Diamond_Jim

UEFA has left it to the individual leagues to decide their own order of merit. If it wasn't for television revenues they would all have closed down for the year. I heard last night that either the J League or the K League were starting up again in the next few weeks. No crowds of course but wait for it... players will not be allowed to talk on the pitch !!!

so the clubs pass a good % of the buck along to the taxpayer So generous.....

Was there ever a more disappointing night in Australian sport It was fated to be one of Australia soccer’s most memorable nights. A return to the global game’s top table at the sixth attempt of asking - nearly 24 years after the pioneers of 1974 blazed the trail. A once-in-a-generation crop of talent. A mix of exciting youth - a teenage Harry Kewell, a bustling Mark Viduka - and experienced stars like Tobin and Arnold. Will the Socceroos ever see the like of this squad? One of the world’s top coaches - England and Barcelona’s Terry Venables. He still hasn’t lost a game in charge of the Socceroos since he came down under, but he’ll taste the sickly sweet bile of defeat in his mouth tonight. The sadness in the voice of Craig Foster after full-time said it all. The emptiness of Johnny Warren’s post-match analysis. It’s inexplicable that this team - having played that match, aren’t going to France to mix it with Rivaldo, Zinedine Zidane etc. They utterly dominated Iran, the Socceroos. It could have been five-nil inside the first ten minutes. They only needed one of those chances, and it all could have been so different. https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/apr/24/australia-v-iran-world-cup-qualifying-playoff-liveblog

Including tonight's game against Richmond 3 and 3 was probably the most likely start to the season with 2 and 4 the next. I would have been ecstatic if we had gone 4 and 2

there was an article I saw a few weeks ago to the affect that athletes were being asked to self administer drug tests during lockdown. Enough said !!

The plan outlined by the AFL for its hub included a program for around 2000 tests per week(two during the week and one on game day per player). That's just for the players. Today NSW proudly announced that they have doubled the number of tests available for the whole of NSW (pop 8M) from 4k per day to 8k. Anybody else see a problem with the AFL plan ???

chicken and egg argument I'm afraid. If we had the money and the opportunity I would give it credence but really it's just an argument for a competing financial priority. Anyway .. all irrelevant now........ we'll be lucky to afford a tent or at most a used portable class room on the edge of the Paddock for the next few years. Another two weeks of lockdown here until May 12 and no signs of it being lifted. Ramadan starts today so best wishes to all who are fasting.

The NRL fiasco continues,,,, In a statement released on Thursday night the Nine Network said it was “premature” for the league to push ahead with a season re-start when it claims no broadcast deal is in place for the 2020 season. Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys had reportedly hoped to broker an agreement with Nine and Foxtel before the end of the week — but Nine’s second scathing statement towards the game’s top officials suggests the parties remain at logger heads. It comes just a few weeks after Channel 9 launched a first scathing attack on the NRL and former CEO Todd Greenberg where the broadcaster accused the NRL of “squandering” millions in broadcast revenue. https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/channel-9-bombshell-statement-on-nrl-return-date-plans/news-story/9b9137710c0136e070deaf6223f408d9

What a surprise... Sydney Swans CEO says Sydney would make a great hub...... “It’s as much about promoting the game in New South Wales and providing those opportunities for the development of the game rather than winning an inherent advantage by playing the game in Sydney,” he said. “If there’s a genuine hub environment, once you’re in, you’re in.” https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/23/sydney-should-be-considered-for-hub-as-afl-prepares-to-set-return-date

They are so desperate for money they will ditch NZ if necessary. In reality I expect the Governments will make an exception for them and allow them in through a special quarantine process (think horses at Sandown). The more one considers how sports are anxious to start again so as to protect their revenues the grubbier the image of those sports become. The noble idea of providing entertainment to the masses is as we all know a smokescreen when there are so many other areas of public entertainment that are haemorrhaging.

The AFL plan involves players being tested twice a week and once on match day. Okay by me assuming tests are freely available for other industries, teachers and in particular emergency workers right down to cleaner level.To do that level of testing when not widespread across the community would be a PR disaster like wearing masks on a plane when none were available at a hospital as happened in round one. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-teams-could-play-on-in-hubs-even-if-player-tests-positive-20200422-p54m5n.html

no .....they had an argument with Channel 9 where Nine called the NRL management incompetent. Nine did say they wanted to talk about what was paid for the compromised season https://www.zerotackle.com/channel-9-blasts-nrl-for-mismanagement-of-the-code-in-explosive-statement-54039/

I agree was going to put that in but it is so obvious. To the experts....how would you rate his kicking skills??

Tough words but a grain of truth. He's a potential wonder player but he needs to take that step. Also needs to learn how to play through a tag.

In their defence it's two hotels but it is a little silly. I had assumed the players would continue to live at home while based in Melbourne

A hotel full of 600 footy players the bulk of whom are under 25 for a couple of months... what could possibly go wrong. It's the AFL version of battery hens Imagine if you were a fringe player not getting a game

Just had a letter emailed to me from Max Gawn. Very well written with a balance of humour, thanks and hope. Well done Max and the MFC

I suppose the whole team could be said to be 4-6 these days. Fingers crossed for no home basketball injuries or the like.

does it really matter where they play given no crowds. If they want to save money they could use ovals that are less expensive to maintain. The only issue I see is night lighting but if you want to be drastic you can play the game during the day and embargo the result until broadcast that night. This is going to be a strange season for sure. Melbourne Cup without crowds and no international horses ?? PS.. a prefect season for the likes of Essendon and Collingwood to visit Kardinia Park

Not one to quote myself even if I could find my post but I did predict that the price of peace between the NRL and Channel 9 would be the resignation of the NRL CEO and sure enough....he's gone https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/20/nrl-ceo-todd-greenberg-quits-amid-rugby-league-coronavirus-crisis

walking the dog is banned here .... not that I have one. Luckily the apartment complex has a large garden so 10 times round the fenceline is a good work out. Mind you in 34 degree heat at 80% humidity I much prefer the pool which is closed .

Have not seen it...Will add it to my list There are some great Indian cricket movies which although in Hindi make wonderful watching with subtitles.My favourite is Patiala House While on Indian movies one of the best recent movies is the Three Idiots. It was one of the highest grossing movies in India and its story rings true for many nationalities

Salary is an interesting one. As an aside over the last few days I have enjoyed rewatching the mini series Bodyline and Howzat (the story of World Series Cricket). Somewhat ironic is the common person in both sagas, Don Bradman. In Bodyline he is anti Board pushing his right to earn money as a journalist while a team member and then in Howzat he is shown to have overseen a world where Dennis Lillee was said to be paid the same as the guy moving the sight screen. Making the Australian cricket team and staying around for five odd seasons should set you up for life. You are the creme de la creme of Australian sport. Applying that to AFL the best argument the players have is that they should get thirty per cent of the gross.Now...how do you split that thirty per cent. I don't really know. Similar discussions are now emerging around tennis where 70% or more of the prize money goes to the top 50 players

should not be too hard for some boffin to tell us the median and average injury rate per club and across the comp for the last twenty years. If it really is 25% (and I have no idea) that's nine players which would give you only 27 players to select from...cue the reduction in onfield numbers to 16 and three on the bench.

just posted much the same in another thread although my suggestion was one thousand attendees. Very important that they involve fans in some way. Strangely enough I think the canned crowd noise is almost disrespectful to the fans.