The AFL and NRL recently unveiled their 2013 promotional commercials and they demonstrate a fascinating contrast in positioning, and how administrators handle their respective strengths and weaknesses.
First Test – Day 5: Clarke’s rubber
November 14, 2012 by 5 Comments
Round 1 of test cricket’s championship bout took a rather odd, scenic route that ultimately saw the Aussies confound the hastily convened critics (I was one) and emerge a moral points victor.
Side by side, back to back
September 19, 2012 by 5 Comments
On Friday night the Magpies and Swans engage in the most important game they’ve played against eachother for 76 years. This is the Collingwood’s 50 Most Sensational Games story of the 1936 Grand Final. 1936 Grand final MCG, Saturday 5 October CROWD: 74,091 UMPIRE: Blackburn Collingwood 3.6.24 7.16.58 8.19.67 11.23.89 South Melbourne 3.4.22 5.7.37 8.12.60 10.18.78 BEST COLLINGWOOD – Pannam, Whelan, Carmody, Kyne, [Read more]
Quadrennial Introspection; the Olympics we had to have
August 13, 2012 by 10 Comments
Whilst it might have been nice to see a few more Aussies fulfil their life’s dream, I can’t help think London 2012 was the Olympic version of the ‘recession we had to have’. It’s about time we hit the reset button on our approach, as we re-evaluate funding priorities, what constitutes success and sport’s role in Australian [Read more]
Get yer Record!
July 14, 2012 by 4 Comments
I thought Almanackers might be into this little discovery I made. Every page of every VFL/AFL footy record since the day dot is now available online. So if you have a spare 200 hours, have fun going down this wormhole… http://takata.slv.vic.gov.au/R/UM788H91NVIH5YHPK4J9J5LNM7RHX2RABDMLQ8TDVRM14DP5RH-15826?func=collections&collection_id=1081 Jeff DowsingWashed up former Inside Sport and Sunday Age Sport freelancer. Now just giving [Read more]
1984
July 6, 2012 by 22 Comments
(or These here are crazy times Pt II) Like most knackers I’m loving Sam Steele’s time warp. It may have been at my mob’s expense, yet I envy Stainless’ uncanny recollections of Richmond’s path to glory, the characters, and the suburban fortresses of the day. All I can remember of 1980 is the shattering Grand Final humiliation [Read more]
These here are crazy times
June 27, 2012 by 22 Comments
In an era where games often follow scripts more predictable than Two and a Half Men, and finals aspirations tend to expire well before the home straight, the last thing football needs is another reason for supporters to stay at home. Yet those most heavily invested in their team’s fortunes couldn’t help but feel they [Read more]
Ambushed in Bayswater
June 20, 2012 by 6 Comments
Nunawading High never faced St Anthony’s Buddhist School in the treacherous 30 mile hop, as featured in the Ripping Yarn ‘Tomkinson’s School Days’. But it might have been preferable to facing Bayswater High a little over 20 years ago. Given we’d never ventured to the western or northern ‘burbs, truth be told our softness rating [Read more]
A better way to raise the curtain on young talent
June 9, 2012 by 5 Comments
The AFL’s recent merchandising masterstroke – footy cards of kids, for kids, was delivered a pretty swift kicking by the media last weekend. Besides psychological concerns around the pressure on the 78 youngsters featured, and that few will actually ‘make it’ in any case, one does struggle to grasp the business case for a [Read more]
Asher Keddie and I were there for each other
May 28, 2012 by 14 Comments
Warning: may contain traces of ‘Pie-nut. A paediatrician told me recently the key to navigating toddler tantrums is to lower your expectations of their behaviour by 50%. It made sense because I’d successfully applied the same theory to maintain my sanity amid the delights and disappointments of Collingwood fandom. Jeff DowsingWashed up former [Read more]
Hope and Glory
May 15, 2012 by 3 Comments
“The miserable have no other medicine. But only hope.” William Shakespeare (not the glam rocker) Whoop it up Geelong and Manly fans. And jubilant Sky Blues for that matter. You may never see your team win the big one again! Ridiculous notion? Perhaps, but let me remind you lucky sods of the numerous dearly departed Demons [Read more]
Waiting for the siren’s call
May 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
From Collingwood’s 50 Most Sensational Games Round 8 2002 Collingwood 5.1.31 8.9.57 14.12.96 17.12.114 Brisbane Lions 7.2.44 10.5.65 12.9.81 16.15.111 VENUE: Colonial Stadium DATE: Saturday 18 May CROWD: 46,279 UMPIRES: Sheehan, Ellis, Nicholls COLLINGWOOD B Johnson Prestigiacomo Clement HB Lonie Wakelin Cloke C Fraser Buckley N. Davis HF Lockyer Rocca Burns F Holland Tarrant Molloy [Read more]
Conflicted
May 8, 2012 by 6 Comments
A football love-hate story It’s happening and I swear I had nothing little to do with it. A couple months ago my wife dragged took my five year old boy to church. To her incredulity, out of nowhere he started singing Good old Collingwood for da ever (sic). Jeff DowsingWashed up former Inside Sport and [Read more]
Victoria Park’s retro reno
May 4, 2012 by 4 Comments
In the final instalment of my nostalgic Collingwood-Victoria Park trilogy, I take a look at the Victoria Park redevelopment. It’s ironic something that once united and defined Collingwood supporters has become a source of angst and division. Especially at a time which could be considered the club’s high noon. Jeff DowsingWashed up former Inside Sport and Sunday Age Sport freelancer. Now just giving my [Read more]
Sixteenth, broke and shizenhousen
April 30, 2012 by 17 Comments
In lieu of a Sensational Games precursor to the Magpies – Bulldogs clash, here’s a personal account of a game that for ‘Pie fans was anything but sensational. They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn. Well by 5pm on 28 August 1999, it was so dark in Collingwood town that to quote [Read more]
The game that had everything
April 23, 2012 by 19 Comments
Collingwood’s 50 Most Sensational Games Round 11 1972 Collingwood 3.4.22 5.5.35 15.8.98 23.10.148 Essendon 2.2.14 7.9.51 8.12.60 13.15.93 VENUE: Victoria Park DATE: Saturday 12 June CROWD: 42,200 UMPIRE: Coates COLLINGWOOD B Britt Clifton Dunne HB Salmon Potter O’Callaghan C Oborne Price Atkinson HF McOrist Gott Greening F Jenkin McKenna Wearmouth FOLL Thompson, M [Read more]
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