By Mark O’Connell ANZAC day 2012 marked the 10th anniversary of one of the best days of all time. ANZAC day 2002 was the first year my cousin Noel and I ventured to the Dawn Service as part of the occasion which would also involve much eating, drinking, laughing and a game of Australian Rules [Read more]
Rd 4 2012 FEARLESS – Bad injuries weekend. A couple of broken legs etc…
April 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Ross Lyon returned to Etihad Stadium as the Fremantle coach on Friday night against the Saints. The boos were there from the St.Kilda faithful but Ross remained calm enough to plot a purple victory. Stephen Hill played his first blinder in Melbourne after promising for a while. A tight contest all night saw the Dockers [Read more]
The View From Shepparton – Anzac Day
April 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
It is 3 am and my thoughts are swirling around as lie in bed thinkindg about the totality of yesterday’s Anzac Day. Obviously on this site this should relate to yet another great game of Aussie Rules but really to call this event, great as it was, the highlight of the day would be [Read more]
One Bloody Point
April 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
I’m very confused, is it April 26 or August 26? I look out the window and winter has arrived. Just four days ago I was basking in glorious sunshine, today it’s cold hard rain. Hey, but there is an upside. Last year I bought myself a GoreTex down coat , so today is the inaugural [Read more]
DA Puzzle of the Round (5)
April 26, 2012 by 9 Comments
Discover the world of David Astle here. But first, can you solve this week’s puzzle? This week we take the opposite approach, giving you the antonyms of a dozen current footballers, with Higher (Freo), say, leading you to Nick Lower, Richmond’s Queen being Jake King. Sounds easy? 1. Skint (Lions) 2. Mature (Dees) 3. Tardy [Read more]
Simon Black – Champion bloke and a Champion Footballer
April 26, 2012 by 11 Comments
The word champion is used quite a lot in sporting circles these days, so much so that some commentators may say that someone is a champion player even though they have only played a handful of games. To try and distinguish between high quality players people will not just use the term champion anymore but [Read more]
Talk about luck
April 26, 2012 by 8 Comments
An assignment for the Anzac Day match…not fun but I have to go there… due 8:30pm night of the match. I have been sick for a ridiculous two weeks, some sort of flu that went away for a bit but then came back even worse after my second day back at uni. Go figure.
Moving Day
April 26, 2012 by 10 Comments
Last week Gigs wrote a touching and heartfelt piece on being sacked andwhat that meant for him and his family. It was raw, brilliant, brave and open and generated a tremendous amount of support and commentary. This Friday is moving day for me, and I can’t guarantee I won’t fall in a crumpled emotional heap.
So Close So Far
April 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
ANZAC Day, the day that soldiers first landed on Gallipoli April 25th 1914. The day we remember our soldiers who fought against the Turks and now fight the Taliban. April 25th is also the day of the second most famous game of the season, Essendon vs. Collingwood. This tradition has been going on since [Read more]
Anzac Day 2012
April 26, 2012 by 3 Comments
In 2008 I went to my first Anzac day game with my mother. We were beaten by the Pies. It was the last footy game mum was able to attend. On the way back to catch the train she was short of breath. Later, I would realise, that was the first sign her health was [Read more]
A feline struggle in a sea of purple and orange
April 25, 2012 by 2 Comments
“Forget the footy!” “ It’s about Glory this weekend!” “ How long have we waited for this!” I think I heard these comments over a dozen times each on the weekend when in Brisbane to watch the A-League Grand Final. The two sporting teams that I pigeonhole under ‘By pain of death’ as far as [Read more]
Swimming For Life
April 25, 2012 by 9 Comments
Sometimes sport can surprise you in an unexpected way. It can catch you off guard and make you reassess. But perhaps it’s not the sport so much as it is the participants. Last Sunday I was at a swimming carnival. It was held at the Doug Ellis Pool on the grounds of Monash University in [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 5, Friday 25 April, v Fitzroy, MCG
April 25, 2012 by 3 Comments
I’ve barely been able to absorb the magnitude of the Collingwood victory when Round 5 is upon us. For Anzac Day falls on a Friday this year. Anzac Day Before 1995, when Essendon and Collingwood hatched a duopoly based on greed and self-interest, disguised under such epithets as “tradition” and “honouring the fallen”, the League [Read more]
A Day Out
April 25, 2012 by 4 Comments
by Bill Walker Clinking of the medals crunching of the feet witnessed by the honor guard lining out the streets skirling of the bagpipes dull thud of the drum order of the service just a background hum flooding back the memories so strong it’s hard to cope did their bit for freedom democracy and hope [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Rosemary and Football
April 24, 2012 by 5 Comments
At the door to my (outside) study, there is a healthy rosemary bush. It usually reminds me of happy times: roast dinners, especially, which the kids look forward to. “Can you get me some rosemary please?” I ask Theo, the oldest, as I start clattering trays from the oven. And thus begins the process of [Read more]
The Old Firm Saves the Day
April 24, 2012 by 13 Comments
It’s a balmy and breezy Sunday at Kardinia Park. While it’s a problematic zephyr for wig wearers, it’s a beautiful wind to unfurl a premiership flag. A flag success that many thought could not be achieved by an ageing list, a virgin coach and sans number 29. The now biennial flag unfurling conducted by retired [Read more]
the sunlight’s slant
April 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
piercing light the defender touches a nerve partly closed roof the ball hovers between flanks filling the stands with groans stubbed toe ump and player in heated discussion – the sunlight’s slant edge of winter – crossing the 50 metre line he falls over falling leaves them all behind Harry clouds adrift so many goals [Read more]
Glum? Or not so Glum?
April 24, 2012 by 1 Comment
Geelong v Richmond. Sunday 22 April 2012. Was this the game? Following a forgettable pre-season and a shaky start to the season my cup-o-pessimism (tastes like sour grapes, and not from a good vintage) has been brimmed. The Cats look like they’ve been staggering, not with a premiership hangover, but with premiership gout. They’ve supped [Read more]
Round 4 Winners and Losers
April 24, 2012 by 4 Comments
Round four is done and dusted in round five is right around the corner. Before you partake in football on Wednesday be sure you are up to speed with all the happenings from the weekend just past. Winners Essendon The Bombers must have heard the ‘worst 3 and 0 start in history’ whispers and [Read more]
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