It was a different era he was sure, when harder men went one-on-one all day, and some still claim the way they played more pure; You always knew the price you’d have to pay. He’d paid his price for just one shot at glory in ’78; they were unbackable. His shot from twenty would have [Read more]
NT Thunder Records Massive Upset Win Over Victoria Metro
May 28, 2012 by 15 Comments
BY – JACKSON CLARK The Northern Territory has scored an astonishing upset win over a highly fancied Victoria Metro outfit in the first game of the NAB AFL U18 Championships at TIO Stadium on Saturday night. The undersized Thunder side led all day to eventually win 15.10 (100) to 11.16 (82). Victoria had a wasteful [Read more]
A Dove Among Pigeons
May 27, 2012 by 2 Comments
By Jake ‘Cobba’ Stevens Not that long ago I was on a train in India. True Story. (More on my adventures in India later…) Aside from my Parents and my sister I was the only non-Indian on the train. It was packed, and I estimate I was the only person with white hair within a [Read more]
Thinking back on the U12s
May 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
BY – JACKSON CLARK After recently helping out with some coaching of a local U12s Darwin Juniors side, it made me reminisce of the times when I was running around on those modified grounds. I played juniors for a side called the Sanderson Swans between the ages of seven and 11. Our team was made [Read more]
crio’s Q: Sporting careers cut short?
May 27, 2012 by 24 Comments
Lenny Hayes played a milestone game this weekend. He is a linchpin in the side. One of the most highly regarded players in the AFL. He’s also just back from a second re-co. I remember my old man saying that he did a cartilage and that was it. Some blokes are doomed. Others make incredible [Read more]
Brave New World Order
May 27, 2012 by 2 Comments
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou today announced dramatic new initiatives to improve skill levels and player availability in the AFL. “Now that we are an 18 team competition, it is clear that the AFL can no longer maintain the highest standards of skill and performance using purely local talent,” Mr [Read more]
Close Roy victory like pulling teeth.
May 27, 2012 by 5 Comments
by Derrinalphil Had a bloke come into see me on Saturday morning. He needed a tooth out and having a look at the radiograph, I thought to myself, “piece of cake.” This looks easy and it started out that way. He went numb straight away and the top of the tooth came away as [Read more]
Brave Nude World
May 26, 2012 by 7 Comments
Brave Nude World To all the readers of this article (yes, both of you), I offer a pre-emptive apology as I attempt to tip toe my way through the veritable minefield of potential puns and double entendres that lie ahead. I would like to assure the more conservative among you that no effort will be [Read more]
A Saint at heart
May 26, 2012 by 6 Comments
LENNY HAYES….250 games. What a superstar! It brings tears of pride to my eyes when I think about Lenny. I think it is impossible to truly describe the footballer that he is, the influence he has had over the game of AFL, the influence he has had on the mighty Sainters. He is a beauty, and it was [Read more]
Higher than 58: A Brownlow medalist
May 25, 2012 by 3 Comments
Replacement jumper number 85 – Harry Taylor Dependable Geelong key defender Harry Taylor, who has worn the number 7 guernsey with distinction since his debut in round 2, 2008, wore a very unusual number 85 replacement jumper in Geelong’s big win over Melbourne at the MCG in round 19, 2008. Taylor was under heavy fire [Read more]
Collecting for the Salvos at the Footy
May 24, 2012 by 12 Comments
Footy is a game of rituals, for fans and players alike, whether it’s the routine of lining up for a set shot, wearing a pair of lucky undies to the game, avoiding the run through banner or saying three Hail Mary’s every time the gangly ruckman has the ball deep in defence. A ritual which [Read more]
The Roar of the Lion
May 24, 2012 by 10 Comments
By Shane Johnson, former football manager and player development manager with Brisbane 1992-2006 The merger of the Bears and the Fitzroy Lions was an emotional and interesting time. I remember going to a meeting of the players at the Fitzroy pub after the union had been consummated. There were many vacant faces. They looked [Read more]
Footy journalism gone to the dogs
May 24, 2012 by 24 Comments
By Simon Dobbie This is going to be a whinge. Maybe even a rant. I’m not entirely sure, but I think a rant is a whole level above a whinge. Yep, let’s call it a rant then. And the subject of my rant? Well, its footy journalism. AFL journalism to be precise. It’s a not [Read more]
Number 58: A premiership Bomber in Cats colours
May 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Number 58 – Sean Denham Recruited from Melton South, midfielder Sean Denham started out in senior company in number 58 in the last two home and away rounds of 1987. Col Hutchison, formerly the long-serving statistician at the AFL, found that Denham wore the highest guernsey number for Geelong at the top level, excluding replacement [Read more]
John Kingsmill’s Footy Diary: Round 9 preview
May 24, 2012 by 3 Comments
ROUND NINE – preview My wavering nerve In Adelaide’s rugged May, I’ve tipped the Crows to lose against Sydney, Geelong and Carlton. It’s been a successful ploy: I’ve lost my tips but we’ve won the games! That’s been small fish for such joy but I’ve become reluctant to change my bait. OK, this week I’m [Read more]
Baulking the truth
May 23, 2012 by 1 Comment
There is no place for failure in football. I understand this. I’d make a terrible footballer, despite the fact I once kept Justin Murphy to 4.7 in an HDJFL game circa 1986….. However, I would like to know if the elite champion footballer ever hits a wall they can’t break through? Juddy, Browny, Hirdy, Buckley…you [Read more]
Number 57: The Battle of Britain
May 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Number 57 – Russell Mitchell Donning the rare number 57, mid-sized player Russell Mitchell was recruited from Geelong club Bell Post Hill and played two games for Geelong in 1985-1986. At the beginning of 1985, Mitchell was playing with Bell Post Hill and thought he would try out for Geelong at the end of the [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 9, Saturday 24 May, v Melbourne, MCG
May 23, 2012 by 5 Comments
Last week’s epic victory over Carlton had all the electricity, tension, and dramatic emotional release that I imagine the connections of a winning Melbourne Cup horse would feel. Seven days on and back at the same venue, I wander casually into the cheer squad area, take my pick from rows of empty seats, sit back [Read more]
Throwing Rocks at Cats
May 23, 2012 by 11 Comments
I would like to call this speech “Throwing Rocks at Cats.” During the first launch of Tortured Tales I launched a few rocks at Carlton angry bitter hate filled missiles. It felt pretty good – but my therapist has since reminded me that this represents a kind of thinking called “negative regression” which is stopping [Read more]
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