The Australian Public

"It just shows you what the Australian public is like. They're very forgiving, and very, very understanding, very embracing of people who've had hardships. We're still that country of battlers, even though we're very wealthy compared to the rest of the world in a lot of ways. She's a battler and you're proud if you're Australian to see something like that. It's pretty emotional stuff, I think."

This is Peter McNamara’s brave description of the Australian public regarding Jelena Dokic. In some ways it’s quite an accurate assessment. We are forgiving. If a sportsman makes a mistake, professionally or personally, he or she can expect forgiveness. It just takes a while. First comes speculation. Gossip, hearsay and cruel media lies. The giddy excitement of seeing a hero fall suddenly from grace.

Then comes judgment. Media commentators and the ‘public’ fight valiantly to preserve Australian morality. Sportspeople are role models after all, and so their every action is public property. Remember that for a time Dokic was Australian tennis’ anti-hero. A greedy villain who used millions of our tax dollars for junior development (she was a battler too) only to take her talents and betray us. Oh, and then comes forgiveness.

Most of all, the ‘public’ just has a short memory. Those rejoicing in this great Aussie success story were probably the same rabid fans that stood in cruel judgment of Jelena a few years ago. Perhaps we, the public, shouldn't be so self satisfied with our forgiving and open minded attitude. Perhaps we should just be happy that those stars that we have forgiven forgive us.

While I am bagging Richmond...

Can you imagine the tiges going into the mid season break at 9 and 2? Punt Road is pumping and way beyond talking finals the tiger faithful are seriously considering premierships. Tickets to the massive top of the ladder clash against Hawthorn are already sold out, Chris Newman is unbackable Brownlow favourite and Terry is the new Mao Zedong (except his 5 year plan worked...). Oh and Cuz has been getting a kick too.

They finished 9 and 2 last season so if Richmond can carry that momentum into 2009 why not dream of premierships? Do teams really carry momentum from one season to the next? In 2007 Port Adelaide also won 9 out of 11 regular season games. They then made the GF (and got murdered)and had a young team and considerable momentum. In 2008 they were 3-5 by round 8 and 4-7 buy Round 11. Their season was a disaster. In 2006 Fremantle also finished 9 and 2 in the normal season and won their first ever final and made the prelim. Surely grounds for a fiery start to 2007. They were 2-4 by round 6. On the other hand, in 2006 Brisbane lost their last 6 games. In 2007 they won 4 of their first 6. The point??? Carrying momentum from one game to the next is difficult enough. Carrying it for 6 gameless months....Impossible. But love the optimism.

Is Mark Coughlan the resident Einstein down at Tigerland?

Stand by for the human interest stories that accompany the return of Mark Coughlan to the AFL. You know the ones about the 'different' afl footballers who read, write poetry, listen to alternative music (jet...) and fight for human rights.

"Premierships are worth their weight in gold" says Coughlan.

Hmmmm.... Firstly, a premiership is not tangible item, so it cannot be weighed, as far as I know (though a premiership cup is...). And even if he meant the cup, it would have to be a very heavy cup. Otherwise I think a premiership would
raise much more money for the club than the weight of the premiership
cup in gold. After 17 years out of the game (that shower slip was costly), I thought Coggs would have studied up on some semi-logical answers to media questions.

Oh... Actually he has.

"I know it's only January, but we were the second or third best-performed side in the second half of last year and if we can take that into the first half of this year, we'll have every chance of playing finals"

It's January...nothing means anything.....
Richmond were indeed the second best performed side during the second half of last season, behind only Geelong. But after numerous 9th place finishes Coggs must know that finishing well one season means absolutely ....... come round 1 the year after.

"I haven't played finals in 8 years."

May as well go down to Ballarat and mine for it...