At The Bar
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The Daily Advertiser sports journalists Simon Brunsdon and Matt Malone caught up "at the bar" to once again discuss all things football.
Simon: Matty you should have jumped on East Wagga-Kooringal when I was offering $7. The Hawkies are the big movers this week after walking all over the best team in the Farrer League.
Matt: Should have? Please. I'd be starting to get worried if I was you. Are the Hawks now premiership favourites?
SB: They haven't moved that much just yet...RoweBet still has the premiership order as Temora, Coleambally, EWK then Marrar. North Wagga the smokey.
MM: Anyone else you want to throw in there just in case? The Hawks were always going to improve as the year went on and they're now the team to beat for mine. Top spot is going to be a big advantage for whoever can get it.
SB: It sure is. I'm backing Coleambally to win its last three games and claim the minor premiership. Although it could come down to the last-round clash between the Blues and Hawks at Gumly Oval. I've already got my ticket.
MM: Coleambally has the hardest run home of all three contenders. If the Blues' win their last three then they deserve top spot. Coleambally's involvement as a genuine premiership contender is brilliant for the competition. What's happened with Temora?
SB: The Kangaroos were simply outplayed, and maybe out-coached! EWK's pressure around the ground was outstanding. Every time Temora got the ball the Hawks smothered the carrier. As much as both coaches denied it, EWK might have Temora figured out.
MM: Out-coached is a big call. Mark Kruger has a pretty impressive record. In saying that, why isn't he already snapped up for next year?
SB: It is a very big call but EWK's game plan simply beat Temora's on Saturday. From my understanding Temora has basically offered him the job for 2015 but Kruger will wait until the end of the season to decide. He has already confirmed he will stay "in the area", though. Might be an invitation to other AFL Riverina clubs?
MM: I'd be very surprised if a couple of RFL clubs hadn't given him a call. Not many coaches with a better record in the Riverina. Interesting times...
SB: Which ones do you think would be in the mix? Surely Coolamon is right up there...Kruger would love to take control of the Hoppers' list and have a crack at an RFL title.
MM: That would be one. Lew Roberts would have first crack, but, and I'm only guessing here, I think he'll be back in Melbourne next season. MCUE and Turvey Park will have vacancies and both could be good fits. Narrandera and Griffith is the other two positions still to be filled.
SB: If Kruger has a house in Temora would he want to be coaching a club an hour or more away? Interesting to see what eventuates. Changing the subject completely, what were your thoughts on Wednesday night's events at AFL House? Brett Garrett getting three weeks and two high-profile club associates guilty of breaching the code of conduct.
MM: A house can always be sold. Yeah, it wasn't a good look for the sport but if you commit the crime then you do the time.
SB: That's what they say. From witness reports it sounds like Garrett's incident during the game was just as bad as whatever happened afterwards. Do you think three weeks was enough? Comparing it to two recent cases - Greg Aki and Dennis Pedemont - who both got two weeks for offences which left their opponent relatively unharmed.
MM: It's hard to say when you don't see the incident. I can see where you're going though. Aki got two games and Tom Byrnes played out the remainder of the game. Callum Gardner was concussed and won't play this weekend.
SB: Then again, Chris Block's hit sent Carl Pound to hospital and he only copped one week. Is it a consistency issue?
MM: Good point. Yeah it's hard to measure them up. Let's hope come this time next week we can be talking more about the footy, not what's happening at the tribunal.
SB: It's always disappointing when these headlines overshadow the footy.