In a sporting world overflowing with hyperbole one word seems to have remained untouched. There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of doyens out there. When we lose one therefore it seems an ideal moment to hop off the tread-well and let the mind go back in time for a change. I first encountered [Read more]
Tom Waterhouse and the AFL make an unpleasant combination
August 22, 2012 by 11 Comments
Geez, I never thought the presence of someone on the TV would give me the jimmy grits so much. 4 generations of betting knowledge in my blood…give me a break! It’s more than Tom though…everywhere I go, everything I listen to, every time I put my tips in, every footy game I go to – [Read more]
Would you prefer gold or a flag?
August 22, 2012 by 5 Comments
Now that we are in the hiatus between the London Olympics and the main sporting event, AFL finals, my mind has wandered. Julia met the medal winning troops as they exited the plane and then skipped off when the non medal winners appeared (some politicians would turn up to the opening of a letter to [Read more]
City continues where it left off
August 22, 2012 by 5 Comments
By Tom Clarke Fans have barely regained their breath from the extraordinary ending to last season. But it is back again. Tom Clarke makes his Almanac debut as the EPL kicks off for Season 2012/13. He’ll keep us up to date with the world’s most popular League and invites comments and questions from readers. If [Read more]
The 2012 ‘Mopsy’ Fraser Cup – Round Twenty One
August 22, 2012 by 2 Comments
Greetings Tipstsers Predictions, projections and prognostications have been propelled into a pointless pile of piffle. Where once we wallowed in a world of near certainty, now we walk warily in a universe wherein anything might happen. For, dear reader, it now does appear that any of the Top Seven could beat any other of the [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 21, Saturday 23 August, v North Melbourne, Arden Street Oval
August 22, 2012 by 3 Comments
I’m pacing the floor of a stately, shady old house in Brighton, Adelaide. I’m secluded in an ornate living room where the house’s one radio is located. The setting is incongruous enough for a football broadcast. The house looks like footy has never before sullied its oh-so-respectable interior. But it’s me who is really out [Read more]
Bless me Father, for I (may) have sinned
August 21, 2012 by 15 Comments
Bless me Father, for I (may) have sinned. Maybe it was our esteemed leader Mr Harms writing about Assumption Day recently (rightly corrected by one of the Micks amongst us as the Feast of the Assumption and a Holy Day of Obligation) but I feel the need to get religious and seek forgiveness. I recently [Read more]
The View from Shepparton – Round 21
August 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
My mob beat the Adelaide pretenders, no one can take them seriously now. They cannot play away from Footbrawl Park and that is that. On the other hand, what a magnificent comeback from my mob. 38 points down at quarter time and then they gradually reeled them in. They are definitely the Richmond of the [Read more]
Melbourne supporters at home in snow
August 21, 2012 by 1 Comment
It snowed in Canberra on Friday. Rugging up is required today. I’m wearing a singlet, skivvy, Giants t-shirt, bottom thermals, long winter pants, a polar fleece jacket, polar fleece lined waterproof coat , beanie, scarf, gloves, shoes and socks. I also have a warm blanket in my bag. One woman sitting nearby is wearing three pairs [Read more]
Let the umpires off their philosophical hook!
August 21, 2012 by 5 Comments
Once I smugly looked down on Rugby Union. Its penalties seemed to contribute far too much to the final score and, worse than that, they seemed trivial and opaque. Fans apparently waited with bated breath and accepted the direction of the referee’s pointing arm with the best good humour they could muster, and then mutter [Read more]
Very Very Special
August 21, 2012 by 9 Comments
Saturday night was a dark night in my home. Couldn’t get to the Collingwood v North Melbourne game due to work commitments. So watched my pies lose on TV in an ordinary effort. Don’t want to talk about it. Recorded the Wallabies Test against the All Blacks at the same time and watched it afterwards. Same [Read more]
Big Burkie’s boot busts Boort
August 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Maryanne, Helen and i did the journey on Saturday to Donald where the sixth placed locals played seventh placed Boort, the home of the McGraths, and Woodalls. It was second last versus last. Boort had the early break, leading by 5 points at the end of the first term. In a scrappy second term the home side used [Read more]
crio’s Q: Of long stops and long sleeves
August 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
What a winter! I’ve driven past some bogs in recent weeks, marvelling at where the full back could find footing for his kick-in. Some grounds are just sodden, others mudheaps. “The Age” on Monday highlighted the conditions for the VWFL (NW Div) GF here With Junior finals proliferating I assume Almaknackers have been to some [Read more]
Coming around
August 21, 2012 by 1 Comment
At our wedding, 10 years and a bit ago, the blushing bride joked that I had a choice: she would take either my surname or my football team. Silly thing to joke about, really. She still has her own surname, and for the best part of this century has half-heartedly gone along with the idea [Read more]
The Wrap – Round XXI
August 21, 2012 by 7 Comments
THE WRAP – ROUND XXI WHERE LIFE IMITATES FOOTBALL And what a round it’s been in Footy Eddie. On Friday night The Handbags led at every change, seeing off a second half challenge, to send The Saints marching back to Seaford for Season 2012. Come Saturday and it was Boilover time. First it was The [Read more]
Olympics – Glory off the dais
August 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
If you look close enough in the aftermath of the 2012 Summer Olympics, you’ll notice many athletes returning home feeling enormous pride and satisfaction with their performances in London, even though they never got near a dais, a medal ceremony or even a final.
People’s Elbow tribute sinks in mud
August 20, 2012 by 7 Comments
This was intended to be a ‘People’s Elbow’ tribute. Or possibly a gratuitous rip-off. It would be filled with short, punchy paragraphs which were frequently humorous and even more frequently vengeful against my own team. There was to be a photo or two, possibly a youtube clip and a lather of footnotes. All of these [Read more]
People and Memories – part 3: Gerard Egan
August 20, 2012 by 3 Comments
People and Memories Gerard Egan – Richmond FC With only three finals campaigns and equally exasperating off-field fortunes since Richmond’s last Premiership in 1980, why do Tiger supporters keep the faith? For Gerard Egan, Richmond Cheer Squad Chairman, the answer is obvious. ‘Belief. We are eternally optimistic. Every year we turn up and think this [Read more]
The Reverend remains faithful in Afghanistan
August 20, 2012 by 17 Comments
I lazily roll out of bed and wander down to the shops. “Salaam alaekum.” This isn’t Sydney Rd, Brunswick. This is Kabul, Afghanistan. I grab the basics – bread, eggs, juice – and introduce a new (expat) neighbour to my bootleg booze dealer; a teenage shop assistant called Sadam Hussein. That’s his actual name. He [Read more]
Holidaying on Fantasy Island
August 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
By John Green Where else would Richmond supporters stay in Perth, but Richardson’s Hotel and Spa in Richardson Street? At number 32 no less, Ben Cousin’s ID at Tigerland. Richmond is taking on Fremantle. While it’s a sunny Saturday morning on this side of the country with a projected maximum of 24 degrees, it’s 15 [Read more]
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