We are all mere oracles, staring into the haunting abyss like Macbeth's witches and prognosticating, loudly and without the requisite information or qualifications. Theories abound with ravenous indiscretion, gnawing at the feet of giants, hoping for a fall. This is how the circus works, hacks of varying repute, sniffing blood and chasing it mercilessly. The detritus of an industry to which media, broadcast deals and exclusivity agreements, have become the staple diet.
Within the hour, Paul Little will again stick his weirdly lovable head above the parapet, from where he will offer salvation or termination - D-Day, as they will no doubt call it, for James Hird's coaching career. Whatever happens, the cover of the Herald Sun is already dedicated to it. The speculation, the desire to follow the scent of blood back to its owner and chew furiously on the flesh, will continue long beyond James Hird, making the whole thing pretty irrelevant.
But that is not what I wanted to write about today.
Because football is football and it will continue. Even if Essendon had injected themselves with the blood of murdered toddlers and spent their evenings in a demented orgy of cocaine and womens clothing, the game will continue. The league, however obsessed with the protection of its 'brand', seem to have found a convenient blind spot behind which they conceal a much more prevalent evil (I may have overreached with murdered toddlers but I'm running late so just stay with me).
Jake Niall in The Age today revealed some startling figures on club profits - specifically those gouged from punters at pokie machines in outer-suburban areas. Hawthorn, for example, drew $4 million from a Waverley Gardens venue. Carlton earned $2.7m, Collingwood are more than invested in the industry.
How any club, or the league itself, can stand on some kind of moral soapbox over Essendon's doping charges knowing that they're funded up the wazoo by gouging addicts is astounding.
One wonders what might have happened if Dr. Ageless had political influence and an advertising budget...
In the news...
Paul Little will hold a press conference at 4pm to apparently announce the fate of James Hird.
Hawthorn's Dayle Garlett has walked away from the club, citing the stresses of an AFL career. Though he will be delisted, the Hawks will be unable to elevate a replacement as the cause is not an injury or illness. Garlett has been picked up by Swan Districts in the WAFL.
David Swallow has re-signed with the Suns. "I’m really pleased to re-sign with Gold Coast," he said.
And finally, Brisbane's Brent Staker is suffering from a tendon injury and will face an extended stint out of the game.
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