One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on December 10, 2008, 03:06:25 AM
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Star athletes to go head to head in TV battle
Samantha Lane
December 10, 2008
THE makers of the soon-to-be launched eight-part television series Australia's Greatest Athlete wouldn't say much at all to us yesterday. In fact they told us to wait until the launch.
But we can confidently predict that they will soon be pumping up what they will claim to be the most comprehensive sports celebrity series this country has ever seen. We can save the debate until afterwards.
Richmond's reigning best-and-fairest winner Brett Deledio is the sole AFL representative among the eight combatants for the title (they are all male). The Tigers confirmed last night that Deledio was on the Gold Coast shooting this week and had received a short-term leave of absence from pre-season training with the club's full support. He is in fine sporting company — our mail is that cricket's Andrew Symonds, the National Rugby League's Billy Slater, rugby union's Lote Tuqiri, V8 supercar champ Jamie Whincup, Olympic gold medallist pole vaulter Steve Hooker, soccer's Joel Griffiths and ironman Ky Hurst are the other contestants lined up.
The program will be pitched as a multi-discipline physical challenge aimed at determining Australia's best all-round sportsman. Who knows, if it's a success maybe a couple of sporting women will get a go.
Nine confirmed yesterday that it has the program pencilled in for Saturday afternoons and has Andrew Voss and Michael Slater pencilled in as hosts, and Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting committed to a role as guest commentator as well as athlete motivator and interviewer.
Word is the athletes will undertake challenges in the disciplines of golf, cricket, basketball, shooting, and rock climbing, and complete 40-metre sprints, a mini ironman, take soccer penalty shootouts, bench press until they blow up and even attempt dune buggy racing. Symonds v Tuqiri on a dune buggy? The mind boggles. The title will be bestowed on the best performer overall.
No show for Archie
THE pressure will be on 21-year-old Deledio who will fly the flag for his code and no doubt receive all sorts of grief from his peers at Richmond along the way. A crew from Australia's Greatest Athlete has been hanging around Tiger headquarters and filmed Deledio training and pumping muscle in the gym.
Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson, meanwhile, had to turn down the opportunity due to his training and playing commitments.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/star-athletes-to-go-head-to-head-in-tv-battle/2008/12/09/1228584840674.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
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Should be interesting, I'll give that a go
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Good choice really. Lids is a great all round athlete. He is the quickest and was the strongest at Richmond, was an excellent junior cricketer and possesses good endurance. He should go well in the competition.
Stripes
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Wonder how long the series will go for. Would be nice if it's just one show as not sure I could be bothered watching it each week.
Either way, GO LIDS!!
I reckon he's a very good chance to take it out
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Lids will probably win this easily. As long as he doesn't get injured :-\ or it doesn't detract from his preseason preparation.
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Lids will probably win this easily. As long as he doesn't get injured :-\ or it doesn't detract from his preseason preparation.
I whole heartily agree with this. And I would just add the Billy Slater would be the other one to watch.
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They showed some brief clips from the show during the lunch break of the cricket. They had Lids and co. playing golf, swimming, bugging driving, batting, sprinting and shooting some baskets.
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Any idea as to when it will be on?
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Any idea as to when it will be on?
I don't think they've said when yet.
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In this thread is says that Lids won the bench press.
http://forum.sportal.com.au/viewthread.aspx?t=42342
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Looks like he remembers hows to play cricket.
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In this thread is says that Lids won the bench press.
http://forum.sportal.com.au/viewthread.aspx?t=42342
That's impressive by Lids if true. I would've thought the rugby league/union guys who play short burst power sports would've bench pressed the most.
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From the thread it was max reps of 75% of body weight, so wasn't just pure strength it was more endurance and strength which would be very suited to the AFL guys.
Smarter way to do it too as too much weight could result in a torn pectoral
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Wait for the sprints...I know Lids is fast but we would all have to agree that Whincup would have it in spades!
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He came 3rd in the sprints
Hooker won them, which isn't surprising given he competes in track and field
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they should add to the title of this programme
'Australia's Greatest Athlete' from Australia's greatest clubs :thumbsup
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(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3212269978_38e50ed159.jpg?v=0)
• Billy Slater Rugby League
• Andrew Symonds Cricket
• Joel Griffiths Soccer
• Steve Hooker Pole Vault
• Brett Deledio AFL
• Lote Tuqiri Rugby Union
• Ky Hurst Ironman
• Jamie Whincup V8 Supercars (not pictured)
Guest Commentator
• Ricky Ponting
Nine Network Hosts
• Michael Slater
• Andrew Voss
Read on BF that Lids said he made the podium this morning on SEN but didn't give anything else away as to where he finished.
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So, any idea when this is supposed to be airing, and on which channel ?
EDIT : Just found a bit of info.
Channel Nine at the end Jan / mid Feb
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The show starts 5pm today on Ch 9. It goes for an hour.
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lol Lids doing the happy Gilmour at the golf. Don't give up your day job Brett :yep.
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lol Lids doing the happy Gilmour at the golf. Don't give up your day job Brett :yep.
LOL It worked for the soccer player. I really enjoyed watching it because they seemed to be having so much fun, Lids got his fair share of camera time (must have something to do with those blue eyes) lol
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No wonder why cricket authorities wanted to get Lids over to cricket. Five 6's of six balls to finish 2nd behind Symonds. The way the Aussies are going at the minute he'd probably walk into the side too lol.
Lids is currently 4th after the golf and cricket challenges.
Windcup 170
Symonds 160
Slater 145
Lids 140
Hooker 120
Griffiths 120
Tuqiri 115
Hurst 70
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For those that missed it you can watch the episode here:
http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes
Lids' go at the batting is in part 4. The machine was bowling at 90 kph.
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For those that missed it you can watch the episode here:
http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes
Lids' go at the batting is in part 4. The machine was bowling at 90 kph.
Cheers OE. :thumbsup
Didn't get a chance to watch it on the TV, so much appreciated.
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Just a reminder the next episode is on at 5pm today on Ch 9.
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Lids is equal 4th after four events. He came sixth in the ironman and third in the basketball.
Slater 325
Hooker 290
Windcup 280
Lids 270
Symonds 270
Lids was in front after the sprint in the ironman but he's no swimmer - first in the water and last out. Ky Hurst said it's an old trick not to go too hard in the sprint as it stuffs you once you hit the water.
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Replays of today's Episode 2 is now up on the website....
http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes (http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes)
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:rollin hard - I could swim better than lids - That was FFarken Hilarious and amazing at the same time. :gobdrop
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A reminder the next episode is on at 4.30pm today on Ch 9.
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A reminder the next episode is on at 4.30pm today on Ch 9.
Thanks, I'll make sure I don't inadvertantly flick to ch 9 at that time....shocking programme.
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Lids is outright 4th after the 3rd episode.
Lids won the bench press :thumbsup with Slater second and Griffiths 3rd.
He now weighs 87.5kg so he won doing 35 reps of 65kgs (75% of his body weight)
Lids also beat Slater one-on-one in the rugby challenge but he finished 7th overall.
1. Slater 535
2. Hooker 465
3. Symonds 420
4. Lids 410
5. Windcup 360
5. Tiqiri 360
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:banghead Damn missed it, like that show.
HTF does lids beat Slater and finish 7th ???
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:banghead Damn missed it, like that show.
HTF does lids beat Slater and finish 7th ???
They had to grab tags off the opponents waist to signify a 'tackle'. There was no body contact and it was done on the beach not on grass. Lids actually read Slater's dummy to stop him with the body but Hooker and Hurst got past Lids because he didn't grab hold of their tags.
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Bump. Next episode is starting now (4.30-5.30pm)
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Dud
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At the halfway mark Lids is equal 3rd.
1. Slater 695
2. Hooker 595
3. Deledio 530
4. Symonds 530
Lids came third in the 40m beach sprint behind Hooker and Slater
In the buggy race Lids stalled the buggy at the start :wallywink and then knocked over two markers to finish 7th.
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At the halfway mark Lids is equal 3rd.
1. Slater 695
2. Hooker 595
3. Deledio 530
4. Symonds 530
Lids came third in the 40m beach sprint behind Hooker and Slater
In the buggy race Lids stalled the buggy at the start :wallywink and then knocked over two markers to finish 7th.
He's got some ground to make up on Slater.
Billy looks to have him covered athletically.
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I expect Lids to be pretty good at the high ball challenge, wouldn't be surprised if he even beat Slater at that to get bonus points. Was only 0.01sec between Lids & Slater over 40m in the beach run too. Slater said that 40m was about his max/best distance, that's around the mark Lids usually goes into another gear in a 100m race.
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The lastest episode is up on the web for those who missed it
http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes (http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes)
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"Can't swim, Can't drive, Lucky your'e good at footy lids" :rollin Doing well enough at the rest to be = 3rd :clapping
How fast is that Hooker dude over 40 :outtahere
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How fast is that Hooker dude over 40 :outtahere
Never like to see the words "hooker" and "fast" in the one sentence....such poor value for money.
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I thought Slater had a bad back as this is what was said ages ago.
If he has it looks like he's over it now then.
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leader board?
what events are left or what events have been done?
how many points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc ...
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leader board?
1. Slater 695
2. Hooker 595
3. Deledio 530
4. Symonds 530
what events are left or what events have been done?
Done: Golf (one hole), cricket (batting), Mini triathlon, basketball shooting, rugby one-on-one, bench pressing, 40m sprint on sand, driving a V8 buggy
Next episode: Wall climbing and NRL (catching a high ball)
how many points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc ...
For each event:
1st: 100 pts
2nd: 90
3rd: 80
4th: 70
5th: 60
6th: 50
7th: 40
8th: 30
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A reminder the next episode is coming up at 4.30pm today on Nine.
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May be a bit late. Newit rider of light fantastic in the futurity just found out his dad died in a car accident but is still going to ride. :clapping
Good luck even though I haven't backed it this time.
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That was so hard to watch
Good on you Craig for the race you ran - you nearly got it
What a horrible thing to happen to him and so publicly :'(
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That was so hard to watch
Good on you Craig for the race you ran - you nearly got it
What a horrible thing to happen to him and so publicly :'(
I got the winner and watching the race I was cheering on light - Must say don't think I will be in that possie ever again. ???
Anyway back to the Lids and Billy show :thumbsup
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Poor guy :(.
Gutsy bloke. He's still going to ride in the last as well.
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Slater's too good in everything
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Slater's too good in everything
Yep ! I'll call it, Billy is HOME
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Lids did well in this episode and is catching up to Hooker in second but yep Slater winning everything.
1. Slater 915
2. Hooker 735
3. Deledio 690
4. Symonds 650
Lids came 4th in the Wallclimbing behind Slater, Hooker and Windcup.
Lids came second in a playoff with Slater in the NRL high ball. Lids 9/10 (wind took the other over his head) and then 5/6 in the playoff.
Next week: Aussie rules goalkicking and jetski racing
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Next week: Aussie rules goalkicking and jetski racing
Hope lids doesn't fall in the water ;D
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Slater's too good in everything
He looked like a spider climbing that wall lol
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May be a bit late. Newit rider of light fantastic in the futurity just found out his dad died in a car accident but is still going to ride. :clapping
Good luck even though I haven't backed it this time.
Craig won a double today and paid tribute to his dad after his first win :clapping.
"This is what he loved me doing. He'd be hanging over the fence if he was here today, but he's not so we've just got to keep soldiering on. Life goes on," Newitt said.
http://www.virtualformguide.com/cgi-bin/tvf/displaynewsitem.pl?20090304newittbounces.txt
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Bump.
A reminder the next episode is on at 4.30pm today. It's the Aussie rules challenge too.
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Thank god Richo wasnt representing us in the AFL challenge lol Deledio missed enough!
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Lids had a bit of a shocker.
Equal 3rd in the Aussie Rules goalkicking (4.3) behind Symonds (6.1) and Slater (5.2). Lids kicked the first 4 easily before Symonds' trash talk on the mark got in his head and made him laugh then Lids missed the last 3.
Lids was then 7th in the jet ski. He hadn't ridden one before.
1. Slater 1105
2. Hooker 835
3. Symonds 805
3. Windcup 805
5. Lids 800
Next week: soccer penalties, boxing
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we seem to be losing everything at the moment.
Lids losing to Roy. your joking right?
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Roys cricket career may be slowing down, perhaps we could draft him as a full forward.
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Lids took it too casually after the first couple. He also had the Richo 'run out to right and hook it left' going instead of running straight at the goal.
They picked a stock standard umpire - slow as a goose to get into position and blind :lol.
Slater has the comp won and done. He was kicking mongrel punts but they still went straight. The little so-and-so is good at everything lol.
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Lids took it too casually after the first couple. He also had the Richo 'run out to right and hook it left' going instead of running straight at the goal.
They picked a stock standard umpire - slow as a goose to get into position and blind :lol.
Slater has the comp won and done. He was kicking mongrel punts but they still went straight. The little so-and-so is good at everything lol.
Agree, but its hard not to like him, he seems like a bit of a larrikan. Roy, on the other hand....geez he has to whinge about every event! I know its mostly tongue in cheek, but give it a rest
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Roy's a good guy. Drinks at a pub I frequent on some occasions and is really 'one of the boys'. Doesn't do loud or stupid things, just enjoys a beer and the company of his mates. No issue with Roy at all.
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Lids choked in typical RFC manner. :banghead
I wanted to kill him.
That was stuffen embarassing. :help
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Bump.
2nd? last episode on at 4.30pm this arvo on Nine.
Soccer penalties and boxing on today.
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After the soccer and boxing.....
1. Slater 1225
2. Lids 950
3. Symonds 940
4. Hooker 925
5. Tuqiri 915
6. Windcup 905
Soccer (penalties):
Lids didn't miss a penalty until the play-off when Symonds called him Albert again. Sucked as a goalkeeper though lol which cost him first place.
1. Griffiths
2. Tuqiri
eq 3. Lids, Slater, Windcup
Boxing (bag punching - force and speed):
1. Tuqiri 1374 kgs of force over 60 secs
2. Symonds 1132
3. Lids 1125
Next week: Multisport obstacle course
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After the soccer and boxing.....
1. Slater 1225
2. Lids 950
3. Symonds 940
4. Hooker 925
5. Tuqiri 915
6. Windcup 905
Soccer (penalties):
Lids didn't miss a penalty until the play-off when Symonds called him Albert again. Sucked as a goalkeeper though lol which cost him first place.
1. Griffiths
2. Tuqiri
eq 3. Lids, Slater, Windcup
Boxing (bag punching - force and speed):
1. Tuqiri 1374 kgs of force over 60 secs
2. Symonds 1132
3. Lids 1125
Next week: Multisport obstacle course
It was like his feet were in cement lol
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Roy has his measure :lol
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After the soccer and boxing.....
1. Slater 1225
2. Lids 950
3. Symonds 940
4. Hooker 925
5. Tuqiri 915
6. Windcup 905
Next week: Multisport obstacle course
Next week: Multisport obstacle course - Double points - Somehow lids is going to need some swimming lessons otherwise he is no chance for Australias 2nd greatest athlete ;D :thumbsup
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Next week: Multisport obstacle course - Double points - Somehow lids is going to need some swimming lessons otherwise he is no chance for Australias 2nd greatest athlete ;D :thumbsup
;D Yep if Lids has to be a water polo goalkeeper he might as well not turn up lol.
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To be fair to Lids in the goal keeping, every other player in goals had about 2 players completely miss the goals and didn't manage to actually save many. Lids saved one, but everyone was generally on target.
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The final episode of the show is on today on Nine at 4.30pm.
Some sort of all-sport obstacle challenge.
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GO LIDS!!!
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Bugger Billy!
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Lids came 4th in the actual time-trial challenge behind Hurst, Whincup and slater but was penalised 10secs for falling off the balance beam so slipped to 5th behind Griffiths as well. That cost him second place overall.
Overall - Lids finished on the podium in 3rd place.
1. Slater 1385
2. Whincup 1085
3. Deledio 1070
4. Hooker 1050
5. Symonds 1020
6. Tuqiri 975
7. Hurst 960
8. Griffiths 920
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an exciting series..........
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Most boring thing on telly
Watching sportsmen speak for an hour :sleep
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I don't know - seeing them all bare chested was pretty good.
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The last episode is up. Lids is in Ep. 8 part 4.
http://www.greatestathlete.com.au/#/episodes
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Not sure where to put this but it comments on Lids' all-round athletic ability...[/b]
AFL athletes keep the pace in other sports
Daniel Hoy | April 16, 2009 12:00am
LANCE Franklin is triple-jump world champion. Adam Cooney holds the world record in the 400m and Ben Cousins is Olympic 1500m champion.
Gary Ablett is a sprinter, Adam Goodes tackles the hurdles, Trent Croad competes in high jump and Jonathan Brown in the discus.
They could be the best in world athletics, but we'll never know.
Any number of AFL players could have represented Australia on the world's biggest sporting stage, according to a leading biochemist who works with Olympians, AFL players, Formula One drivers and elite athletes from the Victorian Institute of Sport, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Storm.
Melissa Arkinstall, from Exercise Research Australia based at Monash University, is perfectly placed to compare the codes and judge who are the best athletes.
"From testing that we have done with AFL clubs, there would certainly be some players that are genetically predisposed to sprinting," she said.
"Even though he has trained specifically for football, someone like Brett Deledio would most likely run in the low 11 seconds for a 100m sprint due to his superior leg power and speed.
"So it would be interesting to see what he could do with specific sprint-based training as I am sure it would be close to those required for national selection."
The breakneck speed of the AFL today requires players to be fast, strong, athletic, and have good endurance.
They are among the most well-rounded athletes in the world, but how do they stack up against elite athletes from other sports?
To find out, the Herald Sun had their endurance, strength, vertical leap, skinfolds and flexibility tested.
So which sportsperson ruled the roost?
"That is a really hard question to answer as each sport has its own unique physical qualities that need to be developed in order for an athlete to perform at the elite level," Arkinstall said.
"It would be a little unfair to pit Brett against (rower) Drew (Ginn) on the Yarra or (cyclist) Peta (Mullens) in a road race and vice versa as most high-performance sports require a combination of both physical and technical expertise.
"If you take a step back and look at the functional activities that most of us perform day to day, such as running, jumping, pushing and pulling, then I do believe a team sport athlete such as Brett would excel as an allrounder due to the nature of his training."
One of the best ways to compare athletes is with a VO2Max test.
When you want to find out how powerful a car is, you check under the bonnet. A VO2Max test is the equivalent of checking the size of an athlete's engine.
More technically, the VO2Max is the point where your body is unable to increase the amount of oxygen it is consuming.
It is measured as oxygen uptake in millilitres per kilogram of bodyweight.
The average sedentary female has a V02Max of about 38ml/kg/min. For males, the figure is 42.
Some of the highest values recorded are from Kenyan distance runners, who have reportedly exceeded 90ml/kg/min.
"Most of us would range between 35ml/kg/min (inactive) and 60ml/kg/min (well-trained), with cyclist Lance Armstrong reported to have a reading of 86ml/kg/min," Arkinstall said.
"The highest result I have seen came from Tour de France cyclist Simon Gerrans. His result was 80ml/kg/min."
In the test, Ginn and triathlete Erin Densham both recorded the highest value of 67ml/kg/min.
"Everyone was about where I expected them to be. However, because weight is a contributor to the result, it needs to be taken into account," Arkinstall said.
The testing raises an interesting question: Should AFL clubs draft athletes or footballers?
Do they recruit a super athlete -- fast, agile, with great endurance, then teach him how to play?
Or do they go for a guy who can find the ball?
The ball magnet may be slower, less athletic, not as strong, but rack up possessions because of a superior ability to read the play.
"Some teams have come under criticism for selecting athletes rather than skilful performers," Arkinstall said.
"It is a really interesting question: Do you select the person that is physically superior and teach the other components required to compete in the sport, or do you select the skilful athlete that doesn't run, cycle or row as fast or jump as high?
"My view is that with the appropriate training based on sound scientific principles, physical characteristics can be altered quite quickly.
"Whereas, in many cases it is harder to teach technical and tactical skills like reading the play in the sport of AFL."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25339880-19742,00.html
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Not a great year for a number of the competitors in this series
Symonds has been sacked
Taquiri has just been sacked
Deledio is having a pretty down year too
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I was thinking the exact same thing when I heard about Lote's sacking.
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let's hope this isn't an omen for the host of the show ... one Ricky Ponting :rollin
At least Billy Slater has been ok this year :-\