GROUP E Netherlands: Highly fancied to win the tournament, the classy Dutch team boasts incredible skill and talent. Solid at the back and fluent through the midfield, players like Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder will look to both assist and score goals. The only superpower in the group and should advance with no troubles. Player [Read more]
Poetry: A Lament To Kings All
June 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Tim Pekin A LAMENT TO KINGS ALL It’s as if some kings have never been not Attracting the strong, the poor, the traditional hero’s lot Unearthing dreams on a quest for the Holy Grail Performing epic deeds for the populace to hail They lead their men into battle, at the fore Mercurial imposing figures, [Read more]
Swans win the proverbial drought breaker
June 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Neil Jackson SWANS VS ESSENDON 6TH June 2010 The headlines for this game will probably read: “An arm-wrestle on a raining afternoon”. From a Sydney Swans fan’s prospective it should read: “From the dark clouds comes the bright light-finally a close and important win. ‘ Swans-Bombers games have for eight years honoured the “Marngrook” [Read more]
2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 4 of 8
June 6, 2010 by 5 Comments
GROUP D Germany: One of the powerhouses of international football. They boast experience, speed and class in a well balanced team that is picked out mostly from the German Bundes Liga. However, the omission of Captain Michael Ballack through injury is a big loss. A man that is the heart of soul of German football [Read more]
Link: Cricket in the USA
June 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment
What would be more fun than playing a game of cricket in Central Park? With a growing Indian expatriate community in the USA, there are attempts to revive the great colonial game. A cricket ground has even been built in Florida. The Guardian’s Spin blog casts an eye over developments. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jun/02/thespin Almanac Admin
2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 3 of 8
June 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Domenic Favata GROUP C England: Warmly backed to have a real crack at this year’s title. Coach Fabio Capello expects big things from his side that boasts the names Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard and so on. There attacking style will see them progress onto the round of 16 and could do some damage there. They [Read more]
2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 2 of 8
June 2, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Domenic Favata GROUP B: Argentina: The feisty South Americans hail the world’s best ever player and the current best player. I’m talking about Coach Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Maradona has had a controversial build up to the World Cup, facing fines, suspensions and hefty flack from the South American media. If they can [Read more]
Link: Junior Players in Demand
June 1, 2010 by 35 Comments
The competing interests of local sports clubs and private schools is a long standing issue. Private schools have priorities which often affect the availability of players for their local teams. The recent rise of junior pathways and elite development squads in many sports has added to the confusion. This Age article examines some of the ins and outs of [Read more]
Victory at last for young Tigers
May 29, 2010 by 2 Comments
By Domenic Favata If you saw the inner sanctum of the Richmond song at the end of the game, you knew something special had happened. Richmond had finally broken through to their first win of the year, with a 47 point drubbing over lack lustre Port Adelaide. The rain was pelting down and an extreme [Read more]
2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 1 of 8
May 28, 2010 by 3 Comments
By Domenic Favata This is the first part of eight of my 2010 FIFA World Cup preview. The biggest sporting event on the planet which kicks off on the 12th of June. Last time it was Italy who took the chocolates and held the title of champions. This time it could be anyone; the field [Read more]
LINK: Mascot Hall of Shame
May 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The Alamanac editors once knew of a St Kilda Ruckle who got into a fully fledged punch-on while still in uniform (although the head fell off during proceedings). But this pales when compared to some mascot misadventures overseas. The Independent has compiled a photo gallery of the Mascot’s Hall of Shame. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/the-best-and-worst-sporting-mascots-1977011.html?action=Popup&ino=1 Almanac Admin
LINK: The True Cost of Sporting Festivals
May 26, 2010 by 1 Comment
As governments around the world clamour to host the world’s great sporting events, do we ever stop to consider who really wins from these deals? The Guardian Sportblog takes a disturbing look at the social dislocation resulting from New Delhi’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/may/25/commonwealth-games-delhi Almanac Admin
Pay Up
May 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
On Thursday, 24th January 2002 , Derek Guille broadcast this story on his afternoon program on ABC radio. In March 1999 a man living in Kandos (near Mudgee in NSW, Australia ), Received a bill for his as yet unused gas line stating that he owed $0.00. He ignored it and threw it away. In [Read more]
LINK: Possession Possession Possession
May 25, 2010 by 1 Comment
Possession. As possession footy becomes an increasing talking point in AFL circles, soccer has generally looked at the issue differently. Inter Milan’s recent Champions League victory over Barcelona has brought this question into focus once again. Almanacker Rick Kane brought this Guardian piece to our attention. It is a fascinating dissection of the topic . [Read more]
Race Call Gone Wrong
May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
“I think we’re gone here”. That about sums it up, as veteran race caller Jimmy Jacques has a tough day at the office. One man’s discomfit is another’s entertainment. http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/9raw-race-callers-voice-goes-lame/xrh8vf Almanac Admin
AFL Round 8 – Fremantle v Collingwood: What if?
May 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Andrea McNamara Haven’t felt this nervous before a game in ages, maybe since that final in 2007 against West Coast, the one that went into extra time. I was there, I flew over to see what could have been Bucks’ last game, if we’d lost. What a win at the House of Pain – [Read more]
Link: Sometimes the good old days are best left behind
May 13, 2010 by 1 Comment
Remember when the first quarter of every grand final featured an all-brawl? As this clip from the 1990 Ovens and Murray league grand final shows, in many ways we should be glad that the good old days have been left behind. The teams are Wodonga in the maroon and white stripes and Lavington in the [Read more]
Another Cakewalk!
May 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Despite the headline I’m not thinking as far ahead as many in the media. The Mothers’ Day round saw the 4th 50+ points win for the Pies on the trot, and apparently the 1st time since ’97 (according to Radio 774) that we have kicked 150+ in successive weeks. However when I mentioned that to [Read more]
Link: Try this for progressive
May 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
You want a progressive football club? Try German club St Pauli, as depicted superbly in this Crikey blog. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/sports/2010/05/05/how-to-run-a-football-club-101/ Almanac Admin
Soccer: A peek into grass-roots soccer in South Africa
May 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The Guardian website often runs wonderful picture essays. Here’s one, in the lead-up to next month’s World Cup, on grass-roots soccer in South Africa. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2010/may/01/photography-worldcup2010?picture=362016914 Almanac Admin
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