NAB Challenge: Melbourne V West Coast I ventured out to Casey Fields alone on this glorious Saturday afternoon, to witness the Dees play their final practice game against the up and coming West Coast. When I heard my Mum and Dad (and two younger sisters) were going to visit my Granny, I thought they could [Read more]
THE SWEET, SWEET TASTE OF PREMIERSHIP GLORY
March 14, 2010 by 13 Comments
The ball arched up, up, up into the air, the hopes of Geelong riding on this one kick. The game had been tight all day, but now the Cats were humming, dominating the last quarter of a see-saw battle. As it swung straight through the big sticks it plummeted right towards me. Beer in one [Read more]
Bulldogs end the 40 Year Drought
March 14, 2010 by 609 Comments
NAB CUP Final: Western Bulldogs v St Kilda In 1970, Footscray defeated Melbourne by two points at Lake Oval in the night series, giving the Bulldogs their second premiership cup of any sort. Fast forward 14,411 days, and the Western Bulldogs are competing against St Kilda for their first piece of silverware since that night. [Read more]
Narrandera Sportsground: A Mecca in a heathen state
March 10, 2010 by 56 Comments
by Rod Gillet The Narrandera Sportsground will light up on Friday night for the Sydney Swans v North Melbourne AFL Challenge match. A crowd of about 10,000 spectators is expected to attend the third game the Swans have played in the heart of the Riverina in four years. Previous games have drawn crowds of between [Read more]
Practice Match: Healy heartbreak at Hamra Holmes
March 8, 2010 by 425 Comments
By Steve Healy I have never been so excited about a practice match. Maybe it’s the fact that I can listen on FiveAA covering the game over the internet. I’m really hoping for a Demons victory today at an unfamiliar venue, Hamra Homes Oval in Elizabeth (Northern Adelaide). With three other challenge matches on in [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: St Kilda and hailstorm wreak havoc on an unusual Melbourne day
March 7, 2010 by 110 Comments
By Damian Watson Labour Day weekend was designed to honour those who undertake work and contribute to society with a reward of three days relaxation, although this Saturday was anything but. A significant hailstorm or using footy terminology – Waverley Park weather, hit Melbourne in the early afternoon causing chaos in all quadrants of the [Read more]
NAB Challenge: Point-fest at Visy Park
March 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by David Enticott I like pre-season games. They tend to be played at traditional, old VFL venues that give spectators a much closer view of the action. This match against Richmond at Visy Park also offers the chance to see a few young players for each team and to look at the tactics that will [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: BBBB Hall sees Dogs Home in Tacklefest
March 6, 2010 by 661 Comments
Steve Healy A seventh NAB cup game decided by 14 points or less took place tonight, between a rampant Bulldogs outfit and a young and surprising Port Adelaide side. It was a game of tough contests aplenty, where the umpires put the whistles down and both sides put in an input of 164 tackles. It [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: Dogs fall into a Grand Final
March 6, 2010 by 584 Comments
by Josh Barnstable After catching a cold mid-week, I fought out the remaining days of the school week before conceding on Friday; seeing as it was cold and pouring down, I didn’t want to go out in that weather and risk getting even sicker, so I spent the day home from school, in the warmth [Read more]
Interview: Peter Temple talks with Kerry O’Brien
March 5, 2010 by 2 Comments
Author Peter Temple was interviewed by Kerry O’Brien on Thursday night’s 7:30 Report. Here is a transcript of some of Peter’s comments. KERRY O’BRIEN: Well, just describe how Jack Irish developed as a character, how he emerged on the page. PETER TEMPLE: I wanted to have somebody who had… I’m interested in lawyers. I’m interested [Read more]
Tragic History 101
March 4, 2010 by 6 Comments
by MCR When the tricolours take the field this Friday evening they will be attempting become the first Dogs side since September 1970 (the 28th to be exact) to play in a Grand Final……..of any sort ! Our team that night was
Billy Miller’s Lakeside Oval lament
March 4, 2010 by 31 Comments
Home of the original Night Premiership and the Commodore/Comedy (and Army Reserve) Cup, the Lakeside Oval was the home of the Swans until 1982 and the scene of many battles for the “Lake Premiership”. Billy Miller tells more. (Click on the link below.) http://www.aroundthegrounds.bellestorie.com/lakeside/lakeside.html
Footy: Personality matching game
March 3, 2010 by 16 Comments
Let’s play a game of match maker, AFL style. My regular readers know that my writing is ‘different.’ While some dive into stats, I dive into which player has the best hair. If you want to read a piece about how many push-ups Juddy did last training session, or how many times the ball went [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who is your Money Man?
March 3, 2010 by 30 Comments
When watching a penalty shootout last weekend (two, in fact, and with no emotional or financial attachment) I wondered at the nerve it took to “step up” or, as a keeper, to stare down your nemesis. These sorts of defining moments make and break careers, even lives. Kevin Muscat has never, I think, missed a [Read more]
NAB Cup, Round 2: Freo beat Roos in a match worthy of the real season
March 2, 2010 by 493 Comments
By Steve Healy I’m on my way to the footy again, for the second week in a row. Last week it was Geelong V North Melbourne, this week, the Roos are up against the Dockers. Both of which, twilight games at Etihad Stadium. Does it matter? I think not. I’m meeting up with Almanacker and [Read more]
World Footy: Desert derby is a pointer to Middle East Grand Final
March 2, 2010 by 6 Comments
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi now virtually owns Dubai Inc. The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is now named after the ruler of Abu Dhabi. However, the one piece of reality that Abu Dhabi does not own is the Middle East AFL crown. Competition leaders Dubai Heat are still unbeaten after two seasons of [Read more]
Footy: A blue and white trail to new grandeur
March 2, 2010 by 5 Comments
I marvel at the crisp, clean lines of North Melbourne’s new Arden Street edifice each time I pass. It is a truly impressive, and long overdue, development in the evolution of the club. Not having yet been inside the facility, I also wonder at the magical qualities which must surely lie within. For I have [Read more]
Footy/Soccer: Geelong stadium suggestion fuels my anger over World Cup
March 2, 2010 by 44 Comments
By Susie Giese The recent bid to upgrade Skilled Stadium to a 44,000-seater square pitch by no means solves the issue of a stymied AFL season. After State Government announced plans late last year to upgrade the MCG for its appeal to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, newspapers Australia-wide received an influx of [Read more]
You can never go back: Football returns to Princes Park
March 2, 2010 by 2 Comments
by John Butler It seemed like a good time to revisit the old girl. Admittedly, a stinking hot February afternoon doesn’t exactly scream footy, and it was only another edition of the pre-season Hit and Giggle Cup (sorry, Challenge), but you never know when opportunity will next present. Besides, whispers had it that a certain [Read more]
NAB Cup, Round 2: It’s hard to find a score in the bathroom
March 1, 2010 by 72 Comments
It has been one of the worst days of my life. After hearing the bad news that I couldn’t make the trip down to Melbourne for a second consecutive week to the footy, I confide myself to listening and watching the game on the internet. As I log onto the computer to check the latest [Read more]
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