Costello vs the AFL

Sometimes the wretched cynicism of politicians surprises even me - and I treat the species like they were a particularly poisonous variety of redback spider.

Today the former treasurer and failed wannabe prime-minister, Peter Costello, from the conservative Coalition defeated in 2007 declared:

''Footballers are not chosen for their moral principles. They do not go into a national draft for budding philanthropists. They can run and catch and kick a ball. What are the clubs thinking when they send them to schools to give guidance on life skills? Any right-thinking parent would quake with fear to hear that footballers were coming to their daughter's school to give a little bit of inspiration."

This is the wake of an incident where young players then had a dalliance with a 17 year old girl.

He overlooks of course all the cancer wards they visit, all the times they turn up at junior league training sessions to give kids a chance to meet their heroes, all the charity work they do.

And this guy actually professes to LIKE football.

Now... In response to Costello's massive and grossly unfair slur, and with vastly greater class, someone said this:

"...given Mr Costello's background, I thought he would be a bit more diplomatic with his opinions. It is disappointing to see someone with a great deal of influence make generalisations on all AFL players....(they) aren’t immune to the challenges that society has and (are) just a reflection of society.... But I can confidently say that the vast majority of AFL players are responsible and fantastic role models to society and do amazing work. The amount of people that AFL players are able to reach is amazing,"

Now who said that...?

Someone with Costello's vaunted "moral principles"? A "budding philanthropist"?

Actually an AFL footballer.

One who is incredibly popular among children.

Magpie's Football Update

The pre-season competition started this weekend and Collingwood won their round-robin against Richmond and deadly rivals Carlton.
Yeah it's not the season proper, but there's a feeling of beginning to the quest to go back-to-back premiers in the AFL.

Still not keen on this last touch boundary rule and it's rather strange to see three teams go at it in one night... but it's footy.
Glorious Australian Rules football.

I've had this video lined up for a post. If you don't know our game, consider this a sample.
THE most exciting spectator sport in the world.



and this promo from 32 years ago, with that famous anthem... lot of memories here:

Alan Shearer

The legend...

After the stunner against Everton on December 1 2002, the commentator bellows "cometh the hour, cometh the man", and for Newcastle United supporters that's pretty much the story.

Nice compilation (but lower volume control - audio is loud...)

Magpie's Football Update

The international game (soccer):

Australia against Japan in the Asian Cup final at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
It's the Socceroos sixth game in three weeks. Japan is hot after downing South Korea, though it cost them striker Shinji Kagawa to injury. South Korea will play Uzbekistan, whom Australia defeated 6-0, for third place.

Captain Lucas Neill says everyone is calm. I wish I could believe him.
Either me or my wife is going to be happy. By tomorrow we should know who.


Update January 30th:
Japan won 1-0 in extra time.
"As long the young guys take the hurt from this day and turn it into a positive, I'm sure the future's bright," Neill said.

Political note:

Apparently the Qatari authorities met ticket-holding fans with riot police. Estimates range up to 5000 people being shut out.
These were people from Australia and Japan and elsewhere who were well-behaved and just wanted to see the match, as they had paid for. Rows and rows of empty seats inside Khalifa stadium. People who did get in noted not one person checked tickets and the bar code readers weren't working.

If Qatar can't deal with this properly how the heck are they going to manage the World Cup in 2022?
Tolerance for the host nation just doing it as a investment promo and not taking the game and its fans seriously will be nil... and THOSE fans aren't going to be so calm about it.

The Green and Gold

The action...

I don't dig cricket but Shane Watson catching England's Ian Bell out off Watson's own bowling is pretty impressive:



Harry Kewell gets the header for Australia to take out Iraq in the Asian Cup 118 minutes into the match:

Magpie patiently awaits his Australian Rules Football, and World Cup Rugby....