BigBlog

I posted some new video in the videos section with my thoughts on the drug policy and the possibility of free agency in the sport.

Check them out - Tazza

We wanted to give Troy Cook and Shane Parker a good send off and we did. It was great to see the fans stick around to send them off from Subi. I thought Luke McPharlin had a blinder and he certainly enjoyed returning to the forwards after a long time in defence.

I thought the way we played on the weekend indicated that we have the makeup of a good side and hopefully we can put up a better fight in 2008.

That’s not to say we’re without a chance of making the finals after this weekend, but we need a lot of things to go our way and need to thump Port.

It won’t be an easy game, but we are going to go out there and play a free flowing style of footy and try and punt them out of second place.

The pressure is all on Port, they beat the Cats and as such they are going to be short priced favourites against us this weekend, and we are hungry to repay them for the loss they dealt us in round one at Subiaco.

The two biggest stories in sport have had an indirect effect on me this week. The outbreak of equine influenza has hurt the racing industry, but thankfully Singasongasixpence is stabled in Victoria and the outbreak hasn’t breached Victorian borders.

Singasongasixpence resumed racing recently and won first up at $1.10. The price was a bit short so I didn’t have a bet, but we are aiming the horse at some good races over the Spring and are hoping for some good results and good odds.

The second was the leaking of AFL player’s medical records to Channel 7. I can’t believe the breaches of personal privacy which have occurred, no ones medical records should be exposed in the media whether they are an AFL player or not. They are personal and contain personal information about illness. I haven’t kept right up on the issue, because it’s not as well reported over here but I feel very sorry for the guys who have had their privacy breached.

I think it’s good that the players are presenting a united front on the issue and if those who do the media elect not to speak to Channel 7 then I support them. Medical records are not news they are personal!

The boys have all been a bit down this week, we could have been in the eight if we won, but now the finals are out of reach and it’s our own fault for playing the way we did.

We didn’t use the ball well, we didn’t move the ball well and we didn’t convert our chances at goal.

St. Kilda did.

Wiz’s incident was interesting in that no one on the field really saw it. I know I didn’t. As always they made their decision and that is the end of it.

It didn’t affect the game as we were well down at the time and the Saints. That’s footy though, sometimes you put the hits on, other times you get hit, we’re just happy to have Wiz playing this weekend, while I reckon St. Kilda will miss Steve Baker.

If the Saints have a healthy list they could shake up the finals series. I don’t really know who is struggling there and who isn’t, but they are a team who are very capable when all their top guys are fit.

I think it’s the type of comp this year where making the eight is the only thing that matters. I think the team finishing eighth has just as good a chance as the top team.

This week we’re taking on the Demons. It’s our final home game for the year and will be the last time Troy Cook wears the Freo guernsey. Troy and Shane Parker both announced their retirements today so we want to win for them and the fans.

For his part Troy has had an amazing 12-year career. First with the Swans and then Freo, especially when winning the club best and fairest in 2001. If he stays fit he will bring up his 150th for the club before he hangs them up. Unfortunately Shane is injured but he will be a motivation for us nonetheless.

The Dees may be sitting near the bottom, but they can be potent on their day. I think they’re the number one team in contested balls over the past month, so they have added hardness to their play.

Our aim is to play positive and throw everything into the game as if it is a final, if we do that then hopefully we will give all the Freo fans something to cheer at the end of what has been a disappointing season.

In reply to Belle who asked about my little bro: he plays in the TAC Cup for the Bendigo Pioneers. He is about 6’4”, so he’s a bit taller than me, and probably a little stronger than I was at that age. I think he would be a good pick-up for any team a bit later on in the draft. He’s definitely worth a punt.

It would be nice if Freo drafted him, but I don’t think we’re in the market for tall forwards/ruckmen, rather fast, small men. Even if he doesn’t get picked, I’m sure he will get on a rookie list somewhere.

With the end of the season coming up faster than expected I think we will be taking a team trip to the States before I head off to Italy with my girlfriend for a month in October.

Tazza

I’m in Melbourne early ahead of the game this week, and it’s good to be back. Having said that, I’m not sure how good it will be when Saints’ fans start booing us incessantly in a game that will end one side’s season.

It’s been a big week for the Freo footy club, not only did we thump the Bombers, but yesterday the club snapped up Pav for another three years. He is the best player at the club and to snare him has given the boys a boost ahead of Saturday night’s game and has assured we will be a force over the next few years.

I know the South Australian clubs were keen on Pav, using the hometown motivation. It didn’t work and now we can continue to work on our combination.

I was happy with my game last week and the three straight has given me some more confidence with the boot. A couple of those shots were close but the important thing is they went through.

St Kilda have adopted more of a Sydney- style of play this year, making sure contests are one-on-one all over the park. It’s a different style and I reckon because of that the game will go right down to the wire; it’s also physically taxing on the players, which means fitness should win out.

We gave the Saints a bit of a touch up earlier this year, but they had a lot of injuries, now with a full- strength side we will get their best.

After a solid month we’re now probably a chance for the eight, but still outsiders. We need to beat the Saints, Melbourne and Port, and even if we win the first two the last will be difficult. We just have to keep playing the way we have been and hopefully shore up Mark Harvey’s gig for next season as well.

Desmond: I actually used to own a greyhound with Clinton King named Sparkling Shiraz. It was a handy type -- 12 races for five wins and three placings -- but the dog broke its foot and Clinton kept it as a pet.

I have a couple of horses now so for the meantime greyhounds are out for me, but thanks for the offer.

Joanna: I think the Pies will be alright, the media throws up speculation every year near the finals when they lose, and it’s just that again. The boys will get on with the job this week and probably respond well to the pressure.

Tazza

After a great win I had a lousy week, which was spent in bed with the flu.

But I’m good to go now and ready to rip in to the Bombers on Sunday.

As for the derby, that was quite a weird experience. We took it to them from the start physically and it proved to be a good tactic (despite the fines and all that, but more on that later). It was odd playing at Subi and not having the majority of support, as it was an Eagles home game and they had the stands packed with fans, whereas we had maybe 4000 (but they were screaming their lungs out like the great fans of Freo footy club do!)

Both West Coast and Freo fans are so passionate and the rivalry between them has to be seen to be believed.

To beat a West Coast side who are in such good form with all their stars was special, but we need to back it up against the Bombers.

I was happy with my first half as I led well and contributed to a couple of goals and kicked one myself, before spending a lot of the second half on the bench through rotation. But that’s ok because we got the result.

As I said the game was intensely physical and I think that’s when we play our best footy. I have to say I was relieved the wrestling wasn’t near me as my fines for that are usually up around the $5000 mark now. But it’s always good to see fire and passion in the game, no one really gets hurt and the fans enjoy it.

So on to the Bombers, it’s going to be huge. Seasons are on the line, but they have more pressure on them than us. We are in a position where finals are possible but not probable, while the Bombers’ chances are more realistic and after the thumping they copped last week I know Lloyd, Lucas and co will be keen to make amends.

Rest assured we will step right up and will take a mindset into the game of defending from the front . We need to continue to stop loose goals from poor marking and we will make sure we stop them building and running from the back.

Desmond: I do enjoy racing Singasongasixpence with the boys back in Melbourne, the topic of greyhounds hasn’t really come up at all, but it might be something some of the boys would think about.

Anyway, get out to Subi as we try and string a couple together.

Tazza