Australian Politics - the year ahead.

A not unexpected start to the year - the Government suggests a levy to pay for the natural disaster with the biggest financial impact in our history and Abbot says No! The Government suggests paying some of the cost of rebuilding the roads, rail and bridges by scrapping green programs. Does this mean there are still some in the Labor party who believe they can do without the Greens? Only if they want another election. How could they possibly want that?

I have seen the estimates of how much we will pay via the levy - the first figure I read was just over $140. I thought given the squealing this must have been a per week figure! But No, it's a total figure! Good grief - I will have to cut back on......umm....something that costs me $140 a year!

Of course Tony wants the Government to pay for it by scrapping the NBN. As he said he is no tech head - certainly not in terms of building national infrastructure.

George Megalogenis suggests that the reform era is over - that our leaders dont have the long game that is needed for reform. This is a challenge to all involved in the Australian conversation this year - can we resist the pollsters data long enough to say "Yes, it may not be immediately popular but the nation needs it"? I like to think we can. I think people such as Albanese and Combet can do this. I'm also interested in Cameron's call for the scrapping of the pledge. I think this would make politics and governing much harder, and the national outcomes would be more conservative - but perhaps we have gone so far down the conservative road this wouldnt matter.

I'm sure the Liberal Party believes that it just has to keep saying No and this Government will fall over and Tony will take power. Megalogenis points out that a sizeable proportion of the young have shifted to the Greens and probably arent coming back unless there is a serious contest in ideas between the two major parties. If this is the case then the ALP must table serious ideas for reform and continue to push for them no matter how unpopular they may be at this early stage - as Megalogenis says it wont cost Labor their majority to do this - they have already lost it.

And if government is not about bringing about change for the better - what is it about?

Is Mike Hussey the new Richo?

I thought Mike Hussey should have been dropped from the team prior to the first test. Statistics since then say this might have been a silly call - ok, that it was a stupid call. But... Mathew Richardson played on for far too long - in his third last year he came third in the Brownlow - everyone loved him. But how many young players did he hold back by continuing? How many new team strategies did his presence abort? How much did playing on hold back the development of a new and exciting team?

I think Hussey should have been dropped and I think he should step down now. It is no good prolonging the dim glory days. We need a new fresh team. Mathew Hayden should have gone much earlier - Philip Hughes might by now have dealt with his technical issues - but no, Haydos stayed around - famously saying there was more to being in the team than pure runs!

One of Ponting or Clarke should be left out for this test - that is a hard call as neither are doing well. If Ponting is unfit perhaps both should be out?

I'm sure many agree (I'm sure that is not true but I'm on a roll here!)

Annual FIshing expedition

Some snaps from the annual fishing trip to the untouched Valley

Tasmanian Tigers - they're a victory machine!!!

I may be tempting fate here but what a great start to the year. Can they grab ten wickets tomorrow in between the showers. Actually it's not raining now. Why don't they turn on the lights at beautiful Bellerive and start now?

Some snaps from the day the music died

At KGV - the Taroona warm up and the Taroona dug-out.

Little heard from the Supercoach since then - assume he is in negotiations.

An end to all that and a moral victory!

Taroona won a moral victory today in the final match of the season - the Knockout Cup final at KGV. South Hobart won the game 4 - 1 but Taroona played their best football in the second half for the whole season.

South Hobart are undefeated this season, are coached by a professional coach, train three nights a week, approach the game like a machine and generally don't look to have much fun. Taroona have a Super Coach, train one night a week, approach the game with a healthy attitude and have great fun.

Taroona scored the last goal of the season - a Jack O'Sullivan classic which brought the vocal Taroona fans to their feet. All played very well - Man Manager Geoff brought the best out of his team with a number playing their best games for the season - Angus, Tom and Joseph all played their best. Will Hunt - contemplating life on the road - refused to let the South boys have it their way -stealing the ball from the South attackers on numerous occasions . The out ball was back - Mat Etherington sending it back towards the Derwent and the Showgrounds on numerous occasions - and he didnt muck around. The game was interrupted on a number of occasions for the ball to be retrieved, or a new ball sought.

Ben Wisby was very unlucky not to have scored - the ball hitting the post and deflecting the wrong way in the first half. Joey went on a run that went wrong - unlike his run against Kingborough yesterday that ended level with the penalty box. This time Joey didnt get as far and had to scamper back to the box. South had a shot and missed - such is Joey's force! He didn't even have to be there to make them miss!

Joe Atkinson, James Doyle, James - I'll deal with that injury later - Cherry, Aaron all played well. Liam Own Boots O'Donovan made the wings his own - enjoying the space that KGV provided. Liam showed no signs that he was about to wing away to Paris today - his determination would see him get there on foot if he wanted. Sam James was superb - showing the South Hobart boys on numerous occasions that if you want the ball you can often have it no matter who had it before you.

Jack's goal was a real beauty!

The game was well refereed - well done to the tallest ref I've seen.

After the game Match Manager Tim the urbane O'Sullivan addressed the players and parents - highlighting the quality of the character of the team, the injuries suffered, the parents who put in and of course Super Coach Geoff Atkinson. Why he was not in the running to take over from Pym is a mystery to me. I admit I am flummoxed. Yes he has a real job, yes he would turn Frank and Ben Buckley down, yes he would have to move but he is the man to take us to the World Cup in 2014.

Taroona started the season in Division 2, were promoted mid way, held their own in Div 1, won two nail biting penalty shootouts, made it to the Cup final, played to instructions and will have a superb summer. South Hobart will be training.

John Wisby started this team on the road to success. Geoff stepped in and made it happen.

Before I watched this team I didn't understand the game.

Thank you linesmen, thank you ball boys!

Nil all draws

Returned to the pitch on Saturday - outside the Goulburn St Polling booth first of all, then at Prince of Wales Bay for the latest joust with the Knights. After a midweek downpour the pitch was a paddling pool, adding something to the game with a Pinball-like slow down, no-roll area.

A late inclusion for the Pirates - from the Premier League - was Sam James. In the first two minutes he had twenty touches! Taroona had much of the play but when the Knights went forward they looked more dangerous! However, in their way was Joey The Imposing Taylor - who played a blinder.

After some nail biting - not from Joey who strode imperiously from the box to repel the attackers - the game ended as did the previous encounter - nil all. After Supercoach Geoff addressed his charges at the end of the game, the Knights Quartermaster approached the Taroona Camp in peace and praised the Taroona boys for their efforts, their spirit and their approach - predicting that at some point one of the teams would score.

Meanwhile in Canberra the result is the same - Nill all.

Time for a rematch?