El Gordo

Went to Adelaide Richmond game with a couple of Crows mates. Points I noted: Adelaide have a group that can really kick - accurate and huge penetration. They are hard tacklers as well. Tiges aren't very good. Haven't progressed from last few years. Lots of bludgers who don't work hard enough when they haven't got the ball. Grigg is a classic example. How Hoolie got in the best players I am staggered. He is a turnover King. Must have cost then 6 or 7 goals. Cotchin almost as bad. We should continue our hoodoo over them if we put pressure on the ball carrier and block the corridor. Crows did this to perfection and Tiges rapidly ran out of ideas. er

All limited in one respect or other. Biggest problem for all three was that they just didn't or couldn't get enough of the footy!

Google 1984 SANFL Grand Final. Norwood finished 5th, just fell into finals. Port finished top and unbackable favorites. Stoushes, hard running footy, exciting finish, Dwayne Russell reported, it had it all. Just one of the memories of the rivalry that I have. My parents were rabid Port supporters, I adopted red and blue at an early age in reaction.

My wife headed for bed after I kicked the laptop and a wine glass across the living room when Jeremy Howe "centred" the ball from the back pocket. Fair dinkum, if they assessed football IQ, we would be in the imbecile category. Hope Saints win tomorrow so we finish where we belong.

Being from SA originally, my memory of John Peck is from a state game on a very muddy Adelaide Oval in about 1963. He went to ground in a heap with Brian Sawley who was a small half forward who played for Norwood. When Peck went to get up Sawley,s boot got stuck in the leg of Peck's jockstrap. Big John turned around and layed Sawley out with a huge haymaker. He got rubbed out for a few matches but I remember seeing vision of Ted Whitten complaining that Sawley had kicked Peck. Was a huge story in Adelaide at the time.

Have seen him play in the flesh a couple of times on visits back to Adelaide. Strikes me as being a tough nut - rough as guts in some respects but never takes a backward step. Get the impression he could pick a fight in an empty room. And the Bassett culture at Norwood wouldnt do him any harm either - defensive side of his game will be first rate.

"... his kicking is a weapon" Based on what I saw of him yesterday, mainly his panicky decision making, the only weapon he can be compared with is a 9mm to the foot. Suffers from the same malady as the rest of his team mates - an inability to get the ball QUICKLY by foot further afield. Long and floaty doesnt equate to weapon-like in my book. When he can kick like a Malceski then he becomes dangerous.

Thanks yes another whose disposal skills are woeful

Just got back from the game. Unfortunately must have caught them on an off day because it was like watching Melbourne earlier in the season. Poor skills, poor decision making, poor work rate. Of the Melbourne listed players: Hogan - was isolated after Sellar and Davis were injured early. Seems to have a decent engine as he had to roam far and wide to get possessions. 3 goals was a good return for not his or the teams best game. Strauss - need not bother packing his sun screen or tropical kit. Terrible decision making - would like to have seen his kicking efficiency - doubt whether it was over 20 per cent - just coughed it up time and time again - no presence for a supposed a-lister. Rodan - looked lively until injured - should probably have played down south yesterday. Davis - looked as though he was forging a good relationship with Hogan - presented well early then rib injury - I was standing near the interchange and he couldnt breath without pain. Gillies - spud Couch - quiet then injured Tynan - still light framed - not sure if he will get a chance this year Magner - in the game all day but suffered from the team disease of poor disposal when it counted. Pederson - had to take over the ruck - took some good grabs but see Magner Barry - quiet early but after quarter time lifted his intensity and work rate - is quick and could be a good kick Sellar - head clash put him out of the game early - hard to assess Joel Mac - spud - bad disposal bad decisions gave away stupid free kicks Viney - fairly quiet - in and under - doesnt get much clear possession - always seems to be under pressure - will improve with a run Tapscott - again, quiet and struggling to impose himself on the game - not likely to get a call up on that showing Werribee's physical pressure told on a lot of the Casey players - this seemed to affect the decision making - became handball happy and, like the seniors, guys started to shirk the responsibility and handball to someone else without considering the position of the receiver who was more often than not in a worse position. That is what I mean by shirking responsibility, not physically shirking - it was a pretty physical game and all Casey players went in hard. The mental side of the game wasnt there today.

Echunga and Uraidla Districts in the Hills Football League in SA both wear red and blue. Echunga definately call themselves the Demons - not sure about Uraidla - maybe Redlegs(?)

31 disposals in the SANFL Grand Final. Strong body - good penetrating kick. Excellent pick up

There was a brief mention in the Age I think on Monday morning. Mate and I went over for the game - of the 30k there, would have been 25k in red and blue. Havent been to a SANFL game in the flesh for a while since moving to Melbourne - you forget how good the players in the AFL are - big step up. Some other thoughts: Biggest difference is speed of decision making and pure leg speed over the ground. There are some big bodies in the SANFL and the skill overall are pretty good but you can see that the things that are done instantaneously at AFL level are thought about for a mini second longer at this level. Norwood were one of the most disciplined teams I saw all year including the AFL teams. They stuck to the game plan rigorously even when 8 goals up in the last quarter. Agree we should be looking at Bassett for the coaching panel - very grounded individual. James Aish will be a gun. He looks a lot taller than the 179 quoted in the Budget. Dont think there will be a Duigan or Puopolo out of this group just yet. The Norwood development path is however very solid - look for names like Chippendale and Webster in years to come. Both teams were very young and inexperienced relatively - one three players with more than 100 games in either team - Westies had only 6 players over 23 - good to see SANFL is not becoming a dumping ground for burnouts. Fantasic to belt out "Grand Old Flag" after a GF win.

Fellow Redleg tragic and myself will be heading across to the GF in Adelaide. We both finished up in Melbourne 20 years or so ago with work but still keep an eye on the results from across the border. We remember the dynasty of the late 70's and early 80's where the 'Legs played in 5 grand finals in 9 years for 4 wins. Keen to see if any Moneyball candidates in either team.

Not sure if it appeared in the media down south ( i've been up in Darwin for the last 2 weeks) but there is an article in the NT News today which is chilling reading and goes a long way to casting light on what Liam is up against. Apparently the men involved in the fight which precipitated his involvement were all friends of his and he was forced to choose sides. Lose-lose situation. The situation in the community is completely toxic and appears no end in sight in the short term. Most recent episode involved the Southies threatening the West to the point where the latter left town, the Souths pinched the West's community bus and ran down all their humpies (their word not mine) crashed the bus and set fire to it. Sad for Liam and his kin.

Headlines in today's NT NEWS: "FIRE AND ICE - record cold snap has Territorians reaching for the kindling" For info, minimum tonight is forecast to be 15 degrees, maximum 29 - it's all relative I guess. Staying with my brother who recommends I rug up tonight for the game "'cos it's gonna get cold Bro." Played golf at Marrara last evening - was still 26 at 6.30. I was here last year for the Dees v Port and recommend it as a cultural experience not to be missed.