by Glenn Harris You know I remember it like one of those things from your childhood that is ingrained into your brain and will never leave you. It was a few months before my 43rd birthday. I was tired, bruised and on my way home. As we drove down the long straights [Read more]
English lessons at Windy Hill.
June 21, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Shane Goss In the days pre-AFL and Metricon Stadiums, suburban grounds played host to the game’s biggest stars. Back then the AFL was the VFL. Telephone-booths were still in use and Big M milk was the flavour of the times.The ‘match of the day’ or ‘games of the round’ were taking place every Saturday [Read more]
He’s alright, this [Geelong player*] *insert your preferred young’un
June 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
He’s alright, this kid Menzel. In 2007 when the Cats finally won a flag, I was in London desperately searching for a pub that was showing the game at two in the morning. As the opening bounce drew closer I knew that we were going to win, and that I wasn’t going [Read more]
Round 13 Blog: Unlucky for Some
June 17, 2011 by 35 Comments
Coaches requiems are already being written; some teams are still a ‘mathematical’ chance for finals; it must be mid-season. The Dogs host the Crows tonight for the right to remain a ‘mathematical’ chance. Essendon host North, whose recent form is actually the better of the two. Is Sir James’ halo slipping? Hawthorn introduce the Gold [Read more]
Grass Roots Footy Man “Rocket” Rod Gillett farewelled from the desert.
June 17, 2011 by 5 Comments
Haje Halabi, June 14,2011. “Rocket” Rod Gillett has been a much-loved member of the Australian football community in Abu Dhabi. This week friends gathered at his favourite oasis in the desert, Coopers Bar, to farewell him, as he will be soon venturing to Vietnam with his lovely wife Jessie and son Jeremy. There was a [Read more]
The right decision
June 15, 2011 by 30 Comments
by Nick Sculley On Friday afternoon I was faced with a decision; leave a pile of well overdue study for yet another day and head to Etihad Stadium to watch my beloved Saints, or get it out of the way on Friday and visit the Mecca on Saturday night for what surely would be [Read more]
Debt demolition
June 14, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Andrea McNamara It’s Women’s Round in the AFL – something I find quite unnecessary to draw attention to, since females make up about half the crowd every week and that’s not a new thing either. Anyway, as it turns out, I go to the footy with three other females, and this year we upgraded [Read more]
Her hair glistened…
June 14, 2011 by 5 Comments
Every year, English teachers from across the United States submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year’s winners. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two [Read more]
Going to the footy
June 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Richard Naco I love going to the footy. Sydney on Sunday was cold, wet and miserable (as forecasted), and although my family and I prevaricated to almost the very last second, in the end the lure of the game proved too great and it was off to the SCG that we went. I love [Read more]
The AFL Record 2011 Short Story Competition
June 13, 2011 by 1 Comment
THE AFL RECORD IS CALLING ALL BUDDING WRITERS The AFL Record has teamed up with Virgin Australia, the official airline of the AFL, to encourage aspiring writers to try their hand at short story writing with an AFL theme. The AFL Record 2011 Short Story Competition, which will run for eight weeks through the [Read more]
Simon Katich Unloads
June 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Simon Katich was scathing in his press conference responding to the news he had been omitted from Cricket Australia’s contracted players list for the coming year. There are many Almanackers who would feel he voiced what we’ve been saying throughout last summer. You can listen to what he had to say here: http://www.sportal.com.au/mediaplayer/audio/Cricket/simon-katich-has-selectors-in-his-sights-10584
Stephanie Holt Discussion
June 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Almanacker Stephanie Holt discusses women in footy, and how she got involved with The Footy Almanac, at the Overland webite. http://web.overland.org.au/2011/06/stephanie-holt-on-football-and-gender/
Round 12 Blog
June 10, 2011 by 28 Comments
Halfway point of the season. Though many hope to continue beyond round 24. Two who’ve been recent September fixtures (Saints & Bulldogs) meet tonight, with the loser sliding inexorably into the realm of only being a ‘mathematical chance’ of playing finals. Cup of Constant Sorrow indeed. Adelaide host West Coast on Saturday afternoon with the Eagles looking [Read more]
The Discovery of Bob Pratt
June 9, 2011 by 12 Comments
While I never played football at the Highest Level, I think I can legitimately lay claim to being one of the game’s greatest archaeologists. For it was me in 1995 along with my good friend Mike Lefebvre who rediscovered the man, the legend, that was Bob Pratt. During that year, Mike and I were researching [Read more]
So what’s the score?
June 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
There’s been a lot in the media recently about the ugly parent syndrome at junior football matches, where feral mums and dads disgrace themselves by behaving badly on the sidelines. But what about the technologically-challenged parent syndrome? The game is definitely changing. I’ve had a go at most things in following the footy career of [Read more]
Leather fish bonding
June 8, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Margaret McCarthy The silence that follows the thud of the ball shouts ‘Run!’ I jog backwards, staring high into the dark tree backdrop, one hand raised to shield the glare from my eyes. The ball is a speck, a bird, a comet hurtling to earth. The mighty football seeks its target: me. I position [Read more]
WAFL Blues
June 8, 2011 by 8 Comments
by Mark Simms Here in WAFL land, WA, we’ve just just enjoyed our Foundation Day round in perfect Perth winter football weather. Brilliant but soft sunshine ensured it was warm on the outer banks underneath the gum trees- though it was still a bit chilly in the shade of the 1950’s stands when the wind [Read more]
Colonial memories
June 8, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Kerrie Soraghan I attended my first Footscray match in utero. My mother, a passionate fan, prided herself on missing only one match for each of her four pregnancies, which, to her annoyance, coincided with the winter months. She would stand for three hours at a time in the outer, rain trickling down her neck, [Read more]
Q and A dream panel?
June 7, 2011 by 26 Comments
Much discussion today about the disappointing Q and A last night. Was it disappointing? Who is your Q and A dream panel?
The Thrilling ‘Fields
June 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Shane Goss Old Ivanhoe and Caulfield Grammarians played out a thriller in round seven of the VAFA Premier B section last Saturday at Chelsworth Park in Ivanhoe. It was first against third. The Fields had been promoted from Premier C the year before and were going into the game undefeated. Old Ivanhoe had only [Read more]
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