Statistics have a bad name. Everybody seems to use them but nobody, it seems, has a good word to say about them. The most famous quote on stats is possibly that attributed to Benjamin D’Israeli (1804-81), British politician and writer, who is supposed to have said that “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics”.

If you go looking on the Net for something more positive, the least cynical you’ll find is probably the comment by Jean Baudrillard (French social commentator) that “like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfilment”.

It was probably with a fair degree of wish fulfilment, hoping to discern some positive omens, that – in a moment of idle curiosity - I had a look at the relative records of Old Trinity and St Kevin’s. And what I found was interesting enough.

One of the more remarkable items that emerged was that in the previous 8 rounds, Old Trinity has averaged just 90 points when playing at home (and 105 when playing away), but that St Kevin’s has averaged less (75 points) when playing away (and 109 when playing at their idiosyncratic home ground).

This seemed to indicate a couple of things: that the large Bulleen ground is harder to score on, but also that StK has substantial problems with scoring when away from their home ground. It also suggested that (and this is where stats DO become a form of wish fulfilment) an “average” game by OT would outpoint an “average” game by StK.

But no studying of “stats” could have anticipated what happened on the day!

Rosco’s Rant

(Renowned film critic & social commentator Adam “Rosco” A offers more insight into the world of cinema – before donning again his coach’s hat. You can read more of his pertinent observations in the Luncheon Report, below - Ed)

I was shocked on Saturday to be informed that there are people out there in Old Trinity World that read this article each week. This has placed an incredible amount of pressure on me to perform. I also had some very interesting feedback from a number of O.T legends claiming that they had recently rented "How to Make an American Quilt" and had thoroughly enjoyed the film. Films play such an important role in our society that I feel compelled to offer my thoughts as a social commentator. Wall Street is a film that I feel like writing about today. This may be due to the fact the DVD cover is sitting on the coffee table where my computer is placed. The DVD sitting next to Wall Street is When Harry Ate Sally, however this is probably not the right forum to discuss this "romantic" film.

Wall Street follows an ambitious young broker (Charlie Sheen) who is lured into the illegal, lucrative world of corporate espionage. He is seduced by the power, status and financial wizardry of Wall Street legend Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas). The pursuit of overnight riches comes at a cost. It is the classic case of the American dream going horribly wrong. Daryl Hannah (I had a slight crush on her in July 1987) plays the love interest and sets tongues wagging throughout this Oscar winning film. If you are a Daryl Hannah fan, head down to Civic Video and ask for Memoirs of an Invisible Man. Daryl Hannah falls in love with an invisible man. Luckily the man is Chevy Chase, which makes the film bearable, as the script is not one that would be used as an example to students at the University of Script Writing. Wall Street is a great film and should be watched by all OT players that are trying to make it in the corporate world.

There is something pleasant about playing University (in any of their hues...) at their ground. Maybe it’s the surrounding skyline – as picturesque in its urban way as Marles Fields are in a green meadowy way. Maybe it’s the amiability of a drink at Percy Jones’ pub (formerly the Astor) or a coffee at the Universitá before a stroll to the ground puts the whole “Amateur Football” experience in the context of other human activities. Whatever the reason, there seemed to be a bonhomie amongst the T’s supporters, and a lack of the furrowed brows that usually adorn the side lines.

Maybe it was that quietly growing awareness that these young men in the Green-&-Gold are slowly maturing, as footballers and as a team.

But whatever the sentiments from the boundary, this was never going to be an easy game: University Blacks was the team that dropped to B-Section with Trinity at the end of 2008, and their win/loss record was almost identical to Trinity’s (with only a Rd 7 loss to Carey the major difference). Here was a team with definite finals plans which had most recently beaten OT at home in their last 2008 encounter.

In any case with Brendan Iezzi and Andy Cultrera late withdrawals due to illness, OTs knew they’d have their depth tested. It’s especially at time like these that one is grateful for the intense competition for places in the senior team: with the 2s travelling so well, there was a quiet confidence that any player selected would indeed step up.

More photos >> Gallery 2009; Match Reports >> Read More

Rosco’s Rant – Round 8

I am very pleased to announce that I can't sew. Otherwise I would be introducing a new form a communication to O.T.G.A.F.C which requires players to sew their feelings onto a doona. This was inspired by a very emotional evening as a film critic. Trust me, given the mood I was in, critic was an appropriate job for me.

I watched the 1997 U.S box office dud How to “Make an American Quilt” on Saturday night to help comfort me following a very disappointing result against Uni Blacks. Winona Ryder led an unknown cast in trying to uncover the secret to love and relationships. Winona was torn between her high school sweet heart and a ripped Southerner who had recently arrived in the little town of Winchestertontownville. Winona confided in the female family members about her dilemma, to help uncover the truth about love. The family consulted a doona/duvet/quilt which told the tale of a family who from the outside seemed to epitomise perfect middle class America. What the doona/duvet/quilt uncovered was generations of heartache, betrayal and anger. This led Winona to finally realise that love was more than six pack stomachs, rippling biceps, toned calf muscles and voices that make wolverines purr. I feel as empty describing this very poor film as I did when the siren sounded on Saturday.

Only the Seniors emerged victors from the week-end games, but that was a victory to be proud of – against 2008 A-Section side and top-four contender University Blacks.

In the other games, the Reserves had a rare off-day (and an even rarer, rotten, scoreless last quarter) to just go down to Uni Blacks 64 to 77, while the U19s had their first comprehensive defeat at the hands of “Premiership Favourite” De La Salle. The Thirds went down to Monash Blues by 86 points.

But at University Oval, the Firsts had  one of their most even and impressive wins for the year, downing 6^th placed Uni Blacks to retain 4^th spot by a game (and slight percentage).

While Andrew Ramsden had a rare quiet day (on the scoreboard, at least) Jack Healy and Andrew Hore-Lacy stepped up to kick 5 and 3 respectively.

Photos on display in the 2009 Gallery; detailed reports to follow.

For the first time this season Old Trinity was comprehensively beaten by a side that was more prepared, more skilful, and possibly more committed. “Today we played a side that… take the game seriously. They… want to win every contest. It was a learning curve” said a disappointed coach, Ray Leetham, after the game, who suggested that De La Salle would be the eventual premiers.

De La applied relentless pressure all over the ground, and rarely allowed the OT players to move the ball easily or into open space. Consequently the visitors kicked countless goals from errors and turnovers, and outscored the home side in every term.

Our congratulations go to Luke Pacconi, Jack Osborne and Brendan Iezzi who were all selected to play for VAFA Representative Teams over the week end.

Pacconi who was selected for the VAFA U21 side to play the AFLQ side at Toorak Park on Saturday, while Iezzi and Osborne travelled to Freemantle with the U23 side to play against a WAAFL U23 side yesterday (Sunday).

While full match details are not yet available, the final results are: the Queensland side was too good for the VAFA U21 side, winning comfortable by 6 goals - 12.13 to 6.13. In the west, the U23s also lost, by just a point, and after a late charge, in which they kicked the last 2 goals of the game.

In this off week, when our thoughts are not taken up entirely by the main aim of the season (to win games!) it's a good opportunity to turn briefly to another, equally important issue.

Readers can relax, this is not an appeal for donations, simply a few words about an essential cog in the Amateur Football machine. The reality is that a club like Old Trinity cost upwards of $100K to run each season, and about 1/3 to 1/2 of this money comes from sponsors.

Old Trinity and Hampton Rovers last crossed paths (and swords) a neat decade ago: 1999 was indeed a different world! But some things seem to persevere.

In the 2 games played between the sides in 1999 there was a young maturing ruckman who got BoG both times – one Andrew “Rambo” Ramsden. Ten years later, and the same “Rambo” dominates the scoring, kicking 6 of OTs 10 goals. It was on the back of such statistical significance that OT built its victory.

But as well as being a day of “reprises”, it was also a day of “firsts”: Tom Eckersley and Alex Hooke, who both featured heavily in last year’s line up, played their first game in the Seniors for the year; Tim Walsh (from the Western Bulldogs) played his first game ever for the OTs, and made a significant impact. He joined his brother Brett in the team, possibly creating club history in having 3 sets of brothers (Walsh’s, Howell’s and Healy’s) playing in the one side.

Rosco's Rant - Round 7

Old Trinity should be very pleased with their comprehensive victory against Hampton Rovers. Jay Arrowsmith was playing his first game of football against Hampton Rovers since 1999. On that day, Old Trinity were forced to wear a "clash" jumper. The powers that be chose bumble bee colours for the reserves and Richmond jumpers for the seniors. Jay, with the assistance of five trainers, two water boys and a guy walking his dog, squeezed in his bumble bee jumper. After a promising start to the game, Jay began to suffer badly from lack of circulation. The jumper was cut from his body and he was informed by the club doctor that he was never to wear a tight football jumper ever again.