Dog of a night for the Crows.

Finally, another week is finished with and the weekend awaits. School went so quickly, but the time between Thursday and Friday seemed so far apart. But once that final bell rang to signal the start of the weekend, a long weekend in fact (although it shouldn’t be), this game was on my mind.

Cats still ruthless enough.

Ever since Paul Chapman snapped that late goal in the 2009 Grand Final, this game was marked on the calendar of all the Geelong faithful: The unfurling of the Premiership Flag at the recently upgraded Skilled Stadium, as well as the lap of honour to former premiership captain Tom Harley. Harley was presented with something [Read more]

AFL Round 4 – Collingwood v Hawthorn: Weird dreams, nightmare season

by Josh Barnstable This was the unknown clash. Collingwood, one week after Mick Malthouse was accused of taunting and sledging Stephen Milne, calling him a fu**ing rapist as the sides went to their quarter time huddles. Was this the reason I had a dream where I was also called this because I wore a Port [Read more]

Eagles open their account, and save on phone bills.

Last time West Coast and Essendon were gearing up to run out on Subiaco Oval, I, along with millions of other people around Australia, was giddy with joy as the 2010 NAB Cup was commencing. Now, with all of that silly stuff behind us and three rounds of the real action completed, these two sides [Read more]

Crows circling the gurgler

It’s a question that I have been wondering since the start of the season. Why was this match being broadcast on Channel 10? Surely North Melbourne v Sydney should have been on free-to-air television, but the Carlton supporters at 10 (Robert Walls, Tim Lane, Sam Lane, Andrew Maher) must have requested this match. After a [Read more]

Saints win bruising encounter.

Round 2: St Kilda v Collingwood It was a boring day. Sleeping in until 10, I faced a long wait until 8:30 for the footy to start on the TV (should be 7:30, I’m looking at you Better Homes and Gardens!). I got through the day by reading the Herald Sun and I started to [Read more]

AFL Round 2 – Hawthorn v Geelong: Hawks run out of steam, Barnstable runs out of daylight.

by Josh Barnstable I have a theory on Easter Mondays. After a solid day of eating chocolate the day before, you get the day off Monday to work off all the weight you may or may not have put on. Anyway, as it seems hot outside, I’ll put this off for later on.

Freo no Easter bunnies this year.

On this day a long time ago, Jesus rose again and said “Let Daylight Savings Time end” and it did. And to celebrate this, I, along with a lot of other people around Australia, got an extra hours sleep as we turned the clock back an hour. Oh, and we also get Easter eggs.

North in need of a higher power.

Well, what can I say? Only one thing needs to be said really. St Kilda dominated, and North Melbourne were insipid. Do I really need to relive the pain of this match by writing up a report? I had to sit through it all, so I might as well. After spending the day listening to [Read more]

Country Footy: Tough year ahead for Waaia

by Josh Barnstable It’s that time of the year again. That time of the year when all the hard yards you put in at training pays off on that one day in September, albeit a bit less significant compared to that ‘other’ one day in September. Country football is back, and the Picola League is [Read more]

AFL Round 2 – Brisbane v Carlton: Lions win leaves unanswered questions

by Josh Barnstable This was the day to mark on your calendar. Brendan Fevola running out on the Gabba turf against his former side for the first time, and Lachie Henderson returning to Queensland, pitted against his old teammates. It was a day to look forward to for many people, but myself and my family [Read more]

AFL Round 1 – Fremantle v Adelaide: Are these the Dockers’ true colours?

by Josh Barnstable After a slightly uneventful day which saw Port Adelaide withstand a fast-finishing North Melbourne outfit by 14 points and Collingwood surprising everyone, dominating the Bulldogs to win by 36 points. I was feeling a bit down after the Roos lost to the Power, but I looked forward to the prospect of a [Read more]

Round 1 – Sydney v St Kilda: No longer a boring prospect

by Josh Barnstable Rewind to 2007, 2008 or 2009, and I wouldn’t have watched this match. I would have watched the opening quarter maybe, and then stop watching it. But, with the year the Saints had in 2009 and the young talent the Swans offer, this match is suddenly one I rate very highly. After [Read more]

Round One: Geelong v Essendon

Why do they play the first game of the season on a Thursday night? For some, for most, have either work or school the next day, so it was hard to get excited about the Season Opener, knowing that we still had to get an early enough night to prepare for the last day of [Read more]

Bulldogs end the 40 Year Drought

NAB CUP Final: Western Bulldogs v St Kilda In 1970, Footscray defeated Melbourne by two points at Lake Oval in the night series, giving the Bulldogs their second premiership cup of any sort. Fast forward 14,411 days, and the Western Bulldogs are competing against St Kilda for their first piece of silverware since that night. [Read more]

NAB Cup Semi: Dogs fall into a Grand Final

by Josh Barnstable After catching a cold mid-week, I fought out the remaining days of the school week before conceding on Friday; seeing as it was cold and pouring down, I didn’t want to go out in that weather and risk getting even sicker, so I spent the day home from school, in the warmth [Read more]

NAB Cup, Round 2: It’s hard to find a score in the bathroom

It has been one of the worst days of my life. After hearing the bad news that I couldn’t make the trip down to Melbourne for a second consecutive week to the footy, I confide myself to listening and watching the game on the internet. As I log onto the computer to check the latest [Read more]

NAB Cup, Round 2: Dogs deserve to be pre-season favourites

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs Gee, this week has gone quick. After surviving Monday and Tuesday, the final few days flew. Soon enough, I’m sitting in my chair, with the TV on, footy on, and Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life is playing? Right, weird choice Seven. Barry Hall runs out for the tri-colours [Read more]

NAB Cup, Round 1: Go you Roo boys!

by Josh Barnstable What a great way to start the NAB Cup for North Melbourne with a first round match against Geelong, just terrific, thanks a lot AFL. Despite the fact that I knew we would get absolutely flogged, Dad and I planned to go to the game, and soon enough we had all planned [Read more]

NAB Cup, Round 1: New generation of Swans stands tall

Ever since reading the NAB Cup fixture in the library at school, one game stood out in the second week of the first round. Sydney and Carlton from Blacktown Olympic Park. Time has flown, and finally the day has come. After a bad loss at tennis, I look forward to resting up my muscles before [Read more]