Oh we're from Tigerland!

As I indicated at some point through the season - when you cant make the 8 a premiership year for Richmond is beating Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon.  We beat Carlton (once - put us on top of the ladder for two days). Essendon (twice) but Collingwood - not once!  

Not a bad year actually - a good franchise to follow is the Tigerland team. After 40 years I'm quite happy with 5 premierships - matches up quite well with Collingwood - one in 50 years!

Bring on 2009.  

Engineer sighted at track - TOTE in trouble.

On my afternoon at the track who should I run into but the Architect of the Taroona success - none other than Geoff (used to be Jeff - on my blog anyway) Guus The Engineer (Farook - for those who remember) Atkinson.  His name is so long now one can see him from a fair way off.

Well imagine my lack of surprise to find Geoff (for short) is an ACE punter.  He dissected the Race Book with a precision known only by Key Hole surgeons and Swiss watch makers.  He knew all the details - who had won where, in what conditions, their bloodlines, form, propensities etc etc.

Given his crafty stewardship of the Taroona team this came as no surprise.

At the track he also played the longer game - passing up obvious choices in the here and now to engineer a massive collect some time in the future.   This is no simple case of delayed gratification - but a clever, painstaking creative process of building a chance into an inevitability. Much like his coaching.

Geoff (for short) revealed his past as a filmaker and punter of note around the nation to the select few.  As always, the unpredictable Geoff (for short) left before all others - one suspects it was so none others saw the limo that is the only suitable transport for this sporting and punting Giant.

Devils Extinct! Ho Hum

In the end I think it was the sheer artificiality of it all that killed them.  Playing in the Victorian League - bearing almost no resemblance to the proud VFA.  The Northern Bullants? Yeah sure. Trying to create a club based on the ambitions of a few administrators. I think the Mariners were a better idea.

The move from North Hobart to Bellerive was another nail.  At least when the Taters played at League Headquarters with Jason the Heater up forward there was something to cheer about.

Playing at an empty Aurora stadium didn't generate much atmosphere either.

Coaching appointments were wide of the mark. The Guernsey was appalling from the start.

Bring on the Statewide League - I look forward to the club versus AFL Tasmania fights over promises made and broken already.

I also look forward to the Hobart Lions Premiership. Is The Heater still going around?

No David Minchin? No Giant Hamsters!

Seriously David Minchin is the Giant Hamsters - sure Greg Cracknell's an important part of the band but the rest are essentially support personnel.

No doubt we wont hear the Porpoise Song again.

A sad day for Hobart baby boomers.

I think the Little Hamsters would be more appropriate now.

Your ABC - not mine!

Why must the ABC local radio coverage of the Olympics replay all those medalist commentaries over and over again?  Who ever was it who decided radio replays were interesting, entertaining or exciting - they are not. A bit like the Grandstand coverage of AFL replaying commentary - we can do without it please.

One good thing is there is less Statewide mornings- that only lasts until 10.

I'm not paying my license fee next year!

6 Eagles - not bad for one round!

Driving today we saw 6 eagles - 4 wedge tailed and 2 sea eagles.  I don't think I've ever seen more than one on one day before.  Must be the time of the year?

Anyway, back to the bunker!

"It's been a journey..."

No it hasn't!

This is one of the phrases I promise not to use - except in quotation marks.