When “other” national codes begun a concerted push in to Melbourne, many “dedicated” AFL fans (and the parent body, I suspect) exhibited ill-will towards them. It was us or them. Even the Socceroos and the Wallabies were not to be supported lest a foothold be conceded in Victoria. According to my son Tom, untainted from [Read more]

St Kilda has lost another AFL Grand Final. Glenelg has again bowed out early in the SANFL finals. South Africa is out of the Champion’s Trophy. Who are the other perennial losers? crio

“Give me 80,000 people at the MCG and I was Hercules. Give me a grey day at the Western Oval and I wasn’t worth a cracker.” – Brent Crosswell At this time of the year it’s always trumpeted that reputations are made and lost in finals (sorry Skilts!). Think Dermie, Gazza in ’89, KB in [Read more]

I’m converted to the fatalist view, but all around me at the MCG are Doggies fans taking the blame for our latest puncture. Katrina bought her new Bulldogs fleecy top before the West Coast game and hasn’t been to a match since. What’s more, she’s never seen the Doggies beat the Cats. When Cat’s Whisker’s [Read more]

All real fans get excited when their team reaches September and has genuine claims of raising that cup. (What is it actually?) I’d guess that, although Carlton, Essendon and Brisbane are given no chance of getting through, each would rate their season as a success. Adelaide, now contenders, also will emerge with ticks. But what [Read more]

I’ll have to thank Budge for generating this topic in his disputation of Joel Bowden’s status upon retirement. I agree that Bowden, outstanding person, has been a serviceable player. Mickey O is probably in the top echelon of Swannies, rather than the broader footy Hall of Fame crap. Adam Simpson likewise. crio

This has been a terrific season for AFL fans in Victoria, with sensational games between Victorian opponents regularly packing the grounds. But there may be a price to pay if two Victorian teams make the Grand Final. As difficult as some find it to believe, for many of us it is less stressful if Brisbane, [Read more]

The Irish betting organisation Paddy Power is best known in Australia for its novel approach to gaming, such as when it called for punters in 2008 to bet on the name of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s then unborn child. Their slogan is prominent on the sideboards at EPL matches. Having now bought out Sportsbet, [Read more]

It may not seem important, but don’t you get annoyed at some of the hyperbole surrounding selection for Goal of the Year? It’s been reignited by this week’s Fev-freak and some commentators’ retrospective criticism of Lloydy’s cute back-tap a couple of seasons ago. Should it be the run-and-carry, the flukey snap, the critical or long [Read more]

By Chris Riordan Friday is a time for some week-ending cleansers. But what’s with the supposed pride in one’s team being on “The Big Stage of Friday Night Footy”? I’m baffled. As an attendee it doesn’t suit. Worn out at week’s end, it is too long to wait after work and too hard to come [Read more]