Goodness Gracious Me

The footy season went bad on me in the last round as I have previously noted. Not only did Collingwood jump out to a five goal plus lead at quarter time in the last round and ultimately win the game but the Eagles jumped Adelaide early and won in Perth to sneak into the finals ahead of Melbourne by a small margin of percentage and the skin of their teeth.

And RR did me in the tipping by one, which came down to the last game of the home and away round as they call it, Richmond V St Kilda. I tipped against Richmond most of the year. I have a longstanding distaste them which stems from the rivalry with Carlton in the 1ate 1960's and early 1970's. In a period 8 eight seasons Richmond won four premierships and Carlton three. When Ron Barassi joined Carlton in 1965 I followed Carlton come finals time as my team Melbourne was pretty much nowhere in those years. Richmond bashed their way to the 1973 Premiership and famously Neil Balme broke Geoff Southby's jaw with a round arm king hit in the first quarter putting him off the ground for the rest of the match. Southby was brilliant at fullback in his early seasons and he never really returned to that stellar form subsequently. There were other ugly incidents in that match including Kevin Sheedy, who took the bash tactics to Essendon after his playing days.

That was the second year in a row that RR won the tipping. My only consolation was that I came equal first in Lib's work comp, which cost $30 to enter but gave me $191 as prize money. I also came third in the beekeepers comp, and in both those comps I scored higher than my tips total in the home comp which includes RR. I vary my tips a bit as I can't remember who I tipped and I submit them at different times. So RR was lucky really, and he was on the Richmond wagon.

I should have sensed yesterday that my fortunes were on the up when Cooter Cha Cha won the first race at Kilmore yesterday and paid 25/1. I'd put a dollar on each way the night before at fixed odds of 50/1. Then Sydney cheered my mood further by flogging Essendon in the elimination final. While this was happening I was out gathering three trailer loads of firewood for next winter.

I was in the bath listening to the start of the Port Adelaide/ Eagles game and the Eagles skipped out to an early lead. We had Indian takeaway from the local for dinner which Gord went up to get and it was delicious as I sat by a hot fire with a bottle of red. Port ground their way back and hit the front and it looked all over for West Coast but they got a late goal and the lead before Port drew level and the scores were tied on the bell. In the extra time of 5 minutes each way Port got out to two and half goals lead and again it looked all over. Two goals to the Eagles and it still looked like a Port victory until with seconds to go the contentious free kick for a high tackle was paid tp Luke Shuey and the siren went. He kicked truly after the siren to give West Coast an amazing win.

Goodness Gracious Me!