Below is a significantly extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 12th February, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz DRAWING A LONG (SUPER) BOW(L) Super Bowl XLV was played this week and the Green Bay Packers’ winning score of 31 should have come as no surprise, especially given the fact [Read more]
Giga Bites 1 – Director’s Cut
February 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Below is a slightly extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in The Saturday Age on 5th February, 2011 by Andrew Gigacz THE LAST WORD (OR LETTER) ON THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN. They may have been the number one and two seeds, but Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonereva were always going to be up against [Read more]
GIGSTUFF #48: A new Age of stuff
February 5, 2011 by 3 Comments
5th February 2011 by Andrew Gigacz If you think that too many stupid facts and bad puns are never enough, then please allow me to direct your attention to the Sports lift-out in The Age each Saturday. “Giga Bites” will appear in each Saturday’s Age so you’ll be able to get an extra dose of [Read more]
GIGSTUFF #47 – No News, Just Sport and Weather
January 24, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz 24th January 2011 Z FACTOR UPDATE In last week’s GigStuff, mention was made of Feliciano Lopez and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez holding the hopes of the “Z” drought being broken. The only letter not included in the surname of past Australian Open winners is Z. The Spaniards have fallen by the wayside but unseeded [Read more]
GIGSTUFF – Edition #46: From Kew to Z
January 17, 2011 by 23 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz 17th January 2011 WHAT HO! WATTO And we begin this week’s “Stuff” with the not so unusual news that Shane Watson has scored another three 50s against England. What is unusual is that, this time, those three 50s were all part of the same innings. Watto’s unbeaten 161 at the MCG on [Read more]
GIGSTUFF – Edition #45
January 13, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz 13th January 2011 A Happy New Year to Almanackers everywhere from the Useless Information Department at the Footy Almanac. So, what can we glean from recent events in the world of sporting statistics and facts? Well… Peter Siddle’s batting average in the recently completed Ashes series was higher than that of Ricky [Read more]
The new Clarke of the course of Australian cricket
January 4, 2011 by 10 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz With Ricky Ponting absent, Michael Clarke became Australia’s 43rd Test captain yesterday. Clarke is one of those characters who tends attract the latterly popular term, “polarising”. And in recent times, it seems that many more people have been gravitating to the negative pole than the positive. Perhaps this is the reason the [Read more]
The Mitch is back (and he’s remembered to pitch up…)
December 18, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz It was interesting to hear Mitch Johnson, in an interview after his great performance at the WACA yesterday, say that the biggest difference between his bowling at the Gabba and at Perth was his follow-through. He said he’d been falling away too early but was now going right through after his delivery. [Read more]
“Need a new Johnson Rod”
November 30, 2010 by 10 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz The knives were out before the start of Day 5. The general thrust was that Australia do not have an attack capable of taking 20 wickets in a match, and therefore can’t win the series. And I think there’s a fair bit of truth in that. But as the players took the [Read more]
Where did you get the ‘Nac?
November 17, 2010 by 18 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz Last week’s Melbourne launch of the fourth Footy Almanac was, sadly, the first one I’ve not attended. A pre-arranged junket to New Zealand meant that I was holed up in an Auckland hotel at the time Gerard Whateley was unleashing the 2010 Almanac onto passionate Pies, sorrowful Saints, flummoxed Footscray fans and [Read more]
The Ballad of Dogs and Magpies
September 6, 2010 by 8 Comments
The Ballad of Dogs and Magpies by Andrew Gigacz The Magpies won The Bulldogs lost It was to be expected But ’twas a game Of Dogs too tame And needs to be dissected Before the match The pundits said “The Dogs have nought to lose” So you would think With that in mind A “risk [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats Round 21: Ignoring the obvious
August 25, 2010 by 9 Comments
Stats Entertainment – Round 21 by Andrew Gigacz IGNORING THE OBVIOUS – FINAL EIGHT NOT SO FINAL Well, the top 8 is settled, if not exactly in order, then at least in its composition. Or so the media would have you believe. But they seem to be ignoring one obvious point. It will only take [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats Round 20 – Kissing Cousins goodbye
August 20, 2010 by 7 Comments
Stats Entertainment – Round 20 by Andrew Gigacz HOW TO BE A DOGS SUPPORTER 101: LESSON 20 – COPING WITH SPIFLICATION Stats lovers, my apologies for the late arrival of this week’s numerical and lexicological missive. As a Doggies’ fan my recovery from Saturday night’s debacle has been slow. History tells me that I should [Read more]
SATURDAY NIGHT NOSTALGIA
August 15, 2010 by 19 Comments
I’ve always been one for nostalgia. As someone who can’t help but accumulate stuff, I basically collect my childhood: Little Golden Books, old footy cards, records and furniture from the 60s and 70s. Even old footy records. And as I walked along the concourse towards Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, the Record seller also seemed [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats Round 19: Statistic Fantastic
August 11, 2010 by 31 Comments
Stats Entertainment – Round 19 by Andrew Gigacz TOPIC I don’t claim it as my own stat; indeed, it seems that everyone is talking about it. But it’s one worthy of mention, particularly if you barrack against Collingwood. Which statistic is it? This one: for the past eight years, the team that has won the [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats – Round 18: North falls just short of target
August 2, 2010 by 10 Comments
STATS ENTERTAINMENT – ROUND 18 by Andrew Gigacz GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY SLIPS THROUGH KANGAROOS’ FINGERS North Melbourne will be lamenting missing a golden opportunity that slipped through their fingers on Sunday afternoon. A win over the Bulldogs by 257 points (depending on the scoreline) would have been enough for the Kangas to grab a spot in [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats Round 17: The final word on Aker
July 30, 2010 by 17 Comments
STATS ENTERTAINMENT ROUND 17 by Andrew Gigacz NEVER IN DOUBT If anyone out there, who considers themselves a knowledgeable person on footy, had any doubt that Friday night’s match between the Hawks and the Saints was always going to be a draw, let me tell you, they were kidding themselves. There were so many pointers [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats: An in-depth look at the KKK (Knights, Kangaroos, Kennett)
July 21, 2010 by 5 Comments
STATS ENTERTAINMENT – ROUND 16 by Andrew Gigacz ROUGH AND REGULAR We begin this week’s report with an apology from me for the irregular appearance of Gigs’ Stats in recent times. Rest assured that I have altered my diet to include a far higher daily quantity of statistical roughage, which should result in a far [Read more]
GigStats Rounds 13 & 14: Striking statistics
July 9, 2010 by 3 Comments
STATS ENTERTAINMENT ROUNDS 13 AND 14 by Andrew Gigacz STRIJK ONE It might have passed by many footy fans, but the Round 13 clash between marked a VFL/AFL first. With Andrew Strijk making his debut, he not only became the first player in history with that surname but his first-up effort marked the first ever [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats Round 12: Last gasp goal for “drawn again” Magpies
June 15, 2010 by 3 Comments
Stats Entertainment – Round 12 by Andrew Gigacz THE WRONG CONCLUSION TO DRAW What is it with these young modern folk? Lamenting a draw like this week’s blockbuster between Melbourne and the Pies on the rare occasion that one occurs. Sure, it can be an empty feeling for the players and supporters. And yes, neither [Read more]
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