Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: The Finale, Rd 22

Round 22 Western Bulldogs versus Essendon Saturday, August 28th., Etihad Stadium We’re out of coffee beans.  I’ve scrounged and found a bottle of gold-label instant, carefully avoiding a confrontation with the ‘best-by’ date.  And because I have gifted the remaining few jars of cumquat jam to the deserving poor, we’re into Cottees’ marmalade.  As a [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: Round 21

Round 21 Essendon versus Brisbane Lions Sunday, August 22nd., Etihad Stadium Over cumquat toast and Sumatran coffee, me and Tommy put Essendon’s 98-point Friday night flogging by premiership favourites Collingwood into a context that might, just might, provide some sense of healing.  Or closure. This is the shape of our dribbling, uninspired conversation.  Geelong beat [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 20

Round 20 Essendon versus Collingwood M.C.G.  Friday, August 13th. So far, we’re only half-way through our platter of dips ‘n’ bread at Dinos’ Cafe, and Labrini hasn’t stopped to draw breath.  We’ve had a roll-call of the Magpies’ strengths as featured in their Saturday night victory over the Cats.  We’ve done hardness at the contest/numbers [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 19

Round 19 Carlton versus Essendon M.C.G. (N)  Friday, August 6th. Eddie fixes doors.  He is a superbly effective door-fixer, a prompt, no-nonsense operator who doesn’t try to screw body corporates.  I’d like to watch him work but, after I’ve pointed out the problem door, he nods, mutters something like “piece of piss,” and tells me [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 18

Round 18 Essendon versus St. Kilda Etihad Stadium, Friday, July 30th. “The coach is an oaf.”  Thus spake Zarathustra, aka Thomas Hubble, the dramatic effect compromised by a blob of cumquat marmalade on his chin. “You going to shred your membership, oh wise one?” “No, seriously Peter, hear me out.” “You provide me with food, [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away games- Rd 17

Round 17 North Melbourne versus Essendon Saturday, July 24th., Etihad Stadium The final stage of Saturday night’s rescue mission to the coast is not pleasant travelling. The aftermath of The Riot’s heave-go lingers in the Audi, big-time.  Even with the heater off and the windows down, it is impossible to escape the rank, fresh-vomit smell.  [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd. 16

Round 16 Essendon versus West Coast Eagles Saturday, July 17th.,  Etihad Stadium (N) Tommy’s made a batch of cumquat marmalade, 14 recycled bottles’ worth, courtesy of the bounty from a tree on the lower terrace.  (He’s a clever little vegemite.)  It’s a lot easier to do a post mortem of the football when he eats [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games – Round 15

ROUND 15 Melbourne versus Essendon Sunday, July 11th.  M.C.G. Arnold, the Human Question Mark, is back on Monday, bright and early.  His beloved Saints have had a gritty, 35-point win over the Melbourne Demons.  Is he happy about that? he asks me.  I tell him he probably is, and he agrees.  Is he also happy [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 14

ROUND 14 Adelaide versus Essendon Saturday, July 3rd., AAMI Stadium, Night To: [email protected] Subject: Missing you, and Go hoT Pies My dearest Labrini Howdy Hoodoo Dear Labrini, I wish you were at Huntleigh Mews right now.  I will definately be at the airport to pick you up next Monday, fit ‘n’ Well to welcome U [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 13 cont.

ROUND 13 (continued) Hawthorn versus Essendon June 18th., M.C.G. The week disappears faster than the smile on Mrs Averling’s face when I tell her she can’t have the swimming pool hotter than 34 degrees.  I keep the lid on my immediate thought, which is, then go and have a bath, darling. At Wednesday’s morning tea [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 13

ROUND 13 Hawthorn versus Essendon Friday, June 18th., M.C.G I honour my promise to drink wine with Elaine Sidebottom when the Richmond Tigers next win.  It happens very quickly, and emphatically.  In Round 12, they flog the West Coast Evil and “her boy”, the new Royce Hart, Jack Riewoldt, bags a cool 10 goals.  I [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: Rd 12

ROUND 12 Essendon versus Geelong Cats Saturday, June 12th., Etihad Stadium The clock radio says 2:33.  I lie here in luxurious, Cleopatra-comfort, trying to identify what has woken me.  Not a sound from outside, not even swishing car-sounds from Huntleigh Road – but upstairs the toilet flushes and shortly after I hear Tommy pad-padding down [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Round 11

ROUND 11 Sydney Swans versus Essendon Sunday, June 6th., S.C.G. Jackson is the bloke who has just got the parcel delivery contract for our neck of the woods, and when I tell him why it’s so easy for me to remember his name, he gives me a nervous, crooked grin, shrugs and says sorry, but [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 10

ROUND 10 Essendon versus Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium, Friday, May 28th. At breakfast on Sunday, Tommy and I discuss our uninspired victory over the Tigers the night before.  I try very hard to concentrate on the old bloke’s quarter-by-quarter analysis of the game, but it is difficult because when he’s breaking his fast, Tommy knows [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 9

ROUND NINE Essendon versus Richmond Saturday, May 22nd, M.C.G. Dreamtime at the ‘G’ It’s not exactly euphoria, but me and Tommy are as happy as clams after our victory over the Sainters.  Phew!  We did a similar thing last year, knocked them over when we were least expected to.  It’s becoming an annual event, like [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 8

ROUND EIGHT St. Kilda versus Essendon Sunday, May 16th., Etihad Stadium The Contest Scheduled to take place during the Twilight Hours It’s Sunday, Mother’s Day, bleak at seven o’clock in the morning.  Not cold, but not exactly motherly warm either, and overcast as only Melbourne can be overcast.  It’s a lounging-about, coffee and Sunday papers [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 7

ROUND SEVEN Essendon versus Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium, Saturday, May 8th. Labrini stretches voluptuously, Greek-style, which includes a playful slap on my stomach and some tugging of the thatch on my chest.  She’s combative, I have to admit, but in a loving kind of way. “Peter, that was wonderful.” “Good.  It was wonderful for me, [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: Rd 6

ROUND SIX Essendon versus Hawthorn Saturday, May 1st., M.C.G. (Night) At one and five, our season is in tatters. Avoidance of the issue is no longer an option.  Last week Tommy and me had our heads in the sand so long, we ended up with gravel rash.  This time, we have to come out and [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: Rd 5

ROUND FIVE COLLINGWOOD versus ESSENDON Sunday, April 25th., M.C.G. Which leaves the Dons at one and three. One of the weekend papers suggested it was going to be a long, cold winter at Windy Hill.  What idiots.  The week following our woeful showing against the West Coast Eagles turns into an Indian Summer with the [Read more]

Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games: Round 4

ROUND FOUR WEST COAST EAGLES versus ESSENDON, Subiaco Oval, Friday, April 16th. I’m walking. I’m on my first big walk since I joined the staff at Huntleigh Mews.  I’ve been through the Carlton Gardens – the grass still scarred from the recent Garden Show – I’ve seen off the Catholic Cathedral and I’m on the [Read more]