I’m watching ManU and Everton on Fox tonight (Sunday). Wayne Rooney, of course, is the focus of most attention. Aged nine, Rooney joined the youth team of Everton, where he made his professional debut in 2002. He played two seasons before moving to Manchester United for £25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. The Toffees’ fans, naturally, wonder what [Read more]
The World Game
April 22, 2012 by 13 Comments
The World Game My disenchantment has been growing, slowly but surely, for a number of years. For very sublime Messi chip, curling Ronaldo spot kick, witty song from the terraces and gut busting run through the midfield, there has been the choleric complaining of managers whenever a point is dropped (you know who [Read more]
Expectations Overturned
April 22, 2012 by 4 Comments
First game of footy for me this season and you couldn’t wish for a better day. After a cool foggy morning, the sun burst through just before eleven o’clock and we were treated to a first class day, warm with just a hint of a zephyr, love that word zephyr. And what a picture the [Read more]
The Game They Play in Hell
April 22, 2012 by 11 Comments
WEST COAST EAGLES v HAWTHORN Subiaco Oval; 5.40pm; Saturday 21 April 2012 Football’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. Mrs Gump certainly knew a thing or two about AFL. The Dockers showed heart and spirit on Friday night. Go figure. This week the Blues managed to do what the [Read more]
Essendon win twice
April 21, 2012 by 8 Comments
Today was the first tennis match of the season. We were versing old rivals on a cold wet Saturday morning. As I am number one in my team, I play the first singles and don’t get the luxury of warming up in the doubles especially with my sore shoulder. The courts were wet under foot [Read more]
Labels and brands and markets
April 21, 2012 by 5 Comments
Not so long ago down here in Tassie mum went shopping at the local corner store or supermarket and she would buy a particular brand of milk, bread or toothpaste. This was a time when football was footy and we went to watch the local team play at grounds like the then unlabelled York Park [Read more]
Ralph
April 20, 2012 by 6 Comments
Three years ago I was given the opportunity of a lifetime when appointed Regional Development Manager (RDM) for AFL NT. For the next two years my home was Elcho Island; a remote location based 500km east of Darwin where one of the biggest Indigenous communities in Australia, Galiwinku, is situated. I’ll never forget the first [Read more]
We have to talk about Melbourne!
April 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Da-da-da-da to all, Well for this week anyway! What was that cooking slogan again? Now to keep the lid on! All the shenanigans between Eddie and Mick turned out to be a bit of bonus for a few other clubs who should have been in the spotlight. Whilst I might not be Buckley’s biggest fan, [Read more]
John Kingsmill’s Footy Diary
April 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Round Four, preview Here’s a chance Here’s a chance for Port. Collingwood is tearing itself to bits. Here’s one round where Port can note that its opposition is more ragged than itself. Here’s a chance to put their foot upon their throat in the last quarter, where the game may still be there to be [Read more]
THE PRE WRAP – ROUND IV
April 20, 2012 by 9 Comments
FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. Bury my heart at Victoria Park. Talk about The Club That Ate Itself. You could write a play about it. (It’s been done Wrap – Ed) But surely we’ve all seen this coming? The stabled ox looks longingly at the fallow field. [Read more]
Twelve Months on a Pogo Stick: Part 2
April 20, 2012 by 11 Comments
By Bill Walker Summer Sojourn The summer break is always a challenging time for small footy clubs. The game day business is finished but book balancing is daunting, annual dinner and AGM loom and coaching review and recruitment are pivotal to player recruitment. Every aspect of our club’s administration is undertaken by volunteers. They [Read more]
The Return of The Ross
April 20, 2012 by 34 Comments
The Return of The Ross David Downer Weird shit happens at St Kilda v Fremantle games. Two encounters have even been tagged with monikers more suited to lunchtime tele-movies, or perhaps Kevin Costner latter career stinkers. The low budget 2006 Tasmanian thriller, Sirengate. And its prelude, the previous year’s cross-Nullabor production, [Read more]
The Day The Tiger Ate The Cat
April 20, 2012 by 30 Comments
As Richmond heads down the highway to take on the might of Geelong, seriously one of the greatest teams of all, I began to reflect on the last successful trip I made down to Kardinia Park. Actually, the only successful trip I’ve made to the Cattery. Funnily enough, it seems fairly recent. You see, the [Read more]
I know the feeling, the Blues have arrived
April 19, 2012 by 1 Comment
It is a beautiful feeling. A feeling that we believe will never arrive. Many fans have yet to feel it. But whilst it is such a rare personal occurrence, it happens to at least one group of supporters most seasons. It’s that rush of the heart, a sudden realisation, such a fast realisation that it [Read more]
THE AFL ‘ALL-ROUNDERS’
April 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
I really enjoyed my footy last weekend! It started with great anticipation leading into Friday night footy at the MCG where the Blues took on the Pies. Then my daughter and I watched an unexpectedly absorbing contest between the Gold Coast Suns and the Bombers on Saturday night. Come Sunday afternoon, as I thought the weekend was winding [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Another Kind of Heaven
April 19, 2012 by 1 Comment
The highest individual honour in Northern Territory Rugby League is the Frank Johnson Medal and is awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Darwin Rugby League. Frank Johnson was a tireless servant of the game. Originally playing seniors for the Port Kembla Blacks in the Illawarra at the age of 16 he quickly [Read more]
Standin’ on the Outside Lookin’ in – Post Round 3
April 19, 2012 by 7 Comments
Round 3 of the footy is over and things have never been more clearer in terms of where the year is heading. The gurus at HQ must have a team of speech writers working around the clock producing press releases that do not contain the terms “equalisation” and “compromised” as the competition has not [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Doncaster Day
April 19, 2012 by 4 Comments
Heavy rain and a resultant heavy track has put a dampener on what looked likely to be a vintage Doncaster Day this Saturday, with Gai preening her beloved More Joyous for a fabulous final fling. Randwick patrons should flock back after the momentous meeting last weekend. Highlights abounded. Pat Carey and Rhys McLeod won the [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 4, Saturday 19 April, v Collingwood, Victoria Park
April 19, 2012 by 20 Comments
Victoria Park I remember as a little kid being driven down the hill through Studley Park towards Collingwood and seeing in the distance the packed stands of Victoria Park on match-day. That vantage point, just near John Wren’s mansion, was as close as I ever got to the Magpies’ infamous old ground until this, my [Read more]
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