Anthony Breeze THE AFL world was rocked this week, not only on the field but off it as well. The great AFL commentator Bruce McAvaney announced his retirement for game day commentating, effective immediately. Every AFL fan who has listened to a McAvaney call will find it difficult to listen to a grand final without hearing his iconic voice. McAvaney has called over a 1000 AFL games and 20 grand finals and when the game was close he would put chills down your spine when your team kicked a goal. He formed a great partnership with co-commentator Dennis Cometti where both men would just bounce off each other during a call making it a memorable game to listen to.
HOW dangerous and pressurised being a jockey can be has been highlighted again. For the men or women who sit on horses guiding them around the track, one thought could be what an easy job that would be, getting paid race after race to ride a horse for a living. However, one bad ride and the public is quick to jump all over the jockey for losing some of their hard earned cash. Have you considered that every time they jump on to a horse they are putting their lives at risk? One fall could severely injure them or take their life.
Anthony Breeze THE Rugby League Ipswich (RLI) coaching merry-go-round has been in full swing over the off-season with only one club retaining their coach from 2020. Reigning RLI premiers Brothers are the only club that have not appointed someone different to coach their side this year. Jason Connors will again take the reins. Connors is a master tactician who uses all the skills and knowledge he gained on the field as a champion halfback. He passes that onto the players under his guidance. Tactical player and coach Jason Connors. Connors always has a game plan to beat an opposition team and when players follow it, they more than often win.
COVID has a lot to answer for with another major event cancelled. However, there are some silver linings as an Ipswich superstar from last season is on fire in a national competition. The South African cricket tour unfortunately was called off during the week when Australian health officials had major concerns for the player safety. Cricket Australia left it until the latest possible time before giving fans the news they were dreading. This will not give the Aussies time to regain some browny points with the Australian public after a disappointing series loss to India recently. It also puts a dampener on the Test aspirations of several players who may have got a start in the Test series like Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson and Alex Carey.