BY HERMAN Australia lost the first test of the ashes. They were outplayed in pretty much every department. Cracks that have been lingering under the surface for the last year finally came to the surface. The successful Australian cricket team suddenly looks broken. The bowling in the first innings was to put it bluntly rubbish. … More Ashes shock: Australia suck.
BY DR HERMAN I know what you are all thinking. How fucking incompetent are Channel 9, the NRL and Cricket Australia? I mean seriously. Scheduling the third State of Origin match to kick off at the same time as the Ashes is just absurd. I will now have to either miss the deciding origin game … More Unhinged Ramblings: The Ashes are around the corner.
BY DR HERMAN Australian sporting competitions all have measures designed to equalise the competition and make it fair. The NRL has a salary cap, the AFL a draft, restricted free agency and a salary cap. This makes sense, Australia is the land of the fair go after all. Maintaining an even playing field is important … More Mirror mirror: the ‘fairest’ code.
BY HERMAN New Zealand booked themselves a place in the final in the most dramatic way imaginable. It was by far the best game of the World Cup so far. After six long (sometimes slow) weeks, the world cup delivered an instant classic when it mattered. Both sides had their chances, both sides made a … More Semi final two: Australia vs India.
BY HERMAN “We’ve struggled over the last couple of years, our top draft picks have under-performed” “We haven’t done well in the draft. [INSERT PLAYER NAME] was a number one draft pick and he hasn’t really kicked on. It’s really hurt us” I’m sure you’ve heard this sort of stuff before (especially from Carlton supporters). … More The importance of a strong middle: The AFL draft and premierships.
BY HERMAN The NRL salary cap is meant to ensure the fairness of the competition. This is an important part of success in the Australian sporting market. Every major national Australian sporting competition uses a salary cap. In a market such as Australia, with uneven access to large markets and resources, ensuring that all clubs, … More The End of Fairness: Third Party Agreements and the Health of the Game
BY HERMAN It’s a tired old formula. Sport player does something bad, controversial or stupid. The moral outrage brigade jumps up on their high horse. “These players are mentors, people look up to them” “I can’t believe anyone could do something like that”, “he should have known better”, “sportspeople are idiots, dickheads”, “sport X has … More The Same Old Outrage: Don’t Tell Me About the Brand
BY HERMAN There are few personalities in Rugby League as polarising as Ricky Stuart. Loved and respected by some, loathed, detested and written off by others. His coaching career to date has been similarly polarising. Great success at the beginning, followed by less than stellar results at a number of clubs. Throughout it all there … More The Reckoning of Ricky Stuart
BY HERMAN Every man and their dog has dubbed New Zealand the “dark horse” of the cricket world cup. Leaving aside that the fact that everybody rating them as dark horses means that they are no longer dark horses and are now just rated, lets have a look at some of the reasons why this … More The Chance To Be Great: The Commonality in New Zealand and Glenn Maxwell
BY HERMAN The Cricket World Cup is almost here. I’m sure like me, you are bristling with excitement. Or at least probably were until you realised that NONE OF THE GAMES matter until the quarter finals. If you support one of the full test member nations (which, lets be frank is most of us), your teams is … More A little rant about the World Cup
