Tuesday, July 22, 2014: Each seat will have a cup-holder...

What is left to be said about the new Adelaide Oval. Without doubt the greatest structure in the history of humanity, leaving the Pyramids and the Eiffel Tower as mere reminders of the days before we had an Adelaide Oval. The sheer power of the stadium is so great that it has transcended sport itself, with thousands turning out each week without the slightest interest in football - they just want to be inside. Without a doubt, in a year that has been troubling for the league, the success of this modern day wonder of the world has been a saving grace. The question now is whether or not the football administration can do it again.

Yes, WA State Premier Campbell Newman has unveiled the plans for an $820m, five-tiered 60,000 seater to be built in Perth. Fremantle and West Coast are hoping that the new stadium will be ready for round 1, 2018, and it's list of features are rather impressive. 85% undercover seating, 70 food and beverage outlets, 4G wireless coverage and two of the largest video screens in Australia.

The stadium, provided negotiations between the AFL, WAFL and the Government are successful, will no doubt be celebrated as the best stadium since the Adelaide Oval - bettering it with one feature that no sports fan should have ever had to live without: Each seat will have a cupholder.

In the news...
Probably-soon-to-be-ex-Richmond-coach Damien Hardwick has supported James Brayshaw in his call for a 20 game season. "I don't think there's a sport as harsh and gruelling as ours" he said, preparing for a trip to Perth before playing out a mediocre season with no chance of any success.

Carlton have continued a long tradition of eschewing any development of their own in favour of poaching from other clubs by recruiting former Adelaide executive Steven Trigg. "The pure logic of joining a great club in the form of Carlton", he joked, "I just couldn't get it out of my head."  

And finally, Mitch Robinson has accepted his two match sanction for flattening Leigh Adams who himself accepted a reprimand for striking.