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]
Sat’dy Footy – 3rd September, 2011
August 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Chris Riordan Needless to say it is a big weekend in local footy with most leagues now in finals mode. The Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, for example, has, like many others around the state, “deciders” spread across the whole weekend. Most comps try to find “gated” grounds so they can charge admission [Read more]
An Australian in Galle on Test eve
August 30, 2011 by 10 Comments
There is much conjecture among cricket purists here in Galle regarding the makeup of the Australian side, and the predicted behaviour of the pitch. Experience and reliability are important components in the selection conundrum, particularly with regards to the formation of the bowling attack. It’s comforting to know that the recently-published and damning (in many [Read more]
More headaches for the Australian selectors (whoever they are these days)
August 30, 2011 by 4 Comments
Here we are on the verge of another Test series and selection issues are probably clouding the thinking of Michael Clarke and other important decision-makers in the Australian set-up. Khawaja or Marsh, Siddle or Copeland, one or two spinners? How can we be so uncertain of our best XI when we’ve had nearly nine [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Bumper Farrell and a deep Dragons dislike
August 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
On a day better suited to surfing than Rugby League, St George Illawarra faced the foreign invasion from New Zealand, in a Warriors side keen to improve their chances of hosting a home semi-final. The Dragons had a mission of their own: to snap a five game losing streak which had seen them fall from [Read more]
Bush Premiership: One Step Closer
August 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
It’s only taken me 29 years but I’ve finally played in my first winning footy final. Last Saturday on a pretty warm day at Jervois the Imperial reserves toughed it out and prevailed in a game where we had everything thrown at us by a big, strong, mean outfit. Pre game nerves were at an [Read more]
Recent Comments