Ball Don't Lie Blog - 15/08/19

Ashes
 
I found myself writing “Even rain can’t dampen the excitement surrounding this Ashes series” and then realised how terribly clichéd that is.
 
I wanted to press delete, but I couldn't think of anything better. So let’s just pretend I wrote it in a more unique way and move on.
 
It’s only been a little over a week since that epic first Test, but it feels like a month. Five tests over a month-and-half provides the perfect tension between anticipation and gratification.

The Australian brains trust has opted to bowl first despite being 1-0 up, a relatively benign wicket, the mouth-watering prospect of Nathan Lyon bowling last on a deteriorating wicket, and - most rational of all - the risk of stirring up the ghosts of Ricky Ponting's disastrous decision to bowl first at Edgbaston in '05.
 
Only two down at lunch (albeit for not much) is far from vindication, but here's hoping.

Joe Denly has just been sent packing btw. I would take all that bowling first talk above back if it wasn't a thinly veiled reverse mozz that seems to be working.   

AFL
 
Gilly Season
 
The AFL is akin to a driverless car, a wildly successful product that is the envy of its issue-ridden local sporting rivals.
 
Against this backdrop, few would blame AFL HQ for keeping a relatively low profile as it rides on the game’s coattails. After all, if it ain’t broke and all of that.
 
And yet, Gill McLachlan and co can’t seem to help themselves, with the latest misstep being McLachlan going public with his wish for Giants star Stephen Coniglio to remain with GWS beyond this season.
 
One could at least argue that fundamental rule changes and the introduction of AFLX fall within the AFL executive’s remit, no matter how misguided.
 
Not so wading into the future of a highly sought after FREE AGENT.
 
While so obviously inappropriate and a bright red flag in respect of the judgement of the person charged with running the game, it is also a move made even more erroneous by the fact that it follows former AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick becoming embroiled in the ugly saga over Buddy Franklin’s snubbing of the Giants for the Sydney Swans back in 2012.
 
Roughy for CEO anyone?


​Brett Dids Farwell
 
Two things jump out from Brett Deledio’s retirement announcement:

1. It’s a reminder of the improbability of the Tigers’ 2017 premiership. As Deledio so perfectly put it in reflecting on his Tigers departure at the end of 2016 to pursue a seemingly far more likely premiership opportunity with GWS, “you tell me one person who could have foreseen the Tigers winning the flag and I’d call them an absolute bulls--t artist.”
2. The concept of jumping the wrong way for a premiership - which is common place in sports like the NBA, NFL and EPL where player movement is rife - will presumably become ever more present in the AFL’s new era of free agency. After a quick think, Deledio joins a contemporary list of doomed jumpers including: Barry Young (left Bombers for Hawks at end of 99 before Essendon’s 2000 flag), Nick Stevens (left Port for the Blues at the end of 2003 before the Power’s 2004 flag), Ryan Griffen (left Bulldogs for GWS at end of 2014 before Bulldogs’ 2016 flag). And an honourable mention to Luke Ball who came within Stephen Milne and “the bounce” in the 2010 Grand Final of joining this list after his move to the Pies from the Saints at the end of 2009.

​

​Buckley
 
Has a coach (let alone a first time coach) had to endure more off-field indiscretions from his players than Nathan Buckley during his Pies tenure? Here’s a hastily assembled black and white rap sheet since 2015:​

• 2015 - Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keefe drug bans.
• 2016 - Dane Swan and Travis Cloke nude photo scandal.
• 2017 - Jordan De Goey broken hand suffered during fight.
• 2018 - Jordan De Goey drink driving.
• 2018 - Sam Murray positive test for cocaine.
• 2019 - Jaidyn Stephenson betting.
• 2019 - Brayden Sier playing competitive basketball while nursing injured calf.

 

Lifting the hood on the Teague Train

A stream of consciousness on Carlton's David Teague appointment:

• If you have multi-failed marriages, it's hard to refuse an arranged one. Providing Teague passed the threshold competence test, the Blues' administration had little choice but to bend to the will of the club's players and fans - God knows they were owed one after close to 20 years of hardship.
• The obvious risk - as highlighted by Chris Judd's 'training wheels' comment - is that after rookie Brendon Bolton there was a definite case for a step up in experience. Carlton has to hope that there is enough time before the Blues' shape as contenders for Teague to grow with this list or otherwise be replaced by someone that can take them over the top.
• Either way, it's a good news story for a club that has been light on them and that's enough for the moment.  
• Appointing Teague before the end of the season was arguably unnecessary given the unlikelihood of the Katandra Kid being poached by a competitor, but perhaps (inadvertently) sneaky good business. Why not capitalise on the goodwill of the Teague Train and not let a post-season formal process result in the administration's finger prints being left on a player / fan driven appointment. Particularly, given Carlton's brains trust retain control in so far as being responsible for the likely appointment of a senior mentor for Teague.
• I presume the reported three year deal given to Teague involves a third year at the club's option, as two years would have ticked the 'show of faith' box. 
• Drawing on the Kangaroos' experience from the weekend, there is every chance the Blues suffer a serious let down now that the players have got their man.​

​EPL
 
EPL is back and it’s bloody fantastic.
 
Manchester City and Liverpool are looming as prohibitive favourites, but storylines abound:

•  Manager-eating and superstar Eden Hazard-less, Chelsea is dealing with a player transfer ban and a 4-0 opening round hiding from Manchester United under new manager and favourite son Frank Lampard.
• Out of favour Arsenal star Mesut Ozil (together with teammate Sead Kolasinac) is caught up in a London gangland saga, which kicked off with an attempted car-jacking of Ozil’s car by knife wielding bandits thwarted by Kolasinac and then saw the pair miss the Gunners’ opening round win against Newcastle due to security concerns.    
• Australia’s meagre EPL player representation has been consolidated after Aaron Moy joined Matt Ryan at Brighton.     

 
​As a Foxtel subscriber, I cursed Foxtel losing its EPL rights to Optus and spent the next two years relying on SBS’ spotty EPL coverage schedule. Then it dawned on me that $15 per month for an Optus subscription is highway give-backery. Do yourself a favour.
​

Wallabies
 
I love a good sporting hoodoo and the Wallabies' losing streak against the All Blacks at Eden Park dating back to 1986 is right up there.
 
There is an element of win-win about it for Australia ahead of Saturday night’s second Bledisloe Cup Test match in Auckland, particularly with this largely unheralded Wallabies incarnation. Win and rejoice, lose and the legend grows.
 
But back to last Saturday night’s triumph in Perth and what is says about rugby union’s contemporary place within Australia’s domestic sporting landscape.
 
Despite the ongoing struggles of the largely irrelevant Super Rugby competition and the ongoing Izzy Folau mess, the Wallabies – particularly when up and about - have not lost their allure amongst mainstream Australian sports fans.
 
Of course, national teams playing in primetime will always command a certain degree of attention, particularly from Essendon fans on the receiving end in the Marvel massacre.

But rugby union is also a fantastic spectacle – similar to AFL in its unpredictability and yet different in its subtle brutality – and is blessed by master commentator Gordon Bray, who surely must be able to spread his magic across other sports for all to enjoy.      
 
Win or lose, if Australia can maintain the rage on Saturday night, this Bledisloe Cup will have served as an invaluable warm-up act for the Word Cup later this year.