AFL Round 15 – Melbourne v Sydney: Improved Demons? Check back in a month

Losing 5kg in 3 days is an ideal build up for a title fight or to ride down the Flemington straight on Cup Day. It is not a good build up when trying to get to the footy.

Reflections of an angry man after 5 days on the toilet

Craig Dodson’s had plenty of thinking time, and he’s angry. Ranging from the big targets (Malthouse, Sheeds, The Footy Show) to the small (whatever happened to long sleeve jumpers?), his top 10 rant will touch a nerve in everyone.

Mitch Morton and the worriers

Craig Dodson may well have instigated a rich outpouring of personal angst here in this interesting discussion of sport and anxiety.

AFL Round 7 – Hawthorn v Sydney: What next after Everest?

I saw anger on the eyes of hawks fans last night, the sort of anger I suspect is reserved for blokes who walk into the bedroom and find their wife with the plumber. They wanted blood and last night they got it.

Disillusioned with Modern Sport? Try Darts

Craig Dodson would much rather have a few quiet ones with Phil Taylor than a Red Bull with James Magnussen.

Anthony Mundine: The reality is…

Craig Dodson believes Anthony Mundine’s legacy deserves more but he only has himself to blame.

‘Get your camera ready, three photos and bub can’t go in the cup’

It is 37 degrees and I have had a horrible day at the office, however, I am determined to battle peak hour traffic and a screaming 8 month old baby to go and get my picture taken with a silver cup with red and white streamers.. Why?

Swans should pass on Kurt

The pursuit and possible landing of Kurt Tippett at the Swans flies in the face of the famous ‘Bloods Culture’ and Craig Dodson hope he lands in the glorious surrounds of Blacktown and GWS.

AFL Grand Final: I’m a lucky man

Craig Dodson doesn’t make a habit of hugging 70 year old female strangers but at 5.08pm on Saturday it made perfect sense as the emotion of the Swans victory took hold. Sport has the power to unite people and a shared love of the Sydney Swans had taken over M29 row E of the Olympic stand.

25 years of the Red and White

In 1987 I sat in the SCG stands as a 9 year old and watched Steve Wright kick 8 goals as the Swans put 201 points on the Eagles. 25 years on I sat on the coach watching us take on the Pies trying not to make a noise and wake up my 6 month [Read more]

AFL Finals Week 1- Adelaide v Sydney: A comfy old pillow

I like my pillow, its durable, supporting, hard working, a little worn at the edges and cost me about $10 from Kmart a decade ago. Sure there are flashier versions with dodo bird feathers or maybe endorsed by Buzz Aldrin, but I like mine just the same. I depend upon it. The Sydney Swans are [Read more]

AFL USA Combine – no thanks

Last week the AFL boarded the A380 and headed to Los Angeles for the AFL USA Combine, I’m pretty sure they could have got a better result if they jumped on a Crop Duster and flew to Horsham.

We are not America

I read with much disinterest over the weekend of the proposed concept of an East vs West representative match in 2014. Come on people, we live in Australia not America. The concept was the ‘brainchild’ of the players I am led to believe so perhaps I’m just out of touch with the modern era. I [Read more]

What is pressure?

At a recent press conference in London the coach of the US Women’s Basketball team, Geno Auriemma, said: “Real pressure is when you lose your job and have to pay the mortgage, or if you are a single mum wondering if you can afford to pay your kid’s education”. That is the most sensible comment [Read more]

The view from base camp

Is it possible to fully enjoy watching a game of football involving your team? Apart from the three seconds between Leo Barry’s mark and the siren in 2005 I don’t think I have been able to watch a game of football involving the Swans with pure joy. Am I unique or do others share my [Read more]

The enthusiastic assistant coach

It is 7.45am on Saturday and as a new father with a three month old son I have clocked on for duty, Sophie is off to the Gym and her weekly hour of parental free R and R so I am solely responsible for the safety and well being of one Jack William Dodson. I [Read more]

Unsociable supporter

At three quarter time of the Swans vs Bombers I was having a relaxing Saturday, the next 30 minutes exposed my seedy underbelly. I have to face the facts – I am an unsociable supporter. The day started so in great fashion, despite a bumpy week where young Jack was feeding poorly and I feared [Read more]

Footy through the eyes of a father

Football as I know it changed during round 2 on April 7th as Jack William Dodson came into the world. As fish and chip shop owners were playing their grand final on Good Friday and I was pondering if Ross Lyon instilled structure and process into doing the dishes and lovemaking or if he was [Read more]

Lessons passed on from Dad through Football

“Just kick the bloody thing” my father and I screamed out in unison as Lewis Roberts-Thomson had ambition confused with ability as he tried to clear the ball from defence. When it comes to football I am clearly my father’s son. Last weekend I took my 6 week old son Jack to Wagga to meet [Read more]

What has happened to the long sleeve jumper?

While shopping recently I tried to track down a long sleeve jumper but alas it appears they have dissapeared much in the same vein as black footy boots and 1/2 time oranges. It seems that all you can buy now are the sleeveless variety (at least via most retail outlets and the swans website). I [Read more]