In this week’s episode of The Odd Couple, the role of Oscar Madison will be played by Mark Williams, and Felix Unger will be played by Dean Laidley. After a drubbing down in Geelong, Felix arrives ready for action at match committee, dossiers and laptop at the ready. He’s a little taken aback at what [Read more]
Carlton unravel the zone, while Adelaide just unravels.
April 18, 2010 by 2 Comments
The modern AFL environment seems perpetually hyped, with blowtorches primed for target on a weekly basis. Even by these standards, Round 4 seems pretty early for a make-or-break game. But it couldn’t be denied that the competing sides in this match were badly in need of a win, with pressure mounting on both camps.
Brown drags Lions past wasteful Blues
April 2, 2010 by 3 Comments
Round 2: Brisbane v Carlton Theories, opinions and conventional wisdoms: footy is awash with them, this game more than most in its anticipation. Ever since Carlton offloaded Brendon Fevola to Brisbane, consensus thinking on these teams has the Lions vaulting into top 4 contention, whilst the Blues were expected to struggle up forward and face [Read more]
Footy Talk: Andy D and TV do business
March 31, 2010 by 2 Comments
by John Butler TV- The ubiquitous, all seeing eye which rules our lounge rooms and inhabits our imaginations- at least that’s what the advertisers hope. It is the bringer of drama, pathos, bathos, banality and Karl bloody Stefanovic. It also runs a side interest in sport. Andrew Demetriou- Grand Supremo of the AFL. He’s very [Read more]
Film Review: Bullock’s Blind Side is well-meaning but misses mark
March 2, 2010 by 3 Comments
Film: The Blind Side Release: 2010 Director: John Lee Hancock Starring: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates Reviewer: John Butler Anyone with an interest in the USA – and largely thanks to Hollywood, that would be many of us – would probably agree that part of the fascination lies in the many paradoxes and contradictions [Read more]
You can never go back: Football returns to Princes Park
March 2, 2010 by 2 Comments
by John Butler It seemed like a good time to revisit the old girl. Admittedly, a stinking hot February afternoon doesn’t exactly scream footy, and it was only another edition of the pre-season Hit and Giggle Cup (sorry, Challenge), but you never know when opportunity will next present. Besides, whispers had it that a certain [Read more]
Cricket: The Summer of Cricket. Or was it the Season of Watto?
February 24, 2010 by 1 Comment
By John Butler Whilst lowering the curtain on the slow death that was the Hobart Test, Exalted Supremo of the Almanac, Paul Daffey, declared it had been a strange summer. Amen to that! The date was 18 January. It seems a very long time ago. As the Australian team returned from an ill-fated Ashes campaign, [Read more]
Film: Australian rules? Not at the flicks, it doesn’t
February 19, 2010 by 14 Comments
By John Butler The recent experience of watching Springboks and All Blacks do battle in a Hollywood film has prompted some general reflections on how differing cinematic cultures approach sport. More particularly, it has given me cause to consider how sport has (or hasn’t) been treated in Australian cinema. Hollywood has long been the world’s [Read more]
Film: An unreliable overview of sport on the screen
February 17, 2010 by 17 Comments
Seeing as I’ve been discussing the topic of sports films, I thought I might compile some personal favourites. I warn in advance, this list is highly subjective and far from comprehensive. I’ve included documentaries as well as cinematic features. So, in no particular order… Boxing As the most primal and basic of sporting conflicts, boxing [Read more]
Fantasy Footy: A goldmine of websites for the tragics
February 8, 2010 by 11 Comments
by John Butler Dreamers, following on from my fantasy footy piece last Friday, these are the main fantasy footy websites I’m aware of. Serious fantasy tragics flock to these sites because the Dream Team coverage on the official AFL site is positively lame.
Fantasy Footy: My dark secret
February 5, 2010 by 10 Comments
I have a sordid confession to make. On the surface, I’m a middle-aged, middle-class, middle-brow guy from a middle-sized town. Nothing special here folks, move right along. But I have a secret life. A life consumed by dark obsessions and manic compulsions. A life ruled by unholy urges and perspectives warped. A life that leads [Read more]
Film Review: Clint continues to intrigue despite playing it safe
February 3, 2010 by 10 Comments
Film: Invictus. Release: 2010. Director: Clint Eastwood. Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon. Review: John Butler. Many movie fans out there would have long recognised that Clint Eastwood has been on an extended later life roll. Long past his prime as a leading man, he’s prolifically directed (and often starred in) a string of films which [Read more]
Tennis: Things to look for at the Australian Open
January 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By John Butler * Numerous folk called Bruce, Baz or Cheryl suddenly discovering long lost Swedish or Spanish heritage and a love of foreign flags and group chanting. * Maria Sharapova’s picture to appear at least daily in the major metropolitan papers. Some of the pictures may even relate to tennis.
Bikes, bats, lycra: a big weekend in Ballarat and Bunni
January 10, 2010 by 9 Comments
Local civic and political leaders rarely miss a chance to proclaim Melbourne the “sporting capital of the world”, or “the world’s most liveable city”, blah blah. Whilst I agree that our beloved state capital is a very nice place to live (for most) and a fine sporting town, would it be too cynical to suggest [Read more]
Mysteries and Demons revisited: An Australian miracle, a Pakistani collapse.
January 6, 2010 by 4 Comments
They call it Test cricket because it has a tendency to test all your resources, both mental and psychical. I wrote yesterday of demons and mysteries. At that stage, it was Australia battling the demons, and Pakistan which held all the mystery. Well, as they say, a day is a long time in cricket (and [Read more]
Mysteries and Demons: Not a Dan Brown sequel, but a Pakistani blockbuster
January 5, 2010 by 2 Comments
Pakistan has always been one of the most fascinating cricketing nations; though not always for the right reasons. There’s usually an alleged teenage prodigy of indeterminate age, who often turns out to be 26 years old and a father of three; the continual unexplained revolving door of captains, coaches and virtually everyone else in the [Read more]
Punter’s Predicament
December 21, 2009 by 2 Comments
A good trick in life is to get out while you’re ahead. No one wants to be stuck with the cleanup when the party’s over. It’s often better for your reputation to remain a vision of eternally splendid youth, than to suffer the indignities of ageing. To be Jim Morrison, not Mick Jagger. Team sports [Read more]
Footy Talk: Gary Ablett jnr talks to God (not his Dad, the Guy Upstairs)
December 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Gary Ablett jnr: You’ve already met. God: What can I say? Allegedly the only bloke (blokette?) who can hit a one iron. Initial negotiations with GC17 had been unfruitful… and rather baffling. Gazza felt no closer to resolving his dilemma. Having finally made it back from Queensland, his Manager decided to be proactive. Player managers [Read more]
Footy: Gary Ablett jnr and Joh talk turkey (or is that chooks?)
December 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Gary Ablett Jnr: Son of you-know-who. Two time Geelong premiership player, Brownlow medallist and dazzling on-field magician. Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen: Former Queensland Premier, plantation paternalist and gerrymander general. Ruled for over 20 years with a unique blend of authoritarian cronyism, faux naivety, homespun ruthlessness and pumpkin scones. Gary jnr is astride the proverbial horns of [Read more]
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