The latest instalment in Vin Maskell’s tangential series. Are the Dropkick Murphys a bunch of punk-folk frauds? None of their names are Murphy and I doubt any of their songs are about that once noble expression of grace and distance, the Australian Rules drop kick. The Boston-based band of seven sing about work and unions, [Read more]
UPDATE FROM THE ROCKY FLOOD
January 4, 2011 by 3 Comments
Hey lads, thought people would like to really know what it is like around the Rockhampton region as it does flood. Especially important for the sporting precincts in the area as well that some may or may not know. We are still waiting for the peak, but it’s now at a level where the roads [Read more]
NAB Cup Questions
December 31, 2010 by 5 Comments
The NAB Cup is only 43 days away, not long to go at all. Finally we’ll see some football action instead of the insipid Cricket that’s been on lately. Watching Cricket doesn’t work for me, especially when we’re being toyed with by England. But I’m having trouble with the normal, bubbling enthusiasm I have for [Read more]
The commentary year that was
December 30, 2010 by 21 Comments
Each year throws up some memorable commentary: what springs to your mind? Wendell Sailor: “There may be no I in TEAM but there’s five in INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE” Danny Frawley, on Liam Jurrah’s mark: …laughter…”Oh my Lord!”
In their prime
December 29, 2010 by 14 Comments
by Chris Riordan News filtered through on Christmas afternoon that Maurice Rioli had died suddenly. “He’s not that old!”, was the dismayed response. Not long ago, Andy Irons’ sudden passing made shockwaves – how could it be that one so young, with so much to live for, was gone? It is not a happy topic. [Read more]
Home is where the grandstand is
December 23, 2010 by 9 Comments
VFL club Williamstown won’t be playing at home next year due to major works on the 80 year old grandstand, and on the playing surface.The Seagulls ‘home’ ground for next year, for six games, is at arch-rival Werribee’s ground. The three other ‘home’ games will be at Torquay (vs Geelong), Keilor (vs North Ballarat) and [Read more]
The better angels of St. Pat’s Ballarat
December 20, 2010 by 5 Comments
“Ultimately it is this innocent charm that provides the lingering impression of John James, a boy who delighted in the stolen moments of jam toast with mates in the stoker room and a man, standing on his own staring in wonder at the corridors of his old school, smiling blissfully to himself.”[i] At 1pm on [Read more]
Oldies but goodies
December 20, 2010 by 39 Comments
by Chris Riordan Next week we turn the calendar to another year, staring down another birthday. Warnie aside, most of us battle the ravages of aging, looking back longingly on our “glory days”. Sportspeople know this acutely. Look at AFL clubs and their “youth policy” mantras. Read the papers on our cricketers – “inject some [Read more]
My Favourite Drop Kick. Part three.
December 17, 2010 by 3 Comments
Vin Maskell continues his occasional series Nashville songwriter Paul Craft wrote Drop Kick Me Jesus in the mid-1970s. It became a minor country and western hit for a bloke called Bobby Bare in 1976. Wikipedia describes the song as the world’s ‘only Christian football waltz’. One doubts not too many people would dispute such a [Read more]
Copeland Night 2010
December 14, 2010 by 2 Comments
By Andrea McNamara Hello everyone I thought I’d take my lead from Presti and save my talking until the end … Way back when the Copeland tickets went on sale, well before we were in a grand final, I got talked into attending the Copeland. And I’m so glad I said yes. I’ve never been [Read more]
North Melbourne 2011 Preview
December 13, 2010 by 4 Comments
Being a North Melbourne supporter, the off-season is usually full of unwanted press about the Roos relocating, folding, not having enough money, relying on AFL/government handouts etc. It’s not a good time for anyone associated with the blue and white stripes. But this year, despite the Victorian election and the Hobart push for North to [Read more]
Paddle for the Mentawais- The Journey
December 11, 2010 by 2 Comments
By Russell Yule On Thursday morning, Harold Shim and myself attempted the first ever SUP circumnavigation of Abu Dhabi. (SUP stands for stand up paddleboard. Kind of a long surfboard powered by a 7ft long paddle). Here is the story lifted from the blog I have been doing about our Paddle for the Mentawais to [Read more]
“The Sickness”
December 7, 2010 by 15 Comments
by Bill Walker I was out with a group of foreign university students doing an interp. of Tarkine rainforest when the driver took the wrong route on the way home. Everything was going just fine until then. Half way between Edith Creek and Irishtown I spotted this (see photo below). Sure can be lucky at [Read more]
Perth Launch
December 4, 2010 by 2 Comments
by Les Everett THE FootyAlmanac.com.au story about Zephaniah Skinner by Tavis Perry provided inspiration for the 2010 Almanac Perth launcher Steve Hawke. Hawke wrote one of the great footy books, Polly Farmer: A Biography, but another of his works – Noonkanbah: Whose Land, Whose Law – was also relevant at this footy function. Noonkanbah is [Read more]
Another year over…
December 2, 2010 by 13 Comments
by Josh Barnstable Wheeling the orange bin over to my locker, I carefully squeezed into the small space along with the bin, in front of a tower of lockers. I opened the top locker on the right, next to the greystone wall. Cobwebs had covered my locker, and a few Daddy-Long Legs had occupied a [Read more]
Tassie Launch – Wynyard Footy Club
December 1, 2010 by 7 Comments
A grand time was had by all at the Tasmanian launch of the 2010 Almanac. Here are some snapshots of the event. Paul Daffey and Bill Walker Tim Lane and a friend Paul Daffey and retro Wynyard Guernsey
Paddle for the Mentawais – Get on Board!
December 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Russell Yule The tsunami that hit the Mentawais Islands in October is the second to affect the region in since 2004. Assistance has been made even more difficult as the region is moving into the monsoon season, with weather conditions this year being horrific. Storms bringing winds of more than 100km/hr have prevented boats, [Read more]
Wonderful athletes who aren’t great footballers
November 30, 2010 by 14 Comments
Thanks this week to Arma who contacted me with the following question/topic suggestion: This time of year, with pre-season training going on, we hear of “personal bests in the 3km time trial”, “improved endurance / recovery times”, etc, etc. And there are always references to this bloke or that bloke being “a wonderful athlete”. But that [Read more]
Falcons Vs Dingoes 12 Nov 2010
November 28, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Russell Yule The second round of the 2010-11 AFL-ME season kicked off with an early (10am) game between the Abu Dhabi Falcons and the Dubai Dingoes. The early start to avoid getting mixed up in the F1 World Title deciding event happening up the road and round the corner at Yas Island. (Any truth [Read more]
Ugly Ducklings
November 26, 2010 by 6 Comments
by Dave Nadel For most of my life, at least until 1995, “Swan” was the name of an iconic bird, a rather ordinary beer, a very unsuccessful VFL/AFL team and a large river in Perth. I had only ever heard of two people named Swan, coincidentally both were first named Billy. The American Billy Swan [Read more]
Recent Comments