Some studying for you whereas we look ahead to the groups to expire. This one, because of chief sports activities columnist Greg Baum.
Final week was not the primary time the Swans have spoiled a Collingwood flag unfurling. In 1958, the Magpies received a well-known premiership, however in spherical one the following 12 months, South Melbourne beat them at Victoria Park and captain-coach Ron Clegg was so excited he ordered 20-year-old Bob Skilton to tug down the newly raised pennant. And he did.
At 0-2, Collingwood’s newest flag once more hangs limply at half-mast. It means everyone seems to be on their case. Is it hubris or happenstance? Is it continual or curable? Is it a hangover?
It’s true that because the final staff to complete final 12 months and one of many first to begin this early-starting 12 months, the Magpies had a brief, hectic low season. The sheer quantity of calls for on the membership would have been each distracting and exhausting. The church-state divide between the footy and advertising departments would have been blurrier than common.
Nobody begrudged influential footy supervisor Graham Wright his sabbatical, however it can have stretched assets. There’s all the time extra to any footy job than meets the attention. This week, one other mid-level footy division government, Clare Pettyfor, left.
On season’s eve, the Magpies launched a movie about their 2023 premiership, full with gala launch. Final week, some gamers took a brief timeout from their pre-match prep for the Swans to observe the frilly flag unfurling.
Each these developments sat poorly with Leigh Matthews, who mentioned it was one factor for followers to bask, one other for gamers.