AFL Round 10 – Carlton v GWS Giants: Bring on the thrashing

Damian Watson was asked whether he didn’t have anything better to do when entering Etihad to watch the Blues and Giants. He figures he endured enough 100+ point drubbings throughout his team’s ‘salary-cap punishment years’ to enjoy basking in a one-sided victory.

Video review: Hawks of 1969

With the Hawks currently firming into Premiership favoritism, I thought it was an opportune time to recall the club’s era at the diminutive Glenferrie Oval. This clip from 1969 is one of the very few available of the Linda Crescent ground affectionately termed as the ‘sardine-can’. Note the famous outer area below the railway line [Read more]

Video replay: Dream team

Does the current US Olympic men’s basketball squad compare with the 1992 Dream Team? While I am not a huge basketball fan, witnessing names such as Jordan, Bird and Johnson convey their prowess in this clip would set the bar high for the stars of today. You be the judge.

F1 Grand Prix: Should our nation’s most prestigious motor racing event be axed?

By Damian Watson The Australian Formula One Grand Prix has been previously touted as the pinnacle of international sporting events staged across the country, however the sanctity of the race has been questioned and threatened in recent years. As a result of dwindling crowds, significant financial consequences and angst amongst local residents and politicians, the [Read more]

International Rules: Moments We Won’t Likely Forget

This coming weekend the International Rules Series returns to the Emerald Isle for the first time in four years and the highly anticipated build-up serves as a timely reminder of how this ambitious experiment to bind two codes together has effectively paid off. Indeed, the International Rules concept has provided us with a variety of [Read more]

Collingwood: The Most Effective Spread Since Vegemite

Collingwood have claimed the elusive Premiership pennant for the first time in two decades with a comfortable 56 point victory as the spread of pressure, effectiveness and intimidation within the Magpie camp became as prominent as ever. The annihilation initiated by the Magpies has no doubt sent the vast Collingwood army into raptures as they [Read more]

That Sinking Feeling

by Damian Watson Many subscribe to the theory that every heart-filled sports fan occasionally undergoes a feeling which resembles one of it’s favourite team. As the weekend winds down to it’s eventual conclusion on a wet soggy Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, I certainly experienced that feeling. It appeared as if every element surrounding me represented my dull solemn [Read more]

Five Infamous AFL Documentaries

By Wednesday night the attention of the vast football public will turn to the premiere of the revealing and highly anticipated Ben Cousins documentary. The well-documented two-part series is set to provide a greater insight into the Brownlow Medallist’s publicized drug addiction and with the support of his family and friends the documentary will attempt [Read more]

Goal Umpiring: Technology vs Tradition

by Damian Watson It is an issue which continues to accelerate debate in the world of sport: Do we adopt new forms of technology and implement it to combat mistakes within our respective sports? Or do we agree with a traditionalists view and maintain the current regime which allows human error? The use of technology regarding the interpretation of calls [Read more]

Top 10: Notable Comebacks From Injury

Well it is fair to declare that the hot topics in the football world at the present time relates to long-term injuries. The loss of star Fremantle mature-age recruit Michael Barlow to a broken leg is a blow not only for the Dockers but also to the competition in general as many would agree his [Read more]

Eight Years of Footy at the Sydney Olympic Stadium

Throughout its 11 years of existence, the Sydney Olympic Stadium located in the western Sydney suburb of Homebush, has served as the backdrop to many of Australian’s finest and memorable sporting moments of the 21st Century. Many would argue that this venue has captured the hearts and minds of the Australian public and has conveyed [Read more]

Port Adelaide v Carlton: Blues Claim Huge Scalp as I Claim a Frustrating Cold

By Damian Watson Throughout my short life there is one question that has left me pondering about Port Adelaide. How can a suburb with a less than adequate reputation produce one of the most successful clubs in Australian Sport? This is by no means a scathing attack on this Adelaide suburb after all the club [Read more]

Rampant Pies Dispatch of the Inexperienced Blues

Is there a bigger rivalry in Australian Sport? Although this has been claimed frequently in the press, I’ll repeat that no matter where these sides are situated on the ladder, a clash between these two combatants always guarantees a large attendance. On this occasion Carlton and Collingwood are both in superb form. The rejuvenated Blues [Read more]

Blues take advantage of fluctuating circumstance

Isn’t it interesting how the sporting landscape can change so immensely in the space of just 7 days? It had been an enjoyable week on a personal level as I completed my Work Experience at Channel 10 and felt thrilled as I took a glimpse at the professional work involved in the fascinating medium of [Read more]

Blues Conquer the Underachieving Crows in a Vital Victory

By Damian Watson Over the past seven days the football press have dubbed this match as a “D-day” for both of these proud and talented clubs in 2010. The Crows who at one stage throughout the summer were predicted to be Top 4 finalists this season have somewhat been disappointing in the eyes of the [Read more]

Bombers Prevail In a Bruising Encounter Over the Error-Riddled Blues

By Damian Watson I am in the midst of another lazy Saturday Afternoon and while recovering from laser surgery on my teeth I make the observation that footy certainly has the ability to both cure and compound on the resulting pain.

Zig Zagging to Suburban Grounds (Part 1)

By Damian Watson In the eyes of the teenage folk, the end of March represents the beginning of a two week break from school. On Saturday fellow Almanacker Steve Healy, trying to shield himself from witnessing another Melbourne annihilation at the hands of Hawthorn, accepted my suggestion that we should roam around suburban Melbourne at some stage [Read more]

Brown’s Lions Record a Sterling Victory over the Gallant Blues

AFL Round 2- Brisbane v Carlton To be perfectly honest I didn’t have any knowledge of what to expect from the Blues on this Easter Thursday night. Much anticipation has been directed towards this match over the past 6 months with a fiery, physical contest expected although most experts are tipping a Brisbane victory. To [Read more]

Round One: Richmond v Carlton

The simple yet appropriate words of ‘Can’t Wait’ is the motto for the AFL’s promotional video in the lead-up to this season. Like many avid footy fans around the country, I circled the date March 25th in my calendar as the Tigers are set to clash with the mighty Blues in the season opener. It’s fair to [Read more]

NAB Cup Semi: St Kilda and hailstorm wreak havoc on an unusual Melbourne day

By Damian Watson Labour Day weekend was designed to honour those who undertake work and contribute to society with a reward of three days relaxation, although this Saturday was anything but. A significant hailstorm or using footy terminology – Waverley Park weather, hit Melbourne in the early afternoon causing chaos in all quadrants of the [Read more]