a well-known name, only those interested in Asian soccer. After Keisuke Honda, the stand-out performer in the Japanese team in the 2010 World Cup. Great tackler, composed and a powerful header, a nuisance in set pieces.
• Frank Lampard - Wishful thinking I know, but despite the age of the bloke he is still in pristine form (13 goals this season!). If you though ADP brought people in, expect whatever he club signed with to exceed the levels of pandemonium ADP brought along.

The marquees are here to stay. But the most important thing is that they help the game progress instead of widening their paychecks. And hopefully the eurosnobs stick around for a just a little longer.

- Aaron Wong

AFL in New Zealand?

Australian Rules football in New Zealand dates back to the late 19^th century and was quite popular at the time. 1908 saw a touring New Zealand team defeat teams from both New South Wales and Queensland in Melbourne. The growth of the game was healthy until the First World War when sport in the country grinded to a halt. Aussie Rules never recovered after the war with the whole country fixated on Rugby Union

However, its popularity in the last decade or so has significantly increased in New Zealand. For example, Kiwikick was recently established as the kiwi equivalent of Auskick in Australia, the AFL’s development program for children.

A future for AFL in New Zealand?
(Source: AFLNZ)

ANZAC Day 2013 marked the first competitive game of AFL played outside of Australia.

Prior to the Swan’s sixteen point victory in the game against St Kilda, forward Adam Goodes drew on similarities between his team and the beloved All Blacks at a press conference in Wellington.

“I think if people are coming to watch the Swannies play for the first time and they’ve never seen us or didn’t see the grand final last year, we like to play our game like the All Blacks, which is hard and tough and for the full 90 minutes - which in our game is 120 minutes,” he said

However, Goodes stated that he doesn’t want conflict with Union lovers caused by the game being played in New Zealand, but rather showcasing and sharing the sport with Australia’s neighbours across the Tasman.

In reference again to All Black players, Goods said “it’s one thing that quite scares me to be honest, is to have one of those boys tackle me, but we’re not over here to poach players or anything like that, we just want to share our great game that we love in Australia and that we play so proudly, like the All Blacks play rugby union over here.”

Divided Opinion - Can the AFL coexist with Rugby Union in NZ?
(Source: The Age)

Just like the A-League and the NRL, could we see a team from New Zealand playing in the AFL in the near future?

With over 50 countries having clubs or leagues which play regularly, the game certainly has an international appeal.

- Lachlan Lewis

Johnny Warren, 1943 - 2004

"I told you so."

The almighty quote of Johnny Warren. Four words, preached as gospel to the believers. Four simple words, allowing his legacy to permeate forever in Australian soccer.

The impact of Warren can be seen in his influence on the game; both as a player and a mediator. Despite Harry Kewell being voted as Australia's greatest player in the code, without Johnny Warren and his passionate, selfless and endless promotion of the game, he and a multitude of Australian kids would be compelled to take up the round ball.

I like to think of Warren as Australia's Bill Shankly.

Shankly is best known as the man who is responsible for the resurrection of Liverpool. Taking charge of Liverpool in 1959 when Liverpool languished in the former Second Division of English, Shankly helped overhaul the problems of the club. Shankly helped facilitate many facets that have become known as the 'Liverpool Way' including, a passing/possession-based game, the famous all-red kit and more importantly laying down the foundations needed to help usher in an era of Liverpool's almighty dominance of English and European football. 

Shankly loved Liverpool, the city and they loved him. 

Despite the unheralded nature of Warren's tenure as a manager, it his influence on Australian soccer and future generations to this very day that leads to me to the Shankly reference.

Prior to the household names of Kewell, Viduka, Schwarzer, Cahill and Bosnich, Johnny Warren was truly the household figure of Australian soccer. He was the tireless cheerleader of the game despite all the negative perceptions of the game. He stood as the defiant Anglo-Australian when soccer was always derided as "that game for wogs." Dissatisfied with Australia's lack of success due to a lack of emphasis, he always held firm to the believe Australia had the potential to become a world power due to the sporting passion that is inherent within our culture.

Similar to Shankly's undying and immortalized influence on Liverpool, Warren's influence can be seen through:

• Being a part of the Crawford Report. The report was influential on many fronts as it allowed a revamp of the game in Australia. The Crawford Report helped launch the A-League and Australia joining joining the Asian Football Confederation.
• Breaking away from the Oceania Football Confederation and joining the Asian Football Confederation. Due to Australia's sheer dominance of the region, Warren believed the region did not allow Australia be competitive, instead being caught in a lull of complacency unless it faced regular challenging competition.
• Old soccer, new football. As Warren insisted that soccer be called football, the game has seen commentators slowly shift towards calling it that.
• The Johnny Warren Medal. The medal is awarded to player acknowledged by his fellow professional peers as the best of the season.

It is just a touch ironic and cruel that many of the changes that Warren spent his whole life advocating for would be achieved after he succumbed to lung cancer in 2004. One particular fond memory was when Australia finally broke its 31 year FIFA World Cup exile in 2005 when commentator Craig Foster subconsciously screamed "Johnny Warren!!!"  

But this only allows Warren's legacy to remain everlasting and allow the Australian soccer public remain appreciative of his efforts. At least at every A-League grand final a sign paying tribute to Warren will be displayed.

Johnny Warren will always be seen as the godfather of Australian soccer. RIP, he told us so.

- Aaron Wong

Lions Tour of Australia 2013 – How the Wallabies May Line-Up Come June

The Lions are already gearing up for their tour of Australia

With the Super Rugby season half way towards its completion there has been an increasing amount of talk surrounding who will be in the Wallabies team come June when they go face to face with the British and Irish Lions for the first time in 12 years.

Obviously two factors come in to consideration whilst selecting players for this test series: 1) Current Super Rugby form and 2) Past experience and reputation.

From all the players currently available for selection the strongest XV for the Wallabies would look something like this:

15. Jesse Mogg (Brumbies) – On form is not only the most impressive fullback in the Australian conference but the most impressive player in general.

14. Dom Shipperley (Reds) – Edges Nick Cummins at right wing in a real 50/50 situation, mainly due to the number of other Reds in the starting lineup. The young speedster was impressive when he got a chance to perform in the Rugby Championship last year.

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs) – The best centre in Australian rugby without a doubt. One of the few undisputed world-class players in the side.

12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies) – Compliments Ashley-Cooper brilliantly. His direct and hard working approach both in attack and defence regularly leaves time and space for those around him to perform at their peak.

11. Digby Ioane (Reds) – In mainly due to the consistent injuries suffered by Drew Mitchell and the inexperience of the best Australian left winger in Super Rugby thus far, Joseph Tomane.

10. James O’Connor (Rebels) – Like Ioane, somewhat in the squad by default. Barnes’ injury coupled with the off field troubles of Cooper and Beale make O’Connor the outstanding favorite to be wearing the no.10 jersey come June.

9. Will Genia (Reds) – Is Australia’s best player at the present moment and has been in the past as well. The best no.9 in the world when in top form.

8. Ben Mowen (Brumbies) – Ever improving in both attack and defence even at the age of 28. An extremely hard working and physical player who has also shown leadership skills in recent seasons.

Will We See Smith Wear the Green and Gold Once Again?

7. George Smith (Brumbies) – Arguably the best openside flanker Australia has ever produced. The cliché “form is temporary, class is permanent” applies to Smith more than any other player in this Wallabies lineup.

6. Dave Dennis (Waratahs) – Much like Mowen, Dennis is a hard working and consistent performer. A well-rounded player who never lets his team down.

5. James Horwill (Reds) – Quite simply the best lock in Australian rugby at the moment.

4. Sitaleki Timani (Waratahs) – Although vulnerable on set pieces, he brings an attacking threat with ball in hand and is also known to batter a player or two when defending, something which will be needed against the physical nature of the Lions.

3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies) – Has been a mainstay in both the Brumbies and Wallabies front row for a long time now.

2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies) – Much more reliable than Polota-Nau, especially on set pieces.

1. James Slipper (Reds) – Provides much more mobility and attacking threat than his competitors, notably Kepu and Robinson.

Substitutes: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs) 17. Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) 18. Rob Simmons (Reds) 19. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) 20. Wycliff Palu (Waratahs) 21. Nick Phipps (Rebels) 22. Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies).

James Horwill, with Will Genia being his understudy, will no doubt captain the side especially considering the long term injury to David Pocock.

Notable mentions for players who may end up making the final 22 include Liam Gill (Reds), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Nic White (Brumbies), Nick Cummins (Force), Joseph Tomane (Brumbies) and Israel Folau (Waratahs).

- Vladimir Aleksov

Swans having a feather flutter

The reigning premiers, the Sydney Swans, have started the 2013 AFL season in first gear.

A lacklustre pre-season was evident in opening round of the NAB Cup at Blacktown, in an upset against Carlton, let alone the GWS Giants as well. Although the Swans were missing key premiership stars, including Adam Goodes and Josh Kennedy, the other teams were also fielding younger, inexperienced players.

Some of their senior players are yet to overcome the last year's grand final hangover. The best example is Lewis Jetta, who has kicked just two goals and averaged only 9.5 possessions through four games.

Lewis Jetta struggling to find his 2012 form
(Source: News Limited)

However, it is fair to say that there has been noticeable improvement from many players, particularly Canadian rugby union convert Mike Pike.

The Swans have enjoyed easy victories against low ranking teams to begin the season, making last Friday night’s game a real wake-up call with a 21 point loss against a stronger Geelong. Adding to the Swan’s concerns, big ruckman Lewis Roberts-Thomson was left on the sidelines with a right knee injury during the second quarter of the game. This now places him in doubt for several weeks, as he is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery.

In their current form it is questionable whether or not the Swans will be able to come away with a win in this week’s game against a solid St Kilda side. Some media sources are tipping a loss for the historic ANZAC day clash which will be played in New Zealand on Thursday. More to come on this story.


- Lachlan Lewis

Waratahs Season 2013 - Will Cheika's Revolution Be a Success?

Sitting in the grandstands of the Allianz Stadium on Friday night,
watching the Waratahs take on the defending champions the Chiefs, a few thoughts ran through my mind.

Can the Tahs make the play-offs? Can the Tahs play this well week in, week out or was it just a one off win? And do the Tahs have the players to play the attack minded, running rugby that is demanded by head coach Michael Cheika?

Sadly, especially considering that I'm a Waratahs fan, the answer to all three of the above questions was - after a long thought process - no.

In reference to the first two questions its hard to think of an answer other than no. The Tahs have not won an away match thus far this season and they also lost a home match to the all be it impressive Cheetahs. Looking at the schedule, a tour of South Africa to face the Bulls and Kings respectively does provide a rather grim viewing of the table for Tahs fans in the weeks to come. In addition, the win against the Chiefs was the first time the Waratahs have won a game in which they were not heavy favourites. Losses to the Cheetahs, Reds, Brumbies and Hurricanes do not give Tahs fans the confidence that the men in blue can go out every week and put on a performance like they did on Friday night.

Rob Horne - Time for him to get the chop?

Onto the second hot issue i have with the Waratahs, i do not believe that all 15 plus players are on the same page on the field. Under the guidance of newly installed head coach Michael Cheika, the Waratahs are trying to play an attack minded brand of rugby that we have seen the All Blacks have an immense amount of success with. The main problem with this is that the majority of the players that play for the Waratahs were signed by former head coach Michael Foley who was an advocate of a conservative, kick oriented brand of rugby which has been similar to the way Robbie Deans has set up his Wallabies outfit - where the majority of the side is made up of Waratahs players. This leads to a situation where half of the players on the field such as Benn Robinson, Kane Douglas, Rob Horne and Brendan McKibbin, who were Foley-esque players, do not look like they are on the same team as guys like Bernard Foley, Israel Folau, Wycliff Palu and Michael Hooper, who all fit in with Cheika's ideology. The bottom line is that although there is potential to play the style of rugby Cheika wants and be sucessful with it, this will only be achieved if he is given time and full control over the transfer policy at the club as there is plenty of talented Australian rugby players who are well suited to a running style of rugby such as the Force's Kyle Godwin and Nick Cummins as well as a Tah to be in the Rebels no.9 - Nick Phipps.

So where does that leave us with the Super Rugby season of 2013?

Well my prediction is that the Tahs will once again finish around the 10th placed position with the Brumbies and Reds once again leading the way in the Australian conference. However, the potential of Cheika's project should not be looked over lightly as we have seen at the Brumbies - a franchise with much less potential than the Waratahs - that if you bring in the right coaching staff and are prepared to make tough decisions in regards to the playing group, the sky is the limit!

- Vladimir Aleksov

Rugby League - Set of Six

1. Rep Weekend

All of NRL is taking the weekend off as we prepare for the annual Trans Tasman Test between Australia and New Zealand and the maligned NSW City vs Country fixture. We will also have a Tonga vs Samoa Test match at Penrith's Centerbet Stadium and a Under 20s State of Origin fixture. As well as the NRL taking the week off, Holden Cup will have the weekend off too. If you are looking for a game of Footy this weekend you won't be spoiled for choice. If you live in Sydney its either a Test match in the greater west or going down to a traditional ground for some park footy, better known as the NSW Cup. The rep weekend was introduced to limit burnout on our best players but they won't have the weekend off; they will be playing in a one off test match on Friday night in Canberra. So it doesn't help player burnout, so why are there only 4 matches this weekend. A weekend off for footy is bad for fans and the clubs. But what other games could we add to make the weekend mean more?

2. Make it an International Weekend

If we really want this weekend to be taken seriously it should be a worldwide weekend of test matches. The addition of Tonga vs Samoa is a good one. But what about the other test nations? Imagine this lineup for the weekend. Friday night Australia vs New Zealand. Saturday a double header with PNG vs Fiji and Tonga vs Samoa. Then on Sunday we can still have the City Country fixture. How about we get the north involved too; England, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy could all have Test matches if Super League is willing to follow the NRL and take the weekend off too. We already know we have the best, closet domestic game, but we aren't taken seriously as an International sport and the lack of regular fixtures doesn't help. Treat international football as well as we treat the NRL and it can only improve. Hopefully the Independent Commission will be able to build of this years World Cup and give International Football the exposure it deserves.

3. Does City vs Country have any value anymore?

Robbie Farah, Mitchell Pearce, John Sutton, Aaron Woods, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Reynolds and Jarrod Mullen are just some of the names that have pulled out of this weekends game. However there is great doubt that these players wouldn't play this weekend if there club teams were playing. Most of the NSW team is already decided, so this isn't the big selection trial that is used to be. However there are some great young players that could well be the future of the Blues making their first representative appearance this weekend. Wests Tigers duo James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen, the Bulldogs' Josh Jackson and the Roosters Boyd Cordyner are just some of the players being blooded. But Queensland doesn't have a selection trial, so do we need one? Well if you ask the players they love to play in this game, and for now that's good enough for me. 

4. The Great Divide

We are just 6 rounds in to the 2013 NRL season but we are already seeing a divide between the best and the rest. The NRL is widely regarded as the closet competition in Australian sport thanks to the salary cap. This season though, the divide has become evident much faster than normal. Melbourne, Manly, South Sydney, Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane all look like contenders early on. St George Illawarra, Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland, Parramatta, Canterbury, Wests, Penrith and New Zealand look nothing of the sort. But this is the NRL mind you, it lasts 26 rounds, not 6 and I would not be surprised if any bottom team starts to come good and make a real impact on the competition. If so, it would be another example of the infamous salary cap at work.

5. Coaches under pressure

Another coached sacked for the season and we are only 6 weeks in to the NRL. However the both coaches are from the Super League. Australian Ian Millward has been sacked in just his 2nd year in charge of the Castleford Tigers. His replacement is still to be decided upon. In March Salford Reds Coach Phil Veivers was sacked after just one win from the first 5 games of the season. Last week he was replaced with former Bradford, Wigan, Crusaders and Great Britain coach Brian Noble. Noble's successful history as one of England's best modern coaches, international experience and with multiple Super League titles on his resume makes him a perfect fit for a struggling club like Salford. This is not a job for a rookie coach. Back home in the NRL, Matthew Elliot, of the New Zealand Warriors seems to be under pressure with their poor start. Australian Test Coach Tim Sheens has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

6. New South Wales Number 6

All of the key positions for the Blues seem to be settled. Its incumbents that will keep their positions such as Fullback Brett Stewart, Halfback Mitchell Pearce and Hooker Robbie Farah. However with NSW five eighth Todd Carney currently injured it seems to be the only position up for grabs. However contenders Jarrod Mullen, Josh Reynolds and John Sutton have all pulled out of the City Country clash. It seems to be a two horse race between Todd Carney and Roosters pivot James Maloney. Maloney is in great form and has a club partnership with Mitchell Pearce. However if Todd Carney can get back on the field and put some form on the board he will most likely be selected for Game 1. 

-William Le Messurier-

Take Two

Soccer in Australia has had a not so warm welcoming throughout it's history as one of the four football codes. To be rather blunt and succinct, to many the game was for the:

"Sheilas, wogs and poofters."

The three words aptly describe perceptions of soccer within the Australian sporting market. The game that is played by the other. But it is not always all doom and gloom.

The first light in the tunnel came on the 16th of November 2005. After it's routine dispatching of the Oceania qualifiers, Australia had to defeat the 5th placed team of the South American qualifiers. A task that can't exactly be described as a walk in the park. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Montevideo, supported by 83,000 attendees and millions across the nation, Australia ended its 31 year absence from the FIFA World Cup, earning the right to participate in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Not only did this help capture the interest of the mainstream Australian public, but help bring credibility to the code amongst the other three. The success of the national team (nicknamed, the Socceroos) helped generate interest into the newly formed domestic competition, the A-League.

Arising the ashes of the National Soccer League, the A-League commenced in August 2005, striving hard to tackle many of the problems that historically hindered the progression of soccer in Australia. One of the most obvious issues that was addressed was the issue of ethnic-based clubs. Some of the most historic and famed clubs within Australian soccer have been those of ethnic-based foundations. It can be said that these clubs act as proxy embassies for newly-arrived immigrants, many being established as social clubs for those longing the old country. However, many of the old troubles were revisited in Australia, in particular clashes between Balkan based groups such as the Croats and Serbs. For the Football Federation of Australia, it was an utmost priority to eliminate any ethnic tension, in order to appeal to the masses.

Effectively, two main guidelines directed the format of the competition. No ethnic-based links, so clubs such as Marconi Fairfield, Sydney Olympic and Melbourne Knights (each respectively represented by the Italian, Greek and Croatian communities) were barred from entry. And lastly, 1 city, 1 club. The A-League wanted clubs to consolidate support from the entire demographic of their city, emphasizing inter-city rivalries.

This was a successful tactic which saw record crowds of 50,000 for grand finals, 35,000 for regular season matches and an average of 27,000 for the Melbourne Victory in Season II of the competition.

So why the second uprising?

The common consensus within the Australian soccer community is that the FFA's prioritizing Australia hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup saw a neglect towards the A-league. Average crowds since the 2007-08 season, which saw a record average of 14,610, plummet consistently to an all time low of 8,429 in the 2010-11 season. Two expansion clubs, the North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United were folded within two to three seasons. Both of these aforementioned clubs were established to further 'nationalize' the game. However the markets for soccer that these clubs were situated at were barely or not at all interested towards the game. The A-league was facing the unwanted prospect of having to field a 9-team league for the 2012-13 season. Hastily, a Western Sydney team was created to fill the void of the demise of Gold Coast United. The events that happened next were truly unprecedented or unexpected.

The current 2012-13 season has widely been acclaimed as the greatest A-League season, surpassing the pandemonium of the inaugural season in 2005-06. The success of the season can be attributed to two main factors.

1. The introduction of quality marquee players. The signing of Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono was a masterstroke, that not only gave attention to the game domestically but worldwide, such is the stature of the three marquee players.
2. The fairytale season of the Western Sydney Wanderers. A team build hastily, expected to finish bottom has exceeded every single expectation. About to contest for the Grand Final in 2 days time and finishing the regular season 1st.

The success of this season has truly been welcomed for many soccer enthusiasts within the country, such as myself. It is truly something when the game which has been dismissed by so many for so long has captured the attention of every single Free-to-Air broadcaster and newspaper publication. But this is where the challenge begins. It is a true test of administrative capabilities if the FFA can sustain this interest of the domestic game. It is a test to see whether the spectator-seers of Del Piero, Heskey and Ono will remain after they leave. 

It is a test to let the game grow and to never see a regular season crowd average of 8000 ever again.

- Aaron Wong

Australian Rugby - Where Do We Stand?

The likes of Stephen Larkham, George Gregan and Phil Waugh no longer grace the green grasses of the hallowed rugby grounds across Australia. With it, long gone are the days when Australian Rugby and the Wallabies dominated both Super Rugby and the Tri-Nations.

How about this current generation of Australian Rugby players then? Are they too heavily criticised? Is Robbie Deans the right man to coach the Wallabies? Do they have the potential to win a World Cup or become the number one side in the world? Or are we simply stagnating as a Rugby nation on the world stage?

The fact that the Wallabies have not won a Bledisloe Cup since 2002 clearly demonstrates that New Zealand has well and truly taken over Australia in the landscape of international rugby. The only reason why Robbie Deans is still the coach of the Wallabies is thanks to the large turnover of players that South Africa have faced in the last few years leading to mediocre results and meaning that they and not the Wallabies are currently ranked as the number 3 team in the world.

Taking a step backwards, Australian franchises in Super Rugby have also struggled. Lets face it, Australia does not have the depth to field 5 teams in a 15 team competition! The Western Force in particular have been disappointing in not only their failure to improve on results but in the notion that they have been consistently losing their best players year in, year out with the likes of David Pocock, Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor and Matt Giteau all leaving the Perth based outfit. The Melbourne Rebels on the other hand have not fared much better either. Although the Rebels must be given somewhat a benefit of the doubt as they only started playing Super Rugby in 2011, 2013 looms as a big year where expectations at the Rebels will be higher than merely not finishing last. Their performances thus far however have not suggested that the Rebels could improve on their 13th placed finish last season and with disruptions involving key playmaker Kurtley Beale, it looks like it is going to be another grim season. Just by looking at the Super Rugby ladder, the fact that 2 out of the 4 bottom placed teams are Australian says it all! The underperformance of the Waratahs, where the majority of Wallabies are picked from, for several seasons now is also cause for concern for Australian Rugby in general whilst the Reds have shown that although they can make the finals they are no threat to take out the competition, which leaves Australia with only one side which we can hope to bring home the Super Rugby trophy this season - The Brumbies (who are coached by a South African all be it).

What are the positives then?

To sum it up in one word - potential.

Although the Wallabies have a handful of world class players such as Will Genia, Wycliff Palu and David Pocock they simply don't have the resources to put out a team of 15 that will match the All Blacks stride for stride. Where we do have the upper hand on our neighbours across the ditch is that the Wallabies are a much younger side than the current All Blacks and a more experienced side than the Springboks. It is without a doubt that players such as James O'Connor, Kutrley Beale and Quade Cooper have been under performing and need to get their act together both on and off the field because if they do then the Wallabies may once again become the best side in world rugby! Although the 2015 World Cup in England does seem a long way away the upcoming Lions tour of Australia together with another edition of the Rugby Championship may once again put Australia up there as the favourites to take out the title. If it dosen't well then at least it will clarify the future of Robbie Deans who's conservative and defensive style of rugby has been criticised within Australian time and time again.


- Vladimir Aleksov

The Future Blog

Currently we are using the default "Simple" Blogger template but this will change with time.

Here is a rough sketch for the future design of this blog. It has a simple and user-friendly layout but the aim would be to integrate this with a football theme/background. The colour schemes we choose should ensure that the content is easy to read and doesn't hurt your eyes, so preferably pale/light pastels.

Whether or not this design becomes a reality remains to be discovered!