RIP the cricket. The posts are multiplying from 3 to 4. They are being hammered in at homes and on fields.
A new season of footy throws up endless questions. And while the captains of the League are addressing some of the platitudinal offerings that are annually tossed around in the days leading up to Round 1, here, in the pocket, the Tip Mistress is required to iterate some of the deeper rumblings that lie at the heart of Season 09.
1. What will Chief Andrew Demetriou do to lure Israel Folau over to the AFL?
2. With the introduction of the new rule on rushed behinds, is it ok if you just kind of usher it through, no rush?
3. Can the Blues break into the 8 for the first time since 2001?
4. Can Tiger Cuz’s hamstrings last a full season? He ain't no cub anymore. And does he still have enough hair left to get through the punishing drug testing routine he seems to be enduring? He looked a little thin on top to me.
5. How many ex champions have a sorry in them. Wayne Carey has done it. Now what about Warwick Capper apologises for continually bringing the Swans brand into disrepute.
6, Will an AFL player ‘come out’ this year? If 1 in 8 men ...
7. Is there a fifth Selwood brother waiting to emerge?
8. Will Adelaide coach, Neil Craig, be able to say anything that demands more than a monotone?
9. Will anyone call Etihad Stadium, formerly Telstra Dome, formerly Colonial Stadium, Etihad Stadium? For those interested in adhering to current naming rights, Etihad is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and is (possibly) pronounced 'it-ti-had' - the first two syllables are short, the last is long. We could revert to Docklands?
10. Will any of Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands' (2008 game average) 29 hit outs be converted to 'scoreboard pressure' this year ... and even ... wins?
11. Will League players (Hodge, Ball, Thomas, Goodes, Pavlich, Richardson ...) spend more time on their 'Dream Team' configurations than their skills?
12. Can St Kilda defender Matt Maguire make it through the 2009 season without an injury to a lower limb?
13. Can North Melbourne entrench themselves in the Top 8 by the time they make their first interstate trip in Round 12?
14. From AFL.com today - ‘WEST COAST swingman Adam Hunter has recovered well from a shoulder complaint, but is no certainty to face the Brisbane Lions this week.’ – Is ‘swingman’ merely a typo or is this a new position. I like it. Could it relate, at all, to question 6?
15. Will Subiaco only be called ‘the house of pain’ for the home teams this year?
16. There are 4 premiership coaches and 7, in total, out of contract at the end of the year. Who will be re-signed and who resigned?
All the best for your season.
Don't forget, tips for Round 1 are due on Thursday night.
It's a sell out at the G for Judd v Cuz. Don't miss the boat.
And if you feel like throwing in a Top 8 Prediction before the first siren, hit the comments button below.
Yes we can!
x tm
