Wanna Bet on Another Shaw Thing?

  by Merv Collins   When I stuck my head above the blankets to greet the two degree morning in Melbourne today, I’m sure I felt a shiver of sympathy for poor Heath Shaw doing it hard over there in sun-drenched southern America. I suspect his team-mates experienced some of the same emotions as they [Read more]

Sean Gorman: Legends

Legends, which is a book of profiles of the Indigenous Team of the Century is a very important book. It is written by Sean Gorman who interviewed the players and has written these biographical essays on their terms. The book celebrates the game and the Indigenous players but it does not ignore the political realities [Read more]

Radio Dimwit

It’s 8:40am. I’m like a zombie walking through the Agora, back to the West Lecture Theatre. Still feeling half asleep dodging on coming uni students with a large coffee, 3 sugars in hand I have the look of a killer on my face. I’m not a morning person, I can’t handle 9:00am lectures- my brain [Read more]

The Grass Is Always Greener

Embarrassing Football Moments No. 3,204   The Grass Is Always Greener.   I played a lot of footy with Brendo, many years ago. Better than that, we were mates. It was good to come home for a few days. To catch up. He’d done well in the years I’d been away. Worked hard and used [Read more]

Stoke City v Chelsea

Rusty was how Chelsea’s campaign began against Stoke City at Brittania stadium. With at least four of its stars on the benches including Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka, Chelsea started the first half disjointed. The commencement of the new season saw the team struggle with cohesion as Stoke came to them with intensity and at [Read more]

The double torp

I think I saw one of the great goals on Sunday evening. It came as Theo and Anna were trashing the bathroom. The details (of both incidents) remain a little sketchy. The thing I am most confident of is that Anna (two years old next week) tipped about 12.7 litres of water on to the [Read more]

City to Surf

I’ve always admired the stubbornness and stupidity of males – to me this is what separates us from women – we do stupid and impulsive things.  Case it point my decision to ‘run’ (and I use this word euphemistically) Sydney’s City to Surf.  The only reason why I decided to do this race was that [Read more]

THE WRAP – ROUND XXI

WHERE LIFE IMITATES SPORT What a round it’s been in Footy Eddie.  The Sainters tested themselves against the Mighty Magpie Machine and came up a bit short.  (Maybe even a long way bit short – Ed)  The Tullamarine Jetstars served up the Biff to The Dishlickers, and in the process, well and truly greased the [Read more]

Cometh the hour, Cometh the Man

By Michael Smith One of the great moments in footy which I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of witnessing. Saturday, U12’s Grand Final Blackburn v Croydon Burners (Blackburn) 5 points down with 40 seconds left on the clock, boundary throw in right forward pocket 20 metres from Blackburn goal, Jack Roberts (rucking tirelessly) [Read more]

New London Olympic Logo

In light of recent developments, the marketing team for the London Olympics have rethought their apporoach.

Team Balance

Watching the antithesis of a spectacle at aami stadium on the old CRT tv, I was placed into a deep contemplative state by a comment made by Tim Lane of the Ten network team.   Apparently, Port’s David  Rodan was omitted for team balance.

Heidi comes to Chirnside Park

Saturday afternoon’s Victorian Football League clash between traditional rivals Williamstown and Port Melbourne, the ABC’s match of the day, proved to be a ripper affair.  The Gulls jumped out of the blocks superbly and led by just over four goals at the first change. The Borough were magnificent in outscoring the old enemy 11 goals [Read more]

Umpiring: A Matter of Perspective

Ideas can come at any time, like during a discussion about umpiring 16 years ago with a couple of mates in the cafeteria on the 16th floor of330 Collins Street, then the head office of Colonial Mutual. Ideas can be plausible, even if others (eg said mates, Darren & Pete) think them laughable. When people [Read more]

Dons too good on the night.

Here I am, home alone, as a mad Cats fan, writing about the Dons and the Doggies game.  I hate the Bombers with a passion but I do hope they win, for two reasons. Firstly the dogs have been a disappointment all year and don’t deserve a finals series, and secondly, I tipped the Dons. [Read more]

Crio’a Q: Memberships

I’ve been thinking about Memberships and their worth. The days of them offering a sense of belonging seem gone in Melbourne’s corporate AFL world, with home grounds redundant and fixtures fragmented. No doubt this is less so in “lower” leagues where your money up front makes a statement and a difference. But honestly, despite the [Read more]

Collingwood vs St Kilda Round 21 2011

Factors such as a resurgent St Kilda keen on extending its long winning streak; a six day break following a road trip and a match played in very wet conditions meant that this game had some danger associated with it. There had been a big build up during the week with strong media emphasis on [Read more]

Life’s drama: another week in the life of Yvette Wroby and the St Kilda FC

A Wedding, an almost Funeral, two wins and a loss and farewell to the Vikings… It’s been quite a week.  The wedding was at Butleigh Wotton, a beautiful, historic venue, an intimate and beautiful ceremony, a yummy meal and lots of dancing.  In the middle of the dancing, a family friend collapses.  I am the [Read more]

Where Buddy and I part ways

I would love to have a cool one word nickname that everybody knew me by. Hi, I’m Tiger, g’day, I’m Chappy. Immediately identified. Not merely in name but in character. I love how one word can so simply capture the essence of the individual. That’s neat. So descriptive, familiar, as if we’ve known each other [Read more]

Characters II. The Local Variety.

    The first character I ever saw in footy was at my first club. Andy had long, thin hair, a mo, three stops on each boot, as many teeth and played on the wing. If the niggle was up, and he gave away a free, he’d stand the mark, the ball between his legs. [Read more]

Round 21 Blog

Four rounds to go and all bar the top two spots are still in contention, which makes week crucial from here. Tonight, we find out if the Saints are really making ground on the top sides. Tomorrow, the Hawks would expect to dine out on the Power. Both Fremantle and Carlton will be desperate for [Read more]