Clanregeln » Essendon:?B Matt Dea, Michael Hartley,

LONDON -- In his changing room before the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, referee Howard Webb wasnt comfortable in his blue shirt.So he took it off.Put it back on.Took it off.Put it back on.Did this six times.Moments from the most important game of his life, Webb was struck down by another bout of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition in which a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior.Webb kept the condition secret throughout a career that saw him referee the Champions League final and World Cup final in the same year, fearing the harsh world of soccer would mark him down as mentally unsound.He has revealed the condition in an autobiography, and told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that he didnt want to jeopardize his career. You have to give the impression of being an assured and confident person, he said.In Johannesburg, as the Netherlands and Spain prepared for the World Cup final, Webb was trying to get changed. He wrote: I reached into my kit bag and grabbed my azure blue Adidas shirt. However as I pulled it on, a negative thought invaded my head, my anxiety levels rose and I took the top off again to erase that niggling feeling.In the end it took me about six attempts to keep that bloody shirt on my back.His mood wasnt improved by what happened on the field. In a dirty game full of nasty fouls, the ex-policeman showed the yellow card 14 times and the red card once, a record for a World Cup final. He also missed a vicious kick to the chest of an opponent by Netherlands player Nigel de Jong.There are some that are unrefereeable and that was one of them, he said about the biggest game in global soccer.Webb said he tried to avoid sending players off, but agreed that that sometimes meant he failed to show the red card when he should have done.I recall a Manchester derby when Cristiano Ronaldo sarcastically applauded me after I booked him, Webb said. Of course, I should have showed him the red card (sarcastic applause is seen as dissent, a booking offense) but I thought to myself, `Im going to change the course of the game by doing this. For want of a better word, I bottled it by not sending him off.The 45-year-old Webb is a soccer analyst and head of refereeing for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and says hed like to land more roles that help to develop refs.Famous as much for his bald head as his refereeing, Webb says the OCD began when he was a boy growing up in Rotherham, east of Manchester in northern England.He noticed that sometimes he kissed his mother goodbye in the morning and a bad thought entered his head that something was going to happen to her. So he would kiss her again -- and again -- until a positive thought about her entered his head and he could relax.His parents noticed the behavior, but brushed it aside as Howards habits.Webb kept it from his football employers. I could have imagined some less-than-sympathetic person remarking, `Can we trust Webb on a football field? Or shall we hand that semifinal to a ref whos, erm, not so flaky?Until he retired in 2014, Webb was Englands top referee, and his autobiography reveals a profession riven by in-fighting among the small group of elite refs who control English Premier League games.What had been intended as an informal beer and barbecue night in Cumbria almost descended into a version of Fight Night ... between Graham Poll and Mark Halsey, Webb wrote.He said: Watching them trading personal insults and squaring up to each other was pretty unedifying. Both ex-referees have denied any such clash took place.While more and more technology was being introduced to help refs, Webb said footballing authorities needed to recognize that technology has its limits.There has to be a clear acceptance that it wont be the answer to every decision in the game, he said.Goal-line technology has proved a big success, but Webb was a less a fan of video technology.Some decisions arent right or wrong, he said. Theyre subjective decisions that should be made by the referee. Cheap Custom Raptors Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Cheap Raptors Jerseys . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.customraptorsjersey.com/ . 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Kennedy, Mark LeCras FOL Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey I/C Dom Sheed, Jackson Nelson, Josh Hill, Mark HutchingsHawthorn:?B Taylor Duryea, James Frawley, Shaun Burgoyne HB Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall C Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Bradley Hill HF Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli F Paul Puopolo, Ben McEvoy, Ryan Burton FOL Jonathon Ceglar, Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge I/C Kaiden Brand, Brendan Whitecross, Billy Hartung, Will LangfordUBET verdict: Hawthorn dominated West Coast earlier this year, but the Eagles are a different proposition at home. That said, the Hawks are well in commission early at double your money odds.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selectionsSaturday, August 20North Melbourne ($3.25) v Sydney ($1.35), Blundstone Arena at 1:45pmNorth Melbourne:?B Scott D. Thompson, Michael Firrito, Shaun Atley HB Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Nick Dal Santo C Jack Ziebell, Trent Dumont, Daniel Wells HF Brent Harvey, Ben Brown, Lachlan Hansen F Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Majak Daw FOL Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow I/C Brad McKenzie, Jed Anderson, Aaron Mullett, Sam GibsonSydney:?B Nick Smith, Aliir Aliir, Dane Rampe HB Callum Mills, Heath Grundy, Jarrad McVeigh C Jake Lloyd, Josh P. Kennedy, Dan Hannebery HF Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Harry Cunningham F Xavier Richards, Gary Rohan, Tom Papley FOL Sam Naismith, Luke Parker, Tom Mitchell I/C George Hewett, Ben McGlynn, Dean Towers, Kurt TippettUBET verdict:?Sydney needs another big percentage boosting win to consolidate their top two spot and the money trail suggests theyll get one. North has won eight straight at Blundstone Arena, but remain unwanted at this stage.Richmond ($2.00) v St Kilda ($1.82), MCG at 2:10pmRichmond:?B David Astbury, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes HB Jayden Short, Taylor Hunt, Brandon Ellis C Oleg Markov, Trent Cotchin, Shaun Grigg HF Dustin Martin, Sam Lloyd, Shane Edwards F Kane Lambert, Jack Riewoldt, Daniel Rioli FOL Shaun Hampson, Nick Vlastuin, Andrew Moore I/C Todd Elton, Callum Moore, Connor Menadue, Bachar HouliSt Kilda:?B Dylan Roberton, Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary HB Jack Newnes, Sam Gilbert, Shane Savage C Leigh Montagna, David Armitage, Blake Acres HF Maverick Weller, Nick Riewoldt, Nathan Wright F Tim Membrey, Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin FOL Jason Holmes, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven I/C Jack Lonie, Jack Billings, Jade Gresham, Daniel McKenzieUBET verdict:?Punters have latched onto the Tigers in early trade, which is no great surprise. Richmond had premiership contenders the Cats on their knees last week, but choked in the final term.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selectionsGWS ($1.03) v Fremantle ($13.00), Spotless Stadium at 4:35pmGWS:?B Josh Kelly, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw HB Joel Patfull, Nick Haynes, Jonathon Patton C Ryan Griffen, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield HF Toby Greene, Rory Lobb, Steve Johnson F Devon Smith, Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully FOL Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Zac Williams I/C Jacob Hopper, Adam Tomlinson, Dylan Shiel, Nathan WilsonFremantle:?B Tommy Sheridan, Alex Silvagni, Lee Spurr HB Garrick Ibbotson, Sam Collins, Cameron Sutcliffe C Michael Walters, Stephen Hill, Ed Langdon HF Shane Yarran, Chris Mayne, Lachie Weller F Michael Apeness, Matt Taberner, Zac Clarke FOL Jonathon Griffin, David Mundy, Lachie Neale I/C Connor Blakely, Hayden Ballantyne, Danyle Pearce, Darcy TuckerUBET verdict:?Money has come thick and fast this week for the Giants - particularly at the -57.5 - who need a win to keep their top four hopes alive.Collingwood ($1.33) v Gold Coast ($4.35), Etihad Stadium at 7:25pmCollingwood:?B Jonathon Marsh, Nathan J. Brown, Jeremy Howe HB Josh Smith, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard C Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish HF Rupert Wills, Darcy Moore, Travis Varcoe F Adam Oxley, Jesse White, Ben Crocker FOL Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp I/C Jordan De Goey, Jarryd Blair, Levi Greenwood, Tom PhillipsGold Coast:?B Adam Saad, Steven May, Kade Kolodjashnij HB Jarrod Harbrow, Rory Thompson, Alex Sexton C Matt Rosa, Aaron Hall, Matt Shaw HF Brandon Matera, Tom J. Lynch, Jarrad Grant F Sam Day, Peter Wright, Ryan Davis FOL Keegan Brooksby, Jack Martin, Touk Miller I/C Callum Ah Chee, Sean Lemmens, Brayden Fiorini, Jarrrod GarlettUBET verdict:?Collingwood look priced to their limit in a match of little consequence.ddddddddddddPunters are keeping their powder dry at this stage.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selectionsPort Adelaide ($5.25) v Adelaide ($1.17), Adelaide Oval at 7:10pmPort Adelaide:?B Darcy Byrne-Jones, Cam OShea, Jasper Pittard HB Matthew Broadbent, Tom Clurey, Nathan Krakouer C Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec HF Jarman Impey, Justin Westhoff, Sam Gray F Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Aaron Young FOL Jackson Trengove, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray I/C Karl Amon, Jimmy Toumpas, Matthew Lobbe, Jesse PalmerAdelaide:?B Luke Brown, Kyle Hartigan, Jake Lever HB Rory Laird, Daniel Talia, Kyle Cheney C Brodie Smith, Rory Sloane, David Mackay HF Mitch McGovern, Josh Jenkins, Charlie Cameron F Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch FOL Sam Jacobs, Brad Crouch, Matt Crouch I/C Scott Thompson, Rory Atkins, Richard Douglas, Jarryd LyonsUBET verdict:?Ladder positions generally go out the window in showdowns, but the money trail says that wont be the case this time. Even though the Crows are the shortest price theyve ever been heading into a Showdown, theres a line out the door to take them outright and at the -34.5.Sunday, August 21Carlton ($3.55) v Melbourne ($1.30), MCG at 1:10pmCarlton:?B Zach Tuohy, Sam Rowe, Jacob Weitering HB Dylan Buckley, Lachie Plowman, Sam Docherty C Kade Simpson, Sam Kerridge, Ed Curnow HF Jack Silvagni, Liam Jones, David Cuningham F Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult, Matthew Wright FOL Andrew Phillips, Patrick Cripps, Bryce Gibbs I/C Dennis Armfield, Simon White, Liam Sumner, Dale Thomas, Andrejs Everitt, Blaine Boekhorst, Nick Graham (Three to be omitted)Melbourne:?B Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Tomas Bugg C Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson HF Angus Brayshaw, Jack Watts, Aaron Vandenberg F Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent FOL Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C Clayton Oliver, Billy Stretch, Cameron Pedersen, Viv Michie, Sam Weideman, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Harmes (Three to be omitted)UBET verdict:?Melbourne has been all the rage in early trade and in the intense interest is understandable. The Dees have knocked off the Hawks and Power in the past fortnight and remain a mathematical top eight hope.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selectionsBrisbane ($14.00) v Geelong ($1.02), Gabba at 3:20pmBrisbane:?B Tom Cutler, Daniel Merrett, Darcy Gardiner HB Josh Clayton, Harris Andrews, Sam Mayes C Tom Rockliff, Ben Keays, Lewis Taylor HF Pearce Hanley, Tom Bell, Eric Hipwood F Ryan Lester, Josh Walker, Dayne Zorko FOL Stefan Martin, Daniel Rich, Mitch Robinson I/C Ryan Bastinac, Jarrad Jansen, Liam Dawson, Rhys Mathieson, Jackson Paine, Matthew Hammelmann, Archie Smith (Three to be omitted)Geelong:?B Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Lonergan, Harry Taylor HB Corey Enright, Lachie Henderson, Andrew Mackie C Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Josh Caddy HF Scott Selwood, Rhys Stanley, Mitch Duncan F Jimmy Bartel, Tom Hawkins, Lincoln McCarthy FOL Zac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield, Cameron Guthrie I/C Jed Bews, Josh Cowan, Shane Kersten, Darcy Lang, Sam Menegola, Steven Motlop, Tom Ruggles (Three to be omitted)UBET verdict:?Brisbane upset the Blues last week, but the Cats are a different prospect entirely. Most punters have pencilled Geelong in as a value-add in their multis.Essendon ($12.00) v Western Bulldogs ($1.04), Domain Stadium at 4:40pmEssendon:?B Matt Dea, Michael Hartley, Martin Gleeson HB Orazio Fantasia, Mitch Brown, Patrick Ambrose C David Zaharakis, Zach Merrett, Jackson Merrett HF James Kelly, Jayden Laverde, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti F Darcy Parish, Joe Daniher, Jake Long FOL Matthew Leuenberger, Craig Bird, Mathew Stokes I/C Adam Cooney, Mason Redman, Kyle Langford, Conor McKenna, Mark Jamar, Jonathan Simpkin, Sam Grimley (Three to be omitted)Western Bulldogs:?B Shane Biggs, Fletcher Roberts, Easton Wood HB Jason Johannisen, Joel Hamling, Matthew Boyd C Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Liam Picken HF Lin Jong, Zaine Cordy, Clay Smith F Tory Dickson, Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel FOL Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Josh Dunkley I/C Jake Stringer, Nathan Hrovat, Toby McLean, Lukas Webb, Koby Stevens, Will Minson, Roarke Smith (Three to be omitted)UBET verdict:?Early shoppers have taken a shine to the Western Bulldogs who need another win to keep afloat their top four hopes.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selections ' ' '