Roar Guru
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Andrew Sutherland has previously been employed as a school teacher, a public servant, an insurance consultant, a Telstra employee, a toga-wearing barman in a theatre restaurant, and an Australian Rules footballer with Collingwood and Oakleigh.
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In writing this piece I was forced to confront for the first time the 2016 grand final between my team Melbourne, and Cronulla. You…
This is the opening salvo in a series on three NRL grand finals that were decided at the death - from sheer luck, calculated…
It is 13 years (has it really been that long?) since former NRL Chief Executive Officer David Gallop announced Melbourne Storm's unprecedented, eviscerating punishment…
Australian writer Robert Dessaix wrote: "Can there be a more important word than 'home' to make your own in the English language? "Love" I…
As this season progressed, the more certain I became of the outcome: Melbourne and Penrith, the dominant and most exhilarating teams of the past…
These are strange times. The pandemic, while ushering in fear and uncertainty, has also had a hand in fomenting unrest. Grievances are taking hold.…
Two years ago the words "A star is born at AAMI Park!" were heard as the gushing accolade for a teenager who in just…
For a Storm fan, last year's grand final loss - the second in three years - was hard to take. But there was something…
Many years ago my father was offered a job in Sydney. No one in the family wanted to go except me, transfixed as I…
It has been a year, minus a week and a day and a half. Since the night my shaking finger refreshed the mobile phone…
At the time of its conception the Melbourne Storm was deemed - and some still subscribe to this notion - to be a heartless…
Immediately after Brisbane claimed their third consecutive premiership in 2003, Anthony Hudson proclaimed that they had become "the greatest side of the modern era".…
In most instances the opinions of the players are worthy of serious consideration. Tribunal testimonies are an obvious exception as are, strangely, issues concerning…
I was reading Darren Jolly's Age column on sledging this week when I came across a reference to his former Collingwood teammate Josh Fraser:…
It is unfair that the fate of the Essendon players - the real victims of the whole supplement saga - now reside in the…
If AFL was about the spectacle, Hawthorn - the cool aesthetes of the competition - would be the reigning premiers. Is there a more…
On ANZAC Day, James Hird was smiling and Nathan Buckley was frowning. The former is the subject of a drug investigation but the latter…
It was three-quarter time and Mark Neeld was on the verge of losing to GWS and the precipice of dying in early childhood as…
It took twelve years as a highly successful assistant for Brendan McCartney to be seriously considered for the position of senior AFL coach. What…
There's no doubt James Hird is a good man. He's also a supreme competitor. And therein lies the cause of Essendon's serious dilemma. Stephen…
That’s a wonderful story, Foxman.
Enjoy, FOREVER!
The moments that really matter: How Sharks weathered the almost-perfect Storm to break drought
That review’s next week. Don’t worry the last review will be the magnificent 1999 GF
The moments that really matter: How the 2015 grand final was decided well before the last-second try
That’s next Ted. Sharks supporter I presume!
As a Storm supporter, I couldn’t bear to watch. First time was to write the review!
The moments that really matter: How the 2015 grand final was decided well before the last-second try
Their defence lately has been poor but I would say a full strength Storm – and that includes the hit up beast Howarth playing every game from now on to perfect his craft – are favourites for the premiership. Obviously, full strength Panthers and Roosters are real threats.
Tigers take fight to Storm but visitors rip their Leichhardt out as Nelson limps off
Hi David, that ‘vacuous’ article you refer to was mine! 🙂 In case you didn’t read my reply to your comments on that article here it is again:-“To be fair to me that was not the original title. This is the original:-https://whatarethechancesofthat.com.au/2023/07/13/melbourne-storm-revisit-mad-dark-salary-cap-days/
The focus of the piece is not on whether the Storm cheated which they clearly did, or even the appropriateness of the unprecedented punishment but the significance of the saga for the club and its supporters, and the game. The deeper cause of the undisputedly frenzied and disproportionate response from outsiders to Storm’s cheating, and finally what the episode revealed about sport, human nature and the propensity for cheating. There were no ‘justifcations’ for the breaches, just reasons.
On the “nature of Melbourne’s malfeasance”. Read one of those literary references (Roth)”.
Cheers, Andrew.
NRL week 23 preview talking points: Time's running out for finals dreamers, the game heads west and we celebrate some cheating
Hi David,
To be fair to me that was not the original title. This is the original:-https://whatarethechancesofthat.com.au/2023/07/13/melbourne-storm-revisit-mad-dark-salary-cap-days/
The focus of the piece is not on whether the Storm cheated which they clearly did, or even the appropriateness of the unprecedented punishment but the significance of the saga for the club and its supporters, and the game. The deeper cause of the undisputedly frenzied and disproportionate response from outsiders to Storm’s cheating, and finally what the episode revealed about sport, human nature and the propensity for cheating. There were no ‘justifcations’ for the breaches, just reasons.
On the “nature of Melbourne’s malfeasance”. Read one of those literary references (Roth).
Did the NRL overreact to the 2010 Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal?
Hi Jimmmy,
McCarthy didn’t write sentences that long. 🙂
Did the NRL overreact to the 2010 Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal?
“I love the Melbourne Storm and I am proud to be committing to the club for a further four years”.
Well, it’s love of a different kind that has kept Munster at the Storm. No doubt also an act of love from his partner. Great news for the club and its chances of remaining a premiership force.
The allure of love and home will always haunt Melbourne Storm
Yes, what a rivalry! Frazier was the one Ali feared the most after getting a bit of a belting in New York. It was something about Frazier’s build and style. Ali was taller, more athletic, quicker, had combinations, a longer reach and was smarter but lacked Frazier’s power. Frazier would go under Ali and deliver big left hooks. Ali wasn’t used to getting hit like that but showed how tough he was by surviving.
The only team that can stop arrogant Panthers from three-peat is themselves
Just a note. As some people on another site have been quick to rudely point out: Billy Slater’s wife isn’t from Melbourne either. I think I did know that! … and, of course I’ve referred to Dylan Brown as Dylan Edwards. The problem of writing late at night!:)
The allure of love and home will always haunt Melbourne Storm
Thanks ZC.
Yes, looking forward to seeing the development of the young forwards Howarth, Loiero, Chan and Katoa, and the backs Pezet, Warbrick and Victorian speedster Fa’alogo.
The allure of love and home will always haunt Melbourne Storm
Slater and Cronk refer to their former teammates as Kenny and Jesse “BromWitch”
'It kills us': Jennings and Welch ruled out for season for Storm as Bellamy hails 'bravest effort' to overcome Tigers
This is the original slightly more macabre version of the article:
The Death Of A Grand Final. Melbourne-Penrith: The Grand Final That Should Have Been.
An obituary for the Storm-Panthers grand final we can't have
Yes ZC,
Souths and Manly have had two opportunities to beat the Storm and come up short. The Storm are a class above but little things in big moments can change everything.
An obituary for the Storm-Panthers grand final we can't have
That’s some compliment qwetzen, thanks.
Are the Storm in decline and does the game want them dead?
Thanks TB. Sorry about the game last night.
Are the Storm in decline and does the game want them dead?
Thank you everyone for your generous comments.
It was great to hear from Storm and non-Storm supporters about your thoughts and experiences.
Cheers, Andrew
Are the Storm in decline and does the game want them dead?
Before 9.55pm I received a text that it was time to take a peek.
And this wonderful vision appeared:-
MEL 30
BRI 0
COMPLETE
Commiserations to the Broncos.
As wonderful as it – and despite knowing there are many many people who will never see their team play in a grand final – I have an unbearable week ahead trying not to think or hear about the game that REALLY matters.
Confessions of a grand final coward
Thank you everyone for the positive comments and for understanding my condition. Particularly the Sharks fans Paddy and Dogs Boddy. It was good for the game of course for you to win your first premiership. Doesn’t make our loss any easier though.
Confessions of a grand final coward
Yes Chris, painful to recount. But feel a little better now!
The moments that really matter: How Sharks weathered the almost-perfect Storm to break drought