Good post Muddy Roo, I believe you are 100% correct.

OR have you ever thought that maybe some players only play to get a fat wad of cash at the end of the game?

Im sure if the HFL paid $500 to each player for the weekend there would be 100% turnout! Bit sad isnt it...

Prompt me mate along the line you are thinking and then I may be able to shed some light for you.

Why the secrets? And 'closer than you think' doesn't get the points to help the relegation battle, so what are we talking here

hi jq
yes i will say my trip up to mount lofty was an absolute damn nightmare.
for starters nearly choked on my footlong italian herbs and cheese when i saw the blue army run out without malinovski, charles and the big number 8 c.healy!!!
with that being said the boys put in a lion-hearted first quarter effort and i went into the first break feeling like the mighty RAIDERS had really come to play.
then an incident occured on the balcony side wing that made my skin crawl. one of my favourite players young talbot was brutally hit and i saw him go down and his head physically bounce like a damn basketball!!! i had to be restrained by my son (who was in tears) from entering the field of play. from that point the wheels fell off and i nearly put my fists through the windscreen of the hilux when the final siren went.
and i will also add the behaviour from the mount lofty neanderthals on the balcony was absolutely diabolical all day. get off our damn captains back!!! you didnt hear that kind of filth being delivered from our supporters at the FORTRESS when we handed your ass to you earlier in the year.
i had 4 showers when i got home on saturday night and still felt dirty.

on a positive note i will say my wife had an absolute ball at the BRFC ladies night. can assure you that no funny business went on because i waited in the car park all night in the hilux. but i will say i saw an act being performed in nearby car and i had to put my eyeballs back in my damn head. i will not repeat what i saw but i didnt think it was physically possible!!!

cant wait for the boys to bounce back with a win this saturday.
RAIDERS till I DIE!!!
V.

you didnt hear that kind of filth being delivered from our supporters at the FORTRESS when we handed your ass to you earlier in the year.
My mate stood next to some of your supporters during the first round game at the cesspool and you have your fair share of dipsh#ts, as do all clubs. if you think any different, then you spend too long in your Hi-lux.
If you think your mob's squeaky clean you're kidding yourself. I played in games and witnessed some VERY average off-the-ball incidents in the early 2000's.
"Brutally hit", are you saying it was illegal? I couldn't be there so obviously didn't see it.
FOUR showers? Reminds me of when I had to travel to play against the Raiders, except the actual 'shower' part.
See you in the fi...I mean, next year. Will all those big names be back by then?

Are Ironbank a chance of a revival this week against my mob, even without Ben Yeomans? Last time these two sides played, it was only a few goals and both sides, so I'm told, had many players out. Could be an upset, don't know if I want my boys going through the year undefeated heading into finals time!

Without seeing mny of Eckermann's games this year, I can only speak about his character, and I know him to be a wonderful person who is very loyal to his friends nd his club. I find it disgusting that people bad mouth others that actually don't know them. I understand everyone pays admittance fees and country footy is country footy, but some verbal sprays I have heard this year from my supporters and others, are getting very personal and people need to take a good hard look at themselves.

Now that I have had my spiel, does anyone want to share in their guesses for the Final 5 this year, along with Premiership winner. I'll kick it off;
Mt Barker
Uraidla
Blackwood
Mt Lofty
Ironbank

Premiership: Mt Barker (touching wood)

The only illegal act on the balcony wing was Beverlander coming off the bench to hit Weeksy. That put 19 on the field and if the ump was aware of what was going on, he should have reverted Shanty's score back to 0-0.

Well, I'm not falling off my chair with surprise.
lebron:
Barker vs Uraidla GF - Mt Barker to win.
Blackwood, Lofty, I/B for the rest of the 5. Same as your prediction, I can't see it changing too much. The only real possibility is a team like Uris holding marsten to 1 or 2 goals in the GF and kicking about 15 themsleves to win. Lofty can hold marsten but not kick the goals. Blackwood might need Cobb up forward to maybe therefore leave marsten to kick a few; and I/B, well I haven't seen them play yet and don't know how they go on bigger decks.

The thought of an A Grade Premiership does get you excited

hi advocate
forgive me if im wrong but if this did in fact occur its not the umpires responsibilty but the opposition captains to call for a player count. but i will tell you what we nearly had 19 on the field when my son courageously restrained me from entering the arena. he had tears streaming down his face and just hit the central locking on the hilux in time. i was like a damn caged animal in there!!! my son was so worked up from the brutallity of the incident that he couldnt attend work on monday.
V.

This son of yours sounds like a real tough nut V-Man! Tell me, why isn't he having a kick for the mighty Raiders? I suppose you didnt see Talbot try to put the Lofty player into the fence first and have a swing at him?

On another note, i did see a man in a cap that fits your description having a chat to Valdis at goat park on saturday? If this was you, did you manage to get any sense out of the big man?

Valdis aka Pim Verbeek

hi flanker
my son is my protege and an integral part of my business and is constantly flying all over the country and the world. its his dedication to the business that allows me to get to all RAIDERS games. he played colts for the BRFC and was a fine young talent but his business sense took hold at a young age.
sorry mate wasnt wearing my everlasting cap on saturday the fresh weather forced me to wear my black piping hot beanie. have great respect for valdis though had some memorable rucking duels against him in my playing days.
V.

Thanks V you always make me laugh

Well said, very well spotted!

This round's tips:
Onkas vs Birdwood: Onkas by 8 goals, too much to play for.
Blackwood vs hahndorf: Maggies are THAT close to losing touch of finals. Blackwood just too good, by 7 goals.
Raiders vs Uraidla: The Cabbage by 13 goals.
I'bank vs Mt Barker: I'bank confuse me. 2 weeks ago, I would have given them a shot. And without their association players, Barker by 6 goals.
Lobie vs Mt Lofty: devs will like the space of lobethal but aren't kicking massive scores, will do enough to win by 40 points.

I dont think the margin will be that big, Barker by 3 goals.
Upset here, birdwood by a goal.
Blackwood by 5 goals.
Uri by seven goals.
Lofty by heaps.