When watching a penalty shootout last weekend (two, in fact, and with no emotional or financial attachment) I wondered at the nerve it took to “step up” or, as a keeper, to stare down your nemesis. These sorts of defining moments make and break careers, even lives. Kevin Muscat has never, I think, missed a [Read more]
Racing: Typhoon Tracy the pick on a day of little depth
February 26, 2010 by 2 Comments
Amongst a congested sporting landscape, the once prestigious Futurity Stakes meeting at Caulfield is in danger of being overlooked by sportslovers and punters, many of whom are already casting their wayward staking towards footy betting, which on the NAB Cup is foolhardy. Friday night’s meeting at the Valley is actually very good but it will [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Is the AFL immune to the crowds crisis?
February 23, 2010 by 2 Comments
by Chris Riordan The trend, it must be said, is alarming. 9,000 at Blue Diamond Day. 15,000 at MCG for an ODI. 18,000 at major A-League semi at Etihad.
Racing: Crio to channel Shane Dye to get to Diamond Day at the Heath
February 19, 2010 by 17 Comments
By Chris Riordan The Caulfield meeting, with seven Group races, is a strong response to media naysayers who have focused on the unfortunate injuries and withdrawals of many Autumn drawcards. It’s a tough day on the punt and in these situations it’s always a sound strategy to turn to the last, where recovery or glory [Read more]
Crio’s Question: What’s your sports viewing pecking order
February 16, 2010 by 17 Comments
It became apparent to me on Sunday evening that I need to make some big decisions these days – and I’m not always good at that. This particular conundrum involved a clash between the Doggies v Lions from Canberra and the Sydney FC v Victory match. As usual, it was resolved by a visit to [Read more]
Racing: Turn left before taking in a great card on William Reid Stakes day
February 11, 2010 by 7 Comments
By Chris Riordan As you scurry in to the Valley and clear the turnstiles, there’s a choice of three directions to take. Punters push straight ahead into the betting ring or beyond to the bars, the stands and the lawn. Sometimes I try to swing right because the stalls and parade ring are beautiful… grand [Read more]
Crio’s Question: What sports buzz words or phrases annoy you?
February 9, 2010 by 92 Comments
By Chris Riordan I don’t want to bag particular commentators, but I’m peeved at how a certain word or phrase can suddenly become commonplace in the sports world and then, soon afterwards, intensely annoying. I’m not so much thinking of Bruce when he says “arches his back”, which is just a term he overuses, but [Read more]
Racing: Good things as far as the eye can see on Awe Stakes day
February 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The meeting at Caulfield on Saturday lived up to its promise. Emphatic winners and good formlines to follow. The Blue Diamond Preludes were terrific entrees to the main event in a fortnight. Tony Vasil’s debut filly, Psychologist, blitzed her opponents to scream to the top of the betting markets. Stories had leaked on Friday that [Read more]
Racing: Plenty at Caulfield for occasional and dedicated punters alike
February 5, 2010 by 16 Comments
Even if you don’t have the time, inclination or bank to invest into Caulfield’s Orr Stakes formguide, the replays and stewards’ reports will be compulsory texts for anyone with an interest in the Autumn Carnival. These fields cover the whole gamut! Spring punters will have heard of Cup stalwarts Viewed, Shocking, Zipping and Littorio, all [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who have you put a line through?
February 2, 2010 by 32 Comments
By Chris Riordan A strong thread of opinion this summer has surrounded the merits or otherwise of Shane Watson. “Promoted on promise”, “selectors’ lovechild”, “insecure pratt”, “nancy boy” … the vitriol has poured thick and fast even while Watto has established himself as Australia’s premier opener and the all-rounder for which barflies have searched since [Read more]
Racing: Nicconi shines on day that will shape autumn markets
January 31, 2010 by 5 Comments
By Chris Riordan The Lightning Stakes lived up to its reputation as a “good horse’s race” when Nicconi bloused Wanted with a whirlwind finish at Flemington. The roll-call has been enhanced by recent winners’ subsequent success abroad, and the Lightning victor looks suited to the pathway trodden by Takeover Target, Fastnet Rock, Miss Andretti and [Read more]
Third Test, Day 3: Introducing the Test Cricket Quaddy
December 19, 2009 by 3 Comments
by Chris Riordan Here’s a new betting medium I’ve just uncovered. As we know, they’re what keep sports afloat. It’s the Test Cricket Quaddy and you’d have scooped the pool if you got it right by tonight. The challenge is to pick runs and wickets per session, from tea one day until stumps the next.
Second Test, Day 5: What conclusions can we draw?
December 8, 2009 by 6 Comments
by Chris Riordan I know Test Cricket can be a bit of a tedious, eccentrics’ game with the old joke of five days, 30 hours and then a draw. It takes a certain type to want to persist with the time, patience and faith in the hope that something worthwhile will emerge. The Second Test [Read more]
Second Test, Day 3: A classic day of cricket
December 6, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Chris Riordan I heard an ABC Radio cricket promo refer to “the rhythm of summer”. I like that. Cricket on the radio is synonymous with holidays, sunshine…a myriad of memories in which cricket is sometimes at the foreground but just as often is the backing beat to this great time of the year. It [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who is the best sports commentator?
December 4, 2009 by 38 Comments
Thanks to Peter Flynn for this instalment. It’s been inspired by Britain’s Daily Telegraph, whose readers have voted Murray Walker as “the greatest sports commentator of all time”.
What can we reasonably expect from the First Test?
November 25, 2009 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan What are reasonable expectations for this cricket test? If Australia make 500 it is due to the visitors’ popgun attack. Windies get 300, we lack penetration. Tourists always struggle here anyway, which is why Sth Africa was such a jolt recently, as was Australia’s retaliation on their soil. Aussie supporters, despite noble [Read more]
Morality and sport
November 24, 2009 by 10 Comments
by Chris Riordan Morality in Sport is a very broad, interesting and controversial topic. Fine Cotton. Shoeless Joe Jackson. Recent Euro soccer and tennis betting scandals. All palpably deceitful. But it’s not always so clear. The “gentleman’s game” has had its problems. Trevor Chappell was within the rules (and following orders) when he rolled McKechnie. [Read more]
What were your favourite Almanac pieces of 2009?
November 24, 2009 by 42 Comments
This is not a forum for ranking. However, one of the pitfalls of this fantastic site is that so many articles can appear and then be smothered soon after. In the spirit of end of year lists, I wish to highlight some of my memorable reads from footyalmanac.com.au in 2009.
A launch to remember
November 22, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Chris Riordan Dennis Denuto, in The Castle, immortalized “the vibe of the thing” in his stirring support of “everyman”. Anson Cameron, writer and footy fan, clearly sensed it as he launched the “traditional” 2009 edition of The Footy Almanac. His galloping, gloriously irreverent speech captured the spirit of this compilation and of the happy [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Richo’s out. Who else will be miss when they’re gone?
November 13, 2009 by 2 Comments
So Richo’s gone. Like all footy fans, I’ve shaken my head and clapped my hands at his soap opera of a career. What I knew all along, though, was that we’d miss him when he’s gone. Far too often we scold players and then, a few years later, lament the lack of characters in the [Read more]
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