The season is creeping closer. We had our first full scale game today and did not play anything like our potential strongest side. We managed to win.
CARLTON: 40
ST KILDA: 38

GOALS
Carlton: Gibbs (2), Vescio, Jones, Gee, Moody

BEST:
Carlton: Prespakis, Gee, Vescio, Gibbs

It would have been nice to see more newbies making a mark, but Serena Gibbs did step up and will probably play sooner rather than later. Very nice to see Darcy Vescio making a big impression.

Always interesting to see who the scribes believe are our best 22, with all things being equal.

Rebecca Williams (Herald Sun) has put her thoughts on paper.......

BEST 22 FOR NEXT SEASON:

FB: Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Caleb Marchbank

HB: Sam Docherty, Jacob Weitering, Adam Saad

C: Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow, Sam Walsh

HF: Jack Martin, Charlie Curnow, Jack Newnes

FF: Zac Fisher, Harry McKay, Eddie Betts

FOLL: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, Zac Williams

IC: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Mitch McGovern, Will Setterfield, Levi Casboult

Interesting the omissions......Silvagni, Dow, O’Brien, Kennedy, Stocker, Kemp, Newman, Pittonet, Cunningham, Williamson, Gibbons, Cotrell.  Also, no room for Lachie Fogarty, Corey Durdin, Luke Parks, Jack Carroll along with Ramsay, Honey and Philp.

Whether you agree with the selected 22 or not, the depth is looking pretty good.

For those with Liver issues, this is an interesting watch:

Dr. Sten Ekberg
https://youtu.be/l7KdLPN3pVM

Just wondering if  the big fella can fit a premiership cup under a tree???  Merry Christmas to all and don’t forget the staple fare on Christmas night after a big day...National Lapoons  Christmas Vacation!! 

Need I say more!

Some venues and nice ones I've stumbled across recently.

Brownstone Brewery (Eumemmering (Dandenong)
Rusty Sailor, American IPA, 5.8%. put some hairs on those chests for serious IPA drinkers.

Hop Shop (Playne St Frankston)
Playne St Pale ALE, 4.2%, Aussie IPA, hoppy, fruity, mid-strength so you can enjoy more than one pint in summer, ...... Er. I think!

Hawker Hall (Chapel St, Sth Yarra)
Fury, 5.2% American IPA, not sure if it was the combination of food and beer but the beer was mighty fine!

If we can get enough geographic coverage we'll build a a suitable list of day trip targets!

Is our batting as weak as ... or what.  We'll end up losing this. >

https://www.motoring.com.au/motorsport-r...ia-120315/

Hated reading it

Been trying to watch some of the Big Bash today, but the commentary makes it closer to dragging some fingernails across the blackboard.

I do not get why networks think it's acceptable to allow commentators to commentate on their own clubs/teams. Today it's Mark Waugh commentating his Sydney Thunder vs Melb Stars, it's horrendous and I have to switch off. I'm not sure if that's because BBL is a bit passé, but it's not helped by Waugh who turned into broadcast Valium when the Stars were actually scoring against his team. He was so sour he made normal sour look sweet, and they want people to pay for the right to turn this crap on!

Not a word about two very ordinary LBWs, then Waugh talks up the Thunder bowlers except that two of the opposition's main batsmen weren't out by the laws of the game!

FWIW, the same applies to AFL, I just can't tolerate the guys who are unable to leave personal emotions in the shed when they commentate their own clubs. A few are bit more professional than others, McGuire is quite good when commentating Collingwood, but the bulk of them are horrendously conflicted and drag down the already ordinary quality!

These guys will be on big dollars to gee up the games and build some interest, spudding it up doesn't count or qualify as a wage earner!

So I think the rule should be no, with no exceptions!

Am I unfair?

Did anyone get tickets for the Boxing Day test this year?  I signed up to be a Cricket Aus family member, but didn't get a password or code so couldn't get tickets.  Not sure if this is a usual thing, never had to buy them this way before...

TIA

Neil Robertson won the UK Snooker Championship for 2020, pockets about £200K for that, Merry Christmas.