Messenger 28Aug07 : So here's how season 2007 WON'T pan out

[Ian]

http://www.messengernorth.com.au/article/2007/08/28/2053_north_sports.html

So here's how season 2007 WON'T pan out

28Aug07

EARLIER this year I predicted Port Adelaide to win the 2007 SANFL premiership.

Considering the Magpies are now a mathematical impossibility of playing in finals, I guess that prediction should be reconsidered.
So I'll be more conservative with my speculations from now on.
For starters, here's my top 10 things that won't happen for the rest of the year.
1. West Adelaide to sign Kevin Sheedy to fill next year's vacant coaching post. Thought I'd start with something obvious - I need the confidence boost. Wouldn't Sheeds be great though coaching at a ground called Richmond (the namesake of his former playing club) and for a red and black uniform. He wouldn't even need to get a new jacket to wave.
2. Central District to bow out of the finals in straight sets. It goes without saying that the Bulldogs are finals performers, having contested the past seven Grand Finals. But how's this for a stat - the Bulldogs in that time have not played in any other knockout final including preliminary finals, first semi-finals and elimination finals. Therefore their only losing finals have been their two Grand Final losses for a win-loss record of 13-2.
3. A flop of a crowd at Adelaide Oval in round 23. Like last year's Glenelg v South showdown in round 23, there's likely to be plenty on the line for North and Sturt when the two clubs clash in the final round. With a few results going the right way, this match could be a case of the winner takes a top three spot. This is sure to draw a big crowd for what will become in effect the first round of finals.
4. Port Adelaide announces it will no longer play home games at Alberton Oval. Perhaps they should make that decision though. The Magpies have been horrible at home this season, finishing with a 3-1-6 record, and that after scraping home against Norwood on Saturday. Shift to Port Reserve that would make it easy for us Messenger folk down the street to keep tabs on the club, or sell some home games to the Gabba.
5. Adelaide Oval security prevents fans from running onto the ground after Sturt's Brant Chambers kicks his 100th goal. That's assuming it all happens in the round 23 clash with North five goals in two games, he could do it this week at Glenelg. Fans engulfing Chambers in a sea of blue and blue the colour, the excitement, the spectacle, it's got to happen!
6. This week's Norwood v Central match to pass without incident. Last time the teams met at the Parade, there was a brawl in the crowd and Redlegs reserves player Luke McLean had his car stolen.
7. Norwood's Austin Wonaemirri to earn a Coca-Cola Star Search nomination. The 18 year old must be wondering what he has to do after booting four goals to go with 14 possessions and three tackles last week only to be overlooked. The week before he had a whopping seven tackles to go with 14 possies ... perhaps he's been too consistent. But please, he's not that hard to notice! (*disclaimer - Murphy's Law suggests Wonaemirri will receive the round 21 nomination, which was awarded after this column's deadline).
8. North's Daniel Wakelin to kick a goal. He hasn't kicked one in his 74 games so far, so it seems a safe bet that it won't happen this season for the 28 year old. Woodville-West Torrens' Joe Pedler can sympathise, he had to wait 90 games. The race for the record is on.
9. More doom and gloom for South Adelaide. A lot went wrong for the Panthers this year. Any team will hurt when your top four players from last season Damian Cupido, Alwyn Davey, Stephen Kenna, Rhys Archard go to the AFL or are injured all year. It amounted in Robert Pyman's sacking, but, perhaps optimistically for South, I would say this year will be passed off as rock bottom, and with 1991 Magarey Medallist Mark Naley making decisions on the board, the future is bright.
10. Glenelg simply makes up the numbers in the finals. The riskiest of the non-predictions, but having only lost two games since round nine, the Bays will do some damage in the major rounds.

[Aerie]

When Phil Herden and Ben Hook wrote for The Messenger, I used to enjoy reading it. This guy just writes garbage. I notice points 4,5,6,9 and 10 didn't even make it to print in the western edition of The Messenger.

[Ian]

Who is it?, his/her name is not even on the on line version.

[Aerie]

Who is it?, his/her name is not even on the on line version.

Dale Clarke is his name.

[LPH]

Err... I actually read this on the dunny (as I do when I read the messenger).

I too was somewhat bemused by this blokes column.

Can anyone tell me why the sport is about 8 pgs in from the back ???
(Often difficult to find in time for first 'cable' dropped )

[Drop Bear]

Exactly the same thing was written in the Advertiser except with AFL teams. Wouldn't even wipe my arse with it.

[scott]

This seems fun. Here's my go:

1. West won't finish bottom
2. Centrals won't finish top
3. South will win 10 matches for the season
4. A North player will kick 35 goals in a single match
5. Glenelg will register 2,300 disposals in a single match
6. Port will make the finals and finish top and win the premiership
7. Eagles will go through the season without re-signing a new coach
8. Sturt's Brant Chambers won't kick 100 goals this season, including finals
9. An empty jet plane will crash into Norwood Oval, unearthing billions of dollars worth of gold hidden 15 metres under the grass surface by pirates who inadvertently stumbled across the site 500 years ago. The oval was already built.

[Dogwatcher]

9. An empty jet plane will crash into Norwood Oval, unearthing billions of dollars worth of gold hidden 15 metres under the grass surface by pirates who inadvertently stumbled across the site 500 years ago. The oval was already built.

???????????

[Grahaml]

Andrew Jarman applauded for tactical nous for getting North to play hard tough footy.
Damian Cupido and Chris Ladhams openly admit to suffering anorexia.
Chris and James Gowans praise efforts of Umpires during finals series.
Heath Lawry opts not to play on after taking a mark.
Ian Callinan and Justin McConnell pass up scoring opportunities.
Ben Hart goes a week without a doubt on his fitness.
Paul Thomas kicks straight, Daniel Schell Kicks straight and the Gowans miss.
Tim Weatherald out runs someone.
KG and Cornesy hear about violence somewhere near a centrals fan and decide not to air it.
The SANFL hand out premierships medals to every spectator after the grand final.

[JK]

Andrew Jarman applauded for tactical nous for getting North to play hard tough footy.
Damian Cupido and Chris Ladhams openly admit to suffering anorexia.
Chris and James Gowans praise efforts of Umpires during finals series.
Heath Lawry opts not to play on after taking a mark.
Ian Callinan and Justin McConnell pass up scoring opportunities.
Ben Hart goes a week without a doubt on his fitness.
Paul Thomas kicks straight, Daniel Schell Kicks straight and the Gowans miss.
Tim Weatherald out runs someone.
KG and Cornesy hear about violence somewhere near a centrals fan and decide not to air it.
The SANFL hand out premierships medals to every spectator after the grand final.

LOL ... Very good!

[RustyCage]

Andrew Jarman applauded for tactical nous for getting North to play hard tough footy.
Damian Cupido and Chris Ladhams openly admit to suffering anorexia.
Chris and James Gowans praise efforts of Umpires during finals series.
Heath Lawry opts not to play on after taking a mark.
Ian Callinan and Justin McConnell pass up scoring opportunities.
Ben Hart goes a week without a doubt on his fitness.
Paul Thomas kicks straight, Daniel Schell Kicks straight and the Gowans miss.
Tim Weatherald out runs someone.
KG and Cornesy hear about violence somewhere near a centrals fan and decide not to air it.
The SANFL hand out premierships medals to every spectator after the grand final.

They gave one to a spectator last year

[doggies4eva]

Chris and James Gowans praise efforts of Umpires during finals series.

I'd like to see that!

[Grahaml]

That's the point, PAFC. The idea is they just give them to all the spectators this time.