Melbourne Victory train at AAMI Park

Melbourne Victory yesterday opened the doors on the nearly completed AAMI Park for its members. The open day at Melbourne's rectangular stadium was primarily for the fans to familiarize themselves with the facility as well as inspect the seats they will be occupying next season.Lost in the excitement of the stadium's first 'public appearance' was the fact that Ernie Merrick's side were actually training in preparation for their final Asian Champions League match to be played in Korea on Wednesday. Injured defender Matthew Kemp even joked that their were more fans at today's opening than at the Victory's Champions League games this season.The east and south stands of the stadium were open for members to move around whilst the north and west sides of the ground continued to be worked on throughout the day.The overwhelming consensus from fans that attented was that from a viewing perspective, a bad seat could not be found in the new complex. The only critisicm which could be found of the 30,052 seater AAMI park was the gap between the goals and stands at either end of the stadium. This comes as a result of rugby's need for a try line. The Melbourne Storm and Rebels are co-tenants of the venue alongside the Victory and the newly formed Melbourne Heart FC.

AAMI Park will be a superb addition to the Melbourne sporting landscape, it will give football fans an experience and atmosphere which has never before been seen in Melbourne and is seldom achieved at oval venues.

Future of the Storm uncertain

Thursday April 22, 2010 will now forever be remembered as the day Australia's biggest sporting scandal was uncovered, for five years, including two premierships and three minor premierships, the Melbourne Storm had been systematically rorting the salary cap.

The NRL's most powerful and successful club on the field over the past decade has been brought to it's knees after the penalties handed out by the NRL against the club for the systematic rorting of the National Rugby League's salary cap. David Gallop and the NRL commission has pulled no punches in the penalties handed out to the Storm. They have been stripped of 3 minor premierships, 2 premierships, fined $500,000 and ordered to payback $1.1 million dollars in prize money. In addition to this, Craig Bellamy's side has been stripped of all 8 premiership points earned in season 2010 and will not be able to accrue any further points for the remainder of the
season.

The punishment, whilst necessary, threatens the very existence of the Storm in Melbourne. This is a club which has done remarkably well in recent times to fit into the an AFL dominated sporting landscape where rugby league was once on the periphery. If the Storm where to fold, the NRL would be virtually back to square one in regards to their own expansion hopes. A two state competition is hardly a 'National' Rugby League.

The current Storm hierarchy, well those who survive the pending investigation into their salary cap breach where two sets of books were held face an enormous task to build this club back up from the ground.

Effectively, the rest of the 2010 season is a write off for Melbourne. Their players have nothing to play for, their fans have nothing to cheer for. No premiership points can be gained, none lost. As to how many supporters who have invested plenty of their time as well as hard earned cash show up remains to be seen.

In my opinion, it is the apparent 'innocent' parties in this train-wreck who can restore the Melbourne Storm to it's former glory. These are the fans and the players.

The nucleus of players upon which Melbourne's now tainted dynasty was built hold the keys to the franchise's success. Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are no longer dual premiership players, nor is Craig Bellamy a dual premiership coach. If the likes of Slater, Inglis, Smith and Cronk move on to other clubs or even overseas the Melbourne Storm is as good as dead. However, if this quartet decides to stay together for the good of the club and it's supporters they have the potential to save the club. Now, obviously they would have to take a pay-cut, but this would give them the opportunity to put their names into the record books officially as Melbourne Storm premiership players.

If the current batch of players stick by the club so will the majority of the fans - chances are if this happens, they may well survive.

Interesting days indeed.

Victory bow out

Melbourne Victory last night bowed out of the Asian Champions League group stage for the second time in the clubs history. A 0-0 draw with Joel Griffith's Beijing Guoan eliminated the Victory who needed no less than a win to keep their slim hopes of continuing on to the final 16 in tact.

The match failed to reach any great heights with the home side in particular putting in a lackluster display which lacked cohesion for much of the evening. Beijing looked the most dangerous of the two sides and should have put the result beyond doubt in the first half however strikers Grifftihs and Brazilian Valdo squandered their opportunities. Melbourne's young goalkeeper Mitch Langerak, subject to interest from Bundesliga club Borissa Dortmund during the week, put in another solid shift between the posts for Ernie Merrick's side.

In the abscence of their marquee and fringe Socceroo Archie Thompson, Melbourne struggled to find a cutting edge up front with Nik Mrdja and Robbie Kruse working hard for no reward. An underdone Carlos Hernandez who had stuggled throughout the week with a virus had his output severley compromised and was only able to play just over a half of the match.

Hernandez's replacement, Costa Rican compatriot Marvin Angulo provided some spark for the Victory firing a shot from outside the box which stung the palms of Beijing's number one, however like the Victory's attempts on the night, it was to no avail.

2010 US Masters, Round 4 - Review

Phil Mickelson has claimed his third green jacket at Augusta National Golf Club today. A flaweless round of 67 was enough to keep third round leader, Lee Westwood at bay. Mickelson, who has had a tough 12 months with both his wife and mother fighting breast cancer played with his trademark aggressive style for the duration of the tournament, this saw him finish the 2010 US Masters at 16 under par.

Mickelson's tournament was summed up by a stroke of brilliance on the 13th hole. In trouble, Mickelson's ball was sitting down in Augusta's famous pinestraw. Despite his caddies instructions to lay-up, Phil went for, and pulled off an amazing approach shot which sailed through a small gap between two trees and onto the green. From there on in the green jacket was destined to go to the left-hander. England's Lee Westwood, the tournament's third round leader, finished in outright second place, 3 shots behind eventual winner Mickelson.

American youngster Anthony Kim went on a late surge in an attempt to put some pressure on the leaders. However, despite a fantastic 7 under round, Kim left himself too much to do on the last day.

The man at which most of the focus was centred around leading into the tournament, Tiger Woods, managed a fourth place finish alongside Korean K.J. Choi. The two could not be split all tournament, both having 3 under final rounds to finish at 11 under after 72 holes.

Woods never recovered fully from a poor start whereby he posted three bogeys. Although the four time Masters champion rallied half-way through his round, inconsistencies off the tee and on the greens proved too much for Woods. His round imploded when a must make birdie put slid past the hole, a tap in par then turned into a bogey. Something which we rarely see from Woods.

Choi's final round was somewhat different to Woods' however. A blistering front nine saw the Korean play some amazing golf. Choi's purple patch saw him sail into contention. However he too could not keep pace with Mickelson who well and truly deserved his title. The American moves to fourth on the all-time list of Masters winners.

In what was overall a very dissappointing tournament for the Australian contingent involved, Novocastrian Nathan Green recorded an ace on the 16th hole of the Augusta layout. Green finished his first Masters tournament at 14 over par.

Leaderboard
1 Phil Mickelson (-16)
2 Lee Westwood (-13)
3 Anthony Kim (-12)
T4 Tiger Woods (-11)
K.J. Choi (-11)

2010 US Masters, Round 3 - Review

Saturday, moving day at Augusta lived up to it's billing and produced one of the most remarkable hours of golf in Masters history.

2nd round co-leader Lee Westwood held onto the lead and now owns it outright at 12 under. Westwood, however did not have all his own way with American Phil Mickelson sharing the lead with Westwood for a period of time on the back nine. This came by virtue of Mickelson's amazing 3-hole run which saw the left hander shoot back to back eagles on 13 and 14 whilst a tap in birdie on the 15th saw the crowd favourite go to 12 under. He dropped back to 11 under and second place overall after a bogey on the 17th which claimed many scalps over the course of the day, including that of Tiger Woods.

Woods struggled on the front nine and appeared to be losing touch with the leaders as well as his temper. However a 3 under back nine has kept Tiger once again within striking distance of the leaders, four shots behind. He will once again, for the fourth time this week be paired with Korean K.J. Choi who, like Woods sits equal third at 8 under.

Westwood's overnight co-leader, Ian Poulter failed to keep pace finishing at 6 under after a two over round of 74. Round 1 leader Fred Couples brought himself back into contention after a career best round at Augusta. Couples too provided fireworks, chipping in for eagle on the 15th. The American veteran sits outright 5th at 7 under.

Australia's legion of golfers once again sturggled with Geoff Ogilvy now the best of the pack at one under par.

Leaderboard

1 Lee Westwood (-12)

2 Phil Mickelson (-11)

T3 Tiger Woods (-8)

K.J. Choi (-8)

5 Fred Couples (-7)

2010 US Masters, Round 2 - Review

Two Englishmen, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter share the lead at the 47th US Masters after 36 holes as Great Britain look for it's first Masters winner since Nick Faldo in 1996.

Poulter put together two rounds of 68 to set up a third round final pairing with fellow compatriot, Lee Westwood. Westwood, Europe's No.1 ranked player recovered from a double bogey on the 14th hole to stabilize his round and manage a 3 under 69.

The two men at 8 under are followed by a group of 5 who are two shots behind. 4 of the 5 at 6 under are Americans, they include former winners, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, young gun Anthony Kim along with Ricky Barnes. Korean K.J. Choi is the sole international, he is two shots off the pace and followed up an impressive first round with a consistent round of 71.

4-time Masters champion, Woods, fired a two under back nine to keep him within striking distance of the leaders and a historic victory. Playing in his second Masters, up and coming youngster Anthony Kim's aggresive play saw him fire 4 birdies, however, a bogey on the last hole brought him back from outright second to the chasing pack.

It was a dissappointing day for the Australians in the field with Marc Leishman and John Senden missing the cut. Adam Scott who was poised nicely after round 1 is still Australia's best, however at even par, Scott is 8 shots back.

Defending champion, Angel Cabrera avoided missing the cut, however, being 3 over after 36 holes, the big hitting Argentinian is out of contention. Also at three over is Italian amateur Matteo Manassero, he became the youngest player ever to make the cut at Augusta.

Leaderboard

T1 Lee Westwood (-8)

Ian Poulter (-8)

T3 Phil Mickelson (-6)

Ricky Barnes (-6)

Anthony Kim (-6)

Tiger Woods (-6)

K.J. Choi (-6)

2010 US Masters, Round 1 - Review

Friday, April 9, 2010, world golf's most anticipated day in recent memory. It didn't dissappoint.

Tiger Woods returned to golf for the first time since his world fell apart after winning the 2009 Australian Masters at Kingston Heath Golf Club. Woods was warmly welcomed to the first tee as he was throughout his round which included two trademark eagles. His round of 4 under (his only sub 70 first round at Augusta) keeps Tiger two shots off the pace and still a chance at what would be a remarkable victory.

On a day where most of the hype surrounded Tiger, two veterans stole a piece of the limelight. They were Americans Fred Couples and Tom Watson. 50 year old Couples leads all comers with his 6 under round of 64 which could have easily been 63 if not for a squandered opportunity on the 18th green where the American missed a makeable birdie putt. Tom Watson, a 60 year old at this years Masters also impressed. He is tied for 2nd and one shot off the pace. This amazing effort comes after Watson's remarkable 2009 British Open where he lead for most of the tournament until succombing to compatriot Stewart Cink in a playoff.

Woods, Watson and Couples are only a sample of the big names which grace the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes. Korean, K.J. Choi who had the challenging task of being grouped with Woods upon his return is tied for second as are highly-rated Englishman Lee Westwood, American lefty Phil Mickelson and 2009 PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang.

Defending champion Angel Cabrera fired a dissappointing 1 over par round, a performance which will give the Argentinian plenty to do in the coming days if he his to have a say in this tournament come Sunday. Other notables who struggled include Australia's number 1 ranked player, Geoff Ogilvy, Irishman Padraig Harrington and young guns Rory McIlroy and Camilo Villegas.

Adam Scott was Australia's best and is in contention after a 3 under round which unfortunatley consisted of Scott's all too familiar putting woes. He will be looking to break Australia's long running 'hoodoo' at the Masters.

An intriguing first round has left a star-studded pack atop of the leaderboard and has given us a mouth-watering contest in the days to come.

Leaderboard

1 Fred Couples (-6)

T2 Lee Westwood (-5)

Phil Mickelson (-5)

K.J. Choi (-5)

Tom Watson (-5)

Y.E. Yang (-5)

Langerak...a keeper for the future

Wednesday 31 March, 2010 marked the coming of age for young Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak. The contest, a must win match for Melbourne against Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale was a chance for Ernie Merrick's side to salvage some pride in a competition where they were yet to pick up a solitary point. Enter, Mitch Langerak.
No doubt this was his finest performance of his so-far short career. A string of saves in the games opening 20 minutes kept the Victory in the contest and allowed them to hit the lead early in the second half through a Kevin Muscat penalty. However some of his finest work for the night was yet to come. With Kawasaki piling on the pressure looking for an equaliser to keep their own ACL chances alive, Langerak produced two world-class saves to protect his sides meger lead. Melbourne have this 1-0 win thanks to one man and one man only. It has been an incredible season for Langerak who has barely put a foot wrong since edging out New Zealand shot-stopper Glen Moss out of the Victory's starting XI. Ernie Merrick, Gary Cole and the brains trust in Melbourne will do well to hold onto this fine yonug keeper.

He is bound for bigger and better things and no doubt one day in the not too distant future we will see Melbourne's young custodian standing in between the posts for the Socceroos.