Die Macht » He won the Sandover Medal and starred throu

Maybe Id had a bad week (I had). Maybe I was hungover. Maybe Im emotionally fragile (no maybe about it). Or maybe it was simply this colourless corner of Londons greenbelt getting under my skin. Whatever. Out there at the crease, it felt more like I was kicking around the fag-end spillover of a provincial nightclub than a cricket match on a sunlit Saturday. And I felt it.We were winning the game. I was a few not-out. It wasnt especially tense - they hadnt got enough, and their failure to do so had left a sour taste in the air. Throughout the course of tea, their No. 4 whinged on loudly about his dismissal, which had clearly carried to second slip (I was at first). But this is second XI cricket, where a neutral umpire is a rare treat, and so theres a vacuum. And, in effect, this bloke was filling it with slurs about an oppo players probity. But thats OK, right? Because its all part of the game.Wed had a little wobble, so I was trying to bat my age and see us home. When they saw I was on the block, they crowded me. The skipper, some portly defeat in a tattered cap, announced he was getting right under his nose. And then it started. The yob cacophony.I know I should brush it off. Just a bit of banter. Come on fella, its just a laugh! And look, when the games over its a different story! Alls well that ends… with a limp handshake and a swift half before buggering off.Hes gotta be the most boring man in Essex! was the only line in amongst the standard rubbish vaguely worthy of a smile (not least for its dramatic irony), so I offered one. Because its only a game, right? And yet, as I studiously prodded the pitch between overs, I couldnt help thinking that the scavenging around the joke by the rest of his team for the next half an hour had rather undermined the bravura precision with which it was delivered in the first place.And that was my problem: I couldnt help thinking. Finally, with just a few needed: Six or gay, mate! Six or gay! A few balls later, I drove a boundary. Two to win. Next ball I ran down the pitch and skewed it straight to cover. They went berserk. Oooooooh, said mid-off as he skipped past me. Can I have your number?I didnt give it to him.A few weeks later, in the same league, our opening batsman - an old-fashioned walker - played and missed at a young bowler, whose appeal was turned down by the onfield umpire, who himself had been batting just an hour ago. The bowler gave the usual histrionics - head in hands, turf-kicking, chuntering - and went back to his mark. Very next ball, big nick, and our man walks off. The bowler turns to the umpire and spews a volley of abuse. Our umpire, not unreasonably, tells him where to stick it. It then takes five men - including two of ours, both of whom ran on to the pitch - to restrain the bowler, whod lost it completely, from kicking off there and then. Their captain was full of apologies, but the bowler, even at the end of play, remained unrepentant. In his eyes, it was all fair game.****Ive played cricket for most of my life. I love its spirit and I believe in it. Im not about to pretend that its all cress sandwiches, ice and a slice, and clapping the batsman for managing to walk to the wicket. Most teams round our way have got a couple of bigmouths who can turn the whitest air blue, and spend large portions of their Saturday afternoons seeking to do precisely that. I know ours does. Hell, even my workplace does. You know the sort - the bantz-merchants, team geezers, the chieftains of chirp. Its sometimes delivered with a smile but not always, and who cares if it hits the spot or not? The sole point is to create tension, turn the atmosphere uglier, unsettle the opponent and win the day.These are austere times for sports participation. Its a battle out there - for central funding, schools commitment and next-generation engagement. In this regard, cricket is no different.Yet in other regards… The game still means something. And how many sports can truly lay claim to that? So what about the kids who retreat from this great idea because the edges are too sharp? Or the veterans, fed up with being insulted all afternoon on their only day off? The umpires, walking off halfway through an innings and heading straight for their car, their old off-white robes of once-unimpeachable authority fluttering in the wind, as happened in our league this season? And what of the sideline pundits - invariably parents - whove never made a single mistake in their lives, vocally refusing to accept the scandalous notion that others have, and do?Second XI club cricket seems to hold a specific antipathy towards a good, fair game, says Jamie Mann, captain of the twos at Walton-on-Thames CC. All-too-common suspect club umpires, egotistical middle-aged men and testosterone-filled blokes who havent become the cricketers they had hoped to be, all help push that line where behaviour becomes hostile and unnecessary more often than most would like. You wouldnt think the question Any chance hell use the bat? would lead to the offer of substituting leather and willow for fisticuffs in the car park, but it happens, and it happens a lot.Just as neutral umpires help keep the peace, so their absence leaves a hole. The lower down the levels, the fewer paid-for umpires, and that brings its own problems. But Nick Cousins, senior executive officer at the ECBs Association of Cricket Officials (ACO), is concerned that the higher levels are being affected too. Subjectively, I think there are two negatives. One is players who would in the past have come into umpiring now saying, I dont want any of that, thank you very much. I dont want to be abused on a Saturday afternoon. And the second one, where undoubtedly existing umpires walk away from the game, certainly at Premier League and top-level recreational cricket, because they no longer enjoy their afternoons.Steve Vear, chairman of the Southern Premier League Disciplinary Committee, agrees. Sometimes what umpires are expected to put up with, in terms of poor player behaviour, can get too much. He says that educating players is the key to protecting crickets distinctive reputation. We had one example of an ex-pro, who didnt know swearing on the field of play was actually cited as illegal in the leagues code of conduct. The younger generation are often less adept at expressing their disappointment towards an umpires decision in alternative ways than to get themselves in trouble by showing dissent.If we try and pretend that the attitudes of players have not changed, then I think were deluding ourselves, says Cousins. I tend to get a bit defensive because I think its not just a problem for cricket or cricket officials. Its more of a societal issue where youre no longer conditioned to do as youre told by teachers, police, anybody in authority, including officials.And then you add into that the quite brilliant methodologies by which we can now check decisions on the big screens in major games, and you put that together and you have a rather pungent mix, which means that if an umpire gives you out on a Saturday afternoon, you dont just put your bat under your arm and walk off anymore. You give them a stare, or if you think youve hit it you point your bat at them.So is the game becoming a little less attractive for the way some of its players and watchers choose to conduct themselves? Last year there were five games abandoned because there was fighting on the field of play. Now, on the one hand you can say thats five games from many thousands. On the other, you can say its five more than we had five years ago. The idea that youd have a game abandoned because of fighting was once unheard of. And in each of those games the umpires cant do anything. Theyve got no onfield authority to send people off. Thats why we at the ACO fully support and endorse the MCCs proposal to give the onfield umpire full authority to actually deal with this behaviour.The MCCs proposals would give umpires the power to send players off for stepping out of line. We may lament the times we live in, writes Scyld Berry in the Telegraph, and the erosion of respect for authority in society as a whole. But the MCC, as guardian of the games spirit and laws, has to do something to arrest the quantifiable increases in physical violence on the field. There are obvious procedural problems here. What would have happened in our game, say, if our non-independent umpire had attempted to send off the very bowler who was giving him verbals? And should he, as a stand-in doing his 10-over stint, even be allowed to do so? As ever, the captains must show the way. The hope is that having a deterrent in place would safeguard against it kicking off at all. Im a 22-year-old skipper, says Mann, and I play cricket with my mates. But if one of my lads is completely out of order on the field, then Id happily send him off. The integrity of the game is far more important than potentially losing out on a pint from a teammate on a Saturday night.Crickets always reflected the times. I get that. Its unrealistic to hope that the game be an island. But those stolen Saturdays spent running after cricket balls and praying for an early finish are precious, and perhaps more precious than ever. One reason for crickets enduring grandeur lies in the steaming piles of grimness off the field. So lets not be reminded of it until Monday morning at least.This article first appeared in All Out Cricket magazine. Fake NFL Jerseys China .500 on the season. 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With the AFL draft just around the corner, every fan wants to know who their team is going to pick up.ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - may have the answers.As well as attending live games during the season, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful analysis.This is his final update after his initial phantom draft in October.1 Essendon - Andrew McGrathHeight, weight: 179cm, 75kgSummary profile: At his best when he is running with ball in hand and providing overlap run off half-back. McGrath is excellent through the midfield as a ball winner.2 GWS - Tim TarantoHeight, weight: 186cm, 82kgSummary profile: Damaging forward who finds inside 50m targets or can play deep and be a marking target himself. He is also very capable through the midfield as a ball winner.3 Brisbane - Hugh McCluggageHeight, weight: 185cm, 75kgSummary profile: High-production forward and midfielder who is freakish at ground level. Precise finisher in front of goal and is just as good hitting forward 50m targets.4 Gold Coast - Ben AinsworthHeight, weight: 179cm, 74kgSummary profile: High leaping forward with vice-like hands overhead who plays taller than his height. Can also push through the midfield and have an impact.5 GWS - Will Setterfield - after Carlton bidHeight, weight: 190cm, 80kgSummary profile: Tall, classy midfielder who wins a high volume of contested ball and tackles strongly. Strong overhead and someone hits forward 50m targets regularly from stoppages.6 Carlton - Sam Petrevski-SetonHeight, weight: 181cm, 76kgSummary profile: Midfielder who is at his best when taking on the game using his acceleration, sidestep and evasiveness. Capable ball winner who is freakishly clean and uses it well on both sides.7 Gold Coast - Griffin LogueHeight, weight: 193cm, 92kgSummary profile: Athletic and powerful key defender. May at his size and with his athleticism and ground-ball winning be able to develop into a big-bodied midfielder.8 Gold Coast - Jack Bowes (Gold Coast Academy) - after Fremantle bid.Height, weight: 187cm, 78kgSummary profile: Precise ball user who wins the ball through the midfield. Bowes is also capable of pushing forward and hitting the scoreboard.9 Fremantle - Jy SimpkinHeight, weight: 181cm, 71kgSummary profile: Forward with composure who hits forward 50m targets and provides heavy scoreboard impact. Has good acceleration and possible scope to develop into a midfielder.10 Sydney - Oliver FlorentHeight, weight: 183cm, 74kgSummary profile: Composed forward who moves well through traffic and displays acceleration. Can also push up onto the wings and find the footy.?11 Gold Coast - Jack ScrimshawHeight, weight: 193cm, 80kgSummary profile: Evasive, smooth-moving tall utility. Good intercept mark behind the ball and does damage by foot over long distance.12 North Melbourne - Will BrodieHeight, weight: 189cm, 82kgSummary profile: Strong contested-ball winning midfielder with good acceleration. Brodie has performed best in the big games against strong competition.13 West Coast - Jarrod BerryHeight, weight: 191cm, 80kgSummary profile: Line breaker with the capacity to play back, through the midfield or up forward. Has been noted for leadership qualities.14 GWS - Harry Perryman (GWS Academy) - after Adelaide bidHeight, weight: 184cm, 75kgSummary profile: Smart footballer who wins contested ball, is strong overhead and uses it well. Can also play back or forward to a strong standard as required.15 Adelaide - Jordan GallucciHeight, weight: 183cm, 75kgSummary profile: Midfielder with breakaway speed who kicks with both sides. Can play midfield, forward and back.16 Port Adelaide - Tim EnglishHeight, weight: 203cm, 86kgSummary profile: Mobile ruckman with excellent endurance. High volume accumulator and elite ball user who is developing rapidly.17 Brisbane - Alex WitherdenHeight, weight: 184cm, 78kgSummary profile: Damaging kick off half-back and has composure with ball in hand. Has possible scope to develop through the midfield.18 Port Adelaide - Will HaywardHeight, weight: 186cm, 76kgSummary profile: Strong-marking forward who does his best work close to goal and provides heavy scoreboard impact.19 Western Bulldogs - Todd MarshallHeight, weight: 198cm, 87kgSummary profile: Talented key forward with substantial scope to improve. Very quick and agile. Freakish at ground level for someone of his height.20 Sydney - Tom StewartHeight, weight: 190cm, 90kgSummary profile: Mature-age key defender who plays well both ways. Beats direct opponent, takes intercept marks and hits his targets.21 Essendon - Jack GrahamHeight, weight: 183cm, 83kgSummary profile: Strong-bodied contested-ball winner who won the Larke Medal for best player during the AFL Under-18 Championships.22 GWS - Isaac Cumming (GWS Academy) - after Brisbane bidHeight, weight: 183cm, 72kgSummary profile: Back flanker who provides run out of the back half. He is clean, composed, makes good decisions, generally hitting a target.23 Brisbane - Daniel VenablesHeight, weight: 186cm, 81kgSummary profile: Explosive forward who does damage with ball in hand. Plays an aggressive style of game and has the scope in the future to develop into a midfielder.24 Brisbane - Jordan RidleyHeight, weight: 192cm, 79kgSummary profile: Has played forward, back and midfield this season. Skilled, athletic type who does his best work on the outside.25 St Kilda - Sam Powell-PepperHeight, weight: 186cm, 83kgSummary profile: Powerful ball winner who impacts games with just a few touches. Looks most damaging off half-forward but has capacity to play through the midfield in the future.26 Geelong - Joshua BattleHeight, weight: 192cm, 90kgSummary profile: Forward who is strong overhead and clean at ground level. He has excellent endurance and uses the ball precisely.27 Carlton - Cedric CoxHeight, weight: 184cm, 70kgSummary profile: Outside linebreaker with good skills who provides high impact per possession.28 Western Bulldogs - Brennan CoxHeight, weight: 194cm, 90kgSummary profile: Athletic key position player who was named as an Under-18 All-Australian key defender. Strong in the contest and provides run.29 Richmond - Elliott HimmelbergHeight, weight: 196cm, 84kgSummary profile: Athletic key position player with the scope to play either end. Brother of GWS Harrison.30 Collingwood - Shai BoltonHeight, weight: 177cm, 67kgSummary profile: Creative and damaging one-touch forward. Has striking acceleration and evasiveness. Impacts the scoreboard heavily.31 Essendon - Luke RyanHeight, weight: 185cm, 87kgSummary profile: Intercept marking threat down back who provides meaningful rebound by foot and makes good decisions from the back half.32 Gold Coast - Brad Scheer (Gold Coast Academy) - after Port Adelaide bidHeight, weight: 184cm, 83kgSummary profile: Strong-bodied midfielder who does his best work at stoppages winning the contested ball. Can also push forward and present a marking threat.33 GWS - Kobe Mutch (GWS Academy) - after West Coast bidHeight, weight: 184cm, 79kgSummary profile: High production midfielder who runs all day. Clean ball user and can win contested ball and runs both ways.34 Port Adelaide - Dylan ClarkeHeight, weight: 187cm, 85kgSummary profile: Strong-bodied ball winning midfielder who does his best work at stoppages. Has excellent endurance and distributes well by hand.35 Gold Coast - Josh Williams (Gold Coast Academy) - after Port Adelaide bidHeight, weight: 189cm, 69kgSummary profile: Line breaking outside runner with excellent acceleration.36 Port Adelaide - Brandan ParfittHeight, weight: 179cm, 78kgSummary profile: Hardnosed midfielder who brings enormous energy and intensity to the contest. Takes on the game at speed and dances around opposition players.37 North Melbourne - Jack MaibaumHeight, weight: 193cm, 90kgSummary profile: Athletic key defender who shuts down opposition key forwards. Was named an Under-18 All-Australian during the Under-18 Championships.38 North Melbourne - Ben DavisHeight, weight: 187cm, 84kgSummary profile: Powerful marking forward with size, smarts and strong one-on-one ability. Younger brother of Sydneys Abe.39 West Coast - Josh RothamHeight, weight: 192cm, 79kgSummary profile: Athletic backman who may in the future develop the capacity to run through midfield. Can break the lines and uses the ball well out of defence.40 Fremantle - Joee AtleyHeight, weight: 186cm, 84kgSummary profile: Contested-ball winning midfielder who does his best work at the coal face but can also push forward.ddddddddddddBrother of North Melbournes Shaun.41 GWS - Harrison Macreadie (GWS Academy) - after St Kilda bidHeight, weight: 196cm, 89kgSummary profile: Athletic key defender who provides run from the back half. He uses the ball cleanly and demonstrates composure with ball in hand.42 St Kilda - Willem DrewHeight, weight: 188cm, 78kgSummary profile: Aggressive and impactful ball winner and tackler who does his best work at the coalface.43 Geelong - Sam WalkerHeight, weight: 187cm, 80kgSummary profile: Intercept-marking backman with clean skills who made this years AFL Under-18 All-Australian team.44 Fremantle - Pat KerrHeight, weight: 194cm, 93kgSummary profile: Strong-marking key forward who impressed during Under-18 Championships with Under-18 All-Australian selection.45 Collingwood - Callum Brown (Collingwood father-son) - after Essendon bidHeight, weight: 177cm, 69kgSummary profile: Midfielder who plays with hardness and is able to push forward. Son of Gavin.46 Essendon - Jonty ScharenbergHeight, weight: 186cm, 80kgSummary profile: Strong ball winner through the midfield who generally uses the ball reliably by foot. Jonty is the younger brother of Collingwoods Matthew.47 Collingwood - Josh Daicos (Collingwood father-son) - after Geelong bidHeight, weight: 178cm, 69kgSummary profile: Skillful forward with composure and evasiveness. Son of Peter.48 GWS - Zachary Sproule (GWS Academy) - after Geelong bidHeight, weight: 197cm, 84kgSummary profile: Promising endurance athlete with good skills. Has the scope to play as a key forward, key defender or up on a wing.49 Geelong - Harry MorrisonHeight, weight: 182cm, 73kgSummary profile: Clean ball user off half-back who displays composure with ball in hand. He also provides run and intercepts well.50 Adelaide - Oscar McInerneyHeight, weight: 203cm, 100kgSummary profile: Mature-age tap ruckman with athleticism who follows up well.51 Brisbane - Declan Watson (Brisbane Academy) - after Sydney bidHeight, weight: 194cm, 80kgSummary profile: Highly productive key defender who zones off well and always feels involved.52 Sydney - Bailey MorrishHeight, weight: 186cm, 76kgSummary profile: Clean ball user off half-back who provides run and carry.53 Melbourne - Oliver HanrahanHeight, weight: 183cm, 74kgSummary profile: Forward who can push up the ground. He is a damaging ball user who provides run.54 Carlton - Zac FisherHeight, weight: 175cm, 61kgSummary profile: Strong contested-ball winner with complete game. Excellent decision-maker who is very clean and precise by hand and foot.55 West Coast - Jake Waterman (West Coast father-son) - after Sydney bidHeight, weight: 191cm, 82kgSummary profile: Plays up forward and through the midfield. Production has been strong. Strong overhead, wins own ball and offers strong scoreboard impact.56 Sydney - Sam McLartyHeight, weight: 193cm, 92kgSummary profile: Powerful, marking key position player who has shown proficiency at both ends.57 Western Bulldogs - Ben LongHeight, weight: 183cm, 71kgSummary profile: Has shown promise both down back and as a forward. Capable shutdown player down back who finishes well up forward.58 Adelaide - Patrick LipinskiHeight, weight: 188cm, 79kgSummary profile: Athletic forward who can also push up through the midfield. High leaper who moves well.59 Richmond - Joshua BegleyHeight, weight: 187cm, 93kgSummary profile: Strong-marking forward who can also push through the midfield and win his own ball. Provides heavy scoreboard impact when used forward of centre.60 Brisbane - Jacob Allison (Brisbane Academy) - after St Kilda bidHeight, weight: 194cm, 79kgSummary profile: Athletic, tall utility who breaks the lines, is a strong mark overhead and has a 60m kick. He does his best work providing run on the outside.61 St Kilda - Tyson StengleHeight, weight: 171cm, 69kgSummary profile: Crumbing forward who hits the scoreboard and heaps on the pressure inside the forward 50m.62 Collingwood - Ryan Garthwaite (GWS Academy)Height, weight: 192cm, 84kgSummary profile: Smart intercept marking key defender who reads the flight well and is strong in the one-on-one contests. Can play tall or small as needed.63 Carlton - Myles PoholkeHeight, weight: 184cm, 84kgSummary profile: Strong-marking forward who also can play through the midfield and win the contested ball.64 Geelong - Cameron ZurhaarHeight, weight: 188cm, 79kgSummary profile: Powerful, athletic type who has the versatility to play forward or back. Looks best suited providing run off half-back.65 Collingwood - Lachlan Tiziani (GWS Academy)Height, weight: 189cm, 82kgSummary profile: Forward who had big back end to the TAC Cup season with a TAC Cup-best 32 goals in his last nine games. Tiziani is athletic, a good finisher and has ability overhead and at ground level.66 Carlton - Kym LeBoisHeight, weight: 175cm, 66kgSummary profile: Evasive small forward with tricks and hurt factor.67 Adelaide - Liam BakerHeight, weight: 174cm, 67kgSummary profile: Strong contested-ball winning midfielder who is clean, composed and uses both sides well.68 Essendon - Oscar JunkerHeight, weight: 193cm, 84kgSummary profile: Strong-marking utility who can play forward, back or through the midfield.?69 Melbourne - Esava RatugoleaHeight, weight: 194cm, 95kgSummary profile: Raw, athletic key forward who has a crack. He contesting every marking contest, at least bringing the ball to ground and commits to winning the ground balls.70 Carlton - Mitch McCarthyHeight, weight: 196cm, 87kgSummary profile: Athletic key position player who can pinch-hit through the ruck. He moves well and makes sound decisions with ball in hand.71 Fremantle - Mitch HingeHeight, weight: 187cm, 82kgSummary profile: Composed, late bloomer who is a clean ball user with evasiveness and cleanness at ground level. Looks good off half-back.72 Geelong - Taylin DumanHeight, weight: 193cm, 75kgSummary profile: Tall utility with endurance and clean skills.73 Geelong - Jack HenryHeight, weight: 191cm, 83kgSummary profile: Athletic forward who is a strong mark overhead. Has the versatility to push up the ground and makes sound decisions with ball in hand.74 Western Bulldogs - Robbie FoxHeight, weight: 187cm, 87kgSummary profile: Versatile mature-ager who has transition from the back half in 2015 up though the midfield and up on the wings. Provides run.75 Fremantle - Rowan MarshallHeight, weight: 201cm, 97kgSummary profile: Highly regarded mature-age ruckman who competes well in the ruck, tackles strongly and provides a target forward of centre.76 Richmond - Jye BoltonHeight, weight: 183cm, 80kgSummary profile: The ex-Collingwood rookie has broken out this season upon moving to Western Australia to join Claremont. He won the Sandover Medal and starred through the midfield.77 Port Adelaide - Brett EddyHeight, weight: 194cm, 89kgSummary profile: Mature-age key forward who kicked 74 goals from 20 SANFL League games. Ready to play right away. Difficult matchup who time and time again finds a way to get out the back for easy goals.78 North Melbourne - Juhdan DundonHeight, weight: 186cm, 77kgSummary profile: Left footer who plays wing and half forward. He uses the ball well on the outside and can hit the scoreboard.79 Hawthorn - Matt GuelfiHeight, weight: 184cm, 78kgSummary profile: Ball-winning midfielder who can win the ball at stoppages and also find plenty of the ball on the outside.80 Adelaide - Ben Jarman (Adelaide father-son)Height, weight: 175cm, 68kgSummary profile: Clean, skilful midfielder and forward. Son of Darren. In the mix late for Adelaide, but having not been nominated by the Crows or Hawthorn, could end up anywhere.81 Hawthorn - Liam RyanHeight, weight: 184cm, 76kgSummary profile: High leaping forward who has taken several hangers this year. Ryan has kicked 40 goals from 16 games in the WAFL as a mature-age prospect.82 Geelong - Tom WilliamsonHeight, weight: 188cm, 79kgSummary profile: Athletic running back flanker who tested well across the board at the draft combine.83 Sydney - Sean DarcyHeight, weight: 201cm, 113kgSummary profile: Big bodied tap ruckman who uses enjoys creating body contact at ruck contests and plays with a physical edge. ' ' '