Diamond_Jim

In my season rewatch I reached the prelim final last night. Unlike most games where I watch one quarter an evening this one I watched in one sitting. It is arguably the most comprehensive performance of the season. Other than missing a few gettable goals in the second? quarter it was near faultless. The GF was special and no one will forget that 35 odd minutes of domination but I think this game was the pinnacle performance wise. Obvious kudos to Max but the performances by Brown, Spargo, Petty ANB..the list goes.... on are what should stand us in good stead in the coming season.

The news coming out of overseas is that Son of Omicron aka BA2 is more virulent than Omicron and will fast become the dominant strain. The more concerning element is that having had the initial Omicron offers little if any immunity to BA2. If that holds true the opening round should see us deep in the covid mist. https://www.science.org/content/article/sudden-rise-more-transmissible-form-omicron-catches-scientists-surprise If there's good news it's that this variant causes much the same degree of illness as the original Omicron.

It's so obviously a TV play designed to maximise eyeballs in the run up to the next round of media negotiations. Thursday, Friday and Monday nights will become the norm with Thursday and Monday only available on pay TV and not necessarily the same platform. 60k will be a good crowd. Will it bring out the theatre goers and the corporates. I doubt it. The build up will be lost in the covid mist along with the general excitement that goes through al clubs and supporters in the first round.

Problem for North is that their only major asset is the buildings at Arden Street. I expect that the ground itself is council/crown owned. Most other clubs are building significant asset bases (mainly future funds) aside from the training facilities.

In those heady days of the 70's when the live VFA telecast was a must watch each Sunday afternoon Fred Cook was enormous. VFA crowds often exceeded some of the VFL crowds of the day.

The head of Bunnings and the senior management team are also leaving the West Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott’s decision to move with his senior corporate executives from Perth to the Eastern states is akin to Prince Harry moving his family out of the UK. Wesfarmers is the closest thing to royalty that Western Australia has. The 108-year-old company is the largest in the state, its head office is a part of Perth skyline and its tentacles spread throughout the broader community in the arts, philanthropy and Indigenous education. Scott’s decision to abandon his perch in Perth for the duration of the COVID imprisonment and move to Melbourne is partly pragmatic but comes with a large dollop of political motivation to pressure West Australia’s McGowan government, whose decision to keep the border closed to outsiders indefinitely has been roundly criticised by those outside the state. https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/rob-scott-s-cross-border-pilgrimage-a-nice-piece-of-pandemic-theatre-20220131-p59smg.html

For the next few months. He has said that it is not possible to fulfil his various roles eg Chair of Qantas from WA

Godyer is leaving WA and heading East. Bye WA

There were a few nervous bankers around in those days. Who would be the first to take possession of a grandstand or two. Saved by the commission and the sale of licences interstate. It was close for several clubs.

I can see the Eagle Fans singing.....

Amazing if correct Do they also have caps on coaching and support salaries

Next week's Winter Olympics could be interesting... Athletes must provide proof of two negative tests within 96 hours of their departure for China to get permission to fly and then test every day while there, and close contacts of those infected can be forced to isolate. Close contacts can still compete but are subject to extra restrictions and tests. To minimise risks, Beijing 2022 has introduced a “closed loop” system which restricts all Games participants to certain zones in and around venues and accommodation, creating a bubble that separates them from the local population. The organisers have reported 129 positive cases among Games-related personnel between 4 January, when the loop began operations, and 26 January.

Working my way through the season on the Kayo/Foxtel replays. Up to the WCE game in Perth. They just jump from the end of Q3 to the start of Q4 and completely miss the drama of the "lightning break." It underscores how important context is historically. Hope someone is archiving full games with extra comments for future generations. I'd also like to see a closing section that shows all the player votes from different comps including the Brownlow. A pre-game caption showing ins and outs would also help. These are historical records after all. PS: Jackson's increasing dominance in the latter half of the season is a joy to watch. He had very few one on one duels with Naitanui but perhaps next year.

This would be similar to the top-up pool created by the Big Bash League this season This pool could see a player playing for one club in Round 1 and another club in Round 2, if required. Somebody should perhaps mention to Gil that fitting into a football team is not quite the same as substituting in a Big Bash T20 game

Nic Naitanui turns 32 in May this year. Has he got this and two more years in him?

Yep.... she tested positive "after" going out of the tournament On another note today marks two years from the first covid case in Melbourne. I took off for India a couple of days later. Those were the days. Let's hope that it's a distant memory this time next year.

Indian women's soccer team had to withdraw from the Asian Cup because they couldn't field a squad of 13 players. Strange no player at the tennis testing positive given the community spread. Perhaps I'm a cynic.

The Jordon and Sparrow discussion is very interesting

Definitely some upside available for the Dogs in returning players and the possible inclusion of Ugle-Hagen. Hannan will be lucky to keep his spot. As to our team I'm not completely sold on Harmes but have no idea who would be a better replacement. Hibberd is the other one who may not make it for the opening game. Can't see the 2 pre season games influencing selection that much given the squads etc. Will be interesting to see where Weideman is played in those two games. An exception might be the Jordon v Sparrow duel. Could it be that both play and Harmes misses out. McDonald is safe for at least 3 games. Suspect that the opening game will be strongly influenced by who kicks straighter

Hunt would walk into most teams if he could improve that final kick/disposal.

One more.... BRISBANE will place midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen on its inactive list after he failed to meet the AFL's COVID-19 protocols.

Vale..... https://www.theage.com.au/culture/music/legendary-american-singer-meat-loaf-dies-aged-74-20220121-p59qai.html Bat Out of Hell is also the best-selling album of all time in Australia.

Here's the thread. Not sure if it was officially confirmed

IIRC he was told to look elsewhere at the end of last season and no one picked him up. He'll most likely be delisted at the end of 2022

"The club will continue to support Jack as he contemplates his options and is optimistic that he will return to build on his outstanding career to date." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-21/jack-darling-west-coast-eagles-covid-vaccine-mandate/100772604 Given the 3-4 weeks between first and second dose he better get a move on