round 18:post game wrap: gutsy,gritty but grateful for a win!!!

looks like the heat is on for the bombers viewers...surely this cannot go on much longer. taught a lesson by the hawks after a competitive first quarter which created the illusion that this would be a cracking game well maybe for the hawks but not for essendon. and yes the buddy returned to fine form booting eight goals and reminding us what a superstar he can be. i do like the friday night footy. after a busy week at work dealing with students which for most of the time are receptive and pleasant the couch is my time out place where i can relax in my tracky daks and pull on my pink uggies. a place where i can shout at the TV and pace up and down willing the time clock to go down when it is a thriller...hee,hee!!!

     some of my requests were honoured. the crows were beaten which kept one young boy happy although i have to admit watching footy with a ten year old is not always a fun filled experience. the crows kicked themselves out of the game and were hampered once again by injury with jenkins going down. it was not surprising to later find out he had broken his ankle. you could see it on his face, that was a face in extreme pain. frankly the dockers got away with a win but will have to pull their socks up if they expect to be competitive come finals time because that effort certainly won't cut it...

    those pesky blues keep hanging in there and the fact that they won only served to increase the pressure upon PORT. i went to that game as i usually do with lovie and son number two in tow. son number one is not a footy fan but i won't hold that against him. in fact it has gone in my favour. for the privilege of using the computer while we cheer at the footy i get all the vacuuming done, the dishes washed and the clothes hung out...GOAL scored...LOL!!!

     but seriously viewers as much as i love my lovie and adore son number two they can stress me out when we are at the game. one thing is certain. i am definitely one of the loudest supporters, yep that voice of mine could almost break glass and i use it to positive effect. my final take on the match is simply this. we deserved that win, jonathon brown was gifted that goal and the last quarter had all of us shouting in indignation at some of the rubbish umpiring decisions. it was a gutsy, gritty win that last year we would have thrown in the towel and lost but i am grateful. and yes i wont be using the F word just yet, still too many games left that could add some unexpected twists. but watch out coz the SHOWDOWN is always a big game and my request is for a repeat win!!!

     my lovely guest tipster managed six fom nine which is fair and i give thanks to all my guest tipsters who have contributed to my blog so far. i will be scouting for a new one for round 19 so if you're keen put up your hand. and i will be staying up for footy classified tonight curious to find out all the gossip and controversy. and hey who knows maybe one team will get the golden ticket compliments of the bombers who were truly detonated on friday night. over and out. lakanorch FFFXXX.

Round 18: getting closer, the heat is on!!!

the heat is on, the heat is on, the heat is oooooonnn....dooo dodadada....oh well something like that.... hee, hee. you are singing it now aren't you? come on admit it? lol!!! well the heat was certainly on for me folks. first week back at work, another half a day until the end of the year and my long weekends are officially over!!! boo hoo...oh well have to just focus on the end of season trip, the reward for all the hard work i have put in. and to add to that i am currently recovering from tambourine injuries inflicted upon me by a six year old, that much is true. thought i might have to miss this round and put myself on the injury list... but i have made a speedy recovery. lol.

     man it is getting interesting isn't it? because in the next few weeks it may come to us...that is who will make the final eight. and with the way things are shaping up it could be two spots up for grabs and who knows if essendon lose all their premiership points the door could be open for another team. imagine that? getting a finals berth and then playing your way to the grandfinal. and imagine if that happened courtesy of essendon. it would be a big story.

     well the POWER are up against the lions this weekend. i will be there as usual cheering them on to a win. my requests this week are no third quarter fade out, hawks to beat bombers, freo to beat the CROWS which will be tough considering they are missing a few but we shall see how good a coach ross lyon is this round. carlton to lose of course, add west coast to that and that just about does it, hee,hee. i am not asking for much am i? i hope the boys will, be as full as energy as i am at the moment and go out to silence the lions roar. me i am feeling like a black belt, HIYA!!! take that...yes indeed my form is improving each week. i have finally found the right balance bewteen exercise and nutrition. throw in a well renowned trainer who has given me a plan to suit my lifestyle and time constraints and yes just like the POWER i am beginning to surprise a few. indeed  i feel like i am back to playing my natural game fuelled with a self belief that has been reawakened, re-inspired, re-ignited. i better watch out i don't self combust and cause a fire!!!!

     and so to the round 18 guest tipster. it is none other than the delighful virginia crocker who is a self confessed passionate CROWS supporter. she also happens to suffer from umpires rage but we won't hold that against her. i met virginia through my sister and also work. when i first returned to adelaide viewers i worked in say cheese at central market. yes indeed i was a cheese wrapper and cheese seller. and although i liked cheese i soon developed a bigger taste for it as well as a bigger waistline. add alcohol to that equation and you have the perfect fat concoction!!! so over to the lovely gini as she is known for her recommendations and tid bits...

Hi there Miss Margie. I am an extreme passionate Crows supporter who is an inaugural member. I am extremely loyal & extremely loud both at the footy ( wind , rain or shine ) & in the armchair at home. I have an immense love for my team, a respect for most other teams we play (& yes the Power this year is one of them)and an immense hate for the OPSM incompetents who have a happy knack of spoiling the game!!!!! Umpire rage? - yes I think so!! My tips this week are Freo ( sob - no Danger & in Sandilands ) Essendon Carlton ( my second love) Collingwood Geelong Power West Coast Richmond Kangaroos I must say that it is not always my head that selects but rather the heart buts in. Hope this is what you need! xx

round 17: post game wrap...where we are now

where we are now? in the eight viewers yes that is right after an impressive first half then a slump into a third quarter black hole we managed to outlast the saint comeback to hold on to a five point win. and i have to tell you i wasn't able to stay on the couch and dealing with a child who spat the dummy at three quarter time didn't help matters either. thanks to wolfman (my nicknmae for the hoff) we managed to keep one game clear. and thanks to gold coast collingwood looked like  the collywobbles. no disrespect to the suns because they deserved it. and the roos well what can i say? i watched that game and thought they were decidely gone before they mounted their own comeback only to fail at the siren by one point. drats, make that double drats!!! i was so hoping for a blues loss to bolster our position on the ladder; every game counts now, yes every game. and every game will leave us on edge willing our team on to win and charge towards a finals appearance.
     and where are we really now? a lot further ahead than what could have been anticipated. we are just learning from experience and working hard towards the ultimate goal which for every team is the coveted premiership cup. a complete clean out, a well respected and successful fitness coach to rebuild a strong foundation to withstand the stress of a long season. no doubt he has been one of the keys that has  unlocked the door to opportunity, optimism and possibility. you need the right people to surround and support you but it is self belief that comes from within that will ultimately guide you. OMG you would think i was some kind of guru or life coach, hee,hee. but seriously viewers i cannot help at times but parallel the journey to my own. it is all about the timing that is one thing that has become apparent. couple that with hard work, honesty, integrity and good things are bound to happen if you choose to believe it. and i for one choose to believe it because i have done the hard work. 
     well my guest tipster childhood footy buddy david hann managed five from nine which might be around the right mark for a lot of people this week after a few upsets. it just goes to show that you cannot be certain and that the inform teams can still fall from grace. who would have thought the CROWS would have beaten GEELONG today? i bet not many especially after losing dangerfield. and i have to say without a doubt it was the match of the round. played in cold, slippery wet conditions. a twenty four point lead seemed as though it was gonna blow out into a comfortable victory for the pussycats but it was not to be. an awesome last quarter which had the crows gaining momentum and come storming home to a thrilling finish. bartel and taylor failing to convert opportunities to sink the boot in. today would have to be the CROWS best win for the season along with their comeback win againt the roos. and today i have some happy friends who happen to be CROWS supporters ( lucky i can forgive them, hee,hee) and one not so happy cats fan whom i haven't heard from and suspect he is somewhere drowning his sorrows. (which is probably just as well coz at least his wife will get some deserved peace!!! LOL...)
     and so where are we now in respect to this 2013 season? in an interesting place viewers. personally i prefer things to be interesting. interesting fires the imagination and keeps the embers of hope alight. it is certainly that because it will now come down to at least the next four weeks before we can be almost assured of who is going to make the final series. and perhaps the most interesting twist of all will be what the AFL comes to decide in respect to ESSENDON. a complete fall from grace could completely change everything but that viewers remains to be seen. and with that it is goodnight from FFFXXX. 

round 17...watching, watching,watching

i am watching this round. watching , because there are two games which will affect us more than the others. can the roos come back after their disastrous last week and knock off the blues? i bloody well hope so because if they don't the pressure is on for PORT to win at all costs. also i have put in a request for sydney to beat west coast because they are the other team left that might have a  crack at sneaking into the eight. we shall see and it is about time we broke the etihad hoodoo. come on young guns seize the moment and make your charge towards a finals berth so that you get a taste to spur you on for the future!!! and i get to go at least to one finals game in melbourne of course to hang out with my buddy and sample the delights of melbournian cuisine. plus not forgetting some reatil therapy. footy, food and shopping...a winning combination.

     so now i will introduce you to my guest tipster for this week. a childhood friend that lived in the neighbourhood. david and i went to primary school together. and david and i use to play footy together too. what can i say? i grew up with an older brother and me i wouldn't be seen dead in a dress, that much is true. just ask lovie herself who although thrilled to have the girl that she wanted didn't bargain for a denim wearing, footy playing, hang out with the boys girl who loved sport. but enough of my tom boy ways and back to david hann whom has accepted my invitation to tip for you this week viewers. so for round 17 here is what david recommends... and to you viewers keep warm coz man it has been blowin' a gale, keeping the tempertaure down. my wish is for a win and some little rays of sunshine.  but if not i shall continue to enjoy the ducted gas heating so i can watch the footy in comfort from where else? but the couch of course!!! Love FFFXXX.
PS just one more comment before i go. just wondering why they dropped thomas. personally i think he has been playing some tenacious football.

David Hann
AFL Round 17 Tips


FRI 7:20pm North Melbourne WIN vs. Carlton Etihad Stadium Brad Scott Should have his YOUNG Roos primed to shake off the “CHOKERS” tag at Etihad Friday night. CARLTON running out of Cattle, Ageing, Tired & Sore.
SAT
1:15pm Hawthorn WIN vs Western Bulldogs Aurora Stadium HAWKS will be TOO STRONG in TASSIE for the Developing Dogs.
SAT
1:40pm GWS Giants vs. Essendon WIN Skoda stadium No Job(e)…No worries for Essendon with plenty of depth and options. Bellchambers & Carlisle are GUNS. PERCENTAGE BOSTER for Essendon. GWS will have to muster all their courage to hold back the TIDE.
SAT
4:10pm Gold Coast . vs Collingwood WIN Metricon Stadium I love the GOLD COAST Team and GAZZA should still be “THE SHOW” at the GC”s AWESOME Boutique Stadium – Metricon. I’ll be there in September 2013. This young team packed with Future Stars is starting to hit its stride, but Consistency with young players is still elusive. Collingwood with a Top 4 finish still possible will NOT let this game slip.
7:10pm Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions WIN TIO Stadium Melbourne have coughed and spluttered under Neil Craig. Good at times and back to their deplorable worst at others. Darwin conditions 32 degrees and a 60% chance of rain should suit Brisbane.
7:10pm St Kilda vs. Port Adelaide WIN Etihad Stadium Let’s hope the POWER can keep St Kilda’s MISERABLE season going. The “Hoff” will be back but Kane will be missing. St Kilda has DOUBTS in Defence with no stand out tall defender and is waiting for its young players to stand up. Let’s hope WE can EXPLOIT these deficiencies. The KARMA Bus is still tracking St Kilda.
SUN
12:40pm Richmond vs. Fremantle WIN MCG Freo & Richmond are EVEN Money in this one. With Top 4 & Home Finals beckoning Freo will STRANGLE the Tigers with the “Ross Lyon” defensive style. It won’t be pretty but it will be effective.
2:45pm Adelaide vs. Geelong WIN AAMI Stadium What more can you say “GEELONG still BETTER than Adelaide”. No Stevie J shouldn’t stop the CATS.
4:10pm West Coast Eagles vs. Sydney Swans WIN Paterson Stadium Sydney don’t look as “commanding” without Goode’s but are still a side full of HARD at the ball GUNS. West Coasts Powerful ruck duo “Cox and Natinui” will have their work cut out against Sydney HUGE men – Mumford, Tippett, Pike & White all around 200cm & 100kg will take a power of stopping. Tippett is looming as Sydney’s X-Factor as they look to set up their finals campaign.

round 16: post game wrap

have to admit it was a good game to watch...CROWS vs PIES but that's the way i like it. prefer to watch a great game than see a thrashing like SWANS over GWS. what a huge percentage boost to sydney and what a huge demoralising loss to GWS who seemed to have gone backwards. the question remains...will they actually win a game this season? from this viewpoint it looks highly unlikely and i wonder how many teams have just done that, played an entire season without winning a game?

     well some teams would be wishing the season was over right now. it has pretty much panned out how i expected with the first six spots cemented, well it looks like seven actually with one left up for grabs which will at least make it interesting and motivating for those few left who have yet to claim it. some teams have been a surprise like the POWER and some have been disappointing after being expected to repeat last seasons efforts, any guesses? and that is not undermining the CROWS it is just a fact. it was an unfortunate blow for them to lose dangerfield to an injury which affected his capacity to play out the game fully. but hey they took it to them but i suspect fitness also has a lot to do with it which is a view shared by others too.

      well,well well what can i say but nine from nine this week and that was with the toss of a coin. ha funny isn't it? i wouldn't be the first one to fluke their footy tips and yes there are those winners who know absolutely nothing about football at all and still manage to win their workplace competition. must annoy those die hards? hee, hee but i guess sometimes there is no place for over analysis and you just have to go with your gut feeling or with some other strategy. 

      i went to the game. my gut feeling was unclear. i thought we would be in with a chance if we played as is but in the end we were taught a lesson. got off to a slow start but came back with a strong second. roughead hurt us and westhoff's absence was clearly felt. his versatility, run and height would have helped no doubt. the hawks are a good team with or without buddy franklin. they were strong, physical and basically played the game how we have been playing it. we just went missing for periods and certainly we had our opportunities but being put under tough pressure showed us reverting to over using the ball and making errors. the frustrating thing was watching us gain ground and kick a goal only to lose that advantage almost immediately as hawthrorn just continued to answer us. oh well no point lamenting, the signs are there for sure and i am still comitted to feeling and being optimistic. patience is the key which will unlock the POWER into a side to be reckoned with. we are rebuilding there is no doubt about that. starting again with the goal of transforming into a better, stronger and far more competitive side with a clearer vision for the future. 
     and viewers i get that because i have been doing that myself, i have been in that rebuilding phase...rebuilding a life for myself and my children during the past three years. after having been part of a losing team for far too long i finally called it quits. in hindsight it felt like i was the first draft pick that went to the wrong team that just wasn't the right fit. and yes i went along to try it out and had moments of my best but really i never reached that cliche known as ones full potential. so now it is time to move into the next phase. and maybe this time i will be part of a team that is the right one for me. i love to play and that is the key...playing because you love to not because you are making up the numbers. 
goodnight, FFFXXX.

round 16...heads or tails???

good evening viewers i have decided to take a different approach to this weeks tipping. an idea occurred to me which i may come to regret although looking at what the coin toss has predicted i pretty much would have tipped the same myself. of course i am optimistic that the POWER will do well and yes another test. let's see if the home crowd can assist them over the line. i will be attending the game with son number two and niece number one in tow this week . it appears that most of the lady army plus others are busy with other committments or have flown the coop to warmer climes, half their luck.

      my tipping strategy for this week simply involves the toss of a coin. heads for home teams and tails for away teams. so with this in mind and my coin tosses completed the leave it to the coin toss predictor came out as follows...pies, hawks, cats, tigers, carlton, lions, swans, bombers and freo. i say yes, not sure, yes, should, mm could be another loss for the blues, no to the lions, yes,yes and yes. i guess we will have to wait and see. unfortunately we are losing westhoff for this week, the tribunal finding him guilty and banning him for one match. i won't comment on that because to be honest i haven't paid enough attention to it to consider it unfair.         however, i personally have faced the tribunal myself, (an imaginary one at that) and have found myself nominated for the meanest mother of the year award. yes i have been in this position before. in most cases these reports are purely baseless and are quashed without any questions asked. at last weeks tribunal i was facing the charge of sending son number one to school the day after he returned from camp. what an outrage! and what a fuss! this week i stand accused of being the meanest mamma in the world for not allowing said son three friends to come for a sleepover! ha! i am confident this charge will also be dismissed on the flimsy evidence submitted. (by the way i did fail to mention that i am the tribunal??? hee,hee,hee...)

     so enjoy round sixteen viewers. i can't believe there are only seven more rounds before the finals series. do i start booking a flight to melbourne now? will we make the finals? heads for yes, tails for no...damn better make it the best outta three...YES!!! hee,hee.

post game wrap round 15

i think i will be getting served a noise violation by the council...yes after the screaming, jumping up and down at the TV, not just by me but son number two who had one eye on the game and the other on my iphone app ( dockers were playing the saints) plus you can add lovie to the mix who strangely becomes more vocal behind four walls than out in the field. but we didn't care and man it looked like we just exploded in the last quarter only to become undone by our goal shooting inaccuracy. and yes there are some who are complaining that hey it wasn't good enough but srum te billo to them. in fact make that a double srum te billo ( which translated means shame on you) for crying out aloud, look how far these young guns have come? and yes dennis cometti (whom i very much respect and prefer to listen to when it comes to the footy commentary) was singing their praises yet again on triple m. and take note, yes viewers pay attention...he used the word REBUILDING, got it? because obviously some of the supporters still haven't. don't get me wrong the bombers outplayed us in the second with their stun bomb that seemed to nullify us into zilch. but this team of ours is beginning to demonstrate that they have it in them to soldier on and really not taking it entirely away from essendon, we lost that game... nine behinds a lesson that must be paid attention to. and no point in worrying about what should have, could have, would have...it just wasn't. and seriously i sometimes should take my own advice!!! however, i am still curious to know what the eventual findings and penalties will be should the bombers be found guilty. regardless, they have brought the game down and will be tainted by a cloud of doubt. and perhaps only because they happen to be the ones who have been caught. who knows what really goes on in the football world behind closed doors? one things for sure we certainly weren't on any performance enhancing drugs, hee,hee!!! but let me not go there again. i will wait for the final outcome.

     my tipping was fair, six from nine, considering some of them were winners. yes i tipped the roos but what was i thinking when it came to carlton? basically they are pretty much finished. and those damn CROWS let me down by totally losing it in the last 5 mins. i watched that game and watched sanderson standing on the sidelines wondering what on earth he was doing because in the end i bet he wished he stayed in the coaches box. just goes to show it aint over till the fat lady sings. i suspect some will get a blasting for looking like they were on a lazy sunday afternoon stroll when they should have been chasing hard at the ball until the dying seconds. to be fair there were some terrible umpiring decisons, one high tackle that was missed that surely would have granted the CROWS a buffer goal but it wasn't to be.

     another game which i happened to watch was the GWS and bulldogs and boy would those doggies be breathing a sigh of relief to just get over the line. a convincing win it was not. another loss to GWS which would be more heartbreaking than demoralising i suspect. and yes the pussycats clawed their way to a ten point victory over the hawks whom i fancied as one of the flag favourites but now am not so sure. in fact i am not really entirely sure about the finals  now. the tigers were declawed and freo were another team to win but not in a convincing fashion that you would be backing them for a grandfinal berth at this stage. 

     all i know for sure right now is that my active loungeroom supporting is a great way to burn off a few extra calories. especially after friday nights birthday feast and lovies palachinka which were to die for. and any of you non-ethnic people who do not know what palachinka are, well they are basically baked panckes in cream ( add lemon and cream cheese to that)...so from my calculations i should still be running around the footy field for another three hours, six minutes and twenty seven seconds!!! and rumour has it that lovie is bringing some over for the kids tonight so it is time for me to make an exit viewers before i put my training regime into jeopardy. it seems to me that i always seem to pick the most inopportune times to begin a health kick. but if you didn't know folks it is dry july so i have an excuse up my sleeve and i do take my training seriously even though some of my methods may appear suspect, hee hee. because just like the clubs who aspire to win the coveted premiership cup, i have a few aspirations of my own. so best to stop being distracted and get on with it. and until the next round may you embrace the health benefits of active supporting. remember all that fist punching, getting out of your seat, running to the TV, it all counts!!!

Much love and laughter, FFFXXX

happy, happpy birthday to my gorgeous boy!!!!

round 15...will the bombers finally bomb out???

well how many times have you turned on the radio and listened to the essendon drug scandal? how many have been watching the footy and listening to the commentators give their 20 cents worth to the point of taking away from the game? yes luke darcy i am pointing the finger at you. however, i do agree jobe watson shouldn't have been booed...poor form but hey i am beginning to tire of this whole bloody rigmarole. i say AFL get off your god damn ass and put this to bed!!!! personally i know this is probably gonna call for my scalp but if they are found of wrong doing i say wipe their premiership points, yep every single one of them. i for one cannot help but wonder, really wonder about it all and any success that the bombers come by in some eyes is forever tainted...okay that is all i am gonna say about that!!!

      well what can i say about my beloved team? loving it and loving the way that ken hinkley goes about his business. a successful club is built upon respect and hard work and those two things he has certainly instilled and to me he is a revelation. i say we are in with a big chance to detonate those bombers come sunday and for son number two's sake i am putting in a request that they do. (coz it is his birthday tomorrow) and me i have just finished a marathon baking session. i have made him a power inspired birthday cake and have one finishing touch to make but i will need to get up early and head to coles in the morning. i will put a snap up later. right now i am typing past midnight, officially july fifth the day son number two ventured into the world a week early. forty hours of drug free labour and a whopping baby stuck i was in the operating theatre listening to freo play brisbane. ( not that i had any choice) and yes freo finished winners much to the delight of my obstetrician and his surgical staff and of course son number two's dad who follows the dockers. and to cheers of delight and laughter they took bets on his weight coz he was a big boy almost ten pounds, thank goodness i didn't have to push him out!!!

     and so my great little kid is officially a dual supporter. his father sent him a freo guernsey, scarf, hat, card and all his supporter badges which is fine by me. he was allowed to open it early and was ecstatic. he did confess to me today he pretends to follow FREO at school more because some of his friends don't like the power. and do you know what i said to that? i told him to be his own person and not to worry what his friends think and if he wanted i would march down to the school in my guernsey ( yes i have one) and sing the POWER song. for some reason he turned down my offer...hee,hee!!! 

     well i haven't organised a guest tipster for this round so i will do it myself and to be honest i am too tired to make this a lengthy, witty and entertaining blog post. i am just about spent with one more day to go before i can throw up my hands in joy and do a little polka. but then i have family and friends coming over for birthday celebrations and in between i have been cooking, cake making, organising cupcake decorating for tomorrows art class and just writing this makes me want to collapse. and i have yet to do any cleaning!!!

      so my tips for round 15 are...oh blues or pies? i want the blues to win but am not overly fond of them either... so here it goes...blues, bulldogs, roos, brisbane, cats, crows, swans, freo and port. done and goodnight viewers, time to sleep and get recharged for a full on day. love FFFXXX

post game wrap...round 14...AWESOME!!!

in memory of JMAC number 35, 35 point win...awesome!!!

how awesome was that? make that double awesome, no make that triple awesome, nah make that awesome X a million, billion, trillion!!! ( well perhaps that is overstating it a bit) can you tell i loved being at the game? can you tell that i might be just gloating slightly with that victory? what is it about the pies one just loves to despise? yep i will cheer for any team that knocks off the pies. you bet viewers along with lady army plus three for that one. i was feeling lucky and i was optimistic after our defeat of the swans. if we could play the same brand of footy we were going to pluck those pies feathers and indeed we did...WOO HOO!! GO THE MIGHTY POWER and keep powering on.

     took my mum and son number two to the game. bought my girlfriend a ticket for her birthday pressie. met up with my partner in crime feralina who brought her husband and son in tow who just happen to be CROWS supporters. i should have videoed him barracking for the POWER and posted it, but then again i couldn't risk him being ousted by grumpy CROWS supporters, tee,hee. lovie was complaining that i was too loud and that i was causing damage to her ear drums. well i won't apologise for my supporting style and yes indeed i am loud without even having to try. lovie supports more from the inside (good lord in case someone should see her) but i get her to high five and seriously i am pretty positive, calling out team instructions and reminding the boys to man up and dishing out the praise when warranted and complaining about suspect umpiring decisions but that is just me...loud whether we are winning or losing. and as far as the car goes viewers i did have an ammendment clause which gave the right to someone else to win as long as we won the game, now how selfless is that???? hee,hee, yeah right!!!

     tough, hard ferocious footy for four quarters i think the pies were shell shocked by the ongoing tenacity. the future is bright and full of promise. i feel as though i myself have been on a parallel path. well in hindsight i can say that now. a few years in the darkness just like my team. no game plan, old, tired strategies that were not getting results... poor form, poor performance, unfit. feeling as though i am rather irrelevant and unwanted, an out of date and out of touch coach who lacked the skills to bring out the best in me. just being in the game coz you have to be with no effort. amazing how some discipline and self belief can lead to one's revitalisation. and the potential to be unleashed comes with hard work, determination, an improved game plan and having the right support people around you for encouragement. add time to that and sooner or later results rewards effort. yes indeedy. i for one feel like i am now playing the natural game i have been known for...the game of living life optimistically, enthusiastically, kindly and generously. it now feels right but it took some tweaking but that is a long story and i don't want to be judged on my past form...

     well, well, what else can i say? my guest tipster picked up some good tips in port and melbourne and faired very well with seven from nine, so good job MS!!! i personally did not fare so well when son number two completely lost the plot with the cats downing freo. OMG you should have seen that performance. if lovie thought she needed ear muffs for me well then she needed concrete earplugs for him. fortunately he made a full recovery the next day and pledged he would just accept the losses coz they had some of their best players out his father pointed out. and thankfully his dad was able to console him and talk him through his emotional meltdown. son number one blamed me and said i had created a football monster...

      i did watch a few of the other games, the bombers got a get out of jail free card but that looks as though it may now get converted to a serious penalty with loss of premiership points. the CROWS managed a win against the suns which will bring a sigh of relief to any supporters who may have been feeling somewhat apprehensive. GWS well all i will say as a young player i would be wondering and feeling demoralised after being pretty much smashed week after week. watched them play and found their game lacking and uninspiring. sheedy came under fire for his coaching tactics. i think they could almost go completely winless this season. on the other hand i don't think it is too unrealistic to perhaps believe that the POWER will make the eight. saturdays win has given us more of a foothold in the eight and of course it will depend on which way some of the games fall in the next couple of rounds. and i am not the only one who can see the promise. dennis cometti has joined the POWER bandwagon  (i heard him on triple m this afternoon) and has publicly said how impressed he is with PORT'S style of footy. just as I am impressed with hinkleys realism, composure and understanding that this team are young and are learning.  just imagine how much more awesome they will become when they finally come into their own? yep viewers it feels awesome to come into one's own because possibility then becomes an open door...bring on the 50 million i say...one for each year coz right now i am feeling pretty lucky, add grateful to that too... Love FFFXXX