In life, there are what I like to call “defining moments”. Sometimes these defining moments pass you by, and at the time you don’t even notice. You may not ever notice. But there are many defining moments – some small, some large – which find you stopping for a moment, or even longer, to reflect. [Read more]
Jumper lore
May 12, 2012 by 4 Comments
On the way to the footy last Saturday night, I stopped in to change my mobile phone plan. This involved a fair bit of lightning typing from an under 25, who drew breath only to ask me: ‘Do you want me to do a number sequence search on anything in particular?’ After looking blankly at [Read more]
Lies, damned lies and statistical facts jack
May 12, 2012 by 11 Comments
In this ever-swirling, curly, whirly, hurly-burly worldy world it is hard enough to find your feet long enough to attend to your laces let alone walk the walk. Times were gravity’s pull kept you sufficiently stationed and storied to know your own business enough to speak your bullshit or whatever. Now, you have to carry [Read more]
Number 52: A dual premiership number
May 11, 2012 by 3 Comments
In the third of this 10-part series, we look at former AFL players to have donned the number 52. We again invite readers to recall players from other clubs who sported the number 52 at senior level, whether that number was allocated to the relevant player at the time or was a replacement guernsey. Number [Read more]
Happy Anniversary Mr Zeuschner
May 11, 2012 by 9 Comments
Happy Anniversary Mr Zeuschner Six matches into his senior coaching career and Brendan McCartney’s record stands at 2 wins and 4 losses. Upon his appointment last year McCartney became the 14th different man to take the coaching reigns at the Western Oval since the team last reached the season finale. Saturday 23 September 1961 was [Read more]
Umpires need a louder voice
May 10, 2012 by 2 Comments
I know it’s part of footy culture, but the incessant “BALL!” shouts from the outer have gone too far. The AFL’s loudest supporters might be the most entertaining, but they have an unhealthy obsession with playing backseat umpire. If you were a foreigner, attending an AFL match for the first time, you’d have to assume [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 7, Saturday 10 May, v Footscray, Western Oval
May 10, 2012 by 14 Comments
As we take our places behind the goals at the Barkly St end, the Richmond larrikins are in full voice. Mark Jackson, all jutting jaw and bleach-blond hair, is giving his Footscray reserves opponents a touch-up and the fans are loving it. Yes – that indi-bloody-vidual Mark Jackson! Melbourne, Geelong and St Kilda fans might [Read more]
It was ‘A Hard Year’s Plight’
May 10, 2012 by 4 Comments
I wrote this piece last year during Richmond’s ‘winter of discontent.’ Losses to Port Adelaide and the Gold Coast had overshadowed some good early form in the season, and we were facing another lowly finish…. “It’s been a long cold lonely winter.” These words, penned by the late George Harrison, the ‘quiet’ Beatle, have been [Read more]
I heart GWS
May 10, 2012 by 6 Comments
Most people love a battler. Battling teams usually become everyone’s second favourites. Think Footscray. They battle along. Everybody wants them to win the Grand Final – even when Terry Wallace was coach. For that reason my new second favourite side is the Giants. They remind me of the Bad News Bears. Not for the ridiculous [Read more]
Number 51: Who dons thee
May 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
In the second of this 10-part series, we look at former AFL players to have donned the number 51. WE again invite readers to recall players from other clubs who sported the number 51 at senior level, whether that number was allocated to the relevant player at the time or was a replacement guernsey. Number [Read more]
Waiting for the siren’s call
May 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
From Collingwood’s 50 Most Sensational Games Round 8 2002 Collingwood 5.1.31 8.9.57 14.12.96 17.12.114 Brisbane Lions 7.2.44 10.5.65 12.9.81 16.15.111 VENUE: Colonial Stadium DATE: Saturday 18 May CROWD: 46,279 UMPIRES: Sheehan, Ellis, Nicholls COLLINGWOOD B Johnson Prestigiacomo Clement HB Lonie Wakelin Cloke C Fraser Buckley N. Davis HF Lockyer Rocca Burns F Holland Tarrant Molloy [Read more]
The View from Shepparton – Round 6
May 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Two great games this week, the Crows v Sydney and The Suns v Freo. Everyone is raving about the game in Sydney and in truth it was one of the best Crows wins in years. I have been so cynical about Adelaide over the past few years and more so this year particularly after their [Read more]
At the bottom of the Record
May 9, 2012 by 8 Comments
This 10-part series is a tribute to all the players who have played a senior VFL/AFL game wearing a guernsey number of 50 and above. The players whose names appear just above the omnipresent Mr “Rushed” at the foot of the player list in the Record, and who have used (in some cases temporarily) a [Read more]
The Miracle of Geoff Leak (Leek)
May 9, 2012 by 12 Comments
By Barry Dickins Many torps ago there was Geoff Leek whom my father knew and played cricket with down at our local church. It was the unhappiest land of them all. Known as The Reservoir Baptist Church it approved of capital punishment and its sententious Sunday School teachers knocked [Read more]
A tale of two forwards
May 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Heard Bill Ryan talking on the Coodabeens on Saturday. He was a club stalwart in the halcyon days of footy, playing 167 games, kicking 220 goals. Memories of my early years as a Cats supporter. I first barracked for them in 1969, their eighth and last finals campaign in a great run. In 1970 they fell [Read more]
The Footygods: Ajax the great
May 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Ajax the great was tall, big strong and smart. When he was born, Heracles threw a lion skin around him and prayed that the baby’s skin would be just as tough and his courage just as strong. Zeus came through on most of that but left the skin soft around his neck just to show [Read more]
Scarf
May 8, 2012 by 6 Comments
I went to my second Super Rugby fixture last Friday night, and I wouldn’t be lying if I said I enjoyed it more than my first. There were plenty of tries, there was skill shown by both large and small, and the kicking for goal (I’m pretty sure that’s not the correct turn of phrase) [Read more]
Conflicted
May 8, 2012 by 6 Comments
A football love-hate story It’s happening and I swear I had nothing little to do with it. A couple months ago my wife dragged took my five year old boy to church. To her incredulity, out of nowhere he started singing Good old Collingwood for da ever (sic).
Superdogs lick their wounds
May 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AFL MASTERS – ROUND THREE: RIVERLAND SUPERDOGS V ADELAIDE UNI GREYS The Riverland Superdogs’ winning start ended with a heavy loss to a classy and skilful Adelaide Uni Greys at Lyrup Oval on Sunday. Injuries and illness to key players did not help as the hosts went down by 94 points. Adelaide Uni [Read more]
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