RA Official AFL Footy Tipping Competition 2006

After having my doubts earlier in the season, it seems Ports new game plan is starting to have some impact. The young guys are all improving on a weekly basis as is their confidence. The future is looking brighter all the time.

I just have to say, Pearce is going to be a full blown champion for years to come and brendon Lade, oh my gosh, he has to easily be the best ruckman in the comp right now. In the best form of his career by a country mile.

Tigers still mathematically possible!

well we're another loss closer to Bryce Gibbs but i do have to say this.What a fucking year Fevola is having.8 goals today(one which might win goal of the year)in another massive performance.If he played in a top 8 side he'd prolly kick 100+

Big ups to Fev!

the kid is a gun, better than deledio in ten years hey mike

Hird will be back for the Bombers in 2007
Thursday, August 17, 2006
James Hird today confirmed he will play on in season 2007, bringing to an end speculation that this would be his final season. Hird made the announcement to the media this afternoon.

"This decision has been the first thing I have thought about each morning and the last thing I have thought about each night," Hird said. "It has weighed heavily on me and it has been among the hardest decisions I have ever had to make."

"While I still have some football in me I wanted to stay and play. The Brisbane game proved to me I could still play. The coach was adamant I should play as was the Club and the players. I wanted to go on and so did my family so when I weighed it all up the decision was pretty simple."

"The amazing thing for me this year, given the season we have had, has been the way this group has stuck together and the fact they want to improve and go somewhere – it has been one of the driving forces for me in wanting to stay.

"It would have been easy for this group to fall apart but I think we are in a better position than we were three or four years ago. The list is looking better and there is a real honesty and closeness among this group."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd sat along side Hird when the announcement was made, saying he had encouraged Hird to play on late last week for what was a very important year for the Club.

"I spoke to him about the influence he has around the football club. He is as competitive as ever on the training track and when he comes to play so I said if you are still as passionate about playing and training as you are then I want you to come and play again," Lloyd said.

"When he is in the team he gives players a sense of belief and confidence – more so than anyone else I have ever played with. We don’t expect James to come out and kick five and get 30 possessions every week. For me it is what he can do to get this club back to being respected and very competitive.

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said he fully supported the decision of Hird and the match committee.

"It was something that was carefully considered but we are comfortable that with the right management he will be an important player for us in 2007," Jackson said. "The whole Club - and I am sure all supporters – are pleased he wants to continue. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as we continue to develop the team."

"It is also timely given this weekend marks the high point of a range of activities we have undertaken this season as part of the James Hird Celebration. Regardless of whether he played on or not we thought it was important to celebrate the career of this Club’s greatest living player and we all look forward to this weekend

Tigers still mathematically possible!

stop being silly.. get to bed!

did you even watch the game? it was all about the continuing emergance of buddy franklin, fev was only playing against the weakest defence in the league

the kid is a gun, better than deledio in ten years hey mike

big ups buddy, ... fev , go get knocked out by your teammate again

FOXTEL Statement on Future AFL Rights

FOXTEL’s current AFL broadcast rights cease at the end of this year.

FOXTEL is in negotiations to secure subscription television rights to the AFL for next season and beyond, but the AFL television rights for the next five-year period from 2007 are controlled by the Seven and Ten Networks.

FOXTEL has made 2 offers to Seven and Ten since negotiations commenced in February this year for subscription TV rights, yet there is still no agreement.

The positions taken by Seven and Ten and the delays and uncertainty over the future have left FOXTEL with no option but to close its dedicated AFL FOX Footy Channel at the end of this season.

If FOXTEL can secure future subscription TV rights to the AFL, the coverage will become a core part of the new FOX Sports 3 channel to be launched on October 1 this year which can be accessed all FOXTEL Digital subscribers.

A major factor in the closure of FOX Footy Channel is Australia’s restrictive sports broadcasting laws that give the free-to-air TV networks power over sports TV rights, sports codes like the AFL, and subscription television.

The laws stopped FOXTEL and the AFL from dealing directly with each other to achieve certainty for subscription TV coverage of the AFL.

FOXTEL is very proud of the achievements of the FOX Footy Channel which has supported the AFL and its fans with a unique dedicated channel over the past 5 years.

FOX Footy will continue to broadcast until 30 September 2006.

We will continue to provide subscribers with more information as it comes to hand.

Got to start putting Freo into premiership calculations now.

Thought I'd never ever see it, but they are totally dominating the competition at the moment.

they are the working class footy team in WA who have a smaller supporter base than West Coast who are a manufactured team much like the Crows.
...
Fuck West Coast and fuck Adelaide

to me freo are much like Port

they are the working class footy team in WA who have a smaller supporter base than West Coast who are a manufactured team much like the Crows.

Freo have been under achievers and they are now showing some great signs that they can do some damage in the finals

Fuck West Coast and fuck Adelaide

hang on spooge,
you're always going on about how port power ARE NOT port adelaide... so if port adelaide are the original team, then who are the power? a franchise perhaps? you could argue that all AFL teams are manufactured to a point.

i try really hard to appreciate power's achievements, but it's the 'fuck you' attitude of it's supporters that stops me.

plus also the fact that second year running the crows have lost important player(s) leading into finals in a showdown... coincidence? bitter that they won't be contending?

that said though, crows have self destructed and i reckon mike's onto something with the straight set exits. disappointing.

i can't believe didak didn't get at least a week off!