I know it's an early call, but I believe Bachar Houli and Callan Ward are both talented enough to play in excess of 200 AFL games. The nineteen-year-old Houli and eighteen-year-old Ward were drafted in 2006 and 2007 respectively, after both players had a couple of impressive seasons in the TAC Cup with the Western Jets. Amazingly, both young men hail from the same local Football Club of Spotswood in Melbourne's West.

The recent “representative” match between Victoria and the Dreamteam has been looked at from almost every angle. Most people have embraced the game with perhaps the exception of channel ten who managed to upset almost everyone by cutting short the coverage. After taking it all in, the one conclusion I came to, is that while the players and coaches supported the idea they didn’t embrace it passionately. Ultimately players still pulled out of contests and coaches still didn’t want players with niggles risking injury and putting themselves on the line.

Tempers have flared, and world class cricketers have been portrayed in a bad light over the past few months. While I have never been a sledger, I can see where it has its place in the game. Increasing the pressure on a player verbally when it could affect his standard of play is a useful tactic. Abuse, however, is really not acceptable and should be immediately removed. Questioning a player's batting technique is classic. Get his thinking centered on tiny technical details and he may lose concentration on the job at hand. Similar to asking a mate on the golf course if he breathes in or out when he swings!

Our favourite Major League Baseballer was back for some more OWAAT action. Not surprising considering he had just hit the winning Home Run against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The most exciting aspect however, was that Justin Huber managed the achievement against one of the sport's all-time greatest pitchers, the Big Unit, Randy Johnson.

What an amazing journey that Bruce Djite has embarked upon in order to reach his current destination as an Adelaide United striker in the Hyundai A-League. Born in Washington DC, tuned his skills in NSW, played in Germany and Korea and eventually named the 2007/08 A-League Young Player of the Year. Very impressive, as was this interview that he conducted during a fancy dinner with some Port Adelaide AFL footballers right before the 2007 Grand Final.

Victorian football fans experienced something unique last weekend, the opportunity to cheer for Jonathon Brown, Adam Goodes, Ryan O’Keefe, Daniel Bradshaw and Luke Power, and it was sensational. Almost 70,000 fans turned out at the MCG for a match that had no backbone, it had no soul, it was without consequence, it undeniably lacked heart. Imagine how supported the concept would be if it actually mattered. But how can we make it matter?

Never before has an NBA Playoffs series been so wide open. For the first time since 2004, the top four seeds in both conferences have advanced through to the second round of the Playoffs. If the top two seeds in both conferences happen to get past the number three and four seeds, it will be the first time since 1986 that all twelve series over the first two rounds of the Playoffs have gone to the higher seeded teams.

There has been a considerable amount of Richmond-bashing being undertaken over the past few months, seasons and decades. So I went hunting for a positive angle. I've often defended the loyalty and passion of their fans as a group. Despite winning just three games in 2007 the Tiges still racked up one of the league's highest average attendances of all 16 AFL teams. However, now I have figured out a way in which I can get the proud "yellow and black" back on top of the AFL. I give you 'The AFL Ladder of Club Songs', debate as you will.

This week was unfortunate for Ben Hilfenhaus who had to pull out of the upcoming tour of the West Indies with a stress fracture of the back. The fortunate recipient of this awful injury was New South Welshman, Doug Bollinger who came into the squad on the back of a super impressive year for the Speed Blitz Blues. Now Bollinger’s inclusion brought up that good old chestnut that all you Victorians whine about whenever someone from north of the border makes the side. And that is…..”The only reason he’s in the side is because he plays for NSW.”

Well this edition of the Crystal Ball is certainly a non-Victorian affair. This third edition looks at my predictions for 5th through to 8th on the 2008 AFL ladder and I am sure, as always, it will be greeted with gasps of surprise and groans of disappointment. I’m not here to make friends people, just calling it like I see it. Oh god I sound like an umpire – not that there is anything wrong with that. Anyways, strap yourselves in, here comes another installment of the infamous OWAAT Crystal Ball.