Tigers hope Potter can weave magic

This one was written when news of Mick Potter's appointment as coach of the Wests Tigers from the 2013 season. 

 

“You’re a wizard, Mick.”

Wests Tigers fans across the country are pleading Mr Potter has the same effect on Campbelltown Stadium as his namesake did on Hogwarts.

It’s not exactly the same, but maybe Mick Potter is just the patronus the Tigers need to exorcise the dementor-like presence of Tim Sheens of the last few years.

Harry Potter references aside, Potter has one of the most challenging jobs ahead of him after he was named the new Tigers coach on Wednesday.

There’s no doubting the Tigers are one of the most disjointed teams in the competition right now.

They’ve got Sheens, hanging over Tigers operations like a mouldy chandelier, a front office that is struggling to turn the fan bases of two foundation clubs into a profit, and a roster more disenchanted than a broken wand.

Believe it or not, this is a situation Potter has the perfect experience for.

Potter comes back to our shores after an eventful stint with the former powerhouse Bradford Bulls in the English Super League.

Coincidentally enough, the Bulls went into administration in June earlier this year, with players and coaches continuing their seasons without pay.

Thankfully for the Bulls the matter was resolved, but Potter could be walking into a similar situation at the struggling Tigers outfit.

He may need as many “obliviate” spells to erase the painful memory of the club favourite son Beau Ryan and the Tigers most-capped player Chris Heighington – both to the Sharks.

Will the Tigers new era leave from platform nine and three quarters or will they miss train to a whirlwind adventure up the table?

Over to you, Potter.

Cricket Australia

Yeah I know what you're thinking - yet another bagger of this summer's selections by the group of folks who have future World Cup and Ashes successes in mind.

The rotation summary has been a hot topic when it comes to discusison of the national team's fate over summer, with most people weighing in with their two bob on why they've got it wrong.

Then follows the advice on who should be in the team and the conspiracy theories on why this player's not in the team and that player is and what not.

But through all the negative - which I'll admit to having taken part of - there are quite a few positives to come out of it.

When the next Ashes and World Cup roll around, the top, say, 20 cricketers in the country would have experience in the green and gold - especially the ODI format.

Experience, regardless of the final result in these matches, could prove invaluable when the time comes.

Sure every Australian wants our national teams to destroy all comers, but our golden age of having up to 25 naturally gifted players on hand - including two of the greatest bowlers in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and a plethora of great batsmen - has passed.

The time of selecting an "Australia A" team that could be ranked second in the world has long since passed as well.

While I don't want to be defending the selectors, it is now up to them to choose the best team we can possibly field at any one stage.

That responsibility trickles down to the states and their development programs.

After all, it is from those state teams that our national team is selected in the first place.

So do we point the finger at the states, or does the whole system have to change?

I would say our lean run of results may continue for another 12 months (hopefully less), but after that we should have a squad that, no matter the final 11 settled upon, can be world beaters.

Welcome

The first post on the Bounce of the Ball is definitely not the last.

Here you'll find my opinions on everything but a main focus on sport. Just depends on what I feel like writing about when the time comes around.

I encourage your feedback too so let me know if there's something you like - and the stuff you don't.