So what to make of that effort? Or lack thereof. Lucky we’ve been assured there’s no such thing as tanking. It would have been more polite for the Pies to alert everyone (ala the Hawks) that they were taking all this Irrelevant Round stuff to heart. Might have saved people the effort of turning up. [Read more]
In praise of the Red Lions and varsity footy
September 2, 2011 by 8 Comments
The Red Lions play in two grand finals tomorrow following a brekkie where Derek Humphrey-Smith will be the guest speaker.
FIONA AND ME
September 2, 2011 by 3 Comments
There is nothing better than being in the right place at the right time and so it was for me today. Just before play as I wandered around the ground I stumbled across Fiona Copeland who was anxiously waiting for her son’s first appearance at the bowling crease for Australia. She introduced herself and we [Read more]
WHERE ARE THE TONY LOCKETTS?
September 2, 2011 by 1 Comment
Remember when Tony Lockett kicked his 1300th goal? There’s a video on Youtube. Watch him as he lines up the kick. One after another he performs the motions that comprise his routine. First he bends and rubs the grass with his right-hand. Both hands then straddle the balls’ laces as they hang, ape like, in [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Craiglee Stakes
September 2, 2011 by 17 Comments
Craiglee Stakes was always a day to get to Flemington, scour the doubles charts and focus on the weeks ahead. Traditionally the minor round was over and so the rhythm of the footy season was broken. Footy and Netball clubs flirted on the lawns on end of season trips and the sun occasionally made an [Read more]
Sal’s Tips Round 24
September 2, 2011 by 1 Comment
What a great idea from the AFL to have a theme for the final round of footy – The Seinfeld Round – the round about nothing! Only two games that can vaguely shape the 8 in determining where Sydney and St Kilda wrestle and other games that might determine draft pick 15 and 16. The [Read more]
More from Marvin Vaas
September 2, 2011 by 19 Comments
Sri Lanka v Australia First Test Day 2 by Marvin Vaas As sporting grounds become increasingly sterile and homogenised, the Galle International Stadium remains one of world cricket’s gems. The fort and the Indian Ocean provide spectacular backdrops. Outside the ground at the pavilion end, chaos reigns. Dogs, the occasional cow or goat, tuk-tuks, cars, [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Hope is a glorious thing
September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Strangely a game with no sense of ‘The Grudge’. This on the most hate-fuelled, bloodthirsty, full-mooned weekends in recent memory, some say in a decade, strangely with this match post ‘Battle of Brookie’ the only game without a ‘Let’s get it on’. As usual, New Zealand were referred to as the ‘Dark Horse’ of the [Read more]
Doco: the 1971 Grand Final.
September 1, 2011 by 8 Comments
Channel 9 (Sunday, Sep 4, 12 noon) is showing the first in the series of documentaries on Grand Finals – 1971. I have it on good authority that it is pretty well done. Interested to know where you were to watch that Grand Final, or whether you have seen it since. Impressions?
Lockett to Winmar
September 1, 2011 by 32 Comments
Winmar to Lockett. Lillee to Marsh. Just saying it sounds beaut. In footy, in my generation, it was “Winmar to Lockett!” Oh, yeah! Winmar. To. Locket. Just to hear those words again. Before my time it was Farmer to Goggin. We are all history, or soon will be. I would [Read more]
One Hundred Years Ago: Round 18, 2nd September, 1911
September 1, 2011 by 12 Comments
The scandals of the VFL in this period seem wild and woolly by today’s standards, but it must be said they don’t look out of place with the general conduct of Melbourne society at the time. Both state and city were in many ways still recovering from the most controversial period in their history, when [Read more]
I want my Mummy
September 1, 2011 by 13 Comments
I have a soft spot for the Swans. I’m sure many people do. My dad was a Bloods man, and his stories of Pratt and Skilton kept me spellbound as a youngster. They were my unofficial “second side”. It became official when they moved to Sydney. Purely on romantic terms, the Swans were, of all [Read more]
Country Footy People
September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This week’s Football People yarn takes a look at the ABC radio’s coverage of regional SA footy grand finals. http://www.countryfooty.com.au/FootballPeople.htm
Manchester United v Arsenal
September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford: Crowd 75,448 by Basil Naimet It was an intense start to the much anticipated 3rd round Premier league match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday. Right from the outset, the red devils were in control. Nani, Rooney, Evra, and new recruits Danny [Read more]
Australian batsmen battle on a dusty first day wicket
August 31, 2011 by 17 Comments
by Marvin Vaas We arrive to a fully covered Galle International Stadium. It hosed down overnight. And there’s still some serious moisture in the air. A number of our touring party break out in a muck lather. If we were racehorses parading in the Flemington mounting yard on Derby Day, you’d promptly rule a line [Read more]
Panthers’ perfect first quarter
August 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment
LOXTON NORTH V BARMERA MONASH RFL – 2ND SEMI FINAL 2011, Sat August 27th 2011 By Nick Kossatch at Loxton Oval Loxton North advanced to its first Grand Final since 2006 after it thrashed a disorganised Barmera Monash by 47 points in the RFL second semi final at Loxton Oval on Saturday. The Panther’s [Read more]
DA’s Clue of the Round (24)
August 31, 2011 by 5 Comments
by David Astle (always only a click away at http://davidastle.com/) He’s already been an answer in a previous DA puzzle on the Almanac site, but this time the question is different. (On spotting this amazing fluke, I couldn’t resist!) What young utility player can drop an O from his name, and have his [Read more]
29 wins and (no longer) counting
August 31, 2011 by 16 Comments
by Vin Maskell What’s that old adage about journalism? Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Or, in the case of the Geelong Advertiser last weekend, never let the results of a footy match get in the way of a rather confident celebratory newspaper special edition poster.
The road to North Nitch
August 31, 2011 by 4 Comments
by Callum O’Connor I have no doubt the coverage particularly in NSW and Queensland, will be enhanced on a national basis which will be great for our supporters. ANDREW DEMETRIOU I called all my brothers and uncles and aunts, and I said, “Listen here! Here’s a wonderful chance for the whole Once-Ler Family [Read more]
the splintered pack
August 31, 2011 by 1 Comment
12 goals clear Krakouer kicks the last on impulse spring petals — Cloke plucks one close to home Sandilands jumps — the splintered pack releases the goal sneak the many paths life takes us peppering the goals Swan sets off everyone left behind winter’s [Read more]
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