Aussie Bloggers

As the Australian Rules Football (AFL) season draws to a close, many people will be mourning its end and some will be rejoicing. For those who are rejoicing it means getting television back on the weekends and it means that people in the workplace who are die-hard footy fans won’t be talking about who won or lost, or who might win or lose, or whose team’s better than another.

I must admit I’m in the rejoicing camp. I turn a blind eye to football and pretty much remain blisfully unware of what’s going on except when I’m flicking around the television stations and come across a football game or that dreaded Footy Show. I could do a whole post on why I dislike it so much but I don’t want to waste my breath.

I’ve also been stuck in a hotel in a largish country town where a football team were having their end of year piss-up (for those who don’t know, piss-up is a very Aussie term for getting extrememly drunk). My friend and I had been to see a band this particular night and we went to our room for the night but it wasn’t quiet at all. The footy guys were smashing glass - both of the bottle kind and the window kind. They even knocked on our door. We stayed really quiet as we didn’t want them to know there were two gorgeous women in this particular room and we prayed that they weren’t so drunk they’d try to bash the door down. I know footy players aren’t the only ones who get extremely drunk but they don’t do themselves or the game any favours I don’t think.

All this aside, I actually went to a football game earlier in the season. I thought it would be a good birthday outing for my son. Unfortunately he didn’t agree which was a shame. Even though I’m not a football fan, I don’t mind going to a game every few years because the atmosphere is fun. It’s not a cheap family outing though!

So, for those who are die-hard footy fans, what is it about this sport that you love? Conversely if you’re not into the game, why not?

G’day Fellow Aussie Bloggers, let me first introduce myself. My name is Daniel Anderson and I am relatively new to blogging, I have recently launched my blog on AFL Football where I talk about all the current events happening in the AFL and give my opinions on those topics. As a lot of you would realise AFL Football is a big talking point and most Aussie Sports fans have an opinion on the game. So I thought what better platform to do this than a blog. Hence AFL Football Blog was created. I am really enjoying creating content for my site and have had a lot of good feedback which always is great to hear and keeps me going and producing content for people to read.

OK enough about me. Considering the 2008 AFL Season is nearly upon us (the first game is played on March the 20th) and everyone has their views on who will make the finals and win the premiership I thought I would throw my 2 bobs worth in an do a preview of the 2008 AFL Season. I have already completed an in depth preview that I released to my “Inner Sanctum” (weekly AFL newsletter) Subscribers and I thought I would share my thoughts with you all.

Red Hot Favorites

Obviously the Cats will start the 2008 Season as Red HOT favourites after their demolition of opposition teams in 2007 resulting in their emphatic Grand Final victory. During the off season the Cats haven’t really lost anyone of note, apart from Nathan Ablett, who walked out on the club. But it looks as if the “TomaHawk” Tom Hawkins will fill the void left by Ablett. There are 2 players in particular that will have the fire in the belly after missing the 2007 premiership, Mark Blake , who was controversially dropped for the Grand Final and Matthew Egan who missed through Injury. Blake has apparently taken his anger out on the training track and looks in great shape, while Egan has had a little set back and has needed a minor operation. The Cats have winners all over the ground and it is very hard to see anyone knocking them off this year.

The Challengers

Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and the Kangaroos will be the teams I think will challenge the Cats this year. Although Collingwood lost recently in the first round of the NAB Cup to a well drilled Adelaide side, the Pies just were not ready to play and just came off the back of a 3 week altitude training camp in South Africa so I don’t think you should take to much out of that game apart from the fact that the Crows looked very very good. The Pies are a very well coached side and with the likes of Travis Cloke who looks ready to take a big leap and become the Pies leading forward it will free up the likes of Anthony Rocca who could become quite damaging if he ends up with the second or third best defender. If they can get more out of the possessions that Dane Swan, Scott Burns, and Tarkyn Lockyer get then they will certainly be in the top 2. Watch out for Irish man Marty Clarke to take the comp by storm and Scott Pendelbury to continue his rise to the top.

The most heavily backed side for the Premiership is St Kilda, don’t ask me why?

Don’t get me wrong I think they should be featuring heavily in the Finals but based on last year I don’t know where the improvement is coming from? Sure they have picked up Steven King from Geelong and Michael Gardiner should be right after missing last year through injury but if they have to rely on that to get them over the line then I don’t think they have what it takes. And anyone that re drafts Fraser Gehrig needs a reality check!

The Kangaroos are shaping up very well and they certainly surprised the so called “experts” last year when they finished the season in a Preliminary Final. Many tipped them for the wooden spoon. They have recruited very well with what you would call more mature players with bigger bodies that look like they are ready to step right in. Levi Greenwood looks set to replace the Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer and from all reports has a similar style of play, which should be good to watch. With the career best form of Brent Harvey, Corey Jones, Shannon Watt, Jesse Smith and Hamish McIntosh, the Roos will be looking to this group to back up that with another stellar season. With all the turmoil off field over the pre season they certainly need a good year on it.

The Hawks will be aiming at a top 4 finish and so they should. Coach Alistair Clarkson has got his team up and going very nicely. And with Big Buddy Franklin tearing up the track things are again looking great for the Hawks. Port is the other side that I think can challenge the Cats, from all reports they are training well and with Warren Tredrea (one of my most irritating players) over his knee injuries and training well and the Cornes brothers fitter and stronger the Power will again feature in the latter part of September.

The Rest

On to the Bombers and many are tipping them for a bottom 3 finish but I just reckon they might just surprise a few this year, if Lloyd can stay on the ground and Stanton, Dyson and Monfries can step up to become a premier midfielders then they might just get a few wins on the board. I had a look at the Bombers in an intra club game and was impressed with the youngsters in Dempsey, Davey and Jetta one thing is for sure McPhee needs to step up or he might find himself in hot water come the end of the year.

The bottom 2 will be Melbourne and Richmond I think with Melbourne taking the honours of the Wooden Spoon, I just can’t see where the Demons can improve. They are too reliant on skipper David Neitz who you would think is in his final season. The demons just do not have enough quality midfielders to match it with the rest. Richmond are in a similar position, Although there might be some improvement there will not be enough for them to challenge for the finals this year. A good sign for the Tigers though is that superstar Nathan Brown is completing a full pre season and looks set to start the season in good shape as well as Mark Coughlan.

Chris Judd and the Blues

One of the most talked about AFL trades in history was the Chris Judd to Carlton trade. But can he lift the Blues to a finals appearance in 2008? Simple answer – NO. Expect some improvements but finals are out of the question or the Blues in 08. I Expect Adelaide, Sydney, Wester Bulldogs to fight it out for the final positions in the eight. Fremantle, who promise a lot but never seem to deliver much I expect to finish middle of the road along with Sydney.

Well that’s my wrap for the upcoming season, if you would like to get a better look at your club then Subscribe to ‘The Inner Sanctum” my FREE Weekly AFL Newsletter and receive the full club by club preview.

Daniel Anderson
AFL Football Blog