by Chris Riordan Needless to say it is a big weekend in local footy with most leagues now in finals mode. The Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, for example, has, like many others around the state, “deciders” spread across the whole weekend. Most comps try to find “gated” grounds so they can charge admission [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Adversity
August 29, 2011 by 10 Comments
The Swannies must have ached this week. There’s no way that the death of a mate’s child can be fuel to win a game of footy. But they “dug deep”, knowing there was nothing else that they could do. I thought they’d be emotionally spent. Grieving and, to be honest, probably outclassed. But they won. [Read more]
Book Review: 1964 A GAME, A SEASON, A STATE
August 28, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Michael Sexton published by and available through www.sportswords.com.au Michael Sexton’s 1964 is a “niche” book. Those for whom “1964 SANFL season” strikes a chord – typically 50+ sports loving Croweaters – will cherish this wonderful snapshot of South Australian society and sport. crio
Crio’s Racing: Memsie Stakes Day
August 26, 2011 by 10 Comments
It’s not a vintage Memsie Stakes – a time honoured campaign launcher – but, nevertheless, this Gr2 feature race and several others here and at Rosehill this Saturday will be subjected to close scrutiny, especially as the Doubles Bookies have now got their teasers well and truly posted. The next time we are at the [Read more]
Sat’dy Footy – 27th August
August 24, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Chris Riordan Now here’s a great way to spend this footy Saturday, kicking off with a lunch and words from the great “Flea” Garry Wilson and continuing with an afternoon’s viewing at the magnificent Brunswick street ground. Check this invite… http://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/2011FFCAug27PresidentsLuncheonvsMHSOBookingSlip.doc Get a tram and plan to get home late as there are [Read more]
Crio’s Q: WHO’S TO BLAME?
August 22, 2011 by 12 Comments
Andrew Hilditch’s flick has been widely predicted and applauded. Tim Neilson, too, had to fall on his sword. But, amidst the avalanche of approval, there seems to be a question largely ignored. Why did this apparently inevitable call take so long to be made? And….who should cop the blame for their appointments and failures? Who [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Moonee Valley 20 August
August 19, 2011 by 4 Comments
I don’t expect bookies to get any sympathies from punters. Sworn enemies, their motive is, of course, to get each other’s money. It is a simple stand-off, but in some ways also a reason why there’s a history of grudging mutual respect on a changing landscape. Once upon a time I’d only bet with a [Read more]
This Sat’dy… 20 August 2011
August 17, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan My sides seem to have gradually slipped from contention and, with the races getting more interesting, it is easy to lose track of the various comps, many of which are finishing the fixture and facing finals fates. For some comps it is an “early September”….for example, my plans for a weekend [Read more]
Crio’a Q: Memberships
August 14, 2011 by 7 Comments
I’ve been thinking about Memberships and their worth. The days of them offering a sense of belonging seem gone in Melbourne’s corporate AFL world, with home grounds redundant and fixtures fragmented. No doubt this is less so in “lower” leagues where your money up front makes a statement and a difference. But honestly, despite the [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: ‘Time Honoured” Spring
August 11, 2011 by 3 Comments
Peter Lawrence is a former Committeeman with the Melbourne Racing Club. Fawning to him, former colleagues have shafted legendary sports identity (and remaining link to the Williamstown Racing Club) J.J. Liston, renaming from 2010 a time-honoured “Spring”-board for WFA stardom. The horses, of course, know nothing of this blight and the owners and trainers still [Read more]
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE – footy this Sat’dy
August 10, 2011 by 10 Comments
by Chris Riordan There are some big games on in the ‘burbs this weekend. Sunday will be inked on many fridge calendars. For juniors, it is finals time (good luck Matty on Sunday!). But Sat’dy – the traditional footy day- will still have a store of big battles to draw you from the couch. [Read more]
Crio’s Q: barracking against ‘your’ team
August 7, 2011 by 24 Comments
…or at least not barracking for “your team”. A lifelong Doggies fan, ex-player, sauntered in to our group last Sunday morning. “Watch the game?”, I tentatively inquired (WB v WC) “Yeah”, he began, surprisingly upbeat, “and I had Cox as my Supercoach captain!”. This bugged me. Soon after some swimming was on the TV screens. [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Aurie’s Star Handicap
August 5, 2011 by 8 Comments
The Aurie’s Star Handicap is on at Flemington this Saturday. Actually, it is not that important an event – Budge, who goes back a bit further than me, reckons it was formerly run mid week – but it has the potential to create a groundswell of interest and notice that the “good ‘uns” are not [Read more]
Sat’dy Arvo Footy August 6th 2011
August 4, 2011 by 15 Comments
Some teams must be well over it. Glenorden, for example, whose seniors (WRFL Div1) lost by 277 points to Spotswood on Saturday. No mention on their site about the fate of coach Jay Fantusca, though there is notice that cricket will soon be underway! What makes it hard for clubs like the Hawks is that [Read more]
Crio’s question: the world’s great shellackings
August 2, 2011 by 22 Comments
This week’s question has to be about shellackings after the Cats stunning win on Saturday. Mind you, the Crows the week before were not much better, losing by over 100 points to a side that didn’t even kick 20 goals. Trouncings have a macabre place in sporting folklore and, as we’ve seen, the fallout can be [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Saturday 30 July
July 29, 2011 by 17 Comments
It’s time to face the impending (racing) New Year with some upbeat reflections after (my) last week’s death notice for our Industry! There are always great stories in this game, whether they involve man or beast. Or, in this case, woman. Perhaps rather than lamenting the morgue at Sandown the other Wednesday, I should [Read more]
Sat’dy footy 30 July 2011
July 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Chris Riordan As a (much) younger teacher I used to play in some staff v student footy games. We had a fairly fit, active team and, with the Principal umpiring to our interests, scores were often settled. The kids wore the school jumper and we were “others”. One time I wedged in to [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Sporting partnerships
July 25, 2011 by 25 Comments
Tiger’s split from long time caddy Steve Williams ends a long and incredibly successful partnership. Most of our images of Woods have his bagman somewhere in the frame – he became NZ’s most successful sportsman! Great partnerships live long in the memory… Barry Price to Peter McKenna. Angelo Dundee and Muhammad Ali. Graeme Wood and [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: 23 July 2011
July 22, 2011 by 6 Comments
Flemington hosts its last meeting for Season 2010/11 this Saturday and, for those few stalwarts in the wind tunnel of a main ring and for the Paddock bookies, it will be a ghost town as the VRC continues to make its money whilst the foundations of our “game” crumble. An empty ring has meant not [Read more]
Sat’dy footy July 23
July 20, 2011 by 4 Comments
by Chris Riordan For local junior comps the last few weeks have been like NRL’s Origin time with players unavailable and upsets likely. The end of school holidays should ensure a return to normality as the kids face the last batch of games for this season. There’ve been some super frosty mornings and not [Read more]
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