If you've been with me this long, you already know that I'm no footy expert! If you're new to my site, the disclaimer is at the bottom of the page! Please read it so you know where I'm coming from!!

Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, your comments and questions are always welcome! Send 'em to me and I'll share them here!

OK! I'm coming down from the cloud I floated on last week! It was sure fun while it lasted!!

I'll be graceful in defeat, even though I'd like to stomp around for a multitude of reasons. In the first place, we lost. That's always worth a good stomp! In the second place, the game started at 7:40pm, which is 4:40am my time, which means I didn't get to follow the game live. Hmpf. (I can do the night owl games but the early morning ones -- no way!) In the third place, it was a really lousy week at work. Long story short, my boss was on vacation in Russia, one of the office staff quit without notice the day my boss departed, and I was left running the payroll (which I hadn't done for 10 years!) and managing an under-staffed office. Not a good week! LOL!

So anyway, if someone knows where the Tiges went wrong, clue me in! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Meanwhile, let's talk about the ladder. It's been too long since we had Aussie Rules 101!

Even though we dropped several spots, I'm still pleased that we're in the Top 8. And really, we're only one spot away from the lead. There are currently 4 teams tied for second place with a 4 wins/2 loss record. Ahhh, that's where those percentages come in that I was talking about previously in the season. Adelaide leads the 4/2 pack with a percentage of 130.93; West Coast comes in second with 129.49; Port Adelaide leap-frogged us with the 113.99 percentage; and then comes Richmond (YELLOW AND BLACK!) with 112.47. Too bad we couldn't hang on to the point spread early in the Hawthorn game to boost our percentage a bit. Alas.

I also want to talk a little bit about tipping. (That's the Aussie equivalent of an office pool, for those of you who aren't familiar with the term.) I've been asked if I'm in any tipping contests this year. Uh...no. I've humiliated myself a few too many times in the past! I am the world's worst tipper. (Tipster?!) The AFANA has tipping contests each year. Last year I participated in both of them. The first is the Top Four competition in which you predict prior to the season which teams you think will be in the Top Four. You get points for each team you get right, and more points if you have them in the right spot among the Top Four. Midway through the season you have a chance to change your picks. To me, that's pretty much guesswork. Seems a bit silly to me, but then again I've never chosen wisely so of course I'd say that! ;-) I always pick Richmond for the Top 4, even if they're predicted to be the Seahawks of the AFL! (Oh, that was low!)

The AFANA also had a tipping contest last year where you predicted the victor of each game. Now that was a lot of fun, and I can say that because I did NOT come in last, though I was worried on more than one occasion! I tried very hard to put thought into my predictions each week, but there were certain teams I simply could not tip no matter how good they were. I had to follow my heart instead of my head, and of course, I tipped Richmond to win each week. In fact, the guy who ran the competition sent me an e-mail once, laughing at me for my tips and telling me that he enjoyed my loyalty to Richmond. The following week Richmond won in an upset, as did some of the other teams I'd tipped from the heart instead of the head, and I came out tied for the top score of the week! The competition manager not only sent me an e-mail note of congratulations, he sent it out to all the competitors!! I should have been embarrassed but oh no, not me! I was happy to float that week, knowing I'd be sinking the next!!! :-) I took a year off from tipping this season. Maybe I'll have a go at humiliation again next season!

Before we call it a week, I want to talk a bit about the Greg Stafford incident that happened last week where he bumped into a player and ended up fracturing his cheek. Ouch! Lots of press about it and a fair bit of e-mail in my in-box from those wanting to hang Stafford for his alleged offense. He was cleared by the tribunal, which has sparked more controversy and very strong opinions both ways.

I'm not experienced enough in the fine rules of AFL that I care to comment one way or another, but I do want say that I'm surprised more of this doesn't happen. These men put their bodies on the line many, many times throughout the course of a game, without protective gear. They jump, they leap, they fly over packs of players for a mark! They throw their bodies in defense, they tackle and fall to the ground, they get trampled by defenders, they fight in a pile on the ground to handball to a team mate. Is anyone but me surprised that there are not serious injuries every game every week? The fact that anyone survives attests to their strength and conditioning, and to the discipline of the players who maintain their aerobic fitness. Good on ya, men! Your dedication is great fun for the rest of us who watch the games! Keep up the good work! Be fit, be strong and be safe!

Disclaimer: This site is intended for those of us who are relatively new to Aussie Rules Football. I don't claim to be an expert -- in fact I'm as green as they come! The ideas expressed are accurate to the best of my wee, limited and infantile knowledge! Please keep in mind that my comments come strictly from listening to the game, not viewing it. I'm putting a lot of weight into the way it's called.

Thanks so much to the Tiger fans from Australia who have taken time to write! It's been great fun and I love hearing from you! That said, kick back and have some fun with me as we go through a season of Aussie Rules Football!!