The Unfriendly Skies

    Tiger Airways has been grounded indefinitely. Seven weeks ago the tiny budget airline intruded into the airspace of the marauding Bombers and caused them to crash-land. That 16-point Richmond victory in the Dreamtime at the G clash of the sash was the first of five losses in a row for Essendon. But a [Read more]

North Melbourne and the “Grand old English game of football” in Hobart

Just over 130 years ago, North Melbourne (Hotham FC) became the first Victorian footy club to visit Tasmania. They played the locals under the code of Victorian Rules – once the crossbars had been taken down. 1. North Melbourne in Hobart: What have they ever done for Us? Around Hobart the question is probably being [Read more]

Thanks Barry and Go Pies!

Carlton plays Collingwood next week and as a Hawthorn supporter I couldn’t be happier. Against a dispirited North Melbourne, Collingwood reminded us all on Sunday afternoon why the Magpies are the team most likely in 2011.  Defeating the Kangaroos by 117 points made even Mick Malthouse look a little embarrassed after the match. And after [Read more]

THE WRAP – ROUND XVI

WHERE LIFE IMITATES SPORT   What a round it’s been in Footy Eddie.  The Sleepy Hollow Millionaires blew Top Spot when they let The Eagles jump them in the 1st Half on Friday night.  The Hawks did what they had to do against The No Brown No Brisbane Bears, Sydney squandered many chances but still [Read more]

Pies slaughter Roos

by John Sandy   Collingwood v North, ten past one on a Sunday is not your traditional start time. With that I decided to do something a bit different so my 6 year old, Wil, and I spent the morning at the Vic market and State Library before having kick in Birrarung Marr before strolling [Read more]

ADVICE FOR THE PILGRIM

I have a confession to make. I’ve never actually been to Geelong.  I live in the far southern Sydney suburbs, and the closest I have been to the Holy Town is Avalon, en route to games at the G or Etihad. That is about to change.

Floreat Pica Round 16

As it is “Youth Round” of the Floreat Pica Society and this is my first match report, I decided that I would take my job seriously. I immersed myself in the Collingwood spirit all week (which isn’t that hard if you live in our household). I wore my Collingwood jumper nearly every day this week, [Read more]

The curious charm of empty Etihad

  Interesting creature, the Foxtel Cup. A new competition, it’s a made-for-pay-TV knockout competition between sixteen clubs from the WAFL, the SANFL, the VFL and other state and territory leagues. The fixture has to fit in with clubs’ byes, availability of grounds, and Foxtel programming. That programming also calls for short quarters of about 20 [Read more]

Crio’s Q: ‘Good things beat’

I need some hope. This AFL Round, whilst interesting, has really just reinforced the fear that it is Collingwood first, daylight second. The gap looks unbreachable.   But there are precedents. Ajax, for example. The USSR ice-hockey team!   Let’s clutch at straws and give ourselves some hope by remembering some “good things beat”.   [Read more]

Gutted

  Collingwood versus North Melbourne Sunday July 10 MCG   Poolside, Borneo, club sandwich, beer.   Have just listened to the game via the internet.   My companion, Handsome Joe, international playboy and Magpie lover, is grinning from ear to ear.   I am shattered.  Not being at the ‘G is no consolation.   One [Read more]

This week I could stand to watch

After the debacle against Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago and facing the undefeated Geelong the following weekend ,the Partner and I decided to take in the sea air on the coast for a few days.  She a born again Geelong supporter was supremely confident, me a Don tragic, was looking forward to the cricket [Read more]

My response to losing – a thought

Two weeks. Two losses. A rare experience Does not compute. I get all whimsical and agreeable Send text messages to my mates who barrack for the Eagles, Dons. “Well done.” I say. “Your boys played better.” “Good sport.” you might think Nah. I’m just trying to keep the Footy Gods happy.

Twin Cities side

Whilst we are picking sides from along the Murray River, it would be remiss not to have a side from the twin cities of Albury and Wodonga. There are 5 Ovens and Murray teams there, Albury, North Albury, Wodonga, and the two newer ones, Lavington, and Wodonga Raiders. How does this look?

Revisiting the Inner Child

Eagles V Geelong @ Subiaco on Friday 8 July 2011 The best thing about the footy is that it brings out your inner 5 year old.  All week the atmosphere has been building.  Gazza (I kid you not) was brought up a torp away from Kardinia Park.  Its got down to 1 degree in Perth [Read more]

Round 16 Blog

The Eagles have conquered the Cats, though not without a scare or two after a dominant first half. What does successive losses for the previously undefeated mean? Today the Hawks host the Lions down in Launnie. Will Buddy play? Will it matter? The Swans visit the Gold Coast and desperately need to bring the match points home. Richmond can see [Read more]

Otway

History is a (not always pretty) Beautiful Thing.   Rory Harrington was a part of a Juniors team I coached eleven years ago. He was always going to be a dairy farmer like his dad, and his dad’s dad before that. School was just killing time. While the other kids dicked around during study periods, [Read more]

Crio’s Racing: Christmas in July…Winter Finals

Whereas rank and file punters will view this Saturday as just another mid-winter meeting, the VRC’s astute scheduling has created a Christmas in July for owners and trainers. It’s “finals day” at Flemington, with almost a million dollars in prizemoney on offer, mostly in a series of races reaching trophy status. This has ensured capacity [Read more]

Friday Night Fun

by Shane Kennedy It has been a little over two years since Dad died. As the coach of my school’s grade 5/6 football team, I always play one of the better players loose a kick behind the play. Each time our loose man takes a comfortable chest mark, I think of Dad. He taught me [Read more]

THE PRE WRAP – ROUND XVI

FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN   What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie.  In the Ayatollah’s absence Angry Adrian has grown another leg.  (Or at least a foot – Ed)  He’s flagged the banning of the Slam Dunk.  And when you see Melbourne’s Trengove applying it you can see the merit in the move. [Read more]

LOCAL FOOTY: THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO……

The humble bus trip, a pleasure that so many footballers around the country so often don’t get the pleasure of experiencing once throughout their time in footy. And before you ask, no the trip that the Richmond players took to get home from Sydney does not really count as a bus trip for that only [Read more]