THEY are about 200 centimetres tall, 100-plus kilograms, have muscles on their muscles and can snap blokes like me in two with their little fingers, but man, they love to sook, don't they?

It's just one thing after another with the power forwards these days.

They whinge if you put your hands in their backs, they whinge when you chop their arms to spoil, they whinge about the umpires, they whinge about their teammates' poor disposal, they whinge when they are penalised for putting their hands in someone else's back, they whinge when the umpire takes them to the boundary line after marking in front of the goal post, some of them even whinge because life is so hard in retirement.

And now they are whingeing again, this time when they are bumped in mid-air.

What a bunch of sooky-la-las. They're lucky my Nan isn't alive.

My Nan, a Collingwood fan, was as tough as an old boot and she invented putting cheap bourbon and cola in a tinnie so folks like her could have a sip in the supermarket.

She was a cold woman, my Nan, who said things like, "Irish poets are sissy", and she became famous in the mid-'90s for temporarily preventing the sale of Irish pop-music in Australia.

Nan would be turning in her grave right now, not just because Van Morrison has released another record.

She believed the big forwards should be seen and not heard and she thought pain was for wimps.

But that was Nan, God bless her. She came from another era, a long time before generation Y and the Sensitive New Age Power Forward; a time when a tunnel was what a train went through or a place where you could drink cheap bourbon and cola with Collingwood players all night long.

Speaking of the Pies, they're starting $2.10 outsiders against the Brisbane Lions ($1.75) and, although this game is at the Gabba, they are attractive odds, considering Brisbane played in the heat in Perth last weekend.

Have a look at the Western Bulldogs defeating the Dees by more than 22.5 points at $2.10 and, although the Blues ($4.35) are rank outsiders against the Saints ($1.22), expect them to start well. Think about a half-time/full-time double with Carlton into St Kilda at $8.

Port ($2.18 at Sportingbet) is also on the road against the Swans ($1.70) and although it is wise to place your faith in home teams during the early stages of the season, the long break could be handy for Port.

And what is going on with Paul Roos and this coaching-from-the-boundary-line business?

Is it just me or did anyone else notice last week that the game was in the balance, Roos was on the boundary line and the Swans lost by two points.

Sound familiar?

Roos says he wants to sit there so he can "communicate" with his players, but what does he want to say?

Who could be sure, but just maybe he wants to say, "Don't kick a goal". Just maybe he wants to "manage the list" like Carlton and pick up some nice, high draft picks.

If the Swans lose by two points again, I will be demanding a full inquiry (not one of those half ones). Better take either team under 15.5 points ($3.10), just in case.