Calls for a Royal Commission

Optometrists,

Robbed blind! Again! By a “bloody point”! Again!
Sounding like a broken record already.
The Bamfords again had what now must be considered as their traditional absolute shocker.
The idiots would be keenly aware of this, but Donlon, McLaren, Chamberlain – remember the names - better not show their faces in this town again.
Who knows what might happen?
Since when did it say in the rule book that it was just fine and dandy to effectively kick goals from out of bounds?
Since when did BBB Hall ever deserve a 50 m penalty for giving the Bamfords a bit of lip, in utter frustration at being a constant victim of this bizzare new ‘hands in the back’ “rule” that no one’s ever heard of?
Since when did giving James Hird a good closed-fist thump in the head while attempting a high shot warrant a 50 m penalty?
They should’ve given a medal to the Swans kiddie who executed the job, just on account of the way Hird looks.
Lets face it, Hird is the sort of bloke that if you bumped into him walking down the street the first thing you would say to him is “hey mate, do you want a smack in the head?”
So far resisted the temptation of falling in with the critics and doomsayers who claim the game is being increasingly reserved for girlies and pansies, but you have to wonder don’t you?
One thing’s for sure, they way they are going, they are going to kill the genuine contest at the ball stone dead, and in that case why would you even bother turning up at the ground?
Don’t get me started.
But it would be really good, would it not, if we all started to sing from the same hymn sheet, one day?
In truth though, putting all that nonsense aside, the Swans can really only blame themselves.
Once again on the power nap in the opening stages, or was that sound asleep?
To have four goals kicked on you in just about as many minutes from the off and you are always going to find yourself playing catch up football in the modern game, where you know on the SCG ten to twelve goals will be enough to win the game.
It’s a problem that’s inextricably plagued South Melbourne for years, and it’s such a tough nut to crack, that even SC Roos can’t work out why. That, and the fact they were snookered by the most lack lustre Championship Quarter this season in which nothing really happened.
The backs did well enough for mine, and I thought the Richards kiddie was outstanding, just about in every thing.
Kirk battled away all day, and held the midfield together as usual, and must be the early pea for the clubman of the year award.
Not a night for the forwards on a dewy, greasy winter’s evening along the coast in Sydney.
It’s a miracle BBB Hall managed to get on the scoresheet at all, and noticed towards the end of the second half he was blowing really hard.
Not like Barry. Was there something wrong with the legend?
Along Came A Schneider tried hard to fulfil the clause in his contract that says “paid to kick goals”, but could do more in the points department for mine.
Rucks largely ineffective against the Bombers talls, and Spida again showed up for the loss of a yard or two in old age.
SC Roos was said to be fuming.
And he’s not a good look with steam coming out his ears.
There have been rational and reasonable calls to the AFL for a Royal Commission, but of course, as usual, the formal complaints will be swept under the carpet, and ordinary punters will once again be left short changed.
With the logjam on the table the way it is, two one-point losses will very likely mean the difference between the top four and the top eight, and everyone knows it sure as hell is difficult to win the Premiership from outside the top four.
There was some disquiet expressed in some circles, not that the crowd booed the umpires, but that they stayed behind and continued booing during the presentation of the Marn Grook trophy.
Well, hey, what do you expect?
Rude people, living in a rude town.

SYDNEY: 3.2 7.4 8.4 11.7 (73) Goals: Davis 3, C Bolton, Hall, Goodes, O'Loughlin, Fosdike, Dempster, Schneider, Bevan
ESSENDON: 5.1 7.2 7.7 11.8 (74) Goals: Lloyd 3, Bolton 2, McVeigh 2, Welsh, Johnson, Watson, Stanton
At Sydney Cricket Ground.
Crowd: 26,647.

The simple fact of the matter is the Tiger’s didn’t turn up to play.
Perhaps there’s been too much resting on laurels back at the Leagues Club?
Still, it was the first genuine thrashing that they’ve had all season.
SC Sheens reliance on the theory of extending the traditional softening up period right through to half time with a bash ‘em up, wear ‘em down execution backfired in this instance against arguably the fittest side in the competition.
Parramatta play a quite curious brand of rugby league, relying almost entirely for points on strings of quite clever off-loads, and the associated yardage, thereby all but eliminating the need for the hit-up.
Somehow, it seems to work.
It’s pretty well undefendable, and when combined with the set-play, is almost always lethal.
Struggling to name a good Balmain performer on the night.
Heighington toiled manfully in the pack, while Farrar tried hard, but it’s always hard for the backs to get going if there is not much grunt in the engine room.
And you have to admire the heroics of the Great Hoddo!
The bloke loves nothing more than being bashed from pillar to post week in, week out, but this time copped a corker of a head clash in a legal bruising tackle.
Ended up on the deck out like a light and eventually stood up with a broken nose, badly blackened eye, and a bloodied lip.
Did he call for the towel and the ice pack?
Did he ask to be taken off?
Nup, told the trainer to go away, and just played on as if nothing had happened.
That’s got “respect” written all over it.
Knowing the team will get more from that game than anything that happened in the winning streak, SC Sheens said on interview that they failed to take their opportunities after being favoured in a lop-sided penalty count, and when Parramatta “got comfortable on the scoreboard”, well, that was that.
After he’s scratched that one down in the “we’ll learn from our losses” side of the coaches ledger, at least SC Sheens now has permission to change out of the exact same lucky costume he’s had on for the past six weeks.
No denying the charcoal and white pinstripe suit coat teamed with the pink shirt is a good look, but perhaps now is the time to loose it.

WESTS TIGERS 8 Tries: Lawrence. Goals: Hogdson (2).
PARRAMATTA EELS 38 Tries: Mateo (2), Grothe, Hayne, Finch, B.Smith, Burt. Goals: Burt (5).
At Stadium Australia, Homebush.
Crowd: 22,245.