TooSerious

There is no place for racism in the AFL.

It is as simple as that.

The booing controversy surrounding Adam Goodes currently, however, isn't quite as simple.

Goodes is an undisputed legend of the game; he has played 365 games (most ever at Sydney, 9th most in the AFL), kicked 454 goals (5th most at Sydney, 67th most in the AFL), won 2 premierships, 2 Brownlow medals and has been an All-Australian 4 times.

Those numbers stack up with anyone who has ever played this great game.

So why is he being incessantly booed at away games across the country this year? Racism appears to be the general consensus among the media and AFL luminaries, and even Goodes himself, but from what I have personally seen it's a lot less sinister than that.

The fact that Goodes has been racially vilified also cannot be disputed, there have been well documented cases of this happening repeatedly in the last couple of years, but to label the constant booing as racist in its entirety is simply not correct.

Take Sunday's game against West Coast as an example. Goodes was booed by what seemed to be the majority of the crowd whenever he touched the ball, and two spectators were ejected over racial abuse. Any more than zero incidents of racism is too many, but when there is a crowd of almost 40,000 people with a large number of them booing and only two cases of racism emerge it has to be evident that there is a separate issue at play here as well.

Again, racism should not be tolerated at any level of sport or society, but commentators also need to be careful when labelling things such as this as it can often be a case of adding more fuel to the fire.

I have talked to several people about Goodes' case, primarily people who have themselves booed Goodes this season, and the consensus I have received is vastly different to the one being portrayed by the AFL and media. The most common reason given for the booing? Goodes is a bit of a sook.”

Simply put, the more...

It was a big score from Gunston and a demolishing of the Blues which saw this weekend unfold.

Massive score for him. Any massive scores from you guys?

Walsh and Puopolo are the subs for the Friday night game
Which is your game of the round - Tigers vs Dockers, Eagles vs Swannies, Dogs vs Pies or Giants vs Cats ??
As always let us know if you have any last minute emergency or captain choice conundrums or want advice about who you should bring in to increase your chances of finishing in the top 4 or 8 in your most important league, advance in the Sc and RDT Eliminator Comps or do well in the overall stakes.

http://tooserious.net/Blog/tabid/90/Post/7789/Captains-Obvious-Round-17.aspx
http://tooserious.net/Blog/tabid/90/Post/7785/Best-Buys-Tackling-Machine.aspx

Let us know if you are still in the hunt for the SC Cup and RDT Eliinator prizes as the Round of 128 plays out this week.

Also be sure to check out who you are up against in the TS Shield (match of the round there is without a doubt Graeme aka Chels up against the Donor team powered by the TS Donors brains trust) if you entered a few weeks back or have received an automatic entry via being a participant in the Champions League comp this year.

http://tooserious.net/Blog/tabid/90/Post/7714/2015-TS-Knockouts-Draws-have-been-completed-TS-Shield-starts-this-weekend.aspx

Speaking of the Champions League it is Quarter Finals time as 8 teams seek to advance to within 2 steps of the coveted title.

http://tooserious.net/Blog/tabid/90/Post/7747/Champions-League-Knockout-Rds-16-to-19.aspx

Did I forget something - probably - so remind me and others if needed - and good luck in any and all leagues, comps and the overall standings race if you are still pushing for a decent finish

Cheers TTH

Two rounds of the regular season to go. Hopefully you have your finals sewn up and are coasting through these final two rounds.

ROUND 17 (ALL TIMES AEST)
CARLTON v HAWTHORN
Friday July 24, 7.50pm at Etihad Stadium
BLUES
B: S. White, S. Rowe, M. Jamison
HB: C. Yarran, Z. Tuohy, D. Buckley
C: K. Simpson, M. Murphy, S. Docherty
HF: T. Menzel, T. Bell, J. Tutt
F: L. Casboult, L. Henderson, A. Everitt
Foll: M. Kreuzer, P. Cripps, E. Curnow
Inter: L. Jones, B. Boekhorst, N. Holman, B. Walsh
Emer: K. Jaksch, M. Whiley, B. Johnson
In: L. Jones, B. Boekhorst
Out: A. Carrazzo, T. Fields
HAWKS
B: M. Spangher, B. Lake, S. Mitchell
HB: G. Birchall, J. Gibson, A. Litherland
C: B. Hill, S. Burgoyne, I. Smith
HF: C. Rioli, R. Schoenmakers, M. Suckling
F: J. Gunston, J. Roughead, L. Breust
Foll: D. Hale, L. Hodge, J. Lewis
Inter: J.O'Rourke, B. Hartung, B. McEvoy, P. Puopolo
Emer: J. Anderson, J. Sicily, D. Howe
In: J.O'Rourke, B. Hill
Out: L. Shiels, B. Stratton
GWS GIANTS v GEELONG
Saturday July 25, 1.45pm at StarTrack Oval
GIANTS
B: C. Hampton, N. Haynes, H. Shaw
HB: J. Patfull, A. Corr, T. Scully
C: J. Kelly, S. Coniglio, C. Ward
HF: A. Tomlinson, J. Cameron, R. Griffen
F: J. Steele, J. Lamb, L. Whitfield
Foll: R. Lobb, A. Treloar, T. Greene
Inter: R. Palmer, D. Smith, Z. Williams, T. Downie
Emer: W. Hoskin-Elliott, J. Stewart, N. Wilson
In: J. Lamb, J. Patfull
Out: M. Buntine, C. McCarthy
CATS
B: C. Enright, T. Lonergan, H. Taylor
HB: C. Guthrie, J. Kolodjashnij, A. Mackie
C: D. Lang, J. Selwood, S. Motlop
HF: M. Duncan, J. Walker, J. Bartel
F: J. Murdoch, T. Hawkins, C. Gregson
Foll: M. Blicavs, J. Caddy, S. Johnson
Inter: J. Kelly, S. Kersten, B. Smedts, J. Thurlow
Emer: J. Bews, M. Luxford, M. Stokes
In: J. Selwood, B. Smedts
Out: J. Bews, M. Stokes


ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday July 25, 2.10pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
B: R. Henderson, D. Talia, J. Lever...

CARLTON v. HAWTHORN

Recent game: Round 13 2014 MCG – Hawthorn 118 defeated Carlton 90.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v. GEELONG

Recent game: Round 18 2014 Spotless Stadium – Geelong 94 defeated Greater Western Sydney 87.

ADELAIDE v. GOLD COAST

Recent game: Round 6 2015 Metricon Stadium – Adelaide 119 defeated Gold Coast 78.

Ablett v. Adelaide

Rd 11 2014: 130 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 14 2013: 115 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 23 2012: 122 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 1 2012: 139 SC points, 42 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 145 SC points, 39 disposals
Rd 8 2011: 198 SC points, 41 disposals

Average is 142 SC points with 34 disposals.

Notes: Most recently tagged by Kerridge. He was tagged by Van Berlo in 2013. Huge score in Round 8 2011 due to his dominant first quarter where he gathered 15 disposals and 3 goals. He was tagged by Douglas in that game.

Dangerfield v. Gold Coast

Rd 6 2015: 90 SC points, 17 disposals
Rd 11 2014: 99 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 14 2013: 115 SC points, 30 disposals
Rd 23 2012: 169 SC points, 36 disposals
Rd 1 2012: 93 SC points, 25 disposals
Rd 22 2011: 95 SC points, 16 disposals
Rd 8 2011: 138 SC points, 23 disposals

Average is 114 SC points with 25 disposals.

Note: Two poor recent scores below 100. Has only scored over 100 three times in seven games. Most recently tagged by Raines. Huge score in Round 23 2012 against the Suns whilst being tagged by Hine (who finished with 35 SC points for the game). Big score in Round 8 2011 when he kicked six goals.

RICHMOND v. FREMANTLE

Recent game: Round 10 2015 Domain Stadium – Richmond 97 defeated Fremantle 70.

Fyfe v. Richmond

Rd 10 2015: 116 SC points, 26 disposals
Rd 13 2014: 128 SC points, 33 disposals
Rd 17 2013: 88 SC points, 27 disposals
Rd 5 2013: 93 SC points, 23 disposals
Rd 21 2012: 77 SC points, 21 disposals

Average is 100 SC points with 26 disposals.

Note: Poor record against Richmond with only two scores over 100 from...

After another huge round in SC over the weekend many will be looking to secure a spot in the race for overall, and a fair few more will be looking to shore up their team for a run at league finals. Goldstein went on a scoring spree racking up 221 points, The Little Master pumped out 189 points and I lost 4/6 league matches with a score of 2438. Who knows what this week will bring.

The Best Buy of the round is an absolute machine, racking up 17 tackles after recently returning from injury to prove that he's still got what it takes. 'But Gaz was the Best Buy last week', I hear you cry, when in fact I'm talking about none other than Tom Rockliff. Possibly due to the 189 point score from Gaz Rocky's tackle count appears to have gone mainly unnoticed by most in the football community, after all Ablett also had 17 tackles but added 16 more disposals and 3 goals than Rocky, but these types of efforts are always appreciated by the TooSerious faithful. So Rockliff finally looks to have put his injuries to bed, is a great price and has some good POD potential, making him this weeks Best Buy.




DEFENSE
ROOKIES





Jake Kolodjashnij (GEE) DEF 123.9k 60 +46k

Jake, brother of Kade, has brought himself onto the bubble this week with an average of 60 from his first 2 games after he scored 68 points on the weekend. Priced cheaply at 124 grand he is expected to increase in value by around 46 grand after his next game, and he could be a decent option going forward if he can continue to get games.



Tom Fields (CAR) DEF 102.4k 57 +48k
Fields is also on the bubble this week, averaging 57 after his score of 46 against the Dockers. Priced very well at just over 100 grand he seems to be good value, and will likely rise in price by around 48 grand when he plays again. With Carlton obviously struggling, and a tough task ahead against the Hawks on Friday night, they will look to get games into young players such as Fields which should mean good...

<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2711]In an effort to counter the contentious NSW and QLD academies, Collingwood has today announced plans to establish its own elite supporter booing academy in 2016.
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2722]
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2726]'It's all about levelling the playing field...' explained Pies CEO[span id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2724' class='yiv4984674498371550205-24062015]Garry Mcgee.
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2729]
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2798]'For far too long, the AFL have been handing the northern teams the best young booing talent in the country on a platter...It's a disgrace.' remarked McGee.
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2800]
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2808]Collingwood has been hit hard by the NSW academy concessions in recent times, losing the 16 year old rising booing star Cameron Clapp to the Sydney Swans.

Clapp was drafted into the Swans cheersquad this season, making an instant impact with his remarkable 'booing the boo-ers' display during the infamous Adam Goodes 'Boo-gate' game versus Carlton in round[span class='yiv4984674498371550205-24062015]7.
<p id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2811]Head Swans Cheermonkey, Anita Lyfe said of Clapp:

'He's the whole package, no doubt.'
<div id='yui_3_16_0_1_1437558498505_2814]
'It's difficult to explain... but he always seem to have so much time and space to boo...'

'[span class='yiv4984674498371550205-24062015]When he boo's- it's like everything slows down around him.' Anita gushed.

<p style='text-align: justify;]Apart from the odd blowout, Round 16 of the ORFFA saw some tight tussles where lady luck played a big hand. Goldy and GAJ played a big hand as well.
<p style='text-align: justify;]In a low scoring affair, Birdsville were at home to Gundagai. The Grasshoppers reveled in the dry conditions and, although the Battlers took the chocolates 1089 to 1029, there is not a blade of grass left on the Track. The Battlers had tons from Mayne (117), Big Ben (116) and Smurph (104), while major contributors for the Hoppers were Oxley (118), Curnow (117) and Rocky (101). Using their influence at the Pies (and the threat of a nuclear holocaust), the Hoppers were able to limit Cloke to just a single point, but it wasn't enough to get them over the line.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Another tight tussle saw the Uglies (1296) get one over the Vultures (1262). The Vultures are flying in second spot, but can now feel a few breathing down their (long) neck. Hamstrings (126), Sides and Cyril (117) and Maximum Gawn (105) all pulled their weight for the Uglies to bring off the upset. Gaff (114), Jack Crisp (103) and Parker (102) did their bit for Venus Bay, but below par scores from Beams and Jack Steven let the side down. Big game for the Vultures this week, so that pair had better bounce back.
<p style='text-align: justify;]Home ground advantage saw Iron Knob (1251) scrape home over their NZ visitors, with the Incorrigibles (1228) throwing everything at them bar the wild pig. Despite sub-par scores from Hanley and Swanny and playing with no ruck, it was GAJ (189) who did enough to seal it, ably assisted by Robbie 122, Our Man Jack (112) and vintage Hodgey (110). It was a real brave effort from Sauce to pull out a 162, and NDS (124) plus McVeigh and Hannebery (102) all did their bit. Sadly though, Harry Taylor continues his disappointing season and Nat Fyfe had another ordinary day out. Otherwise it might have...

A massive 221 from Goldie, a 189 from the little master and a bunch of quality efforts around the board will see some huge scores come in this week.

Might even have someone crack the 3k mark this week I reckon?

Guess we'll find out soon enough.

With this coach being defeated by 3rd place Milikapati, Mount Buggery firing 1585 warning shots across the bows of would-be flag aspirants and the PBR notching an impressive win under their interim coach, the race for the ORFFL flag ratcheted up a notch last week. Given that we're 2/3rds of the way through the season, now's as good a time as any for something completely different and utterly trivial; AORRFL Squad nominations.

Full disclosure: It's simply the top8 DEF, top8 FWD, top12 MID, and top2 RUC for points scored in the 11 weeks we've played. I'm assuming all ORFFL teams played these guys when given the chance.


<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]2015 AORFFL Squad
<p style='color: #424242;]
<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]DEF: McDonald (WOY), Houli (MAL), H Shaw (PBR), Hooker (MBD), Laird (QUE), Rance (BUN), Hurley (MIL), Higgins (WAR)
<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]MID: Fyfe (MAL), Mundy (SAR), Dangerfield (SBS), Hannebery (GLE), Armitage (GLE), Priddis (COU), Beams (GLE), Pendlebury (TLP), Ward (MBD), Steven (SBS), Heppell (SBS), Neale (HDH)
<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]RUC: Goldstein (MBD), Jacobs (HDH)
<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]FWD: D Martin (BUN), R Gray (HDH), Dahlhaus (GLE), Goddard (SAR), J.J Kennedy (SAR), Swan (JIM), D Pearce (MBD), J Riewoldt (BUN)
<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]


<p style='color: #424242;][span style='letter-spacing: 0px;]Smiths Beach and Glenrowan with 3 nominations each in the midfield.