Yesterday, on dusk, I found Rodge and Tobe sitting on Rodge’s ute, which was backed up to a pile of road gravel beside a gully hair pin. I pull in, sore and grotty from work. “Old Dog!” Rodge smiled, throwing his hands in the air. “What’s up, blokes?” ‘We were nicking some Shire gravel [Read more]
Ode to a Magpie
October 11, 2011 by 8 Comments
This anonymous poem was handed to my cousin John Scopas by an old Collingwood fan. He passed it on to me in the hope that it will get a run on the site and that we may yet find the author. I have cleaned up a fair bit of punctuation (written by a Collingwood [Read more]
I saw red
October 10, 2011 by 4 Comments
During a Cats home game towards the end of the 2001 season, I made a bold prediction that had the half dozen or so mates I was with laughing derisively. “Cameron Ling will captain the Cats one day.”
Love and Football I
October 9, 2011 by 10 Comments
The most goddamn fantastic thing I have seen in football happened in the Bay, where not enough good things happened. I was at war with most everybody at the time. But, this one nothing day, not hot or cold, a sky going nowhere, I had come into town for supplies. I was talking [Read more]
Its Eade time at Collingwood
October 9, 2011 by 18 Comments
I guess everyone has heard about the new addition to Collingwood, I personally beamed at headlines such as ‘Eade joins Magpies’- when did I ever leave?! However, the media were referring to ex-Bulldogs coach, now Collingwood’s new ‘director of coaching’- oooooohh fancy! Now I don’t know how other Collingwood supporters may feel about this, since [Read more]
On the Question of Sumich
October 9, 2011 by 5 Comments
‘Desperate and Dateless’ of Northern Tasmania writes: “Talk us through the Sumich defection. I would expect that would be the biggest thing to happen in WA since Bondy fell from grace. The rest of the football world’s equivalent of Barass going toCarlton. Surely you are able to enlighten us eastern infidels.” Well DD, we [Read more]
My Uncle Bob, the St.Kilda Football Club and when a little bit of luck goes a long way.
October 7, 2011 by 6 Comments
Uncle Bob is the youngest of my (deceased) dad’s four living brothers. Two other brothers died at early ages from illness inFrancein the 40’s . My grandmother only ever gave birth to boys. Passionate ones at that. Bob was born inParisin 1941 and was very young when his family became dislocated, separated, in hiding [Read more]
“Thin Loyalty”
October 7, 2011 by 11 Comments
The whole Ross Lyon thing, combined with a few other moves in the AFL, leaves me feeling a bit confused, certainly disappointed and not a little bit angry. Not just about the idea that “my club” has lost a coach who got us within touching distance of two premierships, but about the whole concept of [Read more]
Grand Final Week
October 7, 2011 by 5 Comments
Ellie and Luke had their ear plugs in and portable TVs on before I had pulled out of the driveway, Monday morning, grand final week. High School Musical. I attempted conversation. So, who’s going to win the grand final? Geelong, said Luke, 8. Collingwood, said Ellie, 10. Why? Dunno. Dunno. What about the Brownlow? Judd. [Read more]
Climbing to the top of the mountain
October 6, 2011 by 4 Comments
When James Podsiadly was stretchered off the MCG half way through the second quarter of this year’s Grand Final, Collingwood kicked a goal to increase their lead over Geelong to three goals. I thought Geelong was almost gone. Almost. Collingwood’s midfield was on top, their backline was running in waves and there was a man [Read more]
SAVIOURS
October 6, 2011 by 2 Comments
As a youngster I had never been exposed to a Collingwood premiership. It was not until 1970 that the black and whites finally made it to a grand final in my memory. That day they looked home and hosed after leading by 44 pts at half time. Then Ronald Dale Barassi unleashed an unknown in [Read more]
Grand Finals Pt.3: So This Is Christmas…
October 3, 2011 by 12 Comments
It’s 11 am, Saturday morning, the Coodabeens are on the radio. I’ve just got back from cutting a load of wood, and am bouncing off home, getting ready, up here, on the mountain, for the AFL Grand Final, as millions do. Last night I went around to Roland’s pile of corrugated tin he calls a [Read more]
The Emptiest Bandwagon(s) in History
October 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Disclaimer: I am a big Cats fan. For this post, I am donning my Analyst cap. I am quite stunned at how rapid the sift in sentiment for the Flag has been. Throughout the year the Pies have been wild favorites, as the Cats rolled relatively umimpeeded on, finishing second by one game. I was [Read more]
The Great Black and White Schadenfreude
October 1, 2011 by 3 Comments
They’ve been worming out of the woodwork for weeks; Disenchanted Dees, Beaten Dogs and, more recently, Hard-done-by Hawks. Everyone’s lining up to have a crack. Like spectators watching a stranger withdrawing the fateful skewer in a game of Kerplunk, or misplacing a block in Jenga. They know the price of failure. It’s written all over [Read more]
THE GRAND FINAL PRE WRAP
October 1, 2011 by 7 Comments
FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. Congratulations Dane Swan. You have been granted The Brownlow Medal you should have been given last year. And does this suggest to anyone that there’s just the teeny weeniest possibility that the voting can be subjective? (You still think Keith Greig’s 1973 [Read more]
Stresstember Reflections…Bad Currency Drives Out Good
September 28, 2011 by 26 Comments
by Stephen Alomes It is the time of the year…when a footy follower’s thoughts turn not to flowers or fillies or fun but to the last steps to the top of the hill or perhaps in the DeMillean AFLspeak ‘the mountain’ or even ‘the summit’. It is the time of Sturm und [Read more]
The Footygods: Bia
September 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Ian Latham The greeks had lots of gods to make you think. They had Athena, the goddess of wisdom and learning. They had the muses who inspired writing and the arts. They could inspire you with their skill. A lot like Nic Naitanui. You could just marvel at him all day. And you [Read more]
The Big Nick
September 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
by John Green I never thought I’d see a band of Vikings marching up the centre of Bridge Road. There they were. Arrayed in red and white, sporting horned helmets, brandishing hammers and calling on the names of ancient Norse gods. At least that’s what I thought they were saying. They weren’t the only [Read more]
THUNDER STORMS, 3-2-1 and More!!
September 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
Representative side Northern Territory Football Club creates history: 3 Seasons competing, 2 Premierships, in 1 year. by Jocelyn Ledwidge No wonder they’re tough in the Territory: with a high degree of difficulty, vision has become glorious reality in record time. A total start up club – new structure, staff, sponsors, Board, playing [Read more]
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