Ian Latham shares a Giants victory with his daughter – we don’t get enough father-daughter pieces.
AFL Round 11 – Sydney v Geelong: Some questions answered
June 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Whose idea was it to play at a ground that “reminds you of who you aren’t” during a Round that cares little for privilege? Ian Latham asked this question as he watched a Sydney performance so awesome that Geelong wasted time even playing.
AFL Round 10 – Sydney v Essendon: So much to play for
June 5, 2013 by 2 Comments
After a week where Ian Latham is frustrated with footy off-the-field, he heads to the SCG with his mate Neil to see the real stuff. And Adam Goodes and the Swans turn it on.
AFL Round 1 – GWS Giants v Sydney: From little things
April 3, 2013 by 2 Comments
There’s a lot to dislike about ANZ Stadium but a lot to like about the Giants, writes Swans fan Ian Latham.
The Footygods: Icarus
October 5, 2012 by 3 Comments
Even the greatest of champions have a flaw that can bring them down, says Ian Latham.
The Footygods: Mt Olympus
September 27, 2012 by 1 Comment
And then there were four. The swans got to take on the pies and the hawks got the crows. And both pairs fought over the right to get into the big one; the right to play for a silver cup at the MCG. And there is nothing bigger and nothing more special than the G [Read more]
The Footygods: the Algea
September 10, 2012 by 9 Comments
The Footygods must have enjoyed Saturday. Adelaide and Geelong thought they just had to turn up to win. A mate of mine from Adelaide said that most people there thought that the cup was in the bag. The crows had stormed home to second. They had beaten the swans early and others had beaten them [Read more]
The Footygods: Aniketos and Alexiares
July 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Aniketos and Alexiares were the sons of Heracles and Hebe. Some called them gatekeepers. Some gave them responsibility for defence. There wasn’t much difference in those days. And on a footy field, there still isn’t. The crowd always love the flash things up forward. They marvel at the skill of the midfield. But they know [Read more]
The Footy Gods: Horme
June 18, 2012 by 1 Comment
Horme was a difficult god to describe. The scholars describe her onrush in battle. Perhaps the best way to describe her by what she wasn’t: apathetic. Horme was who you wanted next to you when you wanted to have a go. She could be a dangerous companion when you didn’t. Perhaps the girl that you [Read more]
The Footygods: Nike
May 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Nike was the sister of Kratos, Bia and Zelus. Given that they personified strength, force and envy, they almost had a forward line between them. Nike made up for what they missed. With her wings and chariot she was known for her speed and the greeks just loved her. Saturday saw indigenous round come to [Read more]
The Footygods: Hebe
May 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Greeks had a god of youth called Hebe. She was the daughter of Zeus and carried the cup that the gods drank from. You could recognise her by her sleeveless dress. She even turned the old Iolaus into a young man. On Saturday, one bunch of sleeveless kids battled another bunch of sleeveless kids [Read more]
The Footygods: Ajax the great
May 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Ajax the great was tall, big strong and smart. When he was born, Heracles threw a lion skin around him and prayed that the baby’s skin would be just as tough and his courage just as strong. Zeus came through on most of that but left the skin soft around his neck just to show [Read more]
The Footygods: Zelus
April 27, 2012 by 3 Comments
Zelus was a difficult god to be around. As the god of envy and rivalry, he could cause real difficulties even when he wasn’t trying. And he would leave us mortals to drink of bitter sorrow. We’ve seen a bit of envy and rivalry in the black and whites in the last year. Eddie wanted [Read more]
The Footygods: Athena
April 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Athena was the god of many things but one of the biggest was courage and one of the others was skill. She was so loved that she became the goddess of one of the greatest cities in the Greek world and gave it her name. Unlike her brother Ares, she approached battle as a test [Read more]
The Footygods: Hermes
April 5, 2012 by 1 Comment
The Greeks found Hermes difficult to define. Some called him the god for travellers. Some said that he was the god for those who wandered past their own boundaries. But perhaps they re the different ways of saying the same thing. And he was the god for athletics and luck and a whole lot of [Read more]
The footygods: Eileithyia
March 27, 2012 by 7 Comments
by Ian Latham Birth is a big thing. I’ve seen blokes cry talking about the birth of their kids. My wife did more than cry when giving birth to our kids. The ancient greeks had a goddess for birth called Eileithyia. She was also the goddess for labour pain, perhaps to show that you [Read more]
The Footygods: Philoctetes
October 5, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Ian Latham Philoctetes was a warrior with a wounded foot. He was in such pain that the greeks left him out of the army with which they intended to attackTroy. Abandoned and suffering on the island of Lemnos, he waited until Heracles finally arrived to command him onwards to Troy. And there of [Read more]
The Footygods: Bia
September 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Ian Latham The greeks had lots of gods to make you think. They had Athena, the goddess of wisdom and learning. They had the muses who inspired writing and the arts. They could inspire you with their skill. A lot like Nic Naitanui. You could just marvel at him all day. And you [Read more]
The Footygods: the Phoenix
September 20, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Ian Latham The phoenix was an eagle like bird with golden feathers. It would build its nest from twigs and die when it burned only for a new bird to rise in its place. It was a great story of triumph over our inevitable decline. I was quietly hopeful of the triumph of [Read more]
The Footy Gods: Achilles
September 19, 2011 by 2 Comments
Achilles was fair of hair and fleet of foot. His troops loved him. He was fearless and beautiful. But not flawless. He could be moody and the tendon in his ankle was unprotected. And that is how the trojans killed him before the great victory of his troops. Not that the lesson was lost on [Read more]
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