Roy and HG - Bludging on the Blindside

00:02 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, jet ski loons looking for a picnic to splash and fat tyre e-bike rodeo clowns creating untold mayhem on footpaths across the nation. 00:30 Our great code stands on the precipice of international sporting greatness! 00:38 So, with soul in the shorts, feeling in the feet, and joy in the jumper, it's time to bump, it's time to thump, it's time to sink the slipper! 00:50 Let's pull the cord on the Evan Roode two-stroke and set off for the far horizon. It's another blast of bludgeoning on the blindside with the master of midfield mayhem, rampaging Roy Slavin, and the man with a fistful of bait and burly, Captain Flathead, H.G. Nelson. Yes, Trier from H.G. Gaspin, sir. 01:15 A-O, a.k.a. The Drain, torching the blindside blue paper for another week here at, you know, ABC HQ. It's the familiar sound of the sumpster, camped in the ABC spot and the soundproof booth on ABC local radio. And good news, it's still on. They certainly haven't put a red pencil through it yet. This is Friday Night Dog Night in 2027. 01:40 We're hoping for a very big announcement soon concerning the opening night, and we're hoping to get 1,000 dogs in the Sydney area to walk, say, from, let's say, Central Railway round to the ABC to boot off the... the adventure in dog night and remember of course uh the highlight fuel you know program on dog night is inspector rex in three countries it'll take a while to get through them all but rex will be there all the way through and remember there's an eight race card on every night hello australia hd nelson uh every friday night that is hd nelson lifting the lid on another magnificent week of consenting concussion magic what a week what an incredible week a week when too much footage barely enough There, I beat you, didn't I? 02:23 It's Super Saturday here on the ABC. It's another Super Saturday, should I say, and we've just had a golden run of Super Saturdays here. I'm not talking about the Commonwealth Games. We'll get to them in a minute. But Aussies, from start to stumps, it's beyond awesome, on its way to being fully sick. I'm not sure we will get there today, but I hope so. It's another TLT trip of a lifetime. 02:42 Sure. Now, it's a green and gold hurricane in Glasgow for our teams. I get the feeling that Aussies will be rubble if we don't climb to the top step and collect gold and a tip out from Gina's handbag in every event we have a starter in. I mean, that's the vibe I'm getting. If we're not getting gold, go home. 03:02 If we lob home our medal tally, you know, should I say any medal that doesn't go our way, you feel as though the whole thing's rigged against us. I mean, why did we give them $350 million in the first place if we couldn't get every medal? And looking at the medal tally, I don't mean to be unkind to other Commonwealth Games, no, I want to be unkind to other Commonwealth Games nations, but Australia, 55 gold, 30 silver, 43 bronze, total of 128. 03:26 And I have to look down one, two, three, four, five, maybe six other countries before they get even close in either the gold or silver or bronze category. Potato, we own it. Now, so the good news is New Zealand have seven gold. How the hell did they get seven gold? I mean, Inquiry, Royal Commission, 10 silver and eight bronze, but they've got 25 all together. So it's an exciting chart time at the Commonwealth Games for Australia. And maybe I'll give this out now because I know a lot of people are licking their lips in anticipation of the hammer throw results. 04:03 And I'll tell you what the hammer throw is getting back. 04:06 People waddling out to the ring, picking up a, you know, lump of metal with a bit of a metal wire connected to it, twirling around and throwing it. I mean, it's got everything. It's got movement. It's got shape. It's got, well, it's just got, I was going to use the term that I don't like using, sex appeal, the whole hammer throwing to see how far you can get that lump all the way out there. And in the men's hammer throw, Ethan Katzberg put it out 80 metres. Now, if you do your maths right, that's roughly four cricket pitches away. It's a hell of a throw. 04:36 He was four metres ahead of the competition. And what's very disappointing about this, because I do think that these, I'd be reading different results, there was no Aussie in the comp. I'm not sure what's happened to Australian Hammer. I think it needs a little bit more push from, you know, shows like ours, the ABC in general, Jim Maxwell getting behind it and, you know, maybe breakfast announcers interviewing people with the Hammer. Is the Hammer at school? Is it taught at school anymore? Do we have to have fundraising to buy every school in Australia a couple of Hammers? I mean, I know they'll be souvenirs pretty quickly. 05:07 Then we come to the women. It was a far more interesting competition. There were at least 12... 05:12 competitors and Lara Roberts was the best of the Australians coming in bronze third an excellent throw of 68.05 metres something went wrong with the twirl obviously the steel wire connecting the lump to the wrist failed and broke and they had to go back to start and retouch it with the welding it was just a Comedy of errors and would put anybody off. The winner was from Canada, Cameron Rogers, 74, well, call it 75 metres, and Lara Roberts was on 68. 05:44 So a fair way to go to make up. But I do think that the Olympics is beckoning Lara Roberts because it'll only take a tiny bit of extra effort and she'll be right up there in the gold medals in L.A. 05:57 So I'd like to take, you know, I can't list all the successes because it'd take two hours. Tory Lewis and Lachlan Kennedy, who we highlighted last week, caught the eye certainly this week. The dynamic duo broke the Aussie 100 metres record in their finals. Both of them broke the 100 metres record. They knocked the tripe out of the timing device and walked away with bronze and silver respectively. Sadly, though, in the 200, it was just 100 too far. 06:25 They did their best. They didn't forget about Australians at home up in the middle of the night looking at them go round, but sadly it was just a little bit too far. Giving... 06:35 Could, you know, I feel sort of while I was watching them run, I thought we've got to give this more grunt and poke. And could a state of origin concept add spice to the Games medal tally? I'm just suggesting this. It's certainly not refined and I know greater minds than mine in the TOB would be able to work this one over. No matter what the sport, all states would be represented over the course of the Games. And the weighting of success is a ratio of population. In other words, if... you know, Queensland had 10 people in the 100 metres, you'd get the idea that, you know, there's only 10 slots, so an Australian would win, but then you'd have to take into account the amount of population in Queensland. 07:12 Now, if you took those two things into account, you could have a myriad of punting options with incredible same-day multi implications. You know, getting, say, Queenslander up in the 100 metres and then in the shot put, somebody from Victoria, then South Australia might chime in with the hammer, et cetera, you can see where it goes. A same-day multi with four or five prongs, I mean, you'd be cleaning up. This simple mechanism would unlock genuine possibilities of the punt, offering Aussies a chance to get behind the competitors from all states. Imagine how much interest this simple mechanism would generate in schools. 07:44 because the maths would be complex. You'd have to have odds. What would be the likelihood of a 100-metre runner winning from Queensland if we got all 10 in the finals? The 10 slots in the finals were from Queensland, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. You see where this goes. Sadly, a number of sports that Australians are great at have been axed from this year's competition. The term used, though, was scaled back. scaled back has been applied to some of these sports. Look, for mine, they've just been dumped like a bag of forgotten rubbish that's still wriggling. Do you know what I mean? 08:14 It's an unsavoury look. I'm not terribly happy about it. A rough guide to the sports dropped from the 26 commie games in Glasgow. A hockey, T20 cricket, rugby sevens, the very popular beach volleyball, badminton squash, table tennis, wrestling, road cycling, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, diving. Incidentally... Diving has been part of every Commie Games since it kicked off in 1930. Go figure. They dumped it in this year. And finally, the triathlon and Parath triathlon have hit the dust. Not sure really much thought was given to the card when the organisers reached for the axe to scale back. 08:50 I mean, I'd rather they got a Stanley knife and did a bit of thinking before they had to scale back. But could a breakaway comp now be supported? I was thinking of a couple of tech bros, cashed up tech bros and local influencers with a million or two who want to put something back into the Australian sporting community. and create what I'm describing as the Australian Games. It's got a ring to it, the Australian Games. It's obviously too late this year, but what about an inclusive future where I think, I'm not sure where this wheezy's popping up in 2030, but that's the centenary of the Commie Games caper. 09:22 First stage in 1930. Remember, that's when they first had diving and nothing else. Sure, they had quite a lot of diving events, but be that as it may, it's been there every year or every time it's been run except this year. With 2030 in mind, the Bludges put together a committee to have a look at how we might float the Australian Games on the stock market to secure finance for the Games forever, not what happened this year where... Somehow Melbourne didn't want to have them in Victoria. They couldn't see a way to it and they said, well, we'll get them somewhere else. Glasgow stepped forward and then Melbourne gave them $350 million to put it on. 09:54 Anyway, representatives from Great Aussie Businesses, like Zig-Zag Cheese, Rugby League Lotto, Rugby League World, Auburn, Frosty LaHood Finance. Isn't it great to have the name Frosty LaHood connected with sport again? And charity groups like the Blinket Knights of Balaclava and the Billion Pants Burn Off for World Peace. They've all indicated a willingness to put the shoulder to the wheel financially speaking. The Save the Aussie Games Committee has been formed with a very positive vibe, I must say, a very positive vibe and outlook. Still with Glasgow Carnival, there's been some very bad falls during the gymnastics competition. 10:27 I hope all participants are okay and have been able to resume the perpendicular and push on for gold. I'm not sure if that's the case, but very sad, very bad injuries. It's always sad when sporting stars, no matter what the code, get injured doing the extraordinary for our enjoyment. The Bludge has always warned that Matt moves like the battered sav, the flat bag, the hello boys, the crazy date, the spinning date. are not without risk to life and limb and need months of expert tuition and preparation. They can result in frightening ouchies unless it's accepted that they are precision moves that require timing, strength and agility. 11:04 So I just leave that there and hope these ideas and thoughts are taken on board by competitors. And so did the weekend rugby league. The men of Horn clobbered the Tigers, the joint venture at the heap of rubble, in front of 16,000. Tune the green machine, ran amok and ran in 56. Tigers clawed their way to 10. And it's been a couple of weeks of exciting numbers in terms of scores, 56-10. 11:29 Anyway, we'll come to some of the bigger ones soon. It was the best performance by the joint venture, but they were missing a few, and it's hard to see them getting the points tomorrow against Parramatta. But funnier things have happened in 2026, and with Dewey back where he thinks he should be in the number seven shirt, well, that's the start for the Tigers on the culture front. Weird how culture gets reduced to what shirt are you wearing, but be that as it may. The Bulldogs put 18 past the Wars at Acor Swamp. That win has the Honkers just one win off the eighth in, obviously, ninth spot on the ladder. 12:02 Not sure what happened to Wartown. Six points was all they wrote. Cowboys are ahead of the Kennel in the eight with a big win over the Broncos at OCB. Turned, if you don't mind, Axe. Cows 18, Broncos 10. 12:14 Nice work, Axe. 12:15 Now, still with Queensland teams, and it was a spoon-off curtain raiser, the Titans were far too good for the Dragons at Cogger Jubilee. The Taj Mahal House Orchestra, crank it up and give it a twirl if you can. Titans, 38, joint venture, 18. Now, there's a weird thing for those taking notes. Three teams last week pulled up with 18 points. Go figure. Must have been something in the moon, the phases of the moon. Now, Fozballing Daddy Cools were no match for the rampaging sharks who washed up at Four Pines Aquarium on the tide, chomping with all teeth. 12:46 This week's unexplained mystery of league number 378 in season 2026 is where has Fozball and Fozzie gone wrong? There's simply no air left in the balloon. 12:58 Is it that simple? 12:59 Elsewhere, Zach Lomax, rugby league's rambling minstrel, Have Boot Will Travel, has settled on the pirate life aboard the good ship Tax Free for season 2028. Before he lobs on Bunnings Island, Zach is tasting wallaby action in 2027 to get a shifty of how the other side of the street works. As he packed his duffel bag, he bellowed, HG, tell the bludgers the pirates will shock in NRL. I'm not sure what this is based on. 13:24 Seems to me he's only been in the joint five minutes enough time to sign a contract and then pissed off. Meanwhile, Feathersville Anders has called in reinforcements to carry the load in the top job. I was wondering when this had happened. He realises that two jobs in NRL House and running NSW Racing may mean that the Tropfest, which is great and largely great due to him, is now a bridge too far. So he's roped in a racing stalwart and former DI with the New South Wales Police, Johnston, J, full stop. The DI has been seconded from racing and promoted to the 2IC in League HQ. 13:58 In the force, Johnston specialised in catching crooks, cutting your teeth when the major instruments of interrogation in remand cells were a bright light shone in the face of the criminals and a copy of the New South Wales Yellow Pages phone book. And they got results, believe you me. Now, could players on loan be a solution to the very unequal competition? Not sure how it would work. Certainly works in the Premier League. You always hear of players being out on loan. But Feathers will have something in mind and it could be the making of season 2027. 14:29 It could be the making of season 2027 for a great number of clubs who are already dreading next season because they've got no one to play for them and so many clubs are hoovering up the talent. Cycling in the Tour de France was won by Pogacar for the fifth time. 14:44 His great quote as he crossed the line, he shouted this out to the BBC, I don't know how I do it. And all of a sudden I'm beginning to worry. 14:53 Boxing and Zoo v. Spence, the bout, it's now been determined by the Guinness Book of Records as the greatest fight in Australian history. Well, it was an excellent night of entertainment for the whole family. There were so many kids grinning from ear to ear as they came home and practising their punches in the car on the way back to wherever they lived. To become a legend, you have to beat a legend. Thanks very much, Basil. And that's exactly what TT did. Hats off to Trainer Fennec on the way through. In just 10 weeks, he's instilled belief in... into the zoo, lad. 15:24 It's a miracle. And remember, Tim, previously had lost a couple of bouts with an elbow to the bony bonts, which unleashed a flood of blood, which obviously everybody loves. Now, horse racing and James McDonald secured the New South Wales Jockey Championship again on the weekend. He won his 10th on top, equaling the record set by, wait for it, the great George Moore in the 60s. 15:47 Not sure that I can remember George Moore, but there you go. Now, J-Mac won the last eight premierships in a row in that record of 10. And our Shoot Shield Grand Final this week is the 3.05pm game at, well, I'm not sure where it is, Warringah. Warringah versus Sydney Uni. And that game's on TV as well. Remember, the Shield is free to air on Gem, that plucky little outfit that carries great sporting content using only just one camera setup. It's a miracle of how they do it. I don't know how they've got that under control. They've obviously years of practice. 16:18 Speaking of top international fixtures, the Irish are in town featuring an AFLW International, Australia v Ireland at North Sydney Oval today. Sadly, it's sold out, but there might be a few spots left in the trees because people who know North Sydney know it's got lots of trees and you can climb in the trees and get a good squeeze. It might be worth giving that a shot. Blindsiders, stand well back and let the hounds of us will see the lure as we welcome to ABC Smart and ABC Local Radio, a man who's passionate about Australian small business. A reminder that the Bludge is fully committed to telling Australian stories and the can't wait man. 16:52 And isn't it great to see the can't wait man back at the games? It's just great. The can't waits are coming out really beautifully. He's standing by to take us through them. Obviously, this great Aussie contributes today on the condition of complete anonymity. 17:06 I just hope no one's going to spread his name. His name is rampaging, Roy Slavin. Roy, can I get the bludging bunny in motion for another week asking, what highlights caught your escalation? 4K HD large language model machine learning AI encrypted bubble jabber. 17:20 Yes, thank you very, very much, HG Nelson. Of course, happy Rugby League, HG, to you and to your family. And happy Rugby League to all decent, taxpaying, fair-minded, upstanding Aussies walking so much taller this week given the avalanche of success. Success, gold success, reaching us from Glasgow. Look, I don't think it's just me. I just think the gold medal looks better on Aussies. It does. The green gold shows it off. 17:52 It does. 17:52 It's just the way it sits. 17:54 Yeah. Yeah. 17:55 There's something about it. I mean, I did see a couple of... 17:58 medals sitting on people from other countries, and they look slightly ludicrous, to be frank. I mean, I didn't want to make a judgment, but I couldn't help it. I just think Aussies look better... 18:10 In gold. 18:11 In gold. Yeah, I know. They do, and by golly, they've done us proud. They certainly have, and I certainly hope there's going to be some sort of ticker tape parade through all the capital cities... 18:23 How about this? We send them to somewhere they don't normally go, like to Adelaide. Yes. And have a march maybe from Victoria Square down King William Street to the Torrens and gather there for a picnic. 18:34 That'd be lovely. Or a barbecue. That'd be lovely. That'd be lovely. Although I have suggested a bit of a tour through rural and regional Australia for our Commonwealth team. I think that'd be fabulous. 18:45 And are you thinking of sending several people to a number of places? Is that how you say it? No, no. Everybody in the bus. 18:51 I'd keep them all together in the bus. Yep. And so they get to Shepparty. I think I worked at four buses. I've spoken to the Sid Fogg people. Are they keen? They're very keen. 19:00 Yeah. 19:00 Very keen. 19:01 They get great kudos from doing that. Yep. 19:02 So they'd arrive, say, oh, I don't know, let's say Daniloquin, somewhere like that, and just stop outside the town, stop the buses, everyone gets off, forms in a line and march into the town. 19:15 And school kids allowed out? 19:16 School kids would be allowed out, of course. It would be a holiday for the kids or an afternoon off, something like that. Isn't that great? We're yet to… Do the details. 19:24 Yeah, do the details. And can I just ask, spitballing, how many towns would you like to get to? 19:30 A hundred? I was thinking about 40. Forty? Yeah. But now you've mentioned a hundred. I've got a hundred in mind now. Now, Aussie Piastri, well, he's had a disaster in Hungary. I know. It's basically wrong tyres, wrong pit stop strategy, wrong gearbox. Everything was wrong. Everything was wrong about it. I think he hopped in the car from the wrong side. Everything just fell apart for Piastri and I don't know what we can do about it. 19:57 It's a DNF, isn't it? It's total DNF. Well, it's mainly a failure of his too, I think. 20:02 I mean, often, you know, we blame the car that the poor fellow's in. 20:09 And in this case, the car was rubbish. But he was rubbish as well. And I think he was the first to admit it. When I spoke to him, he said, I do apologise to all bludge listeners because I was rubbish. 20:19 And I thought, oh, well, fair enough. 20:20 It's good to see a bit of honesty coming to F1. 20:24 And you know the Hungarian Grand Prix is my favourite? I know it is. 20:27 I love it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I used to love Monaco, but like you, I've gone towards Hungary. 20:34 Now, the Demon is now officially the world number five. 20:38 He defeated... It was a terrific match. He defeated Cruz Hewitt, 6-3, 6-2, in the third round of Washington. And I think we might have broadcast last week and broke the story that Cruz Hewitt was given a wild card... into the Washington 500, and he performed outstandingly. And it was a very difficult position for Little Leighton, of course. 21:03 A, his son is playing the fellow he coaches. I mean, what a difficult position for Little Leighton. But as he said to me, you know, it's a wonderful position to be in. And I hadn't thought of it like that, but he's absolutely right. 21:16 And he's the winner. Yeah, that's right. Even though Cruz lost, you know, Little Aiton still won. 21:22 Yeah, it was wonderful, really. Terrific. Anyway, I think the Demon subsequently went down. Might have been the semi-final to I've forgotten whom. Doesn't matter. You can look it up. 21:33 Now, Cricket Australia... Just before you leave, I've got one word for you, Tomic. Alberta Tomic, look, from memory, he demolished a player called Hernandez, who I think is number 489th in the world. No slouch. And in the quarterfinal, he fell, sadly, to the Englishman Cameron Norrie, 616-love. This was at Los Labos in Mexico. 21:59 He lost 12 games in a row. He did. Hard to do, but he did it. 22:02 Very hard to do, but he did it. But it was the old Tomic came back. Yeah. You know, I thought we'd forgotten what he looked like. There he was. 22:11 Marvellous. 22:13 And speaking of tennis, it's just occurred to me a very sad story. I don't like broadcasting sad stories on this programme. We don't. Usually we try to talk things up. 22:23 Arantxa Sanchez-Vecario, wonderful player of yesteryear. 22:29 She's now bankrupt. She's lost 60 million euros. And that's a hell of a lot of money to lose. 22:37 She won the $60 million playing tennis? 22:39 Oh, and sponsorship, et cetera, et cetera, and what have you. She was a very, very good player. It came from a family of great players. I think Emilio Sanchez was top ten and his brother Javier. was in the top ten at one stage as well. And she was, I think at one stage, number one tennis player in the world. So a terrific family of tennis players from Spain. But she fell on hard times. And there's a lesson there. I mean, it's the Boris Becker, isn't it? It is. 23:09 Same thing happened to Boris. And the same thing has happened to a number of players. Bjorn Borg might have fallen on troubled times as well. 23:19 So there is a lesson there, and I think it comes down to A, parents, and B, managers. Yeah, managers. And financial managers. I mean, often players earn a lot of money very, very quickly, and they think they're set up for life, and they should be, but they don't know how to handle it. 23:36 Yeah. 23:37 And this would appear to be the case here, although I think Arantia was saying that, just privately, that she felt she'd probably teamed up with the wrong partner in life. 23:48 With the head on the pillow. 23:50 Yeah, yeah. Anyway, there's a lesson there, I suppose. 23:54 Now, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg is considering selling off an ashes test to Mumbai. 24:02 I don't know how Aussies feel about this, but I'd be ropeable if I was an Aussie, and I am an Aussie, and I am ropeable. 24:09 I just think this is a dreadful development, dreadful development that's going on. 24:14 Can I ask why? 24:14 To make money. 24:17 for Cricket Australia. Cricket Australia are saying they can make more money selling off an Ashes Test to Mumbai than they can having it here at the MCG. That's what they're saying, and I think they're liars. I don't often use that word on this program. In fact, this is the first time I think I've ever used it. But I'm using it now with Todd Greenberg. I think it's a lie. 24:40 And remember as well, actually, equally outrageous is the Big Bash opener. Now, we love the Big Bash. Aussies love the Big Bash. The Big Bash opener between the Renegades and the Scorchers, that might be red v orange. 24:55 That'll do. 24:56 You know, red v orange. I mean, I hate orange. I love red. 25:01 Anyway, Red v Orange is to take place in Chennai, opening round of the Big Bash, the Australian Big Bash in Chennai. What is going on? 25:11 Indeed. 25:12 I mean, Aussies should be outraged, and they are. The ones I talk to are outraged. 25:18 And is the Shield final now? The Shield final is now going to be sold off to Chennai as well. Oh, I thought it was going to Pondicherry. 25:24 Well, it might go there as well. 25:27 Isn't this ridiculous? It's just outrageous. 25:30 Now... 25:32 New Wallabies coach, Les Kiss, is advised not to abandon the Schmidt method. 25:39 God almighty. What method? 25:44 What is the Schmidt method? I mean, you look at Schmitz. I mean, I don't mind the bloke. I've got nothing against the bloke. 25:51 But as soon as I can tell you, won one test against Italy a week before last. When they had an off day. When they had an off day. That was it. Prior to that, it was ten losses, ten blot. 26:02 Australian Rugby Union is a joke. 26:06 A joke under this bloke. And Kiss is being advised... 26:10 Not to abandon the Schmidt Bennett. Would you like... I would like a root and branch examination of what's going on with Australian rugby. Can I suggest... Why aren't they talking to John Eales? 26:20 Ah, wow. 26:21 If I was Les Kiss, the first person I'd be ringing up would be John Eales. Following that, I'd be talking to Campo. Yeah, Campo. And maybe Alan Jones. These people know how to win. 26:34 Don't they? 26:35 They do. They've got a winning track record. Can I suggest we sell the Bledisloe Cup to an Indian place, you know, like Calcutta? Well, why not? 26:42 Why not? 26:43 They'd love to see the Bledisloe Cup. 26:44 They'd love to see the Bledisloe Cup at Chennai, wouldn't they? 26:47 Chennai, yeah. Why not? On Calcutta, it's not called Calcutta. Yeah, it doesn't matter. 26:50 Anywhere in India. 26:51 Yeah. You got it. They'd get a crowd. 26:53 Yeah, they probably would. Especially if you could put some money on it. Well, you could put money on an Aussie defeat. 26:59 If they continue with the Schmidt method, whatever the Schmidt method is. 27:09 Get a score up by half-time and then lose. Then, yes. 27:14 I know the Schmidt method. Get bloody 15, 20 blokes, put them in a uniform and send them out and go home. 27:21 That's the Schmidt method. Fingers crossed. 27:25 Well, it's not good enough. 27:30 Now, speaking of outrage, whoever designed the Diamonds playing strip should be shot or in jail or both. 27:40 Well... 27:41 I mean, the dress, these dresses, they rise up exposing the underpants. You've only got to move. You've only got to take one step and the dress is up... 27:53 Yes. You know what I mean? Around the waist. Around the waist. Yeah. I mean, it undermines the confidence of the players if they're continually having to pull their dresses down. Yeah. I mean, how embarrassing. I mean, it's hardly. It's almost borderline family viewing. 28:11 But having said that, how do families get to watch the Diamonds because they're not on free to wear? 28:18 No, separate problem. 28:20 Why aren't the Diamonds on free-to-air? They are Australia's premier team. 28:26 Oh, no. 28:27 I mean, the Diamonds are magnificent. They win everything. They win everything and have done for a long time. And netball, I think, is the most popular sport in Australia. 28:37 And here we have the Diamonds, the greatest team in the world, not on free-to-air. Who is responsible for this? Someone at seven. 28:46 Someone at seven should join bloody, who are we all going to have shot? The designer of the bloody strip. 28:53 Yeah. 28:55 Anyway. 28:57 And all players, all Diamonds players come off contract September the 30th. I know. Every one of them. 29:05 I mean, that's hardly, how do you plan your life? In a month's time. 29:09 In a month's time, they're going to be out of a job. 29:12 I mean, what is going on with the diamonds? 29:16 They should be held up, admired, appreciated, enjoyed. Instead... 29:26 There are impasses, blockages put in every direction the Diamonds turn. 29:32 See, that underpant thing, that's really interesting because it's inappropriate in the Diamonds case. It is inappropriate. Unlike rugby league. 29:39 Yes, where people love seeing the underpant. 29:41 Exactly. See, it's horses for courses. 29:43 Horses for courses. 29:44 Yeah. 29:44 Isn't it? 29:45 Isn't it? 29:47 I just don't think it's right. 29:49 I don't think it's right. Anyway, wonderful week of the greatest game of all, of course. 29:54 The miracle of Mudgee is back. 29:56 It's fantastic. Can't wait. 29:57 Can I just say can't wait? 30:00 And it's not often we use a term like iconic, but this has become an iconic event in Mudgee, hasn't it? The miracle of Mudgee. 30:09 In Glenwillow Oval. 30:11 Glenwillow Oval, yeah. 30:13 What a property that was, actually. Glenwillow. It was a beautiful, beautiful property. And, of course, the government did the right thing for once, acquired the property and built a sporting complex on it. 30:21 They did. Full marks. Full marks to whoever was in charge of Mudgee at the time, the mayor, I guess. Very forward thinking. The council, very forward thinking. I don't know when they did bring this about, but they should be... Remembered. Remembered more than fondly, in my view. 30:39 And, of course, Benji, that's Benji Marstall and Adam Dewey, they've smoked the peace pipe, or the vape, as it turns out, in the dressing sheds. Can't blame them. Make of that what you will. 30:54 The ethical obligation demands that our great sporting facilities are used more than once a week. Punters, note the diary dates. Monster Truck Month is coming to the Sydney Football Stadium this October. 31:08 The Monsters will be followed by a week of high-octane snake wrestling from the Patagonian Pampas and round the year out with something to wrap the ears around. A high-speed fortnight of quality Southern Cross drag racing. Brought to you by Bludging on the Blind Side. 31:29 Nine out of ten winners of Channel 7's smash Dancing with the Stars have spent time at the Three T's Dance Academy. Tom, Ben and Jake make winning easy with a program of disco, tap and the foxtrot that will have the judges calling your number and begging for more. Remember, with dance... It's the sultry and the lewd that catches the judge's eye. Get them ogling the hips and you're halfway there. The three tees offers a full range of the bump and grind risque at a discount to bludgers on the blind side. 32:09 Just to tidy up the green and gold hurricane... 32:14 What does it say? I mean, 128 medals and the nearest competitor's 80 and then they get a lot of, you know, their chaff medals, the nearest competitor. 32:25 It's just a sort of a possibility of positive reinforcement? I suppose it is. Yeah. 32:32 And do you think that it's... 32:35 I mean, there is something special about being a Commonwealth champion. 32:40 I mean, it may not have the... It had years ago. But it's still, you know, you look around your lounge room, you look on the sideboard, and there's that gold medal from the Commonwealth Games. That's a talking point. That's a talking point. People are going to say, ooh, what's that doing there? I want it. 32:59 Now... 33:02 What I hope, of course, is because when there was less sport on the agenda, the Commonwealth Games stood out. 33:09 Yes. 33:10 But now it's been buried by things like the World Cup. It has to be, it has to be. You know, the problems in rugby league and so on, the big scores and, you know, the AFL and so on. It just whirs on. 33:19 Yes. 33:19 But I'm just wondering if you think that, and I know you keep your eye very widely peeled for this, that any of the sports are getting any traction with, say, school kids or offering to, you know, who might be 14, now realising that in four years' time there'll be another Commonwealth Games medal, they'll be 18, they might be able to take their place in the team. Yes. Let alone people who might be in their teenage years thinking, well, the LA Olympics are only a couple of years away, maybe I should begin training. 33:48 Yep, yep. Well, I think that's all true, HG, but also I think I've been speaking to a lot of people Athletes who feel now they perhaps retired a little bit early and are thinking about making a comeback. You know, I just bumped into Shervo the other day. He was doing a terrific job on seven. I said, Shervo, you know, you could run around and come back with a medal, you know. 34:19 One big one left anyway. Exactly, exactly. And it got him thinking. I know it did. So it wouldn't surprise me if someone like Shervo Zilk is not thinking, for his time, I could get myself fit enough to come back with a medal. 34:32 And is that because age has now changed in society, that we allow footballers to play on seemingly forever and... 34:40 Well, science has come to the assistance of athletes. I mean, and diet. I mean, we're living longer. We're far more healthier now than we used to be. You know, it wasn't that long ago, HG, when, you know, when life expectancy was about 40 years. 34:59 Well, we've gone right beyond that now, haven't we? 35:01 Yes, and so people were tied with that at 21. 35:03 Yeah, if you leave us now at 40, people think, oh, that's far too early. And it is. It is. It is. It is. 35:10 But back in the day, that was common. 35:13 Yeah. You know, so, you know. It would be interesting to see where some of these records here and seniors competition, they're going to merge, aren't they? 35:22 They are. They are, yes. Yes. 35:24 Because the competitive desire doesn't seem to leave people, does it? No, it doesn't. You and I experience that playing tennis and snooker or whatever it is. Well, that's right. 35:32 I mean, even at our age, you walk onto a tennis court. And you want to win. There's only – well, that's right. That's uppermost in your mind. You want to win and you want to win every point, you know. And that's – I think that's healthy. 35:46 And really the response from the community, I mean, obviously families and friends know it all about it, but the wider response, I mean, I don't know quite how to sum this up, but, you know, it seems to me. 36:00 Well, I think people are prouder this week than they were last week. 36:04 I think it's been a real shot in the arm for the nation to know that we dominate. I mean, we suspected it. Let's face it. We suspected we dominated the Commonwealth as a sporting nation. We did. I mean, all the evidence is there. And to have it reinforced in such a manner, I mean, how many countries would you have to add together to come up with the number of medals that Australia has won, you'd probably have to take the next seven or eight countries and add them together and they'd come close to Australia. 36:37 Well, that's what we like doing. 36:39 That's what we like doing. That's what we like being. 36:43 My only disappointment, as you might have alluded to, is that some of these gold medals I think should have come to Australia that have gone elsewhere. I don't like New Zealand winning. Was it seven gold? Well, that's outrageous. How did they do that? You know, that's got to be an accident that Australia has got to look at. So there's still work to be done. 37:00 when it comes to the Commonwealth Games. I won't be happy until we've won every bloody medal. 37:06 Well, you see, I alluded to the hammer throw earlier with the results there. Well, what is going on in Australian hammer? 37:11 Obviously, there's a disaster happening in Australian hammer. Why isn't schools? Where are our hammer coaches these days? 37:17 Why aren't schools taking up the hammer? 37:18 Why aren't schools taking up the hammer? Exactly. 37:20 On that side out the front, hammer throw gold medal, wouldn't it look great, Glasgow 2026? Yes. 37:27 Yes. 37:27 But that opportunity's lost now. 37:29 No, that's right. Who did it go to? 37:31 I mean, was it a New Zealander that won the hammer or was it a Scott? 37:36 I've got the – It doesn't matter. It wasn't an Aussie. That's the lesson, isn't it? 37:41 It wasn't an Aussie. And in the women, it went to a Canadian. Yes. Then a New Zealander, which obviously sticks in micro or silver. There's one of them. And then Australia came third. 37:53 Well, that's a start. That's something we can build on. Exactly for LA. Yes. Then in the blokes, there wasn't a competitor. 38:00 And you see, I'm trying to make it the thing that people would be thinking now, LA, the thing I'm going to look forward to most is not the javelin, not the high jump, but the hammer. 38:09 Yeah. 38:10 You know, to make it really on the agenda of Australian families so if they've got somebody who looks maybe a bit shy about playing rugby league, suggest the hammer throw. Yeah. And I've always said you could train for the hammer in a program where you did it only in the ad breaks, like on commercial television. Sure, yeah. Because there's so many ads these days. You can get a fair bit done. 38:32 Well, you know, I would say to, you know, Aussies who, you know, think their sporting days are over. 38:38 Ah, yeah. 38:39 To think, well, maybe hammer. And start with discus. I mean, the principles are the same. 38:44 Yeah. 38:44 And you can do that in your backyard. You can. You know, just use a house brick or something like that and just start spinning around and see if you've got the balance and see if you've got what the natural... Rhythm. Rhythm for throwing. 38:58 Let it go exactly on the right angle. That's the thing. That's right. Because I always hung on to it too long. 39:02 I know, I know, I know. 39:03 Hit the netting. 39:05 It goes through the window or through the fibro wall or something like that. You don't want that. So I'd suggest find a paddock where you're not going to hurt anyone, you're not going to damage anything, and take half a dozen bricks with you and have a hurl. 39:20 See where it goes. 39:23 The award-winning foundation of Australasian Loomers, who do such great work with those who put in so you can take out, are asking the nation to root around in the wardrobe and find unwanted denim plus fours to be donated to the Billion Pants Burner for Peace. Bludgers, get involved with the Torture Decks Challenge. All details on the Blind Side. 39:57 Interested in horse syndication? 40:00 You are not alone. Thousands of Australians have secured a winning start on the equine property ladder with a leg up from the trackside experts Brown and Brown on Bludging on the Blind Side. 40:17 Roy, before we go on, the talkback topic of last week and how did you go with it? 40:21 Yes, last week. How did the nation go with it, really? Yes, the nation. We asked, did Victoria get its money's worth with the $300 million invested into Glasgow? 100% yes, and I think that's right. 40:33 You know, I thought Glasgow did a pretty good job. 40:37 Given that it was windy and rainy and all of that and looked bleak. 40:40 Well, that's the way that you expect English guys. Well, that is Scotland, isn't it? Yeah, Scotland. 40:44 It's known for its hardship. It's not known for its sunshine and all of that. 40:49 Yeah. And when the king and queen emerged out of the TARDIS at the opening ceremony, I mean, I've been rubble ever since. I know. You haven't stopped talking about it, have you? No. How did they get in there? Yes. Why didn't we see him go in there? Because, you know, that's the beauty of the TARDIS, of course. Of course. You know. Well, it's a mystery. 41:06 I don't know how it works. I've got no idea. You know. 41:11 It's to do with space and time and all of that. I don't know. 41:15 The Doctor Who is the only one who understands. Yeah, I suppose. 41:19 Because he's a time lord. 41:20 Yeah, time lord. That's right. So what happens then is that since then, I mean, and I didn't mind them running the other night in the 100 metres in the, or was it the 200 metres that they got badly drenched? 41:31 Oh, in the rain and the wind. 41:32 And they came back to talk to whoever was doing the mix zone, you know, very cheerful and happy and delighted, you know, soaking wet. I thought that was a lovely touch. 41:40 It was a lovely touch, yeah. 41:42 And, you know, see, a roof on the stadium, how much would that cost? 41:46 Oh, far too much. 41:47 Oh, far too much, do you reckon? 41:48 I think so. For the Victorian government to supply a roof, no, too much, I think. 41:55 I mean... 41:56 And do you think that's the future of these games? Like, let's say next year, and then I'm going to betray my ignorance of the Commonwealth, let's say an Indian, it was meant to go to Chennai, but they couldn't have it because they had the big bash, but they were prepared to pay $300 million for it to go to somewhere like Kenya. 42:13 Right. 42:14 Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, so they move it around. 42:17 Yeah, right, right. I thought every four years the Victorian government had put in $300 million and Enjoy the outcome. 42:28 Do you think there is any actual... I mean, I don't know where it goes next. The listeners may know where it goes to next. 42:34 Well, it depends who puts their hand up. It might be Canada, maybe. 42:37 Fair enough, fair enough. 42:38 Maybe. 42:39 I don't know. 42:40 Now, they talk back... But every year, at the end of the Commonwealth Games, we think, oh, is that the last? 42:46 Let's hope it's not. 42:48 Be positive. Let's be positive. Now, what's your topic this week? 42:51 Now, this week, HG, I'm asking, or we are asking... 42:56 Has the time come, do we need a federal department of rugby league and a minister for rugby league? 43:03 Now, I say this because, you know, I don't think foreign affairs has the expertise. I mean... 43:15 Senator Wong does a terrific job as foreign minister. She's got all the language, all the skills, all of that. But I just get the feeling that if you asked her about some specifics, you know, six again, the bunker, that sort of stuff, yeah, she's going to struggle. I mean, I might be wrong, but I think that's the case. 43:34 So I don't think foreign affairs... Is the home for this. Is the home for it. Nor do I think is the Minister for Sport behind it. I think Annika Wells might be the Minister for Sport at the moment. Well, I think if you asked her about, you know, the offside rule or, you know, shepherding or any of these sorts of... 43:52 The use of the bunker. The use of the bunker, et cetera, et cetera, I think she'd struggle as well. 43:56 So I think the time probably has come. I mean, people may disagree. 44:01 that we do need a specific minister for rugby league, given its importance now in the international scene. 44:08 Indeed, in the world of the Kifusi line. And I know I should say this quite quickly. Remember, of course, we're spending over $100 million a year on this. We are. Now, and I'm sure what... would constitute a department spend. So obviously defence might be up on that, health might be up on that, but there'll be plenty of departments that aren't spending $100 million a year and yet here we are, the government is investing in $100 million a year in a rugby league dream which needs some guardrails around it which can only be provided by ministerial oversight. 44:36 Oversight, that's right. 44:39 That's my view, HG. The time has come. 44:43 In the same way, we almost need now a separate minister for, say, Snowy Hydro 2.0. 44:52 Well, I hadn't thought of that, but you're absolutely right. 44:55 Anyway, people know how to get in touch. 44:57 Either, you know, the number, just phone. Leave an opinion. And leave an opinion. Just say yes, no, you're right, don't know, don't care. 45:08 Move on. Move on. 45:10 The Coachwood and Myrtle Mamozealous Pancake Mix is now available in 27 kilo packs. There's a bobblehead of your favourite rugby league player in every bag of breakfast brilliance. Collect your team. Remember kids, Mamo Pancake Mix is the head-in-a-bag breakfast with try scoring goodness in every serve. 45:32 Available from the team at Bludging on the Blindside. 45:38 Yes, welcome back to Bludging on the Blind Side after those important messages brought to you by the Frosty La Hood Finance Company. Now, the text line, if you want to get in touch with the show, 0467 920 222, or the old slow style email, roynhg at abc.net.au. And you're on ABC Local Radio and ABC Sport. And the following people have been in touch, Roy. 46:04 Just on the text, Michael from Sandringham is suggesting if you want to practice hammer throwing in the back paddock, perhaps you could use a sledgehammer as a proxy for the official hammer. 46:15 Well, maybe take the wooden handle off the sledge and tie a bit of rope or obviously have to be fairly good. Or chain. Chain. And then maybe look up on the internet how to win at hammer throw and begin. Yeah. 46:30 Yeah, well, it should be easy enough to find out what the hammer weighs. Ah, that's true. I mean, that's not a secret, is it? No, no. We're just imagining it be roughly a house brick, but it's probably more than that. 46:41 I think it's more than a house brick, but I take the point of time. 46:43 It might be two house bricks, say. 46:44 We'll just join them together with a bit of rope. 46:46 Yeah. 46:46 Or a bit of gaffer tape. 46:47 A bit of gaffer tape and then a bit of rope around it and then hurl off your shoe. 46:50 And the other thing is, is I think the... 46:54 underground way is the right way here because often too much training can really upset you and really take your natural skill away and try and replace it with the studied and, you know, Schmidt style. 47:09 Oh, the Schmidt method for hammer throw. 47:12 Yeah. Or maybe he'd be better than what he's done for Rugby Union. I don't know. Maybe. Does he know much about the hammer or something? 47:18 I don't think so. Don't think so. No, but I'm no expert on this. 47:20 No, nor me. Someone suggested you need to master the wind to master the hammer. 47:25 Oh, you would have to. 47:25 You would. 47:26 Yeah, that goes without saying. 47:27 You would, yeah. 47:28 And maybe get a weather vane to help put it up alongside. In your back paddock. Yeah, put it upside, you know. 47:33 So you're going to make adjustments for the wind as you're hurling. 47:37 Exactly. Someone's suggesting Hopper could become a hammer thrower. 47:44 Well, I think that's a good sport for Hopper because... It's a great sport for Hopper. Yeah, he doesn't have to drive very far. That's his main problem. 47:49 Well, I don't know. What would be the nearest paddock? Because he could probably hurl at a fair distance. 47:54 Already, without much training. 47:55 Yeah. 47:55 Well, how about four pints? 47:56 You don't scare people if you know Hopper's out with a house big having a hurl. You know, kids, inside... 48:02 Now, how about this? Manly get behind the Hopper push and make it available for Pines, say Tuesday afternoons for three and five. 48:11 Yes, that Hopper can go up there and they might even provide a hammer for him. 48:16 The Manly hammer. 48:17 Yeah. 48:19 Good idea, no, that's excellent. 48:21 Now, emails, first this comes from Erica Betts in Mudgee. 48:27 You recall she moved from South Australia from memory? I think that's right. That's right, yeah. Anyway, she says... A regular contributor. 48:34 Yeah, she says two things. This is my first miracle in Mudgee tonight. Yes, good. The build-up has been incredible, she says. LAUGHTER I met a lovely bloke who set up the lights for Channel 9. Had great stories. 48:50 About the miracle in Mudgee? Well, I suppose about... Or just anything. Rugby league in Mudgee? 48:55 Yeah, yeah. Well, I suppose he's working on the lights, this fellow. He might know... He'd know Gus and Freddie and... Yeah, and... Joey and Janica and... 49:06 And he might even know some of the old guard. Yes. You know, how long has that been going on for a while? But there's enough to be going on with. 49:12 Yeah, great stories, you can imagine. She says, I bought a packet of snakes of origin at the IGA. 49:19 Oh, isn't that great? That's going too far. 49:22 Isn't that fantastic? 49:24 Good on you. Thanks, Erica. 49:26 I still worry about that Snakes of Origin, HG, about it. 49:31 I don't know. 49:32 It's mixed up somehow. Well, if it's passing off. 49:35 I'm reminded, you may not remember this, many, many years ago you and I were working in London. 49:43 At the same time, the three tenors were very much in the public. Yeah. That might have been, I've forgotten who they were. Pavarotti. Pavarotti, that's right. 49:54 And then there was Basilito Domingo. Yeah. And the other one was a Spanish guy called... Jose Carreras or something. Yeah. 50:03 They could sing. Anyway, they were great singers. Anyway, I think three comedians, one might have been Bruce Forsyth and Jimmy Tarbuck might have been the second. I've forgotten who the third was. But they put on an act called The Three Fivers. 50:21 That's right. I remember this. 50:22 And it went to court and they lost. 50:24 Yeah. Because it was passing off on the three tenors. 50:28 I just worry about the Allens Company with Snakes of Origin. 50:32 Being done for the same crime. 50:34 Yeah. 50:34 Yeah, but I've got to be honest, there was no sense of humour on that judge who brought down that decision. No, no, no. And he had to admit that he'd gone too far. 50:42 Probably, yes. Yeah. It sounded like a great act, though, the three fighters. 50:46 Was. 50:47 Would be. Was. 50:50 Hugh from Queenscliff's been in touch. He says, a bit of clarification from last week. 50:54 The nation's championship is played every two years. This is the rugby union. Oh, yeah, okay, okay. It is a battle of the hemispheres, north v south. 51:03 Oh, that's lost on the publicity. 51:04 Six teams from the north, six from the south. Teams play three games in the south, then three games in the north. The final is in November at Twickenham to decide which hemisphere is the best. 51:15 Oh. 51:17 Well, that makes sense now. 51:18 It does, but it's... Totally lost on me, that was. 51:21 But if I'm right in thinking Australia's only won one match in this... Yeah, we beat Italy. 51:26 Yeah. 51:28 So that's one for the Southern Hemisphere, isn't it? 51:30 Yeah, but the other matches against which we'd also lost must be adding up to a rather dismal showing by the... 51:37 It looks like the Northern Hemisphere is in the box seat, you'd have to say. 51:40 Yeah, that's right, to take it out in 2026. 51:43 I wonder if Schmitty was aware of that, what it was all about. No, I don't think so. Probably not. 51:48 Just turned up, who are we playing? Italy. Oh, okay. 51:52 See, that would have been a motivating thing. You know, listen, blokes, we don't want. 51:55 We're part of the hemisphere. 51:56 Yeah, give it a go. Give it a go. You know, come on, Sal. It's in the north. They always want to put it in the north. Yeah, I hate the north. Yeah, the rules are different. Yeah, yeah. Different sort of rugby. You guys represent the Schmidt method. Now get out there. Yeah. 52:12 This comes from Dan. He says, just a quick one. I was intrigued by the idea of insect-sized drones that could be unleashed to infiltrate opponents' heads with the intent to blow them up. 52:25 Can I suggest a name for them? Faldo drones. 52:28 Oh, very good. That's not bad, is it? Very good. I thought that was an excellent idea, by the way. 52:34 The insect-sized drones that fly around. 52:38 Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The future, yeah. I mean, I think the rugby league should be investing in that. That's the future. 52:47 As we said, you know, Kofusi line addressed the cultural issues. Yeah, but. But these mini drones, bloody hell, they'd scare you, wouldn't they? 52:55 Yeah. If we had a couple of million of those. Are you seeing that future-proofing through that method? 52:59 Yeah. 53:00 Of rugby league? Yeah. So they don't have to worry about buying more hotels or stuff like that? 53:04 You don't need anything. All you need is a barge, take it out to sea with a box of these drones on them and just lift the lid when. 53:14 When it's time to go. Yeah. 53:17 This comes from Gus in Armidale. 53:21 Having heard you read correspondence from Ian from the Shire, read No Shooting on the Beach at Lennox Head. 53:26 Yeah. 53:27 My interest was piqued. It would be. I recall a story from my hometown of Narromine in New South Wales where my father recounted a scourge of starlings in the main street sometime in the 80s. 53:40 The local council's solution was to invite anyone with a gun licence and a shotgun into the main street for an old-fashioned cull. 53:48 Unfortunately for my dad, he had a prior commitment, which he cites as, quote, one of his biggest regrets. 53:57 I assume that this is because his enthusiasm for controlling vermin in Australia and not because firing a shotgun in the air in the main street of his hometown was a childhood dream of his. 54:07 Anyway, interesting. 54:09 Interesting. 54:10 I wonder how many they got because there is an Olympic record for the number of pigeons. 54:15 I think they had to knock the competition on the head in about 1920. Well, it was deemed as unsightly or something, wasn't it? It was. Not family friendly. Not family friendly, yeah. 54:23 Because kitties were a bit upset when they saw a lot of dead pigeons or some not quite dead, just wriggling. That's right. 54:28 That was off-putting. Now, but that's being overcome for the Brisbane Olympics. 54:32 Oh, with clay pigeons now. 54:33 Yeah, but also the Brisbane Olympics. 54:36 Yeah. 54:36 Who the live pigs did. 54:38 Well, we're going to have the same problems if it's not managed correctly. 54:42 I agree. Expectations are everything. 54:43 We might have to use dum-dum bullets so that any hit is a hit. 54:50 Anyway. True. 54:54 True. 54:55 I thought you were going to go paintball on me there for a minute. 54:58 Oh, no, no, no, no. Paintball, they just squeal a lot. That's more off-pilling for kids. 55:04 Now, this comes from Greg... 55:07 He says, hi, gentlemen, have loved hearing of the shamrocks over the years. While house sitting near Port Macquarie, I happened upon the Beechworth shamrocks ground one day. The club rooms were open, very clean, he says, and the club song was propped up on a bench. I found the content somewhat surprising. 55:25 Being a Victorian, I do wonder whether this is typical of a rugby league club song. Now, the Beechworth Shamrocks Club song goes, HG. Beechworth where? 55:36 In Victoria? 55:36 In Victoria, yeah. For we are the boys from Beechworth, we are the boys in green and white, with a backline full of class and a forward pack that's right. 55:45 Good, they're beautifully done. 55:46 That's all right. 55:48 It does go on an angle here. We are the perverts of society, the likes of us you've never seen. We're the loudmouth pack of bastards. We're the Beechworth football team. 56:02 That's interesting, isn't it? 56:04 Well, has that got the Volandis seal of approval? I wouldn't have thought so. No, he's just much more appropriate. 56:11 Yeah. I mean, ours was far simpler. It was just, you know, give us an S. S. Give us an H. H. Give us an A. Give us an M. M. Give us a Shabrox. 56:21 Shabrox. Give us an A. Give us an S. Give us an A. Shabrox. 56:27 You know, it was great. 56:29 Anyway. Beautiful. 56:32 Takes you back, doesn't it? 56:33 It does, straight away. Straight away. 56:37 This comes from DB. He says, I just read Wentworth Park Greyhound track will be knocked down soon with the last race on October the 16th. Just wondering this will impact on the ABC broadcasting deal that we're brokering for Dog Night on Fridays. 56:54 Yeah, it might. 56:56 Well, the only thing is that the Greyhound community seem to be very bullish about what they've done at other tracks, which we've got some information on later on. But the big news this week, of course, is that tragedy out of New Zealand where last night, I don't know if you've got the details there. 57:12 The Hattrick dog race was the last dog race in New Zealand. Full stop. Full stop. It's finished. It's been banned. Can you believe it? Banned. 57:21 And the last race winner paid an excellent dividend. 57:25 $43.60. Yeah. That was a big-time battle. We had money on it. 57:29 We did. We were very lucky. No-one else spotted the... No. 57:33 The limpers out the back. 57:34 No, no. Big time battle. What a dog. What a dog. There's talk of big time battle coming to us. 57:40 Well, that's what you raised the question. Are we going to get flooded? 57:43 People would love to see big time battle running here. 57:45 They would. They would. But are we going to see a flood of New Zealand dogs? 57:48 New Zealand dogs, probably. Dead dogs coming over here. Yeah. Because it's very hard for people putting money on because New Zealand dogs, you don't know the form. 57:58 You've got no idea. Yeah, no idea. Absolutely no idea. 58:01 No idea. Anyway, with our communications with ABC management vis-a-vis Dog9, they wanted only on Channel 24. The news channel. Yeah. And that's not right. I wanted on Channel 21, on Channel 2, 21. 58:19 Can I ask, how would it work on news night? Because what's going to happen? Inevitably something will happen. 58:25 It'll break into the world, you know. One of those shows, The World, you know. 58:30 Oh, yeah, The World, yeah. 58:32 Oh, no, I just can't say that. I just don't think that would be right. 58:35 I think I wanted to break into whatever is on Channel 21, your drama, whatever that is, because it's more benign in its impact for a start. And B, I want it to crash into the streaming service. 58:52 Now, that's a bit harder technically to do. Achieve. To achieve, yeah. But I think it could be done. 58:59 Yeah. Good. 59:03 Now, this comes from Jim. 59:08 He says, I live around the corner from Birch Grove Oval, the cradle of rugby league, and I was recently asked if I had any items I could donate to the Inner West Rugby League Museum. Whoa. Whoa. 59:18 I've been waiting for this moment for 43 years, he says. I'm donating my 1983 Scanlan's Rugby League sticker album in the hope it will help solve one of Rugby League's great mysteries. I imagine many of your listeners will be nodding their heads right now knowing exactly what I'm talking about. It was the year many people thought Gary Jack's appendage was captured in his football card action photo. 59:42 I had no idea this was... 59:44 Every parent at the time used to say it was just the tackler's hand. I believe this was a talking point provided by the NSWRL in an attempt to downplay the controversy as nudity wasn't embraced back then as it is now, e.g. with James Tedesco shorts coming down five or six times again following the footsteps of Nathan Hindmarsh in the 2000s. 60:07 Even though Gary Jack seemed to out himself in his autobiography, confessing to the slip-up and receiving a payout, I'm still on the fence. 60:17 Isn't that a great story? It is. It's a wonderful letter. 60:20 Yeah. There's the shot there, HG, and you can see quite clearly in the Scanlon's Football Club card that Gary Jack... Oh, no, I agree. 60:30 I agree. I think that's right. He's exposed. He's exposed there. See, that's where today's camera operators are so much better. They get the view from behind, which isn't so revealing. No. When the shorts come down. That's right. When the shorts go up. 60:42 Yeah. 60:43 But that's a wonderful bit of his... 60:46 Bit of history there, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, people will queue up. 60:50 Hoping to see that. 60:51 Hoping to see that blown up. Well, I was going to say on a big screen. On a big screen. 60:55 Yes. Yes, yes, yes. That's a real magnet for sickers and pews, really. The less said the better. 61:04 Now, this comes from Ryan from Bathurst. Yeah. Or Ballarat, sorry. Correction. 61:10 My interest was piqued when seeing that our local kids' soccer team here in Ballarat is organising a disco to give the kids a fun night of team bonding before the finals. How refreshing to see that, along with our hot dog and chips, there's also the opportunity for the kids to purchase some $1 scratchies. 61:29 Isn't that great? 61:30 Scratch and win tickets. Look at that, HG. Look at that. Scratch and win for the kids. 61:36 Isn't that lovely? That's wonderful. 61:39 See, that's what gets kids in once they've had it scratched a bit and won. 61:43 And they bought their lollies. Yeah. Lollies for sale here. That's right. Gee, the parents must be outraged by this. Mercifully, though, there's water. which tends to be a, you know, not an item normally available at disco, but there you go. 61:58 Yeah, there you are. 61:59 Now, that's on this Friday night. That's on this Friday night, yeah. Now, speaking of that, we did get some information concerning the last day at Leichhardt Oval before the bulldozers move in. 62:09 Yeah. And I think it's... A lot of bands are on, I think. 62:12 Yeah, a lot of bands. So they've got the Angels. Angels, yeah. And they've got... One thing that piqued my interest was Wayne Pearce and the Icons. Oh, right, yes. Now, is that an actual band? I'm not sure. 62:25 I hope it is. Let's say it is. 62:27 You know, I had in my mind a parade with... Guru Growth on guitar and... Oh, right, okay. 62:32 Zero on drums, that sort of thing. Maybe. 62:35 That would be fantastic. 62:35 That would be fantastic. 62:36 I would encourage everyone to go to... And Wayne Pierce out front singing. 62:39 I hope so. Yeah, and it'd be your last opportunity to make use and... Well, obviously... Enjoy those... Heritage toilets. Heritage toilets. Yeah, before they're knocked down. Yep. Yep, take photos. Take photos. 62:50 And is it on the last, it's on this weekend or is it? 62:55 I think so. I think so because I think originally it was designed to coincide. Eight, next week. It's on the eighth, yeah. I knew it was happening in golf month. 63:02 Hey, it's golf month. Yeah, I know. How lucky are we? 63:04 How lucky are we? And this year for the first time we've remembered. Yeah, that's right. And I thank all correspondents. 63:12 The new Rugby League World Fortitude Valley will be opening in November. Book now for a launch packed with superstars from the Brisbane Broncos, the FNQ Cowboys, the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Gold Coast Titans. A lucky draw will see prizes including an all-expenses trip for Seven to Tamora, New South Wales, a new Ford Ranger, 10 12-metre 4K Sony Backyard televisions, 60 Apple iPhone 16s, a lifetime supply of White King Toilet Duck and five free rugby league scratch lotos for accompanied children under seven years old. 63:51 Bring your family and friends for the launch of a lifetime. Contact The Bludge and register now. 64:07 Now, an update on the last roar at Leichhardt Oval. It's on Saturday the 19th of September. Right. Obviously plenty of time to make plans. Not next weekend but obviously a month away, et cetera. The Angels, am I ever going to see your face again, Marseille, et cetera. 64:26 And Super Jesus, the Super Jesus. I'm not talking about Volandis here. I'm talking about the band, Super Jesus. They'll be fantastic. Yeah. and Largo and Good Pass and Oz Icons with Wayne Pearce. Now, I assume the Oz Icons is the band and Wayne comes out and sings a few songs. Yeah, I'd say so. That's a guess. 64:44 Yep. 64:45 So maybe the Tiger's theme song and Eye of the Tiger, you know, appropriate songs. So that's going to be great. And it's gates open at 12.30. I'm not quite sure what time it gets underway, but that's going to be a big day, a lot of memories, a lot of tears and a lot of use of the toilet. 65:00 You'd imagine. You'd imagine. Liz of Cronulla is just letting us know, HG, that the next Commonwealth Games are in Gujarat in India. 65:11 Oh, okay. Well, that bears out what we were thinking. 65:13 Yeah. 65:14 And is there any suggestion there will be contribution from the Victorian government to them? 65:19 I assume that's, yeah. 65:21 I tell you what, one thing they're going to have to get back is the shooting back on. Hmm. 65:25 Oh, the Indians love the shooting. 65:27 I know. They have university degrees. 65:28 Yeah, they do. They do. They do. They're wonderful shooters, the Indians. 65:33 And if there was a card, they'd clean up. 65:35 Yeah, yeah. And someone was wondering, is the Rolex thing retrospective? And if so, has Hopper got his yet? Yeah, Hopper got his ages ago. Yeah, just loved it. 65:46 It was early on. Now, coming. 65:48 I think he queued up to get a second one. But we nipped that in the bag pretty quickly. 65:53 Yeah, we did. Of course, there is a new hopper. There's Lehigh hopper. 65:56 Ah, yeah. There's quite a few new hoppers. 65:59 Now, listen, a question, like obviously the things with the Chiefs and the Pirates are going to take a bit of settling down. But I was taken by a question that David Pocock, the, you know, independent senator in the parliament raised this week. Yeah, yeah. Now, we are essentially being asked to provide a tax exemption for players to earn tax-free money playing in Papua New Guinea. What evidence did the NRL provide to the Australian government that a tax exemption was necessary for the PNG franchise to be viable? 66:29 I think that's an excellent question. I'm not opposed to the government giving the money, but I'd like to know the answer to that. What evidence they put up. They're very big on how great the Pacifica area is going to be for the rugby league. They think that in the near future, 80% of all teams will be in Pacifica. 66:44 Yeah. That's right. I think probably at the time they felt they needed to have an extra couple of carrots. 66:53 To lure in. To lure in. Zach Lomax. Yes, and Luai. 66:58 Now, the federal government apparently, according to the Murdoch press, the federal government has already tipped in a staggering $100 million into the creation of the Papua New Guinea pirates. Staggering? Why is that staggering? 67:10 No. 67:11 $600 million is nothing in this venture. The trouble is there. It's going to be $600 million, isn't it? 67:16 It is indeed. That's one-sixth of the money. What's staggering about it? I think what they're – I don't want to speak on behalf of the Murdoch press and I won't. But look, one thing that they're surprised by, how much has been spent already. 67:29 All right. 67:29 What have they got for it? 67:30 Well, I don't know. I assume... 67:32 They've got Luai. They've got an administrative office. They've got some suggestions. 67:36 Well, we don't know what's been going on in Bunnings Island. For all we know, the hospital's nearly half built. The casino is going to be built on top of it. Yeah. The barge... Sorry, the wharf's been put in. Yeah. Certainly the... Training facilities. The training facilities are there. The accommodation has been done. 67:52 For 50 people. I mean, that's, you know... Good spend. Yeah. Yeah. Now, the cost of setting up the Chiefs for their entry into the 2028 competition was revealed in Senate Economics Legislation Committee hearing on Monday. P&G football team, as you mentioned, received the six mil over 10 years. DFAT assured Senators that the Australian taxpayers' money would be spent in the right areas ahead of the P&G's entry. Well, I think we've just covered the right areas. The right areas, yeah. 68:21 The hospital... 68:23 The casino. 68:23 Casino. 68:24 The accommodation. The wharf. The, yeah, training ground. Yeah. Putting up the upright seat. 68:30 The helipad. Yeah. 68:32 We would agree with that and so with the Chairman Volandes and the ARL Commission. Yeah. The money is there to develop the sport and specifics. Now, this is a wriggle that's come in lately. See, I was on the understanding that this was a key building block in the Kafusi line along with the Taiwanese oysters and the Biak pythons. 68:55 And then, as you point out, you're island nations like Solomon Islands and way out as far as… The Copperheads. Yeah, the Copperheads and Bougainville. And then you might get as far out as Guam. 69:05 Yep. 69:06 Yep. With a team. Now, the money is provided to the ARLC, which is the delivery partner. Some of that money has flowed through to the chiefs need pirates or pirates need chiefs to help with their establishment. We have some minimum requirements around research and evaluation and tracking the money that creates overhead and cost, but it's quite minimal. Right. Isn't that good news? 69:28 Yeah, that's good news. 69:28 So they might have done all what they've got there already for about $50. Mm-hmm. 69:33 due to trading off, you know, sponsorship deals and do you know what I mean? So there must be some money coming in. 69:40 Look, it's going to cost a bit, you'd have to imagine, in overseeing the way the money is used. 69:47 I assume that first $100 million has largely gone to administrative costs in making sure that the guard rails are in place and the plans are right for the hospital, the plans are right for the casino, the plans are right for the helipad, et cetera, et cetera. I assume that's what this is about. And that's good value for money if they've got all that done for $100 million. 70:10 And remember, of course, as you pointed out, this is a place where there's an endangered frog. And to build all the protections that are needed to keep the frogs alive. Sure. I mean, imagine that rugby. I mean, how would we feel if we thought, well, rugby league in the, you know, in the Kafusi line is, you know, ruining the lives of endangered frogs. We just wouldn't stand for it. 70:31 No, you wouldn't. 70:32 So the vast majority of this money would be spent on the activities you would expect it to be spent on, which we've just outlined. Yes. Yes. Now, the Pacific, they think that the PNG could be a Pacific powerhouse with the support of the Australian government. 70:46 I just wish they wouldn't talk like that with the support of rugby league. You know, this isn't international. This has gone beyond Australia now. 70:53 It's out there. 70:54 You know, the Confuci line's everywhere. We'll get to Volandis' dreams of where this global now, this global domination will take place. Yeah. We will ensure we have people on the ground in schools and running competitions so that it's about we're the number one sport, the most watched sport in the Pacific, and we're going to consolidate that. It'll give millions of Pacifica kids, millions of Pacifica kids. Is that right? Mm-hmm. 71:21 I assume that's right. 71:22 You mean over a 40-year period? 71:23 Yeah, well, over the six years in this instance. Ah, yeah, six years. So millions of kids. It's going to give Pacifica kids dreams. Is that what they're suggesting? 71:31 Yeah. And more importantly, a pathway. Well, the pathway's so crucial, isn't it? It is. Yeah, no, I agree. It is. So... 71:43 the opportunity to play rugby league in some form or other, touch, tag or contact rugby league. Some of the $600 million we've got from federal government go to it. Everyone thinks it was just money for the P&G Chiefs. No, it wasn't. Part of the wider community. I think that's a wriggle that's been tacked on, but be that as it may, the Pacifica could become the biggest nursery for NRL with this strategy. 72:03 Right. So we're going to have a sort of... Could I suggest it's the biggest nursery for rugby league as it stands without the necessity for this latest wriggle? Yeah. 72:15 No need to do that. 72:17 Look, the government's got nothing to be ashamed about here. 72:21 That's got to be the government's position, that we have backed rugby league because rugby league is the way to unite the Pacific. 72:30 Yeah. 72:32 Simple as that. And remember, the only defence against the encroachment of China is the blow-up drone that we've got. 72:39 Oh, well, the mini drone, rugby league, yes. 72:42 And that's the only two things. That's right. At this stage, yes. They're two strong ideas. 72:46 The strongest of the ideas, yes. Yes. Yeah. 72:51 I mean, you can talk. I mean, why aren't they talking about AUKUS, the ludicrous amounts of money that have gone to AUKUS? At least with this rugby league commitment, you're getting something for your money. 73:02 Footyheads, the ethical obligation concept is a core value at the Bludge, along with a celebration of football and the belief that many officials and players cheat. We take the rough with the smooth and swerve around the sickos, pervs and weirdos at Bludging on the Blind Side. 73:23 Yes, I forgot about the NRLW exploding in Wagga. Yeah. This weekend. Every match. 73:28 That's right. 73:29 Every match. Ian Wagga as part of Magic Round. Yeah, which is fantastic. Fantastic. Andrew Moore will keep you up to date. Moore, Texas. 73:37 Roy? Michael of Sandringham is suggesting that she's saying the small modular reactor on Bunnings Island doesn't come cheap. Well, that's true. That's true. 73:47 That's true, isn't it? 73:49 Well... 73:51 Some of these things I think, you know, you'd have to put into two ideas, the running costs and the set-up costs. And so understandably we will spend a lot more at the set-up costs than the running costs because once you put the casino, the hospital, the landing strip, et cetera, in, all you have to do then is maintain them. You don't have to build them from scratch. Oh, the start-up costs. Yeah, start-up costs. Enormous. Enormous. 74:14 Now. And someone is suggesting that David Pocock is just hysterically anti-rugby league. 74:21 hysterically anti-rugby league. Well, he's got a rugby union background, hasn't he? 74:24 Oh, of course. Yeah, you forget that. 74:26 Sorry, he comes with prejudice. 74:28 I thought all those ideas are gone. 74:30 See, that's where the Schmisch method. The Schmitt method, yeah. 74:34 Well, Pocock never experienced the Schmitt method. Maybe that's why he's so barkingly mad when it comes to rugby league. Yeah. 74:44 Now, another Murdoch Press story this week concerns Feathers' Miami dream. A Miami dream? Yeah, so this is new and it's heading in a new direction. 74:55 It's set to capitalise on its, you know, footprints in Vegas already and move to Miami. 75:00 Right. 75:02 Development comes as the Sydney Roosters and Broncos emerge as the leading contenders to play a historic premiership match in Japan as part of NRL's global round. Now, I know I've set two hairs running. Global round. Yeah, I know. 75:16 I know. Whoa, I'm liking this. I know. 75:18 I think they've been on this for a while and what buggered them up was the problems in Doha. which they wanted to have a match there, but the Doha one looks a bit proppy at the moment. 75:27 Right. Because of what's happening in the Middle East in general, HG, do we think? 75:31 The Middle East in general, yes. Now, in 2029, I mean, why wait till 2029? I mean, they should go next year. 75:39 Strike while the iron's hot. 75:40 Strike while the iron's hot, that's right. NRL five-year-old player annual doubleheader in Las Vegas expires at the end of 2028 and is widely believed the AFL Commission would pull the plug on its American experiment. It's exactly the opposite. It's going to hold talks with the Nevada government on possible extension and continued games at Alley Giants Stadium. 76:01 Good. 76:01 And then a doubleheader in Florida in 2029. Right. I think they got a sniff of how great Miami is from the World Cup. Yes. Well, I think the final was played or one of the finals was played. 76:15 Yep, yep, yep. Well, that would be very popular with the President too, wouldn't it? It would. He loves Miami. Going to Miami. 76:23 Yeah. So he's got – we're certainly interested in staying in America. We will have talks with Las Vegas because it's been a success. It made $2 million this year, so it's been very profitable. 76:33 But we'll look at other areas. Miami is one place we could go to next. Roosters have expressed interest in heading to Japan. Right. The Arab – the United Arab Emirates government. 76:44 has offered around a million for an hour or to take a premiership fixture to Abu Dhabi. Sorry, I had it wrong. 76:50 Right, right. Abu Dhabi, good. 76:52 Now, Abu Dhabi, Japan, London, Singapore among their locations. 76:56 Obviously, the war is causing a bit of extra thinking there. Roosters and Broncos, very keen. 77:04 Origin skipper Cameron Munster is a huge fan of Global Round. I didn't realise this. And he's called for the NRL to consider taking a game to Ibiza. 77:14 Oh, really? 77:15 Now, you wouldn't want to walk through the kitchen in Ibiza, but to be that as it may, you know, you have an idea. He says that there's, he describes it as the Spanish party capital, a bit unfair, I think, as the Las Vegas field and sporting stadium capacity of 60,000. So that's a really good spot. 77:33 That's promising, isn't it? 77:35 Yeah, that is promising. So I think that's what they're looking for, a big venue. Right. Reason to go there, apart from the rugby league, that's what Vegas has got. I'm wondering how they got the $2 million money out of Vegas. 77:47 I don't know. I don't know. But that's great if they did. 77:51 Yeah. That's wonderful. That's this year. Right. So in the last five years they've got $10 million out there. Yeah, right. Are we sure we're not, you know, are we sure they need the $100 million every year if they can sell all these matches off for vast sums of money? 78:05 I just raised that as a question. 78:06 I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But certainly you'd have to think that the 100 million they're spending on Bunnings Island is much more productive than the 100 million they're spending in Las Vegas. 78:19 Oh, no, I agree. I agree. Look what you're getting. 78:22 Yeah. 78:22 The Kafusi line, another gap plug there. Yeah. Expanding the footprint of rugby league. You're offering kids a pathway, as you point out. Yeah. And let's face it, I think there's 1,000 language groups in Papua New Guinea. I may be wrong about that. Some enormous number of language groups. 78:38 There are, but I think there is what they call a wand top. Oh, yeah. 78:42 There's a language that covers them all. Anyway, so they can understand each other. But the next thing is imagine that being incorporated into the rugby league community with new rule books being written and, you know, commentators speaking in Papua New Guinea languages and so on. That's right. 79:00 He's throwing my leg. 79:02 Ah, yeah. That's right. Very good. 79:05 You know, travelled a long distance to play rugby league, throwing away leg. Yeah. No, fascinating, fascinating, really, when you think about it. But I'm excited about the Miami project, actually. That's good. Maybe the players could stay at Mar-a-Lago. They'd love that. 79:19 Not only would the players love that, the American political system would love that. 79:23 Would love it. 79:23 Yeah, because you often see the big man with a team in his office. Yeah. But to have him in the Mar-a-Lago pool, maybe some of them could be waiters and dish out drinks to the various people who turn up. Yeah. Great place for meeting people. 79:36 For meeting people. I agree with you. Yeah, no, it would be fascinating for both the players and the recipients of the players' large ears. 79:45 The Australian Hotel Association is demanding all publicans register their toilets as potential heritage-listed toilets of interest. All officially recognised toilets of interest will be placed on the National Heritage Register. This is Bludgeon on the Blind Side. 80:05 Roy, correspondence, any value? 80:08 Oh, general enthusiasm for the international round, HG... 80:15 people are wondering whether Bunnings Island is going to have a dedicated international airport. I don't think so. I think they'd just fly into Moresby, wouldn't they? 80:26 I think so. But, look, the demand may be there. 80:29 I think they've got the very fast train between Bunnings Island and Moresby. 80:33 Yeah. That'll be an interesting build. Yeah. But, you know, if anybody can do it, rugby league can. Sure. And I'm just going to say is that how – I mean, I'm in two minds about all these things because what I'd rather is people realise how great rugby league is in Australia and come and look at it in its natural habitat rather than take it over there where anything can go wrong. 80:56 I agree with you. But that's why, you know, weekends like the Mudgee Miracle are important, HG, to take the game back to its roots. Yeah. 81:04 And create memories for people in the area who never would think about going to Bunnings Island. I'm not saying that's wrong. No. But people obviously have busy lives and they can't just drop everything, you know, to go and see the Broncos play. 81:17 Well, see, for someone like Erica, Erica Betts, going to – this is her first Miracle and Mudgee. And it's been a wonderful event for her. 81:29 A historic event. 81:30 A mythic event. 81:31 Yeah, yeah. And that's what we want to foment, isn't it? 81:35 Yeah. 81:35 See, probably – I mean, anyone can, you know, oh, great, you know, Broncos are playing Dolphins in Miami. It's on Channel 9 now. Well, it's not the same as having the game in your own backyard. Yeah. 81:47 That's true. 81:48 That's what you're getting at. It is. You want that visceral experience of being at the ground. 81:54 Now, I accept that world peace will only come through the violence of rugby league. Yes, of course. But you need to be able to experience the clang and the, you know, I was going to say, the sturm und dang, the clashing of great forces together and seeing the defence up close. Yes. I take your point entirely about TV deloits everything. 82:12 It does. Yes. It does. And once you see it live, that's where you see the magic, isn't it? 82:19 It is. It is. It is, yeah. And you think, did he really do that? Yeah, how did they do that? Yeah, I'm going to go home and watch this on replay. 82:26 Yeah, yeah. And even then you don't believe it. You know, and you say to people, I saw this live. No, you didn't. 82:31 I did. I saw that live. I was there. The Miracle of Magic. That's what you want. I'm going again because I'm hoping to see another one. 82:40 Now, as we move on, a couple of small stories. Yes. A great football commentator, Brad Johnson, for the AFL, his son now has become a car driver and he claimed his first GT4 victory at GT Festival in Darwin alongside William Exton in the Silver Cup class for the Team Sutar Motorsport. Isn't that great? Isn't that great? It's an example of the dad being good at sport and the son being good at a completely different sport who the dad had no contact with. 83:13 And the dad sadly had to be at work calling the football, couldn't see his son go around in the car. 83:17 Yeah. 83:18 It's a lovely story. I've never heard of this class. 83:20 Isn't that a wonderful story? 83:21 GT4. 83:22 Yeah, yes, yes. 83:25 It's interesting, isn't it? Comparing it, say, with, say, Little Leighton and Cruise. It was no surprise that Cruise went into tennis. But had Cruise got behind a car and, you know... Who knows? 83:36 He could have been an F1 driver. 83:37 Indeed. 83:38 Now, speaking of success... 83:43 Alan Borda medal this year. This is a very disappointing story. 83:48 Alan Borda will present the eponymous medal to the Australia's Player of the Year in Brisbane next month after authorities finally settled on a date for the men's presentation night. Finally settled. Not good. Not good. 84:01 Finally settled. 84:02 Yeah. Australian Cricket Awards are jointly run by Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers Association have been marginalised in recent years by Jam Pack Cricket Calendar. 84:14 What the hell? There's no time for the Allen Border Medal? That's what it is. Which is one of the great nights... 84:20 Of Australian sport. 84:21 In the calendar, of Australian sport. I looked at the Alan Lord. We went one year. We had a great time with the Alan Lord. And we presented a medal. We did. To Matt Hayden. Matt Hayden. For his boat. It was sort of one of those ones. 84:33 Boat safety. 84:34 Boat safety, yeah. Doing something beyond the cricket, I think, was sort of before. That's right. On the picket fence, I think the medal was called. 84:41 Yeah, that's right. 84:41 And he had done a great ad for boat safety. 84:43 Yes, he did. 84:44 Very, very funny. 84:45 Yep. 84:45 And he got good applause and, you know, I think he was up against AB's all-rounder campaign. 84:51 That's right. Tetley Tea it might have been, AB's all-rounders. I never tried it but it looked wonderful. They were circular tea bags actually. They were round. 85:00 Yeah, hence all-rounders. 85:02 Hence all-rounders because AB could bowl a bit and bat. 85:05 So we get here. Australia has played 16 men's international matches in the 2027 Allen Border Medal voting period already. But with the Aussie Test Squad convening in Brisbane before the home series against Bangladesh next month, men's international medals, including the Shane Warne Test Player of the Year, will be presented at a, wait for it, a non-televised event on Friday, August the 7th. 85:32 Well, that's very disappointing. 85:34 So... 85:35 I mean, it's easy to tell. You only need, what, three cameras to do it. 85:39 Oh, I reckon you'd get away with two. You reckon? Sort of locked off shop from the end of the room. Yeah, obviously locked off and then Roma. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, fair enough. 85:49 It'd be good, cheap television. For Channel 9, wouldn't it? 85:53 Well, you could never make anything. And maybe get some of those old firms back involved, Tetley's All-Rounder. 85:58 Yes. 85:59 Now, Border is set to be on hand to present the major award and Warren's father, Keith, will travel to Brisbane to present... So they're lined up at Gars... Yes. ...to present the test prize. Travis Head and Mitchell Stark will be among the leading contenders for the Border Medal following outstanding Ashes campaigns. Alex Carey will also likely feature in the top boating. 86:19 Okay. Okay. 86:20 And I think Travis Head has already gotten Alan Porter. 86:22 He may well have done, yes, yes. 86:25 And that would have been televised last year. 86:27 Yeah, probably. Probably. With a full Nine camera set up. 86:30 That's right. That's right. I mean, that is so small thinking on Nine's behalf. It is. I mean, it's all gone to rubble since Sneesby left, hasn't it? 86:43 I mean, we look back at the Sneesby days now as... Golden era. Golden era, thank you. 86:49 Now, look, I'm not sure that we've got enough time for this story, but Pat Rafter is tired of tennis. 86:55 Well, he should be. 86:57 It's an environment he says he's glad to be out of, an environment he's glad to be out of. What does that say for Cruz? Yeah. The former number one instead is promoting a different racket sport. 87:08 Entirely. His future is with paddle tennis. 87:13 Oh, this has come out of Holland, padel. 87:15 Oh, padel, sorry, tennis. 87:16 Yes. 87:17 It's sort of like beach bats, is it? 87:19 Well, a little bit. It's weird. 87:24 It's a little bit squash-like. 87:28 I mean, the ball bounces off the wall and you can keep hitting it, et cetera, et cetera. 87:32 It's played in a squash court? Well, it's played, essentially, yes, but it's played in a walled circumstance, I think. 87:43 Like a variation on, as you point out, squash and handball. Yeah, something like that. Much smaller quart size, et cetera. Yeah. 87:53 Well, they're saying that there might be 200 quarts at the moment and he's thinking that this will be 400. Right. 88:01 there's 100,000 participants. Yeah. And they see 200,000 or 300,000 in the next few years as more courts become available. We're not seeing it as cannibalisation. At the right tennis venues, we really think it makes a lot of sense to add the padel and the pickleball To the offering to create a more vibrant and sustainable offering than within that environment. Right. So this means you're going to see it at the Australian Open, the Nurepa Open. You're going to see it at that competition that took out Tomic. 88:29 Right. 88:30 Well, Pickleball, I think, has got more legs for Australian conditions. It's a bit like half-court. 88:37 Right. 88:37 It's better for your older players who find it difficult to play singles anymore because they can't move much. So you play doubles on a half court. You don't have to move a lot and there are rules to stop you being... 88:56 drop-shotted. 88:57 Ah, okay. 88:58 Yeah, I think there are a few rules to it. It looks like a reasonable sport. 89:02 Yeah, so you need a different racket for a girl and pickleball. 89:06 I assume so, yes. Pickleball is more like a bat. 89:11 than a racket. And you use a plastic ball with holes in it, I think, so it doesn't travel as swiftly as a tennis ball might. 89:19 But I haven't had a go at it yet, but I'm keen to. 89:23 Right, right. And do you think that somebody like Pat Ruff, because he's older, he's more attracted to that sport? For the reasons that you point out. 89:30 That's exactly the reason, yes, yes. Because I think Pat could still hit a ball well. He probably still has a pretty ferocious serve. He had a terrific serve. He probably still has that. But if the ball comes back, he can't get to it. 89:46 Yeah, no. 89:47 Yeah, sad. And that's what happens with your older player. 89:50 Yeah. Well, Tomek, of course, isn't necessarily that old, but he still can't get to it either. No. Twelve games in a row, that's some achievement. 89:57 That's right. Lost. Lost. 89:59 And that's it for Bludgeoning on the Blindside for another week. You know, obviously. 90:02 Enjoy the miracle of Mudgee, I would suggest. Yeah, the miracle of Mudgee. If anyone listening who's near Mudgee, you know, within, say, 100, 150 clicks of Mudgee. 90:11 You'd easily make it by 5.30. 90:12 Fill the car. Get to Mudgee. Enjoy it. Honestly, you'll have a whale of a time and there'll be plenty of places to stay overnight, plenty of places to eat. They've got a couple of hatted restaurants there. 90:24 I mean, it's... It's a real weekend in a night. 90:28 Yeah. Yes, and look... I'm not sure where we'll go next week. 90:32 And you might bump into Andrew Moore there. Calling the match. You'd bump into the team. You'd bump into the Channel 9 team. You'd probably bump into Erica Betts. Talking to the Channel 9 team. The Channel 9 bloke that she was talking to who was organising the lights. Lights. He'll be there. Oh, it'll be great. 90:49 And that's it for The Blind Side this week on ABC Spot and ABC Local Radio. 90:59 You've been listening to an ABC podcast. 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