Sport
Sportsview with Murray Leeder
2016 will go down in history as the year when conventional wisdom was turned upside down and on its ear. It has proved to be a nightmare year for tipsters and pollsters. Relying heavily on statistically supported‘ expert’ opinions, the final washup had the academics scratching their collective heads and burying them in their hands!
Outcomes considered‘ virtually impossible’ were happening with monotonous regularity. Although monotonous is hardly the adjective most newspaper editors and pundits will be using in future. As the year unfolded sporting results confounded everyone, bar the faithful that is.
In AFL the‘ Dogs’ barked for the first time in |
decades and proved it is possible to win a flag |
from seventh position. The Cronulla Sharks |
finally found their teeth to nip The Melbourne |
Storm’ s Premiership aspirations in the bud. |
The Sharks gave their long suffering supporters |
- even the kids’ grandparents couldn’ t remem- |
ber when they last won- something to chomp |
on over summer as their side finally triumphed |
in the NRL. |
Almandin, at one stage a $ 301 pop in early markets, came from last to snatch an amazing Melbourne Cup victory over the aptly named Heartbreak City in a desperate finish.
On the political side the Brexit referendum in Great Britain was given no hope of people power demanding GB abandon its European Union membership. A double dissolution in the Australian Federal Parliament was touted as a- certain to succeed strategy to reduce independent and special interest Senators from influencing government legislation. It produced an even greater mess!
Then there was Donald Trump’ s‘ impossible’ victory in the US Presidential election! How on earth did all the mathematical wizardry on modern technology get it all so awry?
In the words of my first University of WA mathematics lecturer:“ There are lies, damn lies and statistics!” He further clarified the point he was making by adding:“ Statistics lie and liars use statistics!” How prophetic. But to quote my childhood brainwashing from my RSL father,“ Never give up!” is possibly more apt. In more modern times we have been constantly deluged with the popular adage: The opera aint over‘ til the fat lady sings.” 2016 aint over yet either by the way!
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22 The MAG Vung Tau
To emphasise that last quote, the Palm Beach Rotary Club in Western Australia, received the official nod to stage the first beach race meeting in Aussie history in 2016. The highlight of the six-race card will be The Challenger Ford Rockingham Beach Cup. Leading WATC jockey William Pike will be a star attraction and will be supported by other gun WA Jocks such as Jarrod Noske et al. Already 300 VIP attendees have subscribed to the super nosh up marquee and, no doubt, the beach and surrounds will be packed for the unique event.
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AFL CEO, Gillon McLachlan, the second administrator from South Australia to be elected to the AFL’ s top position, not to be outdone by the unfolding events, wasted no time in tackling vexing issues that have long been festering in our national code. Almost immediately following the 2016 season finale, Mr McLachlan announced the successful ownership takeover of Etihad Stadium. He said,“ There were compelling reasons for the AFL Commission to sign off on the purchase of Etihad Stadium, once the agreement was acceptable for both parties.
•“ The AFL was already strongly invested in the stadium’ s performance with the venue hosting 46 home and away matches during the 2016 Toyota AFL premiership season, representing more than 20 per cent of total AFL match-day attendances across the competition;
• The purchase of the stadium would allow the AFL to improve home-tenant club arrangements with the competition now having the ability to manage all stadium assets and inventory at the ground;
• The AFL now has the capacity to develop a long-term vision for the stadium and the precinct, to ensure the match-day experience for fans remains among the best in the competition;