The Mostly Football Show
Four mates from Down Under dive into the world of American Football and beyond. KG Butler, Matt Wiggins, Adam Rowey, and Pete Thompson bring their uniquely Australian perspective to NFL coverage, plus plenty of chat about NRL, AFL, hockey, baseball, soccer, and whatever else catches their eye. Born from casual catch-ups about gridiron, this show delivers fun, informative discussions perfect for Southern Hemisphere sports fans who can't get enough of American Football. Equal parts analysis and banter – because the best sports talk happens between friends.
The Mostly Football Show
A mish mash of stories
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This week Matt is on assignment attending a launch of the new AIHL season with the Sydney Bears. He is abley replaced by Chris, who gives us his view of the Superbowl as a Patriots fan. He is also suckered into our UFL bet and managed not to select the worst of the teams. KG completes two weeks in a row and we briefly discuss the refereeing situation in the NFL and what will clear and obvious mean when it comes to the NFL version of VAR
This is the Mostly Football Show, a uniquely Australian take on the NFL and all things in the world of sport.
SPEAKER_03Over to you, Pete. Good morning, good evening, good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to episode 23 of the Mostly Football Show. We're down to one last OG as I fight the flu and man the barricades, just for one more thing. Our Birmingham Stallion Matt is away getting his ice hockey fix. Yes. And as you can hear from that dulcet tone, we are joined by KG for the second week in a row. Patrick coming next week. Howdy, good to see you guys. So Chris is for those who are only listening along. Very good. Sucking up to the wrong person. For those of you who are just listening on, Chris has joined us in a Sydney Swans jersey, so we might talk a little bit about that later. But Chris, tradition has it that uh when you come on, you tell us about uh your NFL origin story. Now, uh it's no secret you're a New England Patriots fan. That's correct, yes. We just want to know why.
SPEAKER_04Well, my NFL story goes back to being a child in the 80s when now Kerry probably wouldn't know this, and I don't know how familiar you are, Peter, either. But in the 1970s, there was a gentleman named Don Lane who came from America, he was an entertainer, and he was on TV on Channel 9, and basically Australia's adopted American son became to Australia what Johnny Carson was in America.
SPEAKER_09Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_04And through that, he he carried quite a big fan base. And in the 80s, he started hosting what SBS would do when they would show the Super Bowl every year. So for a long time, the only games we could watch of NFL was the Super Bowl on SBS, and Don Lane hosted it. So every year I would watch the Super Bowl, and back then it was usually mid mid to late January, so it was often around Australia Day long weekend. So I was watching that every year, and then in 2001, during the Patriots' first Super Bowl, I was at a Triple M Super Bowl party at the East Village Hotel in Sydney. And um I believe it was Sad Rocker was there as well. Wow. So Sad Rocker being one of the Australians who broke into the NFL. We got talking and we started watching the game, and I just absolutely fell in love with the underdog story of the New England Patriots in that game when they were not expected to win, they were up against it, and when Daniel Vinateri hit that field goal at the very end of the game, it was just mayhem. So being there watching the first Super Bowl win, I'm like I like this team, I'm on it. Yeah, like the quarterback had only just come into the season. It was the it was the time basically before the bandwagon took off, I think. Or just before the bandwagon left it left the station. So followed them ever since. Um yeah, been a been a big fan of them. The ups and downs through the Mac Jones era, through the Cam Newton era. You're not a fan unless you're there when you're not winning. So yeah. And to see them make the Super Bowl this year, even though everyone complained they had the easiest run in league history for a long time, there was still another 30 teams who weren't in the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_03Well, yeah, yes, yes, maybe that's what we'll come on to now. Um so how how was it um being uh being uh uh are you still going to Super Bowls and winning with Tom Brady at the helm? How was it to watch your team without Tom Brady really struggle to get to grips with uh what uh what being in a Super Bowl means?
SPEAKER_04I'll tell you what, it was good watching this team go through the playoffs.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_04When they came up against the Ravens, it it was probably one of the the best uh playoff games they had the whole time. The Denver one was a bit of a downer because obviously Denver's quarterback breaking his ankle and that sort of stuff, and but the way they stood through that adversity with the blizzard coming on and they just controlled the game, showed a maturity. They didn't have the I don't think anyone had the skill to match Seattle this year though. I think Seattle's offense was just too uh deadly for almost every other team in the league this year. So they they were definitely gonna get that that revenge story against the Patriots that they were really looking for, that they that they got in that in that final two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. But I the fact that New England seemed to have just collapsed under the weight of expectation or or opportunity in that first half, it wasn't until after halftime that they managed to finally get a touchdown and and get a little bit of rhythm on. They they stemmed the bleeding of the the point scoring, which happened so easily for Seattle in in in what was most of the third quarter, but m also a fair bit of the second quarter. They went into halftime competitive, it just dropped off. Yeah.
SPEAKER_08No, but they did well, right? And considering, because like you said, Seattle was just too strong. And you know, you uh when we were all there, and I I was going for Seattle, I have to admit, but it was because you know I was on the bandwagon, they were just that good this year, and um they've got also a lot of good stories to tell, so it was just um you know backing uh them. But yeah, I I thought uh you know they they played well throughout the season. I I um have hope, and I know it shouldn't be about me, but um because um the Patriots made it back, I think maybe one day Dallas will maybe one day make it back. So, you know, it was it was good to see them back in in in there. But um yeah, it was uh I'm sure it was still tough to see them uh not be on the upside at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_04Look, it could be a lot worse as a fan of an NFL team to not win the seventh Super Bowl is not a bad thing. Yes.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh I'd like to say we've all been there, but but we we well and truly haven't. I guess like yes I I I I think for me, uh and you're right, there was a uh and even I would have said that their their schedule this year was not as tough as it could have been, and that's based on you know having a poor season and that and that's okay. I think that was what the problem was when they hit the the Super Bowl. I think if they'd have played a full strength Denver and got through in a in a solid competitive game, then I think they'd have been more equipped to take on Seattle. I think their lack of of a a stiff game in the AFC Championship really didn't help when you you suddenly got uh Seattle's defence just running all over the top of you. Drake Drake May looked every inch in his first Super Bowl. Um and I will disagree with you. I think on even on this uh podcast I said the game was over at half time because New England were never winning it.
SPEAKER_04So it was. It was uh after half time we've got New England trying to get some respect back.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04I but that's why that's why I pointed out the Ravens game in the playoffs was basically their best performance postseason.
SPEAKER_03I think so. Or the the turncoat ravens, as they're gonna be called over over the course of next season. I know very yes, very good. We'll let Matt expand on that when he's back next week. Uh but the NFL is coming to Australia, gents, September the 11th, with a bright and early 10:30 a.m. kickoff uh between the Rams and the 49ers. Uh I think between the three of us, none of us managed to secure a ticket.
SPEAKER_08Uh no, but let me just put it out there. If anybody's got tickets and they want us to uh come along, let us know. Sorry, go for it.
SPEAKER_04And it was only 42,000 tickets that were released the other day as well.
SPEAKER_08Oh, is that the problem? Because I was number 45,000 in the queue.
SPEAKER_04There was 42,000 tickets released, and an article I read in the Sydney Morning Herald also stated that about 50% of them were for people outside of Victoria. But they also stated that there was up to 13 or 15 other nationalities that were logging on to bid on bid for tickets as well. Oh if it's because there were certain people in other time zones that were getting on at an easier, uh, easier wake-up time for them or just flooded from international calls, or this is the often the issue with ticket sales at the moment, bots from a whole bunch of different countries trying to just chew up stuff and reserve things to make this inflate the secondary market. So I don't think the hope is gone. I think there's still a chance to get tickets maybe when they do the next release of stuff as well. But yeah, I know they're keeping some for members of the Niners and the Rams in the States who might want to come over on travel packages and that sort of stuff as well. But it can't be more than half the stadium's worth.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, well, you know, you've got to give Qantas Jet Jet Star, Virgin, all these all these uh air air people time to put their flight prices up. Yeah, and work it all out. Yes, yeah. Standing room? Is there a standing room? I've never I've never been to the MCG, so standing room at the MCG?
SPEAKER_04Well, what they'd have to do is put down the mats on the field like they do at concerts, and they're probably gonna have standing room because it's such a massive gap between where the borders of the actual field would be on the MCG pitch, which is massive, the actual pitch for or the field for the NFL would take up about a third of the overall coverage.
SPEAKER_03So what do you what are you actually gonna see if you're standing there unless you're seven foot nine inches tall?
SPEAKER_04I don't know. You you're you're probably gonna see a pub band in the backyard and see everyone's heads in front of you. Yes, you might see the ball go up for a punch every now and then, or see see a really good pass coming in. I hope it's not Mac Jones passing law for the 49ers, because that would just really hurt me as a Patriots fan. But um you'll just see the ball flying, I reckon. And if that's where the standing room seats are going to be on the field behind where all the players are, I don't know where else you're gonna put standing room only seats or tickets in the MPG.
SPEAKER_03Without taking out the seats, right? Yeah, and and that's never been done before.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03It seems strange, but so so minimum price $140 for a ticket. Average price is touted to be around six hundred dollars for a ticket. So when you add on travel costs, uh, and for those who don't know, um, some of us are in Sydney, some of us are a lot further north than Sydney. Um, when you add on travel costs, it's almost two thousand dollars before you even get your ticket as well. So um I think it's a it's a common theme when events happen in Victoria that it's very hard or very expensive to come from out of state to uh attend. So uh going to be interesting. I did see a few threads on moving the game next year to ANZ or somewhere in Sydney, which is a stadium much more suited to a hundred-yard field um or a hundred yard by seventy yard field, rather than the MCG, where as you say, Chris, the action is gonna be so far away from the seats, it's gonna be very hard.
SPEAKER_04You're gonna be binoculars, or you're gonna be watching the screen the whole time. Yeah, yeah. You could do that at home.
SPEAKER_08Might as well, right? Well, we'll do it in the pub. So it'd be just like Roger Goodell.
SPEAKER_04And Roger Goodell being in town in Melbourne this week as well.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, didn't know that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so what was that all about then? Yeah. So a couple of things he said during the press conference with the with the Premier of Victoria and the head of the MCC down there on the on the field. He wants to commit every Australian school to have a flag football kit. Oh right. Is he paying? Apparently, yeah. He's gonna fund a flag football kit for every Australian school. I'm thinking, do you know how many schools that is? Please think about that. Yeah. And then he was asked the question, are they gonna come back in 27? And he said, you know, he wants to see more games. This isn't a short-term strategy, it's a long-term plan for the national market. So I don't think this September's the only chance we're gonna get to see a season regular game in Australia as well.
SPEAKER_03No, I I don't think so. And I was reading uh an article the other day that talked about the eventual move to an 18th uh game in the NFL, and every club will have an overseas game as so as to make it really realistic. So uh I I do know there's been a little bit of whinging and moaning about the travel and the distance. Yeah, especially coming here, right? Yeah. On the players who have to come here and then go back the next week. So when the schedule comes out, I'll be looking for the Rams and uh 49ers to have a bye week after September the 11th. Yeah. Um if they don't, uh I'm assuming that's why we're starting at 10:30 in the morning to appease the television market as well in the States.
SPEAKER_04It's gonna be a Thursday night football game.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, which will be interesting for us because for us it'll be similar to the Super Bowl, right? Where when you're when you're watching it at the pub, you're gonna be morning time, which look on the Super Bowl uh Monday, uh it's it's not a bad thing. You just start a little early and um you have a good time. But I'm just not sure I'll be able to pull off doing a pub on the Friday for a regular season game. But we'll see. We'll see.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. It should be good. Should be good.
SPEAKER_04But it feels sorry for any future teams that might come from the east coast of the US all the way to get it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. And and that that might be something we never see. Right. So we'll we'll we'll uh we'll cross every bridge as we come to it. And fingers crossed, uh, Kerry's plea to anyone to provide us free tickets and accommodation and flights. And flights will will not fall on deaf ears as well. So so uh so one of the things that will be interested in in the game though will be the officiating, because the referees and the NFL are a long way apart in their current negotiations.
SPEAKER_08So the um the battle is is it is it just money like normal or anything else um interesting?
SPEAKER_03It it appears to be uh uh monetary driven. So I think the current agreement is coming to an end. They're looking to sign a new five to six year deal. Uh the referees have asked for a ten percent year-on-year pay rise, which is uh roughly double what they get today. Uh the NFL is prepared to offer something like 6.25%, and the referees have said we're a long way apart here. Um so it doesn't look like come the end of May there will be an agreement uh in place. So that means that the chances of starting the uh 2026 season with non-professional referees is very likely. So uh there is a couple of things. Uh referees who do the NCAA, uh one, two, and three divisions are being trained and asked to go to spring training and camps um around from the first of June to pick up on the pace of the NFL and just that that NFL professional culture to see what it's like. And they are introducing a VAR system where for one off season the owners have all signed off on it that uh uh the video assistant ref can intervene with clear and obvious errors from the officials.
SPEAKER_08So this is a one-off.
SPEAKER_03Uh well, uh I I assume they're hoping to come to some kind of agreement with the with the referees at some point. However, um I don't know about you guys, but uh how do you feel about doing your job with someone overseeing you for any clear and obvious error you might make?
SPEAKER_04I'm on sales, so I kind of get used to that every now and then.
SPEAKER_08They're always watching. Yep, I get it. But no, it would be tough because you know that um you know, um, I'll say the normal referees make mistakes all the time. And we get to hear about it on commentary, but nobody's gonna reverse a holding call, or nobody's gonna call a holding call that wasn't called. You know what I'm saying? It's not it's not gonna be down to that. But if the if this season stuff like that is gonna be because it's obvious a lot, right? You see you see it, but the referees on the field can't catch it all, right? And I just think that'll be really interesting. I I'm just hoping it doesn't slow down the game anymore, because that's what bothers me right now, is you know, just it's already a slow pace, and you add in another review on top of a review, and then you know, you got a mess.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's it's interesting. Uh, you know, VAR was introduced into the English Premier League for that reason to clear up clear and obvious errors, and it does everything but oh, it's all that do that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's not clear and obvious. It's Sherlock Holmes has to investigate and take the replay for the next 20 minutes to actually sort something out. If something's within an inch of offside.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. And so so my question would be or or would is it clear and obvious errors on the calls that are made? Or are they going to be looking for calls they've missed as well?
SPEAKER_04Well, it's long been a myth. I'm a big rugby league fan, and it's long long been a myth that the bunker in rugby league calls through to the refs on their in e-monitors to tell them that they need to officiate something that they might have already missed because the cameras saw it. If they start stepping in and doing something, if that's even true, that's horrible. But if they start stepping in and intervening on things that happen in back play or or a holding call that's on an on a receiver or a runner that's completely on the other side of the field to where a ball's gonna go, even if a pass has been made somewhere else, uh that's not affecting the the run of the play, but if they start saying they need to intervene there on a clear and obvious call that's had nothing to do where where the play's happening, then that they're just gonna ruin the game.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, it's gonna be very, very interesting. Yeah. So yeah, you mentioned rugby leak there, Chris. So uh Kerry was uh lambasted last uh week for his chicken watching, uh where where rumour has it he was escorting the Prime Minister across the pitch after after a record tri-scoring attempt was was achieved. Uh but you are allegedly the person who forced him into being a Roosters fan.
SPEAKER_04I I'm one of a couple in our group of friends. Um we are in our group of four of us, we're we're Roosters members. We uh we pay um a bit of money to be chalk pen members, which means we get a nice general admin seating area. But um definitely uh just part of what Kerry and I bonding when we first met was very much about NFL and American sport. And then we myself and another friend of ours, Dish, we really wanted to introduce Kerry to rugby league because we think rugby league is an amazing game and actually stands up toe-to-toe with the NFL in regards to excitement and drama and action, all that sort of stuff as well. So we're big rugby league fans, Dish and I, both Sydney Roosters fans and members, so we drag Kerry along for the journey with us, and we've had some excellent times and some really horrible times.
SPEAKER_08Indeed. But such as being a Roosters fan, right?
SPEAKER_03But uh not so you're Roosters fans for the freebies, Kerry.
SPEAKER_08Well, uh yeah, look, I I will admit that uh it's mostly the company, uh, but um I'm enjoying it now. And uh look, it it it uh it is one of those games that um just reminded me so much of um NFL in uh in physicality and all of those things. Obviously, the pace is a lot faster. Um, you know, the um lack of pads uh fascinated me when I first you know uh started watching and just um the way that it um you know continuously moves. I love that. And it just makes you look back at NFL and go, wow, yes. When people when people used to say how slow the NFL was, I didn't really get it until I started watching uh NRL. And then I go, oh, okay, now I see I see the difference. But um still still a big uh NFL fan, obviously, but yes, uh I am now officially uh a roosters fan. I um I I can't wait to go to a Roosters parade when we have when we win uh the championship. That's that's the thing that I'm looking forward. I know we don't have a parade, but that's uh but um that's what I'm looking forward to. Yeah, yeah, that's that's what I'm looking forward to.
SPEAKER_03So you might you might be retired before that happens, Gary, but We'll see. We'll see. We will see. Well, let's just segue back to American football then, because we've had week two of the UFL. So uh Chris, if you don't know what the UFL is, it's a combination of the old XFL and USFL. Um it's part owned by Duane The Rock Johnson and a couple of other uh people. It's the alternative to the NFL during the off-season. It is pretty much people who can't make it in the NFL, and watching some of the games you will understand why. Um but Kerry, you are the original Dallas Renegade. How are you feeling with your team 2-0 this week?
SPEAKER_082-0 feels good. Look, uh I watched again just the highlights, so I still have yet to check out a full game, but I'm gonna find a time slot that I can watch a full game at one point. But uh yeah, they looked really good. Um looked strong. Um, it was really over at halftime, um, kind of one of those games. But um, you know, I I would have to agree with you, it's it's still uh a bit of sloppy pet play, um, no matter how you look at it. But uh there's still some talent there. You know, you look at um our quarterback Reed and he looks talented, at least um against the uh opposition, he looked great. So let's let's see if that ever translates into you know maybe a backup quarterback position somewhere or you know, get another opportunity. But yeah, they look strong.
SPEAKER_03Well, second week they've scored over 30 points, unfortunately. Um the defense of my lovely uh lovely team did not stand up to the week that was and conceded over 240 yards plus four touchdowns. But it was really a good 31-15 win for your guys, so I think I'd be confident in saying, Kerry, you're not buying a shirt this year.
SPEAKER_08I don't know, man. It's an it's it's a long season. Um I I've been a Dallas fan for too long to and I know that um they're not the cowboys, but I I still know a collapse can happen at any point. So I'll I'll just hold on. They have the potential too, right? They do, they do, that's why. I'm just gonna sit back for a little bit and say, yes, um early in the season we're looking good.
SPEAKER_03Very good, very good. So, Chris, um there there are five of us now, there are eight teams in the UFL. We have had a bet, we've all picked a team each, and the bet is that uh the team with the worst record, you have to buy the shirt of the club you're supporting. So already taken out the Dallas Renegades, the Birmingham Stallions, the St. Louis Battle Hall, uh the Aviators of Columbus and the Louisville Kings. Which means you, if you want to join in, you have a choice. Three teams the Orlando Storm, uh the DC Defenders, all the Houston gamblers. And I can tell you uh neither of those teams have a zero and two record. So uh you would immediately be joining in a stronger position than McCunders who the IV-2. And he's currently sitting comfortably in the shirt.
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean we don't I don't think we need another Texan supporter there.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Well, I don't I don't like it.
SPEAKER_03Very good. Yeah, they have a one and one record.
SPEAKER_04So does that mean they automatically have the same rivalry that happens in the NFC between the uh commanders versus the cowboys as well? Does that set us up on opposite sides?
SPEAKER_03No, they have a one-on-one adventure. They're starting to, though. Uh uh and fascinating, this is the first year of the Dallas Renegades because they were the Arlington Renegades earlier, which I know is uh just a name change by any other means, but yeah, it's got them to a two-and-o record. Um if you had picked the Orlando Storm, they are the only other two and zero team. Um the DC Defenders and the Houston Gamblers are both one-on-one. So you join myself and Matt as a one-on-one team. The Louisville Kings and the Columbus Aviators, uh, Gordy and uh McCuns teams are currently sitting on zero and two. So they're gonna have to put their hand in the pocket and shell out 170 bucks to get a decent shirt, I reckon. Very good. We just need to find two more people and suckle them in, and then we'll have a full eight-man eight-man tag team, as they would say in the wrestling world. Very good. So the UFL is done and dusted for another week. We'll be back talking about it next week. But we mentioned earlier Matt is not here. He is having a big old jolly at uh Macquarie Park, I think, uh, at the launch of the Australian Ice Hockey League and more importantly, the Sydney Bears season launch. Uh hopefully. He's pulled his finger out, and you can hear from him now.
SPEAKER_07Uh good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's Matt from the Mostly Football Podge. I have the greatest of pleasures of A being at the Sydney Bears season launch party, and B being with the man himself, Nathan Graham, Governor and Director of Hockey Operations. How are you, Nathan?
SPEAKER_02I'm very well, and that is certainly an introduction. Uh well well received, and I'll pay my invoice at the end of the month.
SPEAKER_07You you definitely will. I'm also here with uh friend of the podcast, Gordy. Now Gordy's gonna do most of the heavy lifting in this interview, so over to you, Gordy.
SPEAKER_05Hey Nathan. Hello Gordon. So, how how do you do? I'm well, thank you. I I'm regretting picking uh the Louisville Kings as my UFL team, but uh all jokes aside. Um what what made you start volunteering in in hockey and when did it kind of kind of happen?
SPEAKER_02Um so it it happened uh around the 2017-2018 period. I think um I was only just saying to someone earlier, I think the first game that I attended was a Bears game at uh the old Balkan Hills uh arena before it was um sort of repurposed. And then um, you know, I I had a pre-existing love for the game, uh just as a fan, and then once um sort of uh introduced to the Bears community, started to meet some people, you know, build some relationships, and then um it progressed to me sponsoring the team and then later sort of moving into management and getting closer to the operational side of the club.
SPEAKER_05So and people don't often see the work that goes on behind the scenes. Uh you you have done uh just in the short period of time since I've known you since 2023, an absolute mountain of work in behind uh the scenes. Uh tell us kind of what's involved in in your role uh with the Bears.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, look, I think the best way to summarize we could probably do a whole podcast on this gentleman, but the nature of a club in the AIHL is you are effectively running a sporting organization that would um mirror that of any other code that you know most of your listeners would be familiar with. That we're doing it under volunteer horsepower. You know, we have all of the commercial layers that you would you know commonly see in a in a sporting organization, and then you've got the sporting side, you know, in this case being the hockey side. Um you typically have a core group of people who are wearing multiple hats. Um, typically speaking, these people do tend to come from you know some kind of commercial background, they can parachute into this environment and quickly become you know somewhat um understanding of the moving parts. Um, it is a very unique environment. I think some of the expectations sometimes would mirror um, you know, perhaps you know true semi-pro or professional level uh organizations, but we just don't have that luxury at the time now. Um but yes, I think there's certainly a lot of admiration when you start to observe what happens around the league and the different participants that each club has, and certainly at a league level as well, you know, there's people operating at a league level, um, it is a huge undertaking. Um, you know, our work starts almost you know immediately after the season finishes. So the season, you know, getting a season established is a big task, and that's probably where most of the work gets gets done.
SPEAKER_05And uh the season looking ahead, we've got the Macquarie Ice Rink has recently re-regone uh gone through some refurbishments. Uh it's uh increased capacity of around 1900 people, if I'm not mistaken. Um big Jumbotron uh above the ice, glass all around the rink. Uh what's it um what does it mean to you to see a facility that now is purpose-built for ice hockey that the Sydney Bears are able to call their home?
SPEAKER_02It's absolutely incredible. Um, you know, even walking through the rink uh during sort of the reconstruction, you quickly realized you know the new potential that we have to showcase what we do, um delivering a quality hockey product. Um and you know, even tonight at this event, everyone's talking about the rink. It's it's either rink or players. Um to have a purpose-built facility and a fit-for-purpose facility for us to go about our business in is absolutely phenomenal. I think it optimizes um effectively every area of what we do. It's a great experience for the players. Um, the fan experience will be well and truly optimized, and when you when you look at it in a more broader sense, um it allows the the broader sport to showcase what it's about, and I think that's very exciting. Um, you know, even for people that have been around this club and the sport a long time, whether it be local or international, um, everyone is really excited for those opening games next weekend, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_05And for people not aware, the Sydney Bears have traditionally been uh a team with a core group of veterans, a big veteran leadership group. Um I was just telling Matt the um just a couple of minutes ago that the average age of the Bears in 2024, the starting roster, the uh person was born in 1997. This season, two years later, the average birth date is 2001. Uh tell us about the work that you've put in to be able to uh kind of retool on the fly, create a younger, more dynamic lineup that's that's able to then take the reins from the group that's taken this team so far over the years.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, firstly, very impressive stats. I can see you come well researched, which doesn't go unnoticed. Um But look, in all seriousness, I think when we sat down heading into season planning, one of the sort of the one of the immediate priorities and areas of need were us getting younger. And not just from a pure numbers perspective, but getting younger with the right skill set and personality type. Um I think when I look back on you know the work that's been done to date, that is probably the big standout for me. Um and I think what you say is right. I think the Bears have for a long time now been known as you know more of a veteran lineup, a lot of familiar faces, uh probably a lot of continuity, um, but certainly an aging roster, which you know that brings a lot of great things as well. But the to to address an area of need in such a short space of time with such quality is is very exciting, and it's probably a body of work that you know we're super, super happy with heading into the season.
SPEAKER_05And looking ahead to the season for for people who may be unaware of uh or you know, not maybe they they haven't seen an AIHL game before. Uh what's the best way for them to kind of get involved here in Sydney and support the Sydney Bears?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, look, I think in terms of getting involved, you know, there's probably there's probably a couple layers to this. It's turn up to the games, be a part of the community, take in what we're doing. Um if not, you can you can tune into our streaming service, ARHL.tv. Um for those out there, for those listeners who are interested in actually you know getting closer to the operation itself, um, you know, where we we have our doors open. Um there's a lot of different areas of these clubs. Um we're always in need of people who bring you know the right approach and the right capability. Um and they can get in touch with the club on a game day um or through any of the social means, social media means.
SPEAKER_05And uh final question, uh the the good old carpets, the third oldest trophy uh in in the world, oldest outside of North America, what would it mean to you to be able to, as as in your role uh to be able to have a part in the team being able to lift that trophy?
SPEAKER_02A lot. There's a lot of days that you you think about the work that you're doing, um, and in these clubs there are so many people doing work that no one sees. I think whilst it's not what it's all about, for someone competitive like me, uh winning a good all cup is is a huge motivator and a big reason why you know both myself and a lot of other people do what we do. Um, and to do something like that with this group of people would be would be phenomenal, but um, you know, I also don't want to talk too much about uh you know what could potentially be at the end of the season. I think uh at the moment we've got a great group of people, um, we're a competitive group of people, we're here to compete. Um, everyone's you know end goal is to win a good All Cup. And I think um you know I was around the club in 2019 when we we won our last Good All Cup, but to be a part of something similar to that and everything around it as someone who's sitting closer to the club now and being a part of the day-to-day decision making would be just absolutely immense. So who knows? Who knows what's ahead, but uh yeah, fingers crossed it'll it'll it'll come out.
SPEAKER_07I I know as an unashamed Sydney Bears fan that when the Red, White, and Black do pick that cup up, we're having a massive party, Nathan. Um, a couple of quick ones from me just to finish off. Um would be remiss of me on uh as a host of the Mostly Football Pod not to ask you who your NFL team is, and we ask our guests to uh give us a little bit of their origin story. So who do you pull for in the NFL, mate?
SPEAKER_02Lucas Herman would um he would like me to answer the Buffalo Bills. Um I I can't I can't say that I know a player from the Buffalo Bills, but I've certainly heard a lot about the Bills and what they're not doing over the last few months. So let's just say Buffalo Bills.
SPEAKER_07And that's Lucas's fault. Yeah, you're in dangerous Toronto maple leaf's territory there. Yes. Now I do know, and that was a bit of a leading question, I do know you're a huge Dallas Stars fan, so talk to us about your love of the Dallas Stars just to round things off as an NHL fan.
SPEAKER_02Uh yes, very interesting. So um I became a Stars fan after watching a Stars Blues game via Free to Air TV when I was very young. I'm probably guessing it was around '97, two years before our cup win. Um and like a lot of people, you know, the sport, once it hits your eyeballs, it's pretty addictive. Um look fast forward, you know. I've I've been to games over in the States. Um, I do my best to follow day to day. Uh we've been very competitive for a while now. Um I feel like we're on the clock. Like competitive, you know, being being a general contender is great, but I think we're due for a win here. Um I'm cautiously optimistic, which I think is a lot more positive than perhaps some of you gentlemen around the table. So thanks for that.
SPEAKER_07Yes, you're my pleasure. Your your window is wide open, and I, for one, would uh, as a massive fan of Wyatt Johnson, I'd love to see you guys uh uh uh represent uh the Western Conference and uh shake it up a bit. Nathan, you've been awesome. Um I know it's your first time. Um thanks a million for coming on the pod. We are gonna get you back part way through the season, but what a debut, Gordy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's pretty impressive. Yeah, it is pretty impressive. Thanks a million, mate. Appreciate it. It's my pleasure, and you've got my details. I look forward to receiving the contract.
SPEAKER_07Okay, uh I've the great pleasure of being with Mr. Alex Gautier, uh new signing uh for the Sydney Bears. Uh he helps from Montreal, Canada. Uh, unfortunately, he's a Canadians fan. Gordy, what have you got for the goats?
SPEAKER_05Uh well welcome back. Uh last time you played for Sydney was in 2023, is that? 2022, 2023, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Um have you noticed? Uh I know we were just talking with Nathan before, that the team has um made a real concerted kind of shift to getting a lot younger and getting in some young talent in, uh, young forwards in particular, and even defensemen like Mac Tutten, Tyrone Oxlade. Um, what's what's been your experience coming in to this lineup now, you know, three years later from when you were last uh a Sydney Bear?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, it's a good question. I think we have a great balance of young kids and older guys this year. Um it's definitely good to see uh some young kids pushing through the lineup though. It's fun to see, and they're talented, they're working hard. Um, and I'm excited to go to play games with them.
SPEAKER_05And what what are your kind of season, your ambitions for the season, uh personally and and on a team level as well? I think nothing less than being top of the league, winning it all. That's that's what we're aiming for. Yeah. And uh yourself, I mean you've played both forward and defense. Um I I think last last season you you predominantly played on on the back end. Is that something that you expect will continue or just a game-by-game basis?
SPEAKER_10Um I'm happy to adjust whatever the team needs. Um ideally I like to focus on the one, then moving up and down because it's good to get some chemistry with guys and learn each other's ways and low angles on the ice. And if I move up and down, it's a bit harder to do that. But look, if if it if it comes to it and I need to move on being forward with defensemen, it's it's whatever really.
SPEAKER_05And first impressions of Tara and Oxlade and Mac Tutten, two two newer guys uh who weren't here with the team last time uh you were here, but uh kind of young, up-and-coming defensemen. What's what's your kind of read on them?
SPEAKER_10Well, they're good kids and they seem to have fun playing hockey, so that's that's all that matters, really, especially being an older guy. It's it's fun to come to the rink and have some guys that are there for the good reasons and listening to some advice and just working hard every practice. So it's it's been fun so far.
SPEAKER_05And uh for yourself personally, you know, we've we've heard tonight at the season launch, you know, there's some excitement about the new rink and like refurbished rink. Uh what's what are you most looking forward to about the both the the starting the season off with the Sydney Battle of Sydney and then the uh the home opener against the Brisbane Nighting?
SPEAKER_10Well, on the new the new ranked side of things for me, I'm excited about the new glass because I like to bring a physical aspect to the game and hit so that's gonna change a lot being able to finish a bit more with my check and not being worried with the ribs poking out into the boards. I've personally broken my ribs at Macquarie before, so just being a bit a taller guy, um coming with speeds into the boards, that'll be a big change. Um, and home opener in every game at home, I just expect fireworks, so that's that's simple. Yeah, beautiful.
SPEAKER_07That's awesome. Alex, we talked a little bit about the Bears being a young team, but your Canadians, the youngest team in the NHL, I believe, this season. Play off bound. How do you think they're gonna go?
SPEAKER_10Oh, I think Montreal's going for the cup, and they're gonna go for the cup for the next 10 years. That's what I think.
SPEAKER_07Cole Corfield's had an unbelievable season. Um, is he the future?
SPEAKER_10I think well he definitely is the future. I think Montreal's got a lot of guys that they can be put in the conversation of being the future of any franchise, you know. Suzuki, Hudson, Demidov, Slavkowski. Um there's a young list, uh a big list of young guys, sorry, that are they're they're they're they're them, you know.
SPEAKER_07Gordy and I, as Lee's fans, are very jealous of you. I'm gonna switch gears last question. Our podcast is called the Mostly Football Podcast. So we cover mostly NFL. I know you're from the other side of the border, but who's your NFL team and why?
SPEAKER_10I think when it comes to the teams, even with the NHL, I think Montreal has just been sort of like a default thing because I'm from Montreal. But I've never been like a team guy. I like players, and and when it gets to the NFL, I've I haven't really followed the NFL. For the last five years at least, so I couldn't tell what team is my favourite. I like the Montreal Alouettes. Yes. I'm ripping my town.
SPEAKER_07All the way, all the way. Alex, it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much for your time. You're gonna have a great season. Great to have you back at the bears. Okay, final interview of the evening. I'm I've had the huge pleasure of being with Tamarone Oxlade, one of the Sydney Bears superstar young defencemen. Um he's a player I've watched over the last two years. Um really been impressed with his game. How old are you, Ty? Um 19 at the moment. 19 at the moment, you play like you're 29, I can assure you. Um I'm gonna hand over to Gordy and um Gordy's gonna fire a few questions at Oxy. So uh thanks again for coming on the pod, mate. No worries, the pleasure's on mine.
SPEAKER_05Uh so yeah, Tyrone. So um this this season, um in a new rink, you know, McCory, Macquarie Ice Rink is refurbished. What are your kind of goals for the season?
SPEAKER_06My goals for this year are primarily getting that experience in a semi-professional setting. Uh hoping to really step up my game because in previous years, you know, having those like rookie expectations, I didn't have too much to call at, but trying climb my way up the ladder, see what I can do on the EMS, and see what I can do for the club.
SPEAKER_05And there were there were moments I remember that uh in the end of the 2024 season, you were paired with Ryan Annesley, you know, captain, uh long, steady defenseman. Um, what does playing with you know someone like that, how how do you um how does that help you to uh continue to grow as a player?
SPEAKER_06Well, obviously having that support with a veteran defenseman and having that support on the Yannis is a great help. But not only that, but having that experience to see what he does with the pup, see what he sees on the Yannis and his experience and skating ability is something which I can like myself to welcome in the future.
SPEAKER_05And for yourself, uh I know the Sydney Bears are uh they've traditionally been like full of veteran, veteran players. There's been a real concerted effort this this offseason to kind of get younger, particularly with the forward group. You've even got a uh a young defenseman as well uh as yourself and Max Tutten. Um how do you as a player, now that you're you're entering, you know, you've you've been around the league for a few years now, um what what's kind of your role in in the dressing room? Like, does your voice kind of change? Do you become a bit of a mentor to some of these younger forwards coming in? What's what's your kind of view?
SPEAKER_06I would say with the younger guys, I'm already closer to them because I've played with them previously. But whenever they have questions or regarding team dynamic or even gameplay on the ice, like I'm there to help them. If they ever need a hand with anything, I'm there to help. Yeah, perfect.
SPEAKER_05And and do you have uh for yourself, do you have a um a player that you kind of have modeled your your style of play after?
SPEAKER_06In the league, well especially playing with Ryan and is like a top notch player. He's obviously kind of an exemplar that I'd like to uh model my player. However, obviously every player's individual in their own aspect, so obviously there's bits and pieces from other players I try and gamble from. An example of that would be Tyrone Planner, but at skating and IQ, I'd really like to kind of work my way towards Ryan Anderson's level. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Excellent. And for yourself, what would it mean to you to be able to lift the good old cup uh at the end of the season or or at some point in your career?
SPEAKER_06That'd be an absolute pleasure. The Goodlead Club being quite a prestigious trophy. Although Australia is not the biggest regarding hockey, the cup in itself is still a very prestigious cup. So that would have been an absolute love to have an moment that I'd keep for the rest of my life. Yeah, perfect.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, thanks a million. Um we didn't ask you who your NHL team is to do so.
SPEAKER_06Well I was a Patrick Keynes fan, Patrick Kane fans uh Chicago Blackhawks and have been since the mid-2010s.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, they want all the good years, right? Yeah. Yeah, how do they all have seen him in a Detroit Red Wings jersey?
SPEAKER_06Honestly, I've always had a uh a lot of respect for Detroit in itself. And just seeing him continue to like play, even at his veteran age and uh half his prime thing with name, but still having that upending ability, the ability to control the Yanks and see the Yanks makes him a lead playmaker, and it's just great to see.
SPEAKER_07A little birdie told me just before you came on air that you're an Arsenal fan as well. What's all of that about mate?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, uh unfortunately or fortunately this year I've been born into it, but um just a family tradition that I can keep going and hopefully keep going henceful my uh lineage.
SPEAKER_07I just had the pleasure of um presenting uh Ox with his uh season jersey. It was a real thrill for me. But I must admit, if I'd have known he was an Arsenal fan, I would have refused to give him it. Ox, it's been fantastic having you on. As I said, I'm a genuine fan of yours. You are a superstar in the making. Thanks a million for coming on. I really look forward to watching you play this year. Hopefully having a party when we win the Goodwill Cup.
SPEAKER_06Hopefully so. The pleasure's all mine. Thank you for your time.
SPEAKER_07You're a legend, thanks, mate.
SPEAKER_03Okay, welcome back, everybody. We've covered uh all things NFL, UFL, uh, we've thrown in a little bit of NRL as well. Uh we should probably talk about Chris who's sitting there in an AFL jersey, and and maybe you can help me out, Chris, because I just can't get it. Uh there's not many sports I can't get, but AFL I've tried. I think and failed measure many times.
SPEAKER_04I think the trick to AFL is the fact that like Americans trying to adjust to rugby league and rugby union for that matter, everything happens so fast you don't get a chance to sit back and actually go, okay, what happened there? Why did this happen? Why did that referee make that decision? Because the game is just flying all the time, so you're trying to keep up with the action, getting no time to really have explain to you what's going on or understand it. Um and AFL comes down to a, from my perspective, a very simple manner of uh how the ball is propagated. So the best way to describe AFL is you're trying to score goals between the two large sticks and kick it as far as you can. But the the main driver behind the sport of AFL is the ball always has to be propelled forward. So it has to be punched to from one player to another, so it has to be propelled or it has to be kicked. So because of that, you can't do traditional pass, you can't just throw the ball or anything because that's not propelling the ball or in in a manner that makes it competitive. Because propelling the ball means you've got to deliberately try to punch or hit the ball or or make it go somewhere, and it makes it way more competitive for other people to try to catch that ball, get it. And because it was made as a game designed to keep cricket players fit during the winter, which is why it's on the big uh the big same size field as a cricket. Okay.
SPEAKER_03That's that's a a huge factor I knew nothing about.
SPEAKER_04It was birthed in Victoria because there was obviously the MCC, uh the Melbourne Cricket Club, very, very popular. A lot of universities in Melbourne had large cricket pitches, and they weren't necessarily able to uh easily set up a traditional football field, and uh they wanted to keep their hands busy, they wanted to be able to keep the whole body moving in the winter because it gets very cold down there, so that's why they started throwing a ball around um or propelling it around there. So that's where it developed from, and that's where the rules came from, which is why we've got such a large pitch, which is also why you've got so many different players, and like the NFL and ice hockey, you've got the ability to take players on and off when they need to. You don't have this interchange or replacement like we've got in Rugby League, Rugby Union, and and football. So that keeps things moving, keeps it fresh. And then they borrowed some stuff in Gaelic football in regards to the point the way the s the points are managed. If you get it between the main goalposts, you get more points if you miss, then you get a point for trying. So it's the ultimate uh participation award. And then if you're really bad and you you miss all the goal posts, then you you don't get anything. But yeah. So that's where it came from to try to stay fit and and warm in the winter in Victoria. That's at least the story I've I've been familiar with. Other people might fact-check that, but that's in a nutshell why it was developed um in Victoria.
SPEAKER_03You're okay, Matt's not here this week, so no fact-checking going on. So so K Kerry, you you've I've known you uh 15 years, maybe 15 years or so now. What's your thoughts on AFL?
SPEAKER_08Look, um when I first moved to Australia, um we uh obviously didn't know much about any of the sports, but Jill worked for QBE. So when she worked for QBE, we went to quite a few AFL games. Unlike NRL, I am like you, Pete, I just didn't get it. I had a great time, could, you know, um have a few drinks, socialize, you know, you get uh an opportunity to see some people running around a field. I got the rules, but it it it just didn't catch me as a sport that I could get into. That being said, I didn't have like I have with the roosters, people who you know I would was sitting with and could ask a question right then and there, and you know, we could really kind of uh you know kind of get through some of the strategy and all that kind of stuff. Never got any of that for AFL, so maybe that's why it didn't catch me. But I'm kind of with you, Pete. It's it's there. Uh it's fast moving. If I'm invited to a game, again, if anybody wants to give us tickets, we'll take them. Um but uh it's probably not worth it. Will we though?
SPEAKER_03Will we? Um we might rephrase that. If anyone wants to give us a ticket, uh K Kerry might take them. I might take them.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. I will say with the amount of kicking involved, AFL has more right to be called football than rugby league or rugby union or even uh the NFL. Yeah, it seems to be to actually be a bit more. Not as much as actual football, but still it's got a closer claim to being football.
SPEAKER_03That's probably uh a hundred percent correct. I I'm with Kerry though, I just don't get it. I sit I sit and I try and watch a game, and then all of a sudden there's 40 points different, and it's not even half time, and I'm like, what just happened? What's the point?
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Well a couple of weeks ago the Swans put their biggest away game score against the West Coast Eagles over in Perth, and they beat them like a hundred and thirty plus points or something, which is very, very rare. But then the Swans went to two grand finals in the last four years and got walloped by like over fifty or sixty points as well. So you know disparity in some of the things.
SPEAKER_03Uh uh for me, it's the and maybe this is why you know my first love will always be soccer. It's uh the disparity between some of the teams is so great that the game is just not worth watching. You watch a soccer game, and we can, you know, even go back to two weeks ago where Southampton beat Arsenal in in the FA Cup, the disparity between the team who's the top of the the um Premier League and a team who's toppish of the the of the league below is not that big. And it's not and sometimes it's a 6-0 hiding, um, but more often than not it's a it's a 2 or 3-1 game. Whereas with AFL, I I don't think I've ever sat down to a game and gone, ugh Yeah, this is keeping me on the edge of my seats, they're just kicking the ball around and that's it.
SPEAKER_04Well, when when you get it. I'm sure there's a lot of skill in it, but for me it's there is when you when you get treated to a grand final where your team So the Swans when they won the grand final in 2005 against West Coast Eagles, that was a one-point win. And the year before they lost to the West Coast Eagles in a one-point game as well in the grand final, that was the ultimate drama in that sense. We th those results are too few and far between sometimes when it gets to the big games, particularly in the last 10 years.
SPEAKER_03Because you're you're mentioning a game that's 20 years ago, right? Exactly.
SPEAKER_04But again, but again, this is another game where the video referees and and the rules and and the slowing down of the game has affected how the momentum goes and how teams feel about their flow or their flow is being disrupted and that sort of stuff. So sometimes a team that's lagging behind gains momentum, a TV ref comes in or a review comes in, and that team that was behind and was on their process of getting some momentum gets stopped in their tracks.
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. Well, let's uh that maybe that will be next year's mission. I'm already too late for this year. So uh so for those of you who don't know, I do have an N NRL team and and they are the Mighty Warriors. So uh because they they were the first team I saw, yeah, back in uh 1999.
SPEAKER_04Um that's early in the Wild Story.
SPEAKER_03Yes, so they played one game in Wellington. I was living in Wellington, so it might have been 2000, it was 99 or 2000. Uh they played one game in the new Wellington Stadium, and that was against the Bulldogs, and Stacy Jones missed a kick in front of the posts to win the game with the last kick of the game, and so it w it was a tie which was very unusual back then. Golden Point didn't even exist. Oh wow. So I've been uh a Warriors fan ever since through all the good and the bad times, and I think they started the season uh by beating the Chooks quite comfortably this year. So up yours, guys. Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_08Yes, it was it was way too comfortable actually.
SPEAKER_04And and and Dish was there and he was hiding because as a Chooks fan, we beat South Sydney a couple of weeks later, so that kind of just made up for a whole bunch of stuff. Whenever we beat South Sydney, it's just it's worth another four wins.
SPEAKER_03So uh and maybe there's a whole podcast yeah, podcast in in rivalries, right? I I just don't see those rivalries in AFL. And I'm sure maybe if I go into Victoria there's a few like that, but the the you know the the rivalries between uh like the the the bunnies and and the chooks is huge. It's huge in the bunnies and the dragons as well, you know, on their charity shield day and all that. You don't just get that in AFL. And you don't get that atmosphere of of pure hatred when you walk into a ground so much.
SPEAKER_04No, it's very much very much more more like when you're watching the Premier League and you see some of the rivalries that go on in the Premier League. It's it's got that sort of history behind it.
SPEAKER_03Well, yeah, uh yeah, yeah, fledgling, I would say. Having spent uh spent many, many years going to to some Cambridgeshire derbies, which might mean nothing to anybody out there, but uh there's nothing quite walking into a ground, you know, when you're 16 years old and wondering if you'll walk out alive is uh is one of the more sobering experiences in my in my uh spectator history, I would say. Uh but uh but enough of that and and uh early hooliganism in the 1980s, let's let's move over to baseball. Um Kerry, did you brush up on the Texas Rangers, or are you just gonna shake my head and let me talk about the Giants for the next uh five minutes?
SPEAKER_08Well, I have to admit, not much, not much. I did see that they're doing uh quite well still, um top of top of the table in their little division. So that's exciting. Um but I didn't get to watch a game, which is still my goal. So if I can watch a game, I can say I know some stuff. Right now I'm still just uh on the outskirts, but um following you know uh close behind and and and and and loving the fact that they're doing alright, Go Rangers. Woo-hoo.
SPEAKER_03Very good. The fact that you know they're top, that's uh that's enough research for for me, my friend. Now, Chris, you've got some kind of crap on top of your head that says Yankees. So I do. Um so we'll come back to origin stories.
SPEAKER_04Uh you are a Yankee fan because uh back in the late 90s, the first Australian um in Major League Baseball to get to a World Series and win a World Series was a Yankees pitcher.
SPEAKER_03Oh wow, okay. Didn't know that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. So that that's that goes a long way back. I mean to a certain extent, a lot of it has to do with merchandising as well. Back in the in the early 90s when hip hop and everything was very, very big and coming up in Australia, the baseball hats were big and and I just loved the design of the Yankees hats. I got into I started watching and following them a bit more in the late 90s and and got into that and just stuck with them. The only time I deviated from the Yankees at all was when I was actually in Anaheim in 2002 and some friends of mine took me to a Rangers Angels game. Oh that was the year that Anaheim Angels actually won the World Series. So I got to see the World Series winning team that year, which is pretty cool. So the Angels.
SPEAKER_08You got to say that you saw that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, exactly. And you've stuck with them even though they're based out of LA right now, uh like the dreadful Dodgers.
SPEAKER_04They they bounce they bounced between LA and Anaheim or what they've been called over the years. It's just when Disney owned them, that was a big high point for them because they invested a lot into Edison Field. Um and it was really cool back then, you know. But we are now talking almost 25 years ago as well.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it but it's har it's hard to give up, right? So so I'm a Giants fan, I've been a Giants fan since I saw them in 1995, um, when Dion Sanders was playing for them. So it was it's always been a blessing. They've had a I would say an average start to the season after being swept by the Yankees uh and almost swept by the Mets. They've managed to come up in the last two games and beat the Phillies twice, so they've had series wins against the Padres and the Phillies, which again is not a bad outcome. So if you look at the first 13 games being against the Yankees, the Padres, the Mets, and the Phillies, you're probably thinking we've come out of that five and eight. That's not a bad place to be. Yep. Yes, yes, love to be eight and seven, and on top of that, but uh going for a nine-game road trip now, hopefully when we're back together next week, uh, we'll be at five hundred, and I'll be uh getting more and more enthusiastic about it as we go through the season. But we'll see.
SPEAKER_04Well, this hat that I'm wearing is from the 2024 World Series, which the Yankees were humiliated in by the Dodgers. But to show what a diehard fan it was, I actually bought this from the Yankees website. This isn't something that I went and picked up at Rebel Sport or anything like that as well.
SPEAKER_03So very good. Very good. Well, this is one of my eight San Francisco caps. And so and if I'm wearing it next week when we record, that means we've either lost eight times or we've won eight games in a row. So I put a put a cap on and it stays on until we lose.
SPEAKER_08Oh, is that is that the tradition? Alright.
SPEAKER_03Uh yep. Yes, it's uh and I picked up three more caps. Uh I'm not as diligent as Chris. Mine were were very very cheap and very barley driven. Um but I picked up I picked up three more caps last year, and so now I've got a rotation of eight caps, and they go through the season, and I will sometimes miss a rotation if I've had a particularly good cap that's lasted a couple of two or three games. I might go back to that a little bit early, but that also reliant on my memory being there. But you know, 13 games into the season, only another 149 to go. So um too early to panic, although you know, go on to social. If you ever want to kind of think your life is okay, go onto social media and just look up a few baseball teams that aren't doing very well, and the meltdowns that are going on is just incredible.
SPEAKER_08Yes, and it's such a long season. I would be like, nah, we're okay, guys. Like you, I mean that's that's the way you gotta look at it. It's um a couple of series here and there that you get up on and suddenly you you're uh top of the table again. So yeah. You there there's hope.
SPEAKER_03Oh, there's and it's the hope that always gets you, right? And and uh and as a Dallas fan, Kerry, you must know more than that than anybody else.
SPEAKER_08It's always next year. Next year. But you know, we'll we'll we'll see again. I think we just reached a milestone this past year, right? So um I don't know how many years it's been 30 years or something crazy like that since Dallas has been to a Super Bowl. So yeah, it's a long time.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think if you even if you ask Cat Chat GPT, it can't give you an answer, right? It's that far back.
SPEAKER_08It's way, way, way. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Very good. Well, gentlemen, uh uh uh I have no qualms in uh calling this one early this week, given my uh failing health and uh the ability to get to uh somewhere close to a glass of water would be awesome. So uh thank you all for listening. Chris, thank you very much for turning up. We will definitely invite you back, especially if the Patriots uh are as bad as I've predicted them to be next year. Um so so uh yes, we should mention that. Draft is up in two weeks, so hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll bring McKund back, our college football expert, uh, to to give us the who's who on the on the first few few round picks that have happened. Uh as a Green Bay fan, I am being positively told we've always made our best picks in round two, which is good because we don't have a round one at all this year after giving it to Dallas.
SPEAKER_08But yes, the gift that keeps on giving, although I still think you won. You definitely won out of that.
SPEAKER_03Well, uh we'll see by week five, I think, of the next season when Mika's back on the pitch. But uh very encouragingly saw Truckercraft uh running up and doing a hundred meter sprints as well. So hopefully he'll be good to go for the start of the season. So on that bombshell, I think it's time to go. Uh Kerry, thank you very much. Um, we'll see you next week for a hat-trick, hopefully. Uh Chris, you're welcome back anytime. And uh please keep us informed of when you might think about buying your UFL shirt for the lovely uh DC defenders. Yeah, uh and we'll see how we go. Uh, thanks everyone for listening, and we'll catch you all next week.
SPEAKER_08Bye.
SPEAKER_00That's a wrap on another episode of the Mostly Football Show. Don't forget to subscribe and review or get in touch at mostly football twenty-five at gmail.com. See you next week.