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]
One millionth visitor to footyalmanac.com.au
December 14, 2011 by 21 Comments
We’re happy to announce that some time later this week we will register our 1,000,000th visitor to footyalmanac.com.au We’d love to know who it is. However the precise moment is a little like predicting flood peaks in Oakey Creek. At the moment it looks like being some time on Sunday. We’ll keep the tally happening (on the [Read more]
Premier Cricket Round 9 – Review
December 14, 2011 by 8 Comments
by Mic Rees Five of the nine clashes in last weekends Premier Cricket action ended in stalemates. There were centuries aplenty, nine in total, on a weekend when poor weather played a hand in determining a number of contests. I’ll start with an apology. In my Friday (9/12) preview I suggested clubs would have [Read more]
Off Season Odyssey Part 4 – The “G”
December 14, 2011 by 9 Comments
by Matt Zurbo Jack’s in a band. He plays social footy, and fills in with a suburban team now and them. They call him The Butcher. More for the way he kicks than anything. “How was the Tassie west coast?” he asks. “Brilliant,” I say. “Lonely. There just aren’t any people down there. [Read more]
Rescinding a decision
December 13, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Sean Curtain It takes a big man to admit when he is wrong, and on this occasion, I am both of those. Last week, after many reds worth of soul searching, I declared that I no longer wished the selectors to include me in their considerations for a position in the Australian Test [Read more]
Evading a bouncer
December 13, 2011 by 1 Comment
It is often said the only thing crazier that being a fast bowler is being the person facing them. This image is a good case in point! In a SACA district cricket game at Glandore Oval (now Called Revolution Reserve) the Buffaloes Batsman is evading a fearsome bouncer from the West Torrens quick. The [Read more]
‘Black Gold’ presents the Arthur Beetson Radio Tribute
December 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
‘Black Gold’, produced by Koori Radio (Sydney-93.7FM) and 3KnD (Melbourne-1503 AM), will present a special live 3-hour tribute show for Indigenous rugby league legend, Uncle Arthur Beetson OAM. We will be celebrating the life and times of the first ever Aboriginal captain of a major national sports team, who won two premierships as captain [Read more]
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