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]
Here we go again
August 30, 2011 by 1 Comment
What a difference a week makes. Cartoon by Yvette Wroby.
Almanac Rugby League – A Potted Rugby League Memoir Part II
August 30, 2011 by 2 Comments
A POTTED PERSONAL MEMOIR (part 2) Returning to Queensland in 1984, it seemed like there was something different in the air when it came to rugby league. It didn’t take long to figure it out – State of Origin! I was familiar with the concept because the Australian Rules fraternity in the southern States had [Read more]
HINDSIGHT VISION IS 20/20
August 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
It was with a great deal of confidence that I selected North Melbourne in the various tipping comps in which I am involved. I didn’t even stop to give a second thought to St. Kilda getting up. How could I have been so stupid? The signs were all there: Riewoldt being skewered by the commentators [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A day of answers
August 30, 2011 by 1 Comment
Travelling to Suncorp Stadium to the watch the Broncos and Rabbitohs on Sunday, I am blissfully content to be taking in what promises to be an entertaining fixture. I am in one of those truly liberated states where I actually have an open mind about the result and am just looking forward to the [Read more]
AFL Fixture Options
August 30, 2011 by 12 Comments
All AFL fans (possibly excepting those whose world view is black and white) agree that the current season fixture is unfair and outmoded. 22 games divided by 18 teams does not produce an equitable outcome. Broadly speaking, there are 3 viable alternatives, which I will briefly analyse. The first is elegant in its simplicity, eminently [Read more]
World Championships: lining up for the long jump
August 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
Dave Goodwin points Almanac readers in the direction of this excellent piece on the World Aths Championships website: http://daegu2011.iaaf.org//newslistdetail.aspx?id=61661 Dave goes on to say: Today, 30 August, is the 20th anniversary of a magic moment in sport. Carl Lewis’ quest for Bob Beamon’s world record of 8.90 metres and beyond to 9 metres [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A sad farewell for a unique champion
August 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
At the risk of plagiarism, I have to confess that this week’s game between the Panthers and the Raiders was one of the worst games I’ve ever seen. Chris Parkinson seems to have had a similar viewing experience for the Raiders game last week. Despite the scrappiness of the game, however, and the tangible frustration [Read more]
Swans a sleeping giant waking up?
August 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Tom Bally There’s days when it seems everyone writes the Swans off. Almost every week us Bloods fans are subjected to a barrage of negativity ranging from sly backhander comments to almost outright disgust that we’re even allowed to be part of the league. Therefore it came as no surprise when the ‘experts’ [Read more]
Closing the Gap
August 30, 2011 by 3 Comments
By Ged McMahon On face value, the red and black team seemed a little undersized. But at no point were they to be underestimated. They were the boys from Tiwi College and this was their home turf. Visiting their remote headquarters was the Narangba Valley Vipers, a bunch of Brisbane school kids about to [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Monday night is punt night
August 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Wests Tigers entered this match on the back of a 6-0 winning streak and only a mentally-ill pundit would have tipped anything but a Tigers victory. I would have thrown “Titans diehard” in the above category but I think there are about as many of them as there are genuine Gold Coast Suns and [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – An ugly win is still a win
August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
It was a balmy night, with the threat of light rain. Nevertheless no rain eventuated. Johnathan Thurston and Gavin Cooper were sick leading up to the game. Both had a stomach virus. Ashton Simms was ruled out with niggling knee problems. Cronulla were fortunate to have exciting playmaker Albert Kelly back in the fold after [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A Knight to forget
August 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Knights somehow lost to the Bulldogs after leading 22-6 at halftime and Ben Barba put his hand up for try of the year honours. Since getting a clip over the ear for using the term ‘mongrel’ too much at my first Knights home game in ’88, I have been a Newcastle diehard. I’ve got [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Spooky stuff at the Royal in Tumut
August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
Liam Hauser Canberra versus Penrith rugby league clashes always bring back a distinct memory for me, even though I am a Queenslander and support the Brisbane Broncos. The first Grand Final I ever saw was in 1991 when Penrith downed Canberra 19-12 as Royce Simmons had a fairytale finish to his career. As an [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Dragons find some fire at last
August 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I’m sure there are worse way to start a footy game. But after seeing the first few seconds of the Dragons clash against the Warriors at WIN Stadium, I’m hard pressed to come up with any. Dragons captain Ben Hornby placed the ball on the kicking tee to start the game, walked back, ran up [Read more]
A Good Weekend of Footy
August 29, 2011 by 2 Comments
Two games of footy, one local and one AFL, the weather is great, what more could you want on a weekend? With all the necessary jobs done on the Saturday morning it was on the bike for a short ride to one of my favourite grounds, the Brunswick Street Oval, home of the Fitzroy Football [Read more]
Recent Comments