This is September ...

September, means the beginning of spring, and September means Footy Finals.  I am quite happy with how the Swans have been going this year.  Given that most suggested that they would make up the numbers in the eight to finish third and secure a double chance is a great effort for the year. 

The reward for finishing third, is a trip to Adelaide to play the Crows. Where the equation is quite simple - win, and they reach the preliminary final; lose and they will host the Cats (in Sydney).  Hopefully, whether its the Prelim Final, or Qualifying Final, someone remembers 2005 - and they play at the SCG.

Even with the last few losses, the Swan's still have the best defense in the competition.  Hopefully, we will see that on display next weekend.  Geelong could well become the first team from outside the top four to win the flag, but I think the favourites would probably be Hawthorn or Adelaide.  (The Hawthorn v Collingwood game is likely to be a cracker..)

Onto the NRL, sadly, the Warriors won't be there this year.  Their season, can be summarised as erratic.  Hopefully 2013 will be a better year. At this point, I suspect one of Manly, Canterbury or Melbourne to win, with Manly probably being the favourites.

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In brief.  
Congrats to Andy Roddick on a fantastic career - I will miss you, I always enjoyed watching you play, the heart you poured out on the court. Who could forget that 21-19 set you played at the Australian 

Open.  Would love to see him win the tournament this year.

Sad to see Ratten sacked. Thought he handled it with loads of class expressed through humility and grace.  I'm also feeling a little bit for Deans too..   (via the SMH)

Congrats to the All Blacks, still rusty, but it did the job. One thing which saddens me, is that after the All Blacks play (win or lose), there seems to be an increase in domestic violence.