sidelined

Regardless of who wins the Rugby World Cup, the next few weeks will see the last chapter written in George Gregan’s Test career. His on-field exploits are legendary, but the George Gregan I will remember most vividly is the one who turned up for a public jersey-signing marathon at North Sydney oval a [...]

The interesting thing about finals footy is the manner in which you team may exit the finals (winning the grand final excluded of course).
For the fan, not making the finals is tinged with disappointment but a relief that the season is over. In the case of the Rabbitohs, making the finals was reward enough [...]

This is the busiest time of my year - the time when all the deadlines I have ever had coalesce, whilst working three jobs, and being a single parent (my now ex-partner ALWAYS goes away at this time). And then there’s the only real reason to live, finals football.
66%/$1.57 Power Eagles $2.35/34%
30%/$2.25 Hawks Crows $1.60/70%
25%/$2.02 [...]

Group B
Australia
Should win: Bolster rah rah sense of entitlement and superiority. It is the way of the universe. Can’t fight it.
Shouldn’t win: Oh, I couldn’t cope.
Wiki says: Mark Champion. No, seriously that’s what came up.
You heard it here first.
Wales
Should win: The accents – so cute! The singing. The accents.
Shouldn’t win: “The Prince [...]

Here it is …
(62%) Magpies Crows (37%)
(17%) Tigers Saints (83%)
(93%) Eagles Bombers (7%)
(23%) Lions Cats (76%)
(91%) Power Dockers (9%)
(57%) Swans Hawks (42%)
(15%) Bulldogs Kangaroos (85%)
(78%) Demons Blues (21%)
I tipped all the away teams, with the solitary exception of the Power-Dockers game. Looks like I’m home with the Crows versus Pies games. Of course, Essendon won’t [...]

On Facebook I guess!!
Here are my tips
(31% / $1.95) Saints Eagles ($1.78 / 69%)
(13% / $5.50) Blues Kangaroos ($1.13 / 86%)
(92% / $1.14) Dockers Demons ($5.25 / 8%)
(40% / $2.30) Magpies Swans ($1.57 / 59%)
(70% / $1.38) Crows Lions ($2.90 / 29%)
(23% / $3.00) Bulldogs Hawks ($1.36 / 76%)
(88% / $1.18) Cats Power ($4.40 / [...]

(72%) Magpies (11.15 81) Demons (9.16 70) (28%)
(76%) Bombers (18.10 118) Blues (16.12 108) (24%)
(73%) Saints (19.12 126) Dockers (14.12 96) (27%)
(47%) Lions Swans (53%)
(96%) Eagles Tigers (4%)
(80%) Hawks Power (20%)
(18%) Kangaroos Cats (82%)
(87%) Crows Bulldogs (12%)
It’s a tight game, but I’m happy to say that it’s been a good week’s tipping for me so [...]

Here they are - and the shock defeat of Collingwood by the Magpies is the only one I’ve dropped thus far, with Geelong overcoming Adelaide and Essendon yet to play.
(9%) Tigers (18.8 116) Magpies (14.12 96) (91%)
(57%) Hawks (17.13 115) Lions (13.13 91) (42%)
(95%) Power (17.13 115) Blues (14.9 93) (5%)
(11%) Demons (19.15 129) Bulldogs [...]

So, I’ve got a measly 79 and the punters are on 88 - it’s not looking good for me, with just four rounds to go. But then, you can make up ground in the finals. Anyway, here’s the week;
(28% / $3.30) Bulldogs Saints ($1.32 / 71%)
(11% / $5.50) Blues Magpies ($1.12 / 89%)
(97% / $1.04) [...]

OK, I’ve been a slack tipper, but I’ve still been following the game and, this week, trying to come to terms with a life without Sheedy as coach. He was appointed in the year that I began barracking for Essendon, so I’ve never known the team without him. There’s so much being written and said [...]