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1
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Cricket thread
Last post by LP -
The hypocrisy in cricket circles surrounding allegations of ball tampering is astounding.

England had it's own brand of boiled lollies selected by the team because it delivered a superior shine. The business that made them grew off the back of the legend to the point it began exporting. If I recall they even had a TV Ad in the 60s or 70s extolling the use of their lollies!

Zinc cream and sunblock are the mainstay of pretty much any non-spin bowler.

Teams weak in pace or swing bowling would practise drills throwing the ball into the pitch from the outfield to accelerate the ageing and benefit the spinners.

One international team even practised the side arm throw to ensure the rough side would be facing down, which is ironic if you consider which team that was in regarding the allegations being made.

In the old days, back when soft drinks or beer came in bottles with press fit caps, some suburban clubrooms would have a deposit tin somewhere to collect the bottle caps as part of a "fundraiser!"

Suburban cricketers, where teams supply their own match balls for play, some would store new balls in zip locked in bags it the deep freezer.

One international team for a period of time had scourer pad material sewn into the official club whites, "For the purposes of hand cleaning!"

The modern lip balm industry would have collapsed without cricket, in the post war 60s and 70s it was domain of Brylcreem, fighter pilot one day, fast bowler the next!
2
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by LP -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
If one is to believe the polls, we here in Victoria might finally rid ourselves of these corrupt and incompetent bunch of buffoons.
It's not surprising though is it, there are really only two viable alternatives, the rest are just stains to add to existing stains. I suspect the young liberal basically has the victory to lose.

In my opinion the likes of PHON are even worse than what we already have, not a genuine alternative, because they exhibit the traits of both the left and the right in one condensed package, all the good and all the bad without any real substance. They want to cut costs but by targeting basics like health, they promise to look after little guy but laud freeing the billionaires from regulation, and they give us no detail about how they will actually deliver the promises other than another promise for more information later. Promises are not policies.
5
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Qualifying Final Carlton vs North Melbourne at home
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
NM intercepted everything, kicks, handballs, they cut it off every time we tried break the zone or create a chain.

Question: Is it me or do the AFLW players not know how to (haven't been taught or physically cant) scoop the ball up off the ground on the run? I watch AFLW matches and they run towards a ball on the ground and slow right down, hover over the ball and then pick it up all with the speed of the QE2. Time affords no one on AFL (mens or women's) and it's an observation I seem to have made. I get that the women have smaller hands and what not but surely they can do better than that.
Thoughts?

Erone Fitzpatrick is an exception but I suspect that it's not just hand size that makes it harder for women to execute a one handed pick up on the run.  Perhaps they should be taught the two-handed wet weather pick up.

The bottom line is that sexual dimorphism is a reality in our species and that will always be a factor in why the men's and women's competitions will continue to be played differently.


The Irish girls are definitely an exception because of the nature of their indigenous game back home. I can only describe the rest of the girls attempt to pick the footy up whilst moving fwd as "awkward".
6
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: crashlander – on
It is not an easy task to readily describe the American political parties. Both came about a long time ago and were born of political issues that no longer exist. Nor are they consistent as to their political directions. For much of their history the Republicans were a 'more progressive', potentially 'left' leading party. The Democrats have for much of their history been quite autocratic; especially under the 'new deal'. It has only been after WWII that the parties have taken their present 'directions'.

Yes, they have both "flipped" their ideologies.
7
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by crashlander -
It is not an easy task to readily describe the American political parties. Both came about a long time ago and were born of political issues that no longer exist. Nor are they consistent as to their political directions. For much of their history the Republicans were a 'more progressive', potentially 'left' leading party. The Democrats have for much of their history been quite autocratic; especially under the 'new deal'. It has only been after WWII that the parties have taken their present 'directions'.
8
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Qualifying Final Carlton vs North Melbourne at home
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
NM intercepted everything, kicks, handballs, they cut it off every time we tried break the zone or create a chain.

Question: Is it me or do the AFLW players not know how to (haven't been taught or physically cant) scoop the ball up off the ground on the run? I watch AFLW matches and they run towards a ball on the ground and slow right down, hover over the ball and then pick it up all with the speed of the QE2. Time affords no one on AFL (mens or women's) and it's an observation I seem to have made. I get that the women have smaller hands and what not but surely they can do better than that.
Thoughts?

Erone Fitzpatrick is an exception but I suspect that it's not just hand size that makes it harder for women to execute a one handed pick up on the run.  Perhaps they should be taught the two-handed wet weather pick up.

The bottom line is that sexual dimorphism is a reality in our species and that will always be a factor in why the men's and women's competitions will continue to be played differently.

9
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Qualifying Final Carlton vs North Melbourne at home
Last post by PaulP -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
NM intercepted everything, kicks, handballs, they cut it off every time we tried break the zone or create a chain.

Question: Is it me or do the AFLW players not know how to (haven't been taught or physically cant) scoop the ball up off the ground on the run? I watch AFLW matches and they run towards a ball on the ground and slow right down, hover over the ball and then pick it up all with the speed of the QE2. Time affords no one on AFL (mens or women's) and it's an observation I seem to have made. I get that the women have smaller hands and what not but surely they can do better than that.
Thoughts?

I think it's to be expected for an amateur competition that has existed for about 10 years. All their skills are below the AFL, and it can't be any other way IMO.
10
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Qualifying Final Carlton vs North Melbourne at home
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: DJC – on
We just lacked the composure to retain possession, and a lot of that was down to North's pressure.
NM intercepted everything, kicks, handballs, they cut it off every time we tried break the zone or create a chain.

Question: Is it me or do the AFLW players not know how to (haven't been taught or physically cant) scoop the ball up off the ground on the run? I watch AFLW matches and they run towards a ball on the ground and slow right down, hover over the ball and then pick it up all with the speed of the QE2. Time affords no one on AFL (mens or women's) and it's an observation I seem to have made. I get that the women have smaller hands and what not but surely they can do better than that.
Thoughts?