Middle East Correspondent: Koroit pair almost steal premiership cup from Dubai Heat’s grasp

June 23, 2009 by 5 Comments

By Rod Gillett It was more than a truly international clash on football’s latest frontier; it was a classic Bush Boys versus City Slickers encounter. The inaugural Middle East AFL grand final pitted the unbeaten Dubai Heat, who are based in the United Arab Emirates, against the Muscat Magpies from neighbouring Oman. Dubai is an [Read more]

Local Footy: University of New England footballers spread the word

June 22, 2009 by 5 Comments

By Rod Gillett Most uni footy clubs are renowned for getting up to some hi-jinx. The Bushpigs based at Charles Sturt University’s Wagga campus claim to be “Australia’s most socially innovative football club” while the University of Queensland’s Red Lions took the their nickname from the Glencoe pub – an historic hotel on the New [Read more]

Middle East Correspondent: Riverina review puts Farrer clubs in danger

June 21, 2009 by 1 Comment

By Rod Gillett There will be no forced mergers of club, according to the Review of Australian Football & Netball in Southern NSW released in Wagga  on Friday. It’s a review that proposes a blending of the current Riverina and Farrer football leagues into a new competition to be known as AFL Riverina. In a [Read more]

Middle East Correspondent: Rick Quade deserves place among Swans’ greats

June 17, 2009 by 2 Comments

By Rod Gillett Rick Quade stepped down from the Swans’ board of directors only last year, after almost 40 years of service for the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans Football Club. Since beginning as a player in 1970, he’s been captain, coach, chairman of selectors and a board member. Recently he heeded another call to serve the [Read more]

Local Footy: Bushpigs face extinction

June 10, 2009 by 3 Comments

by Rocket Gillett    The Wagga Uni Bushpigs broke a 38 game losing streak when they beat The Rock-Yerong Creek by five points in their Farrer Football League fixture last Saturday. It was their first win since 12 August 2006 when they beat Temora.   It was a huge day for the Pigs as they [Read more]

General footy writing: Middle East correspondent: Make it a grand national final

May 20, 2009 by 3 Comments

By Rod Gillett The AFL’s threat to play the Grand Final in Sydney after the contract with the MCG expires in 2032 begs the question: why not play the Grand Final around on a rotational basis so that each city in the competition gets to host the game? If the game is truly to become [Read more]

Middle East Correspondent: Branch’s grassroots work honoured by Sydney clubs

May 14, 2009 by 1 Comment

by Rocket Gillett   There has been a proliferation of cups and medals and even sporting venues and facilities named in honour of former club heroes or officials in recent years. I reckon that has been a good thing. It’s great to see people recognised for their contribution to the game. Personally I like to [Read more]

Old East Fremantle Would Have Been A Contender

May 3, 2009 by 6 Comments

  by Rod Gillett and Dave Warner   When Paddy Ryder was awarded the Anzac Medal for his game for Essendon in this year’s match against Collingwood it occurred to me that here was yet another top-class player produced by the East Fremantle Football Club. I thought there was a story in it. I contacted [Read more]

Sydney Uni align with Collingwood — and stick with blue and gold colours

April 22, 2009 by 5 Comments

By Rod Gillett When the Collingwood Football Club first sat down with the Sydney University Australian National Football Club to talk about the proposal to field an under-eighteen team in the Sydney AFL competition the uni officials made it quite clear that the team’s colours would be blue and gold. This was not an issue [Read more]

Rochy’s local heroes do it for the jumper

April 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment

When the Rochester footy team took to the field in last year’s Goulburn Valley Football League Grand Final, it ran through a home-made banner that proclaimed “Local heroes”. Their rivals, hot favourites Seymour, who were aiming for their fourth flag in a row, ran out through an AFL club cheer-squad banner.   But it was [Read more]

Bush Boys Beaten By Heat In Dubai by Rocket Gillett

April 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment

It was more than a truly international clash on football’s latest frontier; it was a classic Bush Boys versus City Slickers encounter. The inaugural Middle East AFL Grand Final pitted the unbeaten Dubai Heat (based in the UAE) against the Muscat Magpies from neighbouring Oman. Dubai is an emerging 21st century megapolis while Muscat is [Read more]