Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Brownlow Diary (plus some other thoughts...)

7:00pm Live from the Crown Palladium, it’s the 2008 Brownlow medal count! Proudly brought to you by Safe Tan – The Safest Choice in Tanning! And Clairol Nice ‘n Easy hair dye! Joining me on the couch this evening is special guest commentator and former Big Leaguer, Mrs Watson!

7:04 Tonight’s coverage begins with a red-carpet special and we are treated to Luke Darcy with his overactive eyebrows and a 7-month pregnant Christi Malthouse. Plus, according to Mrs W, the arrival interview man, Mark Howard, was once on Totally Wild. Good times!

7:06 Mrs Watson: “This is why skanks go out every weekend – to pick up an AFL player so they can go to Brownlow.” Damn, I wish W was there instead of Darcy.

7:07 Tonight Jason Gram is accompanied by a pair of breasts in shoes.

7:11 When did Matthew Lloyd’s wife transform into Effie?

7:15 Brent Harvey arrives and admits to “having a couple of beers already” which immediately makes me like him a little more, raising him from ‘annoying, diving, little, hang-out phoney’ to ‘annoying, diving, little, hang-out phoney who doesn’t mind a beer.’

7:16 This seems like a good time to point out that we’re also joined by Big League Little League’s red carpet specialists, The Lady Captain and Mrs Mrs Watson! Here’s a random exchange:

Mrs Mrs W: I hate the ass crack dresses, that is height of skankiness.
Lady Captain: Yeah, and there’s lots of orange girls; they look like charcoal chickens.
Mrs Mrs W: I know, imagine their sheets in the morning.
Lady Captain: Who’s that? Tom Harley’s wife? She looks nice.
Mrs Mrs W: At least she’s got some class.

7:22 Brendan Fevola arrives, sans dildo, with his wife looking at him with the “just give me another quote for the divorce lawyer” look. Poor Fev.

7:25 Standard Judd & Twiggy sighting. (Lady Captain: “She knows what works well for her”)

7:26 Paul Medhurst is wearing some kind of velvet suit and claims “they said it would look good.” Mrs Mrs W counters with “Wanker.”

7:29 And here is Gaz! The girls seem impressed with partner Lauren’s tan:
“That’s a professional tanner”
“She’s slowly layered that”

7:30 For some reason there is an hour of Australian idol between the red carpet special and the actual medal count. Well, while we’re here, I think we’ve hit the shallow end of Australia’s pissweak talent pool. Although, as Mrs Watson remarks, “Brooke’s saucy!”

8:30 The telecast kicks off with a montage of the medal favourites and “deep-voice over man”. I love deep-voice over man! He could get me fired up for a colonoscopy!

8:34 Speaking of colonoscopy’s, ladies and gentleman, Ms Kate Cebrano!

8:37 Mrs Mrs Watson: “Someone throw a Crownie at her…”

8:39 Stephen Quartermain will be taking us thru the evening. I forgot it was on Channel 10, and was kinda looking forward to the excitable Bruce MacAveney (“You must reaaaaally nervous, Gary, you’ve had a ripper of a year!”)

8:42 Andrew Demetriou, looks like a man you shouldn’t cross. I mean, on TV, with those glasses and that “Keep laughing, I’m fucking serious” half smile of his, he looks pretty intimidating, but I once saw him at Kardinia Park and in the flesh he looks like a cross between Tony Soprano and Roy Orbison.

8:45 Round 1: Fat Tony Demetriou is off to a flying start, reading the round 2 votes first. Quarters trys to save the moment by barking instructions ridiculously quickly at Demetriou who looks like he’s going to fire someone during the first ad break, and then give Pauly Walnuts Quartermain's address. This shit wouldn’t have happened if Bruce was here.

8:56 Round 4: Highlights of Geelong beating up St Kilda: Ah, good times. Plenty of favourites getting votes early, this could be very interesting…

8:57 Oh, I guess I should get a tip in before it gets too late: I’ll go with Gaz Junior to defy history and win despite missing, what, 4 games? He has to get at least 5-6 best on ground’s, right? That’s 18 votes already. Hmm. Joel Corey has started strong, as has Simon Black, my smokey selection from last year. For this year’s smokey I’ll go with The Pav. Now that is a smokey.

9:02 They show a clip of Gary Junior at 14 years old. That wasn’t embarrassing at all. Got any footage of him crapping the bed, Channel 10?

9:07 Round 6: Paul Medhurst has 8 more votes than Jimmy Bartel. Read that sentence again.

9:15 You know, I forgot all about David Neitz. Not just that he played and retired this year, I actually forgot that he existed.

9:22 Round 8: Is Gaz already too far down? Mrs Watson thinks so.

9:29 I think I fell asleep during Luke Darcy’s speech about a property steward and when I woke up and 80-year old woman was accepting the Brownlow.

9:43 Round 11: Gaz is starting make his move as we see footage of Mark Harvey telling the media that his 1-10 Dockers are a “dangerous team”. Shit, Simon Black just got 3 more votes. I should have stayed with him as my rough chance. On a side note, the Brisbane table looks like a fun table to sit at, I don’t why, it just does.

9:53 Round 13: Remember Lips eating a sandwich in the coach’s box? That’s I feel right now. I’m running out of steam. I am this close to googling “sideboob”.

10:05 Michael Voss is giving one the most incoherent speeches I’ve ever heard, I mean, this is rivalling some of the great drunken 21st ramblings.

10:06 I clicked “search”.

10:13 A Robert Harvey tribute followed by a saxophone solo? I’m just searching for weird photos now. You ever see the one with the guy in the crowd at a baseball game copping a bat in the face? Classic.

10:21 Why can’t Quartermain pronounce “Danielle”? He introduced Robert Harvey’s wife as “Daniel Harvey”.

10:26 Mrs Watson: “Go Richo!” I think he’s delirious due to a combination of sleep deprivation, Voss’ rant and hypnotic saxophone music.

10: 27 Mrs Watson: “Go Salopek!”

10: 40 Round 19: Looks like Gaz is gone, lost too many votes to Selwood and Corey. Not too many for Jimmy though. Oh, and if I’m running out of gags, give me a break. I’ve been watching Channel 10 for almost 4 straight hours. I’ve seen that “L’oreal for men” ad so many times I’m actually considering spending $140 on moisturiser. Geez, this thing is longer than The Dark Knight.

10:47 Jesus, Stephen Milne looks like the Elephant man!

10:48 Round 20(?) (I stopped paying attention):Gazza and Mrs W look gutted until Tony Demetriou pulls his patented pause move: Geelong… (counts to three in his head) G Ablett, 3 votes! Gaz is all smiles again and Mrs W woke up! He’s still in it! He wants it!

10:51 I love how Demetriou speeds through the irrelevant games. I feel comfortable with him in charge of the game. I completely trust him on the Gold Coast and West Sydney now.

10:53 Round 21: Richo is mugging for the camera, Cooney takes the lead and Gaz has a chance! I love it!

10:55 Round 22: Noooooo! Gazza’s gone! Looked like he wanted it pretty badly, too. Hopefully he takes it out on Hawthorn. Brad Sewell ain’t shit! I’m with you now, Mrs Watson, c’mon Richo!
10:57 No Votes for the ‘Cho-man! Cooney wins and unfortunately he seems quite sober. He now joins that elite club of glorious Bulldog Brownlow winners, the best of the best, a veritable who’s who of the AFL’s best and brightest, I mean, just look at some of these names… Scott Wynd… Tony Liberatore… Brad Hardie... ? Really? We sure Danny Delre didn’t get one too? Sheesh!

Midnight: Time to turn our attention elsewhere. One more to go. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to produce between here and the GF, what, with the sweaty hands, heart palpitations and binge drinking, so let me just add a few thoughts to leave you with. Please add your GF remarks/predictions to the comments and thanks to all (especially the the regulars) who have contributed throughout the season.

1) Who’s getting dropped for Chappy? I’m going with Stokes, which won’t be popular, but he’s the odd one out and here’s why: I’ve got inside mail that Lonergan is a certain starter. Lips will want Wojack’s line/game breaking ability. James Kelly delivers the ball well to the forward line (and will be used. More on this below). As already mentioned Rooke’s hardness will be wanted and Chapman brings everything to the table that Stokes does and more. This is only if he is actually fit, however.

2) The tougher Prelim for us is a better warm-up for a GF. Recent history also backs up this theory.

3) Hawthorn look to have a couple if injury issues that are a bit more serious that they’re letting on. Expect more to be revealed after the GF and expect Rooke to start on Hodge. (James Kelly will switch on to him and be used as often as possible going forward, which is a good thing for us.)
4) Joel Selwood did very well at the Brownlow, and at $15, is my Norm Smith pick. Get onboard.

5) I honestly think The Cats have got these blokes covered. Yes, their forwards are tres’ dangerous, but I reckon our midfield will give us enough ball, and thus deny them, to kick a winning score (and someone, please get Mooney and early kick). Cats to blow it out late after a tight battle, Geelong by 38 points. GO CATS!

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice rant Cap, Lady Cap, Mrs W and Mrs Mrs W.

Predictions:

1) Stokesy to miss, he is playing sore and has been quiet for a few weeks. His knee has taken more hits than a Ben Cousins nostril on a tour of a mirror factory.

2) I expect Max to try and re-arrange Hodgey's ribcage.

3) I reckon Lingy will be adding a framed picture of Sam "outside ball" Mitchell to his hallway wall, alongside pics of Harvey, Goodes, Buckley, Hird, Voss and co.

4) I think we'll see Blakey with a goofy grin for most of the match.

5) Somebody cleans up Chance Bateman and knocks him out from under his silly Rastafarian mop and his equally goofy jailbird tatts.

6) I eagerly await Clarko's 3rd quarter realisation: "oh fuck I realy don't have all the answers"

7) But the best bit, will be from Mr Tom Harley: To Hawthorn, a wonderful season, you should be proud of your efforts.

8) Norm smith box trifecta: Gazza, Moons and Selwo.

9) A tight, highly skilled and free flowing match, befitting the death of the defensive flood

10) Cats by 20 something points.

11) My liver to take out a contract out on me by about 2am.

And did I just read a post where Mrs Watson didn't use the f-bomb or back one out on Richmond...amazing!

Go Cats

...fustercluck...

1:48 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any g-town supporters out there with an unquenchable thirst follow these simple steps for free or at least very cheap, grand final week booze:

Step 1) Find any Hawthorn supporter or Geelong hater you can, for this exercise work colleagues are great but your grandparents will do.
Step2) Really get in there face about Geelong’s chances this weekend and call them derogatory names that stress the fact they are the world’s biggest tight arse.
Step 3) Once they show the signs of being really pissed, offer a bet of a slab that Geelong will win the grand final – any form of liquor is an acceptable wager and depends on your personal taste.
Step 4) Remember to shake hands with the terry.
Step 5) Repeat steps 1-4 with as many assholes as you can and keep tabs (I got 5 suckers so far). Digital cameras are great for this.

When Geelong win I will receive 5 slabs for nothing and I’m very confident Geelong will mop the floor with the Hawks and that smug look will be temporally wiped off Jeff ‘if you build it they will come’Kennett’s grill. But I like many others have a gambling problem and suffer from depression because Kennett allowed pokies to stay in this State so I think about this kind of shit all the time.

The Counter move.
If your balls aren’t as big as mine follow steps 6-7 and you will receive large amounts of booze for minimal outlay.

Step 6) Work out how much it is going to cost you if Ablett is omitted during the pre game warm-up for emergency Shannon Byrnes and the unthinkable happens. In my case we are talking around $220 for 5 cases of Jimmy Boags

Step 7) Sports bet are paying $2.95 head to head for Hawthorn to win. Divide $220 by $2.95 equals $67 dollars. Put $67 on Hawthorn and if the shit hits the fan 5 slabs has just cost $67 instead of $220.

If my balls were as small as cashews I would outlay $100 on Hawthorn so if the cock suckers do get up I receive $295 which is enough to buy the 5 slabs I owe and get myself 2 slabs and a packet of ciggies, just enough to drown my sorrows for the rest of the weekend.

Predictions:
Geelong by 52 points. Ablett to get the Norm Smith. As always horrific pre game entertainment.

6:10 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is anyone else sickened by the media's hard-on for hawthorn this week? Fair dinkum, reading the Sun or the Age this week you'd swear Hawthorn were unbackable favourites. Good news, however, is that Caro is fairly and squarley on the poo and wee bandwagon.

Cats by 5 goals, pulling away.

9:23 pm  
Blogger the captain said...

fustercluck: Love point 6. Can't wait to wipe the smug smile off that little prick. Good to have you on board this season.

Anonymous: Where have you been all year!? That's the kind of rat-cunning this country desperately needs! I'll give Malcolm Turnbull a call and see to it that he finds a seat for you on his new front bench.

CJ: Me and Mrs Watto have been equally outraged/secretly pleased about the Hawthorn media saturation. Hawthorn are like an incumbent island Government, filling the natives with propaganda while Lips is quietly building the revolutionary army, just waiting for Saturday's coup.

Norm Smith plan B: Muscles Mackie at $21.

10:55 pm  
Blogger geraldo at large said...

shit, with the captains brownlow commentary and the quality comments, this has to be the best 30 minutes I've invested all year.

Tight game for 2 and a half quarters. Geelong by 30+.
Harry Taylor norm smith assuming he plays.
The captain blind before the game starts.
Me, blind with another 50 or so expats at the Australian chamber of commerce cowtown San francisco.

Thanks again for a big year captain! My favorite thing to do during the work week is read this blog, along with the comments.

11:45 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's put this into factual context:

Just like last season, people are basing their Premiership predictions on the participating team's performance in their respective preliminary final.

Preliminary Finals 2007: Port Adelaide won comfortably over North Melbourne by 87 points, Geelong won a very tough slog against the gritty Magpies by 10. All of a sudden the focus swings toward Port who had beaten Geelong in round 21 with the last kick of the day - The Cats had no Bartel, Ling or Selwood. Apart from the loss to Port, it's understating it to say that Geelong had a pretty fair season to that point.

Preliminary Finals 2008: Hawthorn beat a hapless St Kilda by 54 points, Geelong "struggle" against a determined Bulldogs to record a 29 point victory. It's important to remember that at the commencement of round 22, St Kilda were placed 7th on the ladder and only leapt into fourth place by virtue of a crushing defeat over a massively depleted Essendon who were forced to raid their rookie list (and the local crèche) to field a team. Also, don't forget Geelong beat St Kilda in the 1st Qualifying final by 58 points. Again, it's understating it to say that Geelong has had a pretty fair season to this point. Geelong finished the 2008 home and away season four games and 30% clear of Hawthorn on the back of winning 42 of their last 44 games!

Them's the facts - Write off The Cats at your own peril!
Cats by 20-30 points.

PS Another great season from The Captain. After his teasing cameo in the Brownlow wrap, any chance of Mrs Watto getting a run next season?
Looking forward to the pre and post GF wrap Captain.

PPS Anybody else reckon that Chance Bateman looks like a Neanderthal? I mean, look what you get if you substitute the B & T with a C & V in his surname!

Basso Divor (From Basso in Perth)

1:38 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wojo, then?

Gotta say, I reckon the weakest link is Varcoe. I don't know why Bomber went out on a limb earlier in the week to confirm his selection?

Purrfectly happy to be proven wrong, though. (Worst pun in the world? Pretty much.)

7:19 pm  
Blogger the captain said...

Wojo, in hindsight, makes sense considering when he came in it was with James Kelly, for Chappy and Prismall, effectively meaning a back and a mid/forward for a forward and a mid. That left us one forward down (if you folow) which was fairly clear vs the Bulldogs. And considering how I continue to be wrong about many things, it should come as no surprise that I tipped Stokes to be dropped.

Geraldo! Good to hear from ya brother! Me and Mrs W will have a Black Douglas for ya. Hope to see ya sooner rather than later.

And on that note here is a call out:

Mrs W and I will be appearing LIVE at the Town Hall Hotel, Errol st, Nth Melbourne, Friday before the GF from 2pm onwards. So Melbourne, or interstate (Tee), BLLL fans, come down and have a pre-GF booze.

Hope to see ya there and c'mon those fuckin' Cats!

10:02 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Captain, I agree that the foreword of the book "Great AFL Coaches of the 21st Century" won't be written by Al Clarkson, 'cause the bloke is a wad.

It's high time somebody smeared hemorrhoid cream on Clarko's Cluster, to clear it up once and for all, and who better than the Cats to do it.

If anybody that reads this blog still has heart palpatations over the Cats flag defence, ponder this:

It is a well established and indesputable fact that if our once in a lifetime footy year team play at anything remotely resembling their best football, no team past or present will get near them.

And if they play at 90%, they will still have these Hawks covered.

...fustercluck...
an opinionated goose from high in the Yarra Ranges

12:04 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Biggest choke since 1998. 11.23 for the love of God!

7:25 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It feels like someone died...

11:38 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Meanwhile, Geelong is holding onto rover Shannon Byrnes despite interest from several clubs. "

Fuck, could it get any worse, we lose a Grand Final, probably lose Brent Prismall to the pre-season draft and they want to keep hold of Shannon Byrnes.

-Tee from Perth

ps. Sorry I didn't get a chance to catch up with you captain, I only saw your invitation for a drink the day after the Grand Final and I was flat out sulking and looking forward to getting the fuck out of Melbourne. I've never been so happy to get back to Perth

1:33 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

fustercluck clears throat, taps microphone a couple of times.....a mixture of mild feedback and hum of the P.A....

...Is this thing turned on?...is there anyone out there?...we're not all swinging by our necks from the doorway are we?...

The faint sound of crickets...a tumbleweed rolls across a deserted street, blown along by a dusty breeze...

...all is still quiet at BLLL...

...fustercluck...

11:49 pm  

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