Sport
Sportsview with Murray Leeder
Its BIG BASH time in Oz and record crowds are tipped for 2016 / 17 Big Bash League series - the modern short form of cricket . International stars from the four corners of the earth are in the Great Southland to join our local champs and thrill fans with their exquisite skills with bat , ball and in the field . Now in its fifth season the 20 over concept has proved an extra-ordinary success with the sporting public . Sponsored by KFC , the inaugural competition in 2012 / 13 was won by Brisbane Heat who defeated the Perth Scorchers . The Scorchers then had revenge by winning consecutive titles in 2013 / 14 and 2014 / 15 to establish itself as the most successful BBL side in Oz . Last season ’ s Final between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars was a magnificent spectacle before a sell-out crowd . It went down to the wire but thanks to a superb batting display by Khwahaja the Thunder managed to get across the line with just 3 balls to spare . So which team will write its name into the BBL record books for 2016 / 17 ? If you ’ re having a punt , my tip is to disregard statistics and go with your gut feeling .
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Women ’ s ’ sport is rapidly coming of age down under with the inaugural AFL “ Women ’ s League ” providing the curtain raiser to the 2017 AFL season . Not all AFL clubs are represented but as sure as night follows day you can bet on the competition expanding rapidly . The concept of professional sport for women is proving extremely popular with fans and in the opening round in December a record TV audience watched the WBBL opening matches . Not surprisingly the female sporting competitions have aroused controversy , especially when it comes to money matters . Media examination of the contractual arrangements offered to the women being contracted to play in 2017 exposed some glaring faults , not just because of the low salary scales . In particular a contractual clause concerning pregnancy has caused public outrage . It makes you wonder what the reaction would be if male players were required to sign similar contracts .
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The fallout from salary disputes prior to season 2017 has engulfed AFL CEO Gillon McLaughlan . The AFL Players Association is demanding considerable increases in base salaries , pointing out that the financial rewards for Australian Footy are quickly being surpassed by the A league . The AFL El Supremo is on record as saying the AFL can ’ t afford any increases in players ’ salaries . He is skating on thin ice ! Soccer is now easily the most popular game being played by Aussie kids and with two new teams about to be admitted into the national round ball competition there is no doubt that Australia will soon become a major player in the world game . Already many Australian soccer stars earn salaries way above those received by the top earners in AFL . In fact the financial rewards for AFL players have been in the doldrums for some years . Just five players , Lance Franklin , Gary Ablett , Scott Pendlebury , Nic Naitanui and Tom Boyd , boast a six figure earner . By contrast the AFL has a team of 10 highly paid executives who copped more than $ 6 million between them last season . McLaughlan ’ s earner was a lazy $ 1.7 million ! Little wonder the AFL Players ’ Association is at logger heads with the executive over salaries . They claim it is ridiculous that administrators earn more than players . Players advocate , Peter Jess , is on record as saying : ‘ You can ’ t have a system where the highest paid person in the sport is an administrator . It ’ s the players who create the game . Without them there is no game !” Women are taking a special interest in the current AFL salary dispute . At present they earn just 10 % on average of their male counterparts . If the new initiatives in womens ’ sport are successful , and already TV stations are queuing up for the telecasting rights , you can bet footies to cupcakes it won ’ t be long before the fairer sex will demand more consideration – or else !
The MAG Vung Tau 15