‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even Harms’ mouth; Blue and white stockings – the chimney festoon, In hopes that the Handicapper will be filling them soon; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; As visions of Cats premierships danced in their [Read more]
In A-League of its Own 8 (2011/12)
December 21, 2011 by 5 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League A lot can happen in three weeks. The Brisbane Roar has fallen not only from their unbeaten status of Australia’s greatest sports team, but to 2nd on the A-League table with 4 straight losses. Their 2-1 loss to ladder leaders Central Coast puts the reigning champions in a [Read more]
Now THAT’S entertainment!
December 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Andrew Fithall Solved! I now get it! Finally I understand why the AFL keeps scheduling such crap pre-game and half-time entertainment. They don’t have sufficient confidence in the quality of their own product that they can put on the same program something that might compete with the actual game in providing a benefit [Read more]
Bomber Return
December 20, 2011 by 8 Comments
Essendon versus Geelong – 7.10pm, Saturday, 2 July – Docklands Stadium by Phil Dimitriadis Geelong fans were treated with contempt by Mark Thompson last year. The brooding surliness and lack of respect he showed extracted understandable displays of righteous anger from the Cat’s faithful. Yet he coached them to a drought-breaking premiership and [Read more]
The Sister Olive – The race that stops Yea.
December 20, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Shane Goss If you fancy a game of golf at Yea, please wait for the running of the last. The last at Yea races that is. The course has holes both inside and around the racetrack. Buggies and three-woods were replaced by bookmakers and silks last Saturday however when the town held their [Read more]
Almanac keeps Canberra rocking
December 19, 2011 by 7 Comments
The big names just keep on rolling into town. In the last couple of months in Canberra we’ve had the Queen, Barack Obama, Princess Mary and today Sachin Tendulkar arrived. Plus JTH is here for the Footy Almanac launch, which is on at the National Press Club. There’s no stopping the excitement in the national [Read more]
Premier Cricket – Round 10 review
December 19, 2011 by 2 Comments
Saturday’s one day fixture was the final round of Premier Cricket for 2011. The results included the second tied match of the season, a huge upset and a severe beating. At Toorak Park Darren Groves ran through the top half of Prahran’s much vaunted batting line up, his four early wickets leaving the Two Blues [Read more]
Order of the Almanac (Early observations from the inside)
December 19, 2011 by 12 Comments
Until now I have kept largely silent. Serving my apprenticeship like all new Almanackers. Soaking up the knowledge of those that have come before me. Graciously accepting my thrice daily ration of tepid water and pie crust, before turning back once more into the lesson plan. Studying match reports from older versions of the good [Read more]
Christmas Wrapping
December 19, 2011 by 10 Comments
Here’s one we couldn’t hold over till the days drew shorter and the rich aroma of briquette smoke and the thunk of leather on leather turned our minds to more serious matters than the captaincy of Pup and the longevity of Punter & Mr Cricket. Guy goes into a bar, there’s a robot bartender. The [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Opening Stinkers and Rare Clinkers
December 19, 2011 by 12 Comments
Good advice to potential speechmakers is simple: “If you can’t be great, be brief”. Sports “events” organisers clearly disagree. Look at the evolution of “pre-match”.
Perth Almanac Drinks – South Fremantle Footy Club – 16 Dec 2011
December 18, 2011 by 8 Comments
Enjoyable evening in a Post Surrealist way. Bit late arriving. Cross town traffic in the Friday Night Pre-Christmas rush. Red and White Bulldogs going through their paces on the Oval. Christ they’re keen – and young. I remember when I was young and footballers were all old men. Now its reversed. At least the [Read more]
Off Season Odyssey Pt.5: Dreams, and One in 5,000,000.
December 18, 2011 by 6 Comments
The trouble with an Off Season Odyssey is you don’t get a real break from footy. A day in Melbourne and I’m over it. My old mate, Gianpi, lines me up a week on a demolition crew, which is good, then we have a kick, because we’ve had a kick for 30 years, no [Read more]
The (almost) Best XI
December 17, 2011 by 11 Comments
With so many press columnists, Almanackers and media commentators picking their best 11 for Boxing Day, it got me thinking about other celebrated best elevens. Not the best 11 with red hair, or left handers, or all starting with B. I was thinking about players who have represented Australia at Test level, but on just [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – 2012 Indigenous All Stars Team Named
December 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
From Peter Hulthen The 2012 Indigenous All Stars team is: 1. Ben Barba (Bulldogs; Goreng Goreng) 2. Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos; Margany) 3. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs; Dunghutti) 4. Justin Hodges (Broncos; Indigenous tribes of the Cairns region) 5. Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs; Wiradjuri) 6. Johnathan Thurston (c) (Cowboys; Gungarri) 7. Chris Sandow (Eels; Bigambul/ Gubbi Gubbi) [Read more]
Premier Cricket Preview: Round 10
December 16, 2011 by 2 Comments
The last round of Premier Cricket prior to the Christmas/New Year break is a one day fixture this Saturday, December 17. Here’s a preview of Round 10. MATCH OF THE ROUND Prahran (5th) 25pts v Frankston Peninsula (4th) 26pts @ Toorak Park, Toorak 2011/12 P’ran TWWWWLDWD FP WWLWLWDWD Last time they met: Round 15 [Read more]
My current bucketlist
December 16, 2011 by 3 Comments
I want to travel. I want to do good things as a volunteer. I want to live and work outside of Australia for one year, sometime in the rest of my life. I want to learn a musical instrument… the violin will do. I want go to the gym in the mornings, not at night. [Read more]
A Confederacy of Dunces (Pt 2): Big Bash League
December 16, 2011 by 27 Comments
Glamorous, jaw dropping, captivating, brilliant. No, it is not Erin McNaught strutting down a catwalk. It is T20 cricket – and it is about to rock Australia like never before. BBL ‘20 Days to go’ promo “KFC T20 Big Bash League is the most talked about event in the country. Fans love their teams [Read more]
The Best at What They Do
December 15, 2011 by 4 Comments
I didn’t have a ticket for Rod Laver Arena so only caught a glimpse before security chased me out. Just a few moments, but they were enough. I saw McEnroe play and I’ve never forgotten it. McEnroe glided to his left. He was in position, two metres behind the baseline, in plenty of time. [Read more]
My Australian XI for Boxing Day
December 15, 2011 by 4 Comments
With the pre-season and rookie drafts done and dusted it’s time to take a look at the state of Australian cricket. Unlike many others who were calling this past week’s defeat one of the lowest moments in Australian cricket, I see it more as a wake-up call. This side needs a total overhaul for the [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Punt vs the Shopping
December 15, 2011 by 5 Comments
I need the work and the money and really like my job at the races. So I’ll be at the Valley on Friday night and also at Flemington on Saturday – but I struggle to mount a case for others to do likewise. Perhaps the fine forecast might encourage a night on the lawns or [Read more]
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