By Paul Daffey Wind is a variant that’s going out of AFL games in Victoria. The Docklands Stadium is like a bowling alley with turf. The MCG’s stands are so high that the wind dare not breach its walls. Only Kardinia Park is exposed to the elements. pauldaffey
Local Footy: The Maffra story – it’s all about beating Sale
July 21, 2009 by 3 Comments
by Rocket Gillett In preparing my recent posting on the Rochester/Echuca rivalry I had planned to compare it to a very similar rivalry – and the most comparable is the Sale/Maffra rivalry – the parallels are striking similarly in terms of longevity, small town v big town, changing competitions, etc However, I got carried [Read more]
Local Footy: Kossy brain fade costs Superdogs victory
July 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch A costly last-quarter 25-metre penalty by Superdogs All-Australian ruckman Nick Kossatch proved the difference as his side went down by two points in a thrilling match against Blackwood at Berri. ‘Kossy’ was devastated post-match but will seek Barry Hall Anger Management Counselling very soon. He did dominate, however, with plenty of possessions [Read more]
Local Footy: Berri’s finals chances go up in smoke in fiery clash
July 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch Berri’s chances of playing in the Riverland Football League finals have all but ended after going down by two goals in a fiery round 11 match against Waikerie. The Berri Oval clash was at times riddled by errors and was marred by a spiteful brawl midway through the third quarter. The Magpies [Read more]
Local Footy: My bump felt brilliant but I still need bread
July 18, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Captain Cupcake I really like bread, and over the years I’ve been able to refine my bread-making to something of an art. My preferred loaf is a 1:2 wholemeal/white combination, dense with sesame, poppy, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds. To maintain my playing weight, I’ve been known to eat a loaf in a day. Bread [Read more]
Local Footy: All rivalries change, even the very strongest ones
July 17, 2009 by 15 Comments
By Paul Daffey A few years ago, I was researching a story on rivalries in local footy and I consulted that treasure trove of footy knowledge Rod Gillett for background on Echuca and Rochester. Rocket, who spent part of his childhood in both towns (he likes country and western), passed on some gems of information, [Read more]
Jones Files: George Ogilvie, ex-Echuca and Rochester, a true Bendigo league great
July 17, 2009 by 9 Comments
By Richard Jones ECHUCA’S between-the-wars centre half-forward George Ogilvie rates as one of the greatest players the Bendigo league has seen. Amazing as it might seem, Ogilvie didn’t start playing in the BFL until he was 29. He’d seen service in World War 1, played with Richmond in the VFL and Port Melbourne in the [Read more]
In the Sheds: Peace returns to Melbourne’s west after umpire ructions
July 15, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Paul Daffey ALL Western Region Football League games went ahead at the weekend, which was a relief after the cancellation of all senior matches the previous weekend because of an umpires’ strike, but the rapprochement was not achieved without argy-bargy. pauldaffey
Local Footy: Wags blitzes for Renmark with five second-half goals
July 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch Renmark’s “yo-yo” season continued after they recorded a 79-point win against bottom-placed Loxton North at Renmark Oval. The hosts held a two-goal lead at half-time but Ben Wagnitz provided them with much-needed spark when he booted five second-half goals in the Rovers’ 14-goals to three blitz in that period. The oval was [Read more]
Local Footy: Rochester should be the Demons for a day
July 14, 2009 by 9 Comments
By Rod Gillett The local derby is in my view the essence of Australian football. This is much more pronounced at the grassroots level than at the AFL level, whether it be in the country, the amateurs, the suburbs, and even between schools. It’s particularly poignant in the bush. Training intensifies, supporters start talking about [Read more]
VAFA: Ivanhoe try to round up old premiership players
July 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Don Blackwood Forty years have fluttered by since an Ivanhoe Amateurs senior team has won a flag; the last was in 1969 over De La Salle at Victoria Park by 15 points. The celebration and reunion of that momentous occasion will take place at Ivanhoe Park on Sat 25 July at 12 noon as [Read more]
In the Sheds: Teams left high and dry as umpires strike
July 8, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Paul Daffey What a mess in the west! The Western Region Football League Umpires Association was formed around the same time that the Western Region competition (originally the Footscray District league) was formed in 1931. Umpires to have come through the ranks in the western-suburbs competition include Mathew James, who’s officiated in three AFL [Read more]
Local Footy: Slick River Murray steam over Superdogs
July 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch The Riverland Superdogs failed to capitalise on their midfield centre clearance dominance to go down by 32 points against River Murray at Mannum Oval on Sunday. The under-strength visitors were off to a sluggish start but were encouraged by the efforts of East Murray recruit Dave Francis. The [Read more]
Yarra Man: I love the quirks of local footy grounds
July 2, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Tavis Perry A mate of mine says Ovens and Murray Football League club Corowa-Rutherglen has the best ground he’s seen in country footy. Indeed, when I played at the John Foord Oval for the first time earlier this year I was struck by its tranquillity and scenic appeal. It’s surrounded by immense gum trees, [Read more]
In the Sheds: Buckling up for a game of footy
July 1, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Paul Daffey THE Victorian Amateur Football Association is a Melbourne-wide competition, so clubs accept that occasionally they have to travel across town. Not so long ago that meant that clubs based around the VAFA heartland of the inner eastern suburbs had to cross the river (shudder) to play St Bernard’s at West Essendon or [Read more]
Local Footy: Superdogs return to winning list
June 29, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch The Riverland Superdogs Master’s over 35s football side returned to the winner’s list in barnstorming fashion against Pooraka with an 87-point victory at Berri Oval on Sunday. After an inaccurate first half, highlighted by Johnny ‘The Whiz’ Barrett’s ‘goal hungriness’ – the Dogs’ debutant Scott Muller (four goals) proved a fine a [Read more]
Jones Files: More players to add to my list of the best in the Bendigo league
June 26, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Richard Jones AS my original list of the Top Ten best Bendigo Football League players was so well received, here’s another list of country footy stars to consider. This second list contains more players from recent times than the original squad. A number of players in this group were teammates in Bendigo’s stunning 1989 [Read more]
Middle East Correspondent: What’s in a name for footy clubs? Plenty
June 25, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Rod Gillett When the Ardlethan and Ariah Park-Mirrool football clubs in southern NSW agreed to amalgamate for the 2004 season they could have combined their names in the fashion of another (quite famous) Riverina club, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong. Instead they came up with the moniker Northern Power, as they had decided to adopt a Port [Read more]
Yarra Man: Watts is a worry; Dees should have taken Rich
June 25, 2009 by 5 Comments
By Tavis Perry There’s been a plethora of recent media reports on Jack Watts, and why wouldn’t there be given the No.1 draft pick always creates more headlines than other drafted players? This is especially so because the No.1 pick is generally a shining light in an otherwise dim period for his club. Being a [Read more]
Local Footy: Colourful nicknames make footy world go round
June 24, 2009 by 25 Comments
By Daryl Pitman “Go Pies!,” shout Collingwood fans. “Up the Crows,” some even more misguided individuals have been heard to utter. But what about the more original nicknames that have evolved in local football? If you haven’t heard of the Cavemen, the Redeyes, the Yabbies or the Gorillas, then read on . . . One [Read more]
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