So it’s the Pies and the Hawks on Friday night. It’s 34 years since these sides squared off in a final,the second semi in 1977. That was a fantastic game, in which the Pies withheld a late Hawks charge to win by two points. The win came at a huge cost however, as Michael Tuck’s head came [Read more]
It’s Business Time!
September 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
As the 2011 AFL season draws towards a close, this weekend sees two massive knockout games which genuinely could go either way. Injuries play a massive part in trying to determine who will get over the line this week. There is nothing more frustrating than getting injured at key times and missing big games; I [Read more]
Semi Finals Discussion
September 17, 2011 by 38 Comments
The Hawks live on. The Swans are done. Tonight either the Blues or the Eagles will have gone the same way. Amid the furore over football ‘business’, there’s the actual football to consider. Any thoughts folks?
THE PRE WRAP – FINALS ROUND II
September 16, 2011 by 7 Comments
FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. First we had the false alarm on Rossy Lyon. Nurelle’s truly sorry for the scare she put through all those LSJOF who saw themselves once more up Kananook Creek on a low tide. So much for those psyche-pop pieces in Dolly, eh [Read more]
Sal’s Tips: Finals Week 2
September 16, 2011 by 3 Comments
Happy Finals to All, However all the action looks like it is off the ground with tonight’s disposal of Mark Harvey by the Purple Haze putting fuel on the coaching frenzy fire. If reports are correct that Get Stuffed Lyon will be new Purple Wizard, then it should spark some frenzied activity with Melbourne, Footscray [Read more]
deeper into spring
September 14, 2011 by 5 Comments
spring sunset the difference a goal makes freshly cut fields Swan feeds on the MCG cloud then sun then cloud yet to hit our stride looking for the angle Krakouer turns his back to the goals a gap in the clouds Wellingham catches the [Read more]
Blues Rediscover That Finals Swagger
September 13, 2011 by 21 Comments
We’re all well aware of a grim anniversary that occurred this weekend past. I’ve no intention of adding to the numerous postulations on what that event may or may not have meant. So relax. But that same week a decade ago happens to also mark the beginning of Carlton’s descent. In the general scheme of [Read more]
When the Band Stopped
September 13, 2011 by 3 Comments
After a week-long build up focusing on match ups, previous finals clashes, a 100 year long rivalry, finals ticketing dramas and the usual injury concerns, 90,000 people arrived at the MCG ready for action. You would think that such an attendance would be a glowing endorsement of the appeal of the indigenous code. With an [Read more]
Swans Go Ape
September 13, 2011 by 1 Comment
“IT WAS partly ape, with a tiny brain, long arms, a chimp-size body and ape-like heels. But it was also partly human, with long thumbs, short fingers, an advanced ankle and a brain that looked like it had begun to rewire.” Original, non-clichéd quotes can be hard to find in Aussie Rules and this gem [Read more]
THE WRAP – FINALS ROUND I
September 12, 2011 by 15 Comments
WHERE LIFE IMITATES SPORT What a round it’s been in Footy Eddie. And wasn’t it a cornucopia of what Our Great Game is all about Wrappers. Firstly, it was The Handbags who booked themselves a week off and a spot one out and one back. The Maggies also booked themselves a break when they overawed [Read more]
Cats victorious
September 12, 2011 by 20 Comments
“Victory,” said my mad-Catter brother, Mick, substantial piece of Lygon Street Special (no pineapple) in hand, at about 1.30 Saturday morning, “is not as important as defeat.” Crumbs, I thought to myself. That’s so 2006. We won it in `07, and `09, and we’ve just had a ripper win over the arch-rivals, Hawthorn, and we’re [Read more]
Humble Pie not the preferred Dons menu
September 12, 2011 by 3 Comments
Never a sympathetic word was spoken about the Carlton Football Club whilst growing up in my Don household. Of course there were a few other clubs that weren’t loved too, but somehow Carlton was always top of the heap. One incident that sparks the memory in particular, was the Harry Casper/John Coleman ” event” just [Read more]
POISE AND OTTENS
September 12, 2011 by 6 Comments
Poise versus flashes of brilliance. Geelong versus Hawthorn. The weather gods have no concept of timing. They sent the wintery blast up from the Antarctic and into the MCG just in time for Friday night. Cold, hard rain hit the players’ faces and ran down the backs of supporters whose resilience was tested in [Read more]
Geelong are no underdogs
September 12, 2011 by 20 Comments
One of the more curious aspects of our time is that while no one wants to be an actual underdog, it’s helpful in many ways to be perceived as one. This produces some odd disconnects between spin and reality. Billionaires accuse artists and academics of being elites. CEO’s bemoan the dominance of workers as they [Read more]
What a bloody relief
September 11, 2011 by 3 Comments
This was a game we just had to win. Inexplicably a team with a 20-1 record had dropped the last round of the season by 96 points and now found themselves in a final facing a team with a 17-5 record, only half a game inferior to what got us top spot last year. Round [Read more]
To the Pub for Cats vs Hawks!
September 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The bittersweet month is upon us. I love September. But it comes with the knowledge that it will be followed by the long, bleak months of the off-season. This year comes with an extra bonus; the Rugby World Cup. The broadcast schedule for this weekend will give you some idea why I’m so happy. Friday [Read more]
GONE: It’s all Over, Including the Shouting
September 11, 2011 by 8 Comments
It’s 6.30am Sunday morning and my mind is buzzing. It’s over, finito, Sydney Swans bundled St.Kilda out of the finals with a decisive, confident win. They did it well from the beginning, pressure, pressure, pressure and we never had it in us to respond with success. Perhaps the year from hell finally took its toll [Read more]
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