Visiting Lord’s: Captain Clarke, Watto the rotten apple, and other reflections

Gareth Andrews reflects on the sights and sounds of Lord’s and a lamentable team performance.

Obituary: Season 2013

The Shinbone Spirit carried North Melbourne through pitiful decades and into defining eras. Matt Watson says Brad Scott has tried to kill it.

AFL Round 17 – GWS Giants v Essendon: Dons do enough in enemy territory

Rod Oaten enjoys the traditional time slot despite the unfamiliar territory in western Sydney.

AFL Round 17 – Richmond v Fremantle: Babbaganoosh, Pioneer Park and Tigers.

Richmond’s victory and a trip to his home town inspire mighty dreams in Haje Halabi of past glory with the Bright Under 16s. These Tigers really are intoxicating.

AFL Round 17 – West Coast v Sydney: Sunday carve up

Tom Bally prepares the dinner as the Swans make the gravy taste all the better,

Golf: A Novice at the Open

Smokie is not one to queue. He made an exception to board the train to Muirfield for the British Open – it was worth it.

Crio’s Question: Gold Coast victory – who’s thrilled?

Was anyone genuinely thrilled for the Gold Coast when they won on Saturday dusk – as distinct from the schadenfreude of the Pies’ loss?

The View from Shepparton: A dearth of cricket talent

England, smash us in the cricket, we can cop that, but please don’t patronise us. That really hurts.

AFL Round 17 – West Coast v Sydney: Don’t Dream – It’s Over

Peter Baulderstone was trying to put the Australian cricket team out of his mind, but they turned up in blue and gold guernseys at Subiaco Oval on Sunday afternoon.

AFL Round 17 – Gold Coast v Collingwood: Suns set on Pies’ season

Collingwood’s season has resembled some of the rollercoaster rides on the Gold Coast, says Ramon Dobb. Those who think a top four position and shot at the flag are still achievable are living in a Dreamworld.

Ashes: The Mini-Series

News has come through that Hollywood is making a mini-series of the Ashes. The production has been plagued by script problems, but Matt Quartermaine’s spies in the Land of Make Believe have let him in on the casting.

AFL Round 17 – West Coast vs Sydney: A father’s anguish

Craig Dodson has come through the longest week of his life.

Second Test – Day 4: Rooted

Australia was shown up by a 22 year old batsman who displayed everything the visiting batsmen lack.

Ashes: Skool Trip Repawt from Lawdz

Shane may have failed the allocated assignment, but that hasn’t stopped him from having his say.

AFL Round 17 – Melbourne v Brisbane Lions: Brisbane Mid Strength v Melbourne Light

Going to the Footy in Melbourne involves certain rituals: putting on beanies, jumpers and scarves. It’s different in Darwin where the crowd wears thongs and t-shirts. You can tell the locals from the Mexicans quite easily. The locals have brown arms and the Mexicans are white.

AFL Round 17 – GWS Giants v Essendon: Four Quarter footy

Manchester United. One of the biggest and most storied football clubs in the world are in town to play all the stars (minus most of the actual stars) of the national competition – and I don’t care. I’m going next door earlier in the day.

Second Test – Lord’s: Oh dear, Australia.

Did anyone think it would get this bad? Or at least, this bad so early in the series?

AFL Round 17 – North Melbourne v Carlton: The Triangles are ringing

A classic interpretation of Friday night’s gladiatorial contest between the Shinboners and the Triangles, by Sebastian Clark.

AFL Round 17 – Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs: Shades Of Grey

The footy landscape has irrevocably changed – be it the AFL, VFL or VFA – but some constants remain, writes Armin Richter from Box Hill City Oval.

Second Test – Day 2: Golf anyone?

Matt O’Connor, who was full of hope, briefly, recalls the shambles of Lord’s and prepares for an afternoon of Collingwood and an evening of golf.