Health Revelation

Interesting point made by Sam Armitage on the Weekend Sunrise program recently.

Mark Amor was reporting a story of a man who deliberately robbed a bank for $1 so that he could gain health care for a growth on his chest and back problems while in prison.

Armitage stated rather off the cuff, “we don’t know how lucky we are.”

Amor echoed the sentiments, “If I were sick I know which country I’d prefer to be in”. He went on to call the health care system in America very “broken”.

Top marks to both of them. If only more people genuinely believed this.

Our health care system is not without fault, yet the front line services are world class. We are privileged to have them. Treat them as such and maybe they will work better.

Previous comments on similar lines here and here. Starting to sound like a broken record.

Recruitment Now The Key

The performances of the young GWS Giants team in the newly formed NEAFL Eastern Conference have been impressive. It gives an idea of where the team is at regarding their development.

Results have been largely successful. They have dominated the Gold Coast reserves yet were dominated by the Sydney Swans reserves. A bit of mixed bag but there is genuine class amongst the group. At the moment they sit second on the ladder.

This year the team has consisted of predominantly 18 year olds. Remaining as they are there would no doubt they will get flogged and hurt badly when upgraded to the AFL. GWS has a great skeleton but lacking the spine of mature key position players.

Recruitment is important. GWS is allowed certain concessions to lure players from other clubs. Just about any player coming off contract has been speculated for a move. I overheard an official saying, “don’t believe everything you hear in the media” in regards to the signing of AFL players. Time will tell. Right now they van talk but not put pen to paper until the end of the season

But whom can they get? I don’t see much use going for players that are merely disgruntled by their former club. These players wont have the drive to do well and will be chasing the cash. Their bad attitude will leave the club worse off and lighter in the pocket.

Admittedly, the Gold Coast probably has a greater geographical appeal, the coast, sun, sand, surf, etc. But GWS has Kevin Sheedy. Most would aspire to play under him. I was excited just to get a photo with him.

I wont be surprised if GWS recruits heavily from the strong second tier competitions such as the VFL, SANFL and WAFL. Plenty of keen, skilful players with mature strong bodies.

A word on Israel Folau. Can kick, can mark, but too often seems lost in the forward line and needs to improve his talk and his work rate. He has time on his side too.

Look forward to the interesting news come September and October. Not forgetting the draft in November.

“The Science”

“The Science” has become the latest buzz word used widely in social and political circles. It’s used to refer to any scientific or pseudoscientific finding that derides humans as the main cause of climate change. It is used to give the impression that all of “the science” states the same thing.

“The science says…” or “I've read the science” you might hear people say. But what science? What sciences says what? What have you read? Worthy questions indeed. Ross Garnaut’s report or the latest book by Tim Flannery? Hopefully a specific answer comes and one can investigate for themselves. Putting the comments into perspective.

The problem for “the science” is that there are many credible climate scientists who bring plenty of evidence to suggest that the human element and the predicted effect of the carbon tax are both grossly overstated. Ian Plimer and Bob Carter are two Australian examples. No doubt followers of “the science” would disagree with this assertion.

Real science should welcome comment on their findings. Yet “the science” lambasts any criticism.

NEAFL Footy Action

The NEAFL stands for North Eastern Australian Football League. It’s a newly formed league that includes teams from the ACT and Queensland state leagues. It’s also a platform for NSW and Qld AFL teams to develop their reserve grade players.

I had the joy of experiencing the Greater Western Sydney Giants play the Gold Coast Suns in a NEAFL match at the magnificent Blacktown Olympic Park.


I had heard about the team’s achievements in this league. I’d watched some youtube footage of rugby league recruit, Israel Folau. I’d read about the results so I knew they had some success and won most of their games. But for this footy purist there is nothing like getting to the ground and watching the team play.

I was impressed. The Giants actually dominated most of the play with their flair and run. I was expecting more from the Suns as some of their players have already gained AFL experience. Perhaps the constant tinkering with the senior line-up created a lack of cohesion in the reserve grade.

GWS looked tight as a unit and worked well as a team. Despite lacking some key position height and bulk they owned the momentum for all put half of the third quarter where they allowed Gold Coast back into the game.

Gold Coast had ruckmen rotating off the bench yet the sole recognised ruckman for GWS, Jonathon Giles, dominated all of his opponents giving GWS first use of the ball and hitting to advantage with ease. He had some back up from a top up player whose name wasn’t in the program.

The forth quarter could have gone either way. Gold Coast was close enough to threaten. A young team is always more vulnerable to crack under such pressure.

Class wins out in crunch situations, and GWS already has some classy young players. Dylan Sheil bobbed up to kick the first two goals of the forth quarter to regain the ascendancy. From that point it was a forgone conclusion. Remember the name, Dylan Sheil, he will be a star for the club.

I look forward to the next opportunity to see GWS play. I recommend you do it too. Even for Swans fans like me. Rugby League fans welcome too.