Finally, someone has started looking out for "working families"!

Ignored or patronised by the "elites", who has represented the welfare of this minority? Nobody!

The H****d Government? Oh no! All they cared about was "Working Australians" - a motley collection of untrustworthy, shape-shifting, good-for-nothings who ate all the pork H****d could fit in the barrel and then voted for a bunch of "economic conservatives". 

Well, it turns out that these tight-arses have been champions of the welfare of a completely different constituency. And I'm not talking about those narrow-minded idiots from that wasteland called "Middle Australia". As a quick aside how many champion Rugby League players have come from "Middle Australia"? There's been plenty from Narromine, Tingha, Roma, Cunnamulla, and Bushy Park of course. Middle Australia? They might have had a couple of state champion butterflyers.

Well the future looks bright for "Working Families", at least until they get uppity and decide to become "Aspirational Australians".

Mastercoach Discovered!

I have been lucky enough to see the Taroona Under 14 Boys Soccer Team over the last two weeks.  What a revelation.  After a slow start to the year and an injury to key player Ben Wisby the future did not look all that bright for the Taroona team.  Then came the visit from New Norfolk.  While the Norfolk team had struggled they copped a hiding at Kelvedon park - going down 14 - 1.  The teamwork exhibited by the Taroona boys was beautiful to watch.  Behind this display was Mastercoach Jeff Atkinson -- a quiet, measured and strategic director - with a smouldering passion for the game - if ever there was one.

This Saturday saw Taroona front up to the previously undefeated Kingborough Lions.  Within seconds Kingborough was on the board. This led one of their players to call "Dont get cocky Kingborough".  Taroona then kicked 5 unanswered goals with precise teamwork that flummoxed the Kingborough boys. Again, Mastercoach Jeff, pacing quietly by the sidelines, had imposed a strategy that neutralised the Kingborough gun player and made space for the Taroona attacks.

He is already a legend and you may here more about him here - or elsewhere!

Why would I mess with such a beautiful sight?

Well because it is a little out of date.  While the Tigers have been trying they are not there yet.  

Anyway, I have recently read Andy Summers' "One Train Later" and Ronnie Wood's "Ronnie".  There is no comparison.  The former is a good read from start to finish - the latter is one name drop ramble from start to finish.  Yes there may be no comparison between their impact on music but if you want an intelligent read try Andy's book.  The State Library has a big hold waiting list for Ronnie but it was a major disappointment to me.

I visited the fine Taroona High School today - what a site for a school! I didnt see a "new wave of disengagement" there!

Gee I'm excited about the Dream Team versus the Vics. Of course I'm barracking for the Vics as Richmond is my franchise.  Yes, Richo is playing for the Dream Team but what a guernsey. Grant Allford could design better. It would be black with a yellow sash I suspect!

And the IPL - perfect product for our 5 second society.

And apparently there is a Rugby League Test on tonight. Let me nail my colours to the Kiwi mast.  The Test Players have to back up tomorrow for Club Games - now that is tough!

And Pete Doherty is in jail - any of you boys know who he is?

Tigers in the 8!

More beautiful sights on the AFL ladder!  Richmond above St Kilda, Essendon and Brisbane.  At this stage we are taking it week by week - this week we face the previously undefeated Bulldogs. I think we might run with them.  That would be Phabulous!

I tipped the Bombers, Port and Adelaide. Collingwood were certs to lose but I went with them. Richmond kept me in the tipping comp.  

What's more I'm looking forward to the start of the IPL this week.

"I'll cop it on the chin"

Is anyone sick of hearing this phrase?

Since when has it become acceptable to manouvre the spotlight onto your own magnanimous gesture of accepting your due punishment for a despicable act? Are player's agents, PR gurus -these linguistic contortionists - the ones to blame?

In the few words Barry Hall has uttered it is pretty clear that he feels there were extremely mitigating circumstances for his actions. I'm not sure what they might be, but you can bet his team of legal advisors will track somebody down.

Rugby League's Greatest Shame

Surely the image of the greatest game of all cannot sink any lower. In its spiritual home, at one of its iconic landmarks, rugby league's reputation has been sullied beyond repair. The half-hearted antics of a few shaven down, untapered, budgie smuggling-wearing posers, whose nocturnal fantasies involve working on their "PB", have upstaged and, I fear, inflicted irrepairable damage to rugby league's eminence as "the" academy for social pathology.

Who is this pretender Darcy, stealing column space from the professional operators this city is so proud to have been banning from its drinking establishments since the foundation year in 1908? This boy has no schooling of substance in acts of public indecency. He certainly boasts no substantial rugby league career that would account for his recent behaviour. He is making it up as he goes along and pretty soon will be exposed as a fake.

The fact that swimming teams are usually the refuge of latent homosexuals and others with perverted incliniations, only heightens the greatest game's enbarrassment. Where was Craig Gower patrolling Darling Harbour, ensuring that innocent bystanders were put in headlocks and that young ladies feared for their safety? Where was Willie Carne ensuring tables were duly urinated under? Julian "the Stool" O'Neill thoughtfully filling team mates shoes with faecal reminders of an ill-spent weekend on the turps? The Gaz yelling down the mobile at a bewildered female stranger "Fire up, you sad c***"?

Do we need to recall the tremendous work the Bulldogs have done, voluntarily, to enhance the standing of the game? 

As if the media attention that pretender Wayne Carey has been getting is not enough of an insult to league's proud tradition. Let's just remember for one moment folks, Carey had to temporarily migrate to the U.S.A. to ply his trade (and a pretty uncommitted apprentice he has proven to be). That country is a backwater when it comes to drunken blokes causing mayhem - sports stars there have no comparable record. When was the last time Tiger Woods was arrested for public urination (schoolboy stuff, by the way)? Also, the infrequency of Carey's appearances on charge sheets and in the media is testament to his lack of real commitment to being a social nuisance.

No. There is only one sporting code that has selflessly embraced its role as a school for our best young men, and it appears its time is over. It is likely Australia will never be the same again.  

Hollywood flees country! (To Hollywood!)

Mystery surrounds the reasons why our perennial squad member Hollywood has fled Australia for the United States.  

Here at Partisans! we can reveal the answer.  While the public story is that he is involved in assisting the US labor movement to learn from itself, others have suggested Hollywood's widely acknowledged talent for mimicry has scored him a gig in his eponymous city.

Partisans can reveal the real reason.  The AFL roster this week sees Collingwood line up for the annual upset against Richmond.  Having last night advised Phabulous that Richmond wins over Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon in one year equate to a Premiership how many others can claim their team is 1/3rd of the way to a Premiership already?  The only thing that worries me is it may be too early in the season for an upset to have a real effect on the Pie supporters.  For that reason the boys from Tigerland may opt to help set up Collingwood for a later fall - by tanking this week. It's all part of the 15 year plan.  

Of course the other reason may be that Hollywood doesn't want to have to front up with another bottle of red for me on the morning after the match.

Stay tuned for more travel plans.