August 29 and there is a hint of green on the birch and the possums have eaten every pink blossom off the peach tree. This has the potential to be a superb September, a writer’s treat. Sport always gives us stories, many of them wonderful, but this September promises a stack of possible complications. I [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A costly call
August 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I write this feeling like a bitter and twisted man. Hopefully by the end I have come round. The Warriors have had their season ripped apart by the most abhorrent refereeing decision of the year. Sorry if that sounds a bit over emotive but that’s what it feels like for a Warriors fan that will [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A Manly boy in the City of Churches
August 29, 2011 by 2 Comments
Residing in a ‘non-league’ state means you have to go the extra mile to get your fix of the Greatest Game of All. It’s not in the papers, it’s not on the news and it’s certainly not talked about in the pub or around the watercooler on a Monday morning. Living in Adelaide for the [Read more]
Almanac Rugby league – A long way from home
August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
The finals are just two weeks away. Brookie Oval is packed out for a Friday night cracker, first versus second on the ladder, one team undefeated after 12 games, the other undefeated at home for the season. The teams with the best for-and-against in the comp, sharing a rivalry built up over recent seasons (one [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Adversity
August 29, 2011 by 10 Comments
The Swannies must have ached this week. There’s no way that the death of a mate’s child can be fuel to win a game of footy. But they “dug deep”, knowing there was nothing else that they could do. I thought they’d be emotionally spent. Grieving and, to be honest, probably outclassed. But they won. [Read more]
Pies say no to derailment of finals aspirations and why purple doesn’t make black or white
August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
By George Habib As I said goodbye to many Melbourne supporters at Mt Hotham on Friday afternoon I decided that a blanket ban on football columnist is a necessity over the next six weeks. Could there be more of a focus on the ‘kirribilli’ agreement between Malthouse and Bucks? I don’t read the Hun but [Read more]
VWFL – Darebin’s amazing run of 5 flags in a row comes to an end
August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
On Saturday 27/08/2011 at Mantello Holden Oval a huge crowd that included Hugh Delahunty the Minister for sport who tossed the coin, Sue Alberti Western Bulldogs board member & VWFL partner after whom the Premiership cup is named and Cameron Schwab, David Neitz, Chris Connolly and Karen Hayes from the Melbourne Football Club saw a [Read more]
Chelsea v Norwich City at Stamford Bridge
August 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Chelsea 3 Norwich City 1 Crowd 41, 795 at Stamford Bridge A promising start by Chelsea against Norwich City was quickly thwarted by the Canaries. The signs of a crushing defeat at the hands of Chelsea were obvious in the opening minutes when Ramirez pulled the trigger just outside the penalty box but was saved by [Read more]
ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS
August 28, 2011 by 4 Comments
Eagles V Lions at the Gabba; Saturday night27 August 2011 By Peter Baulderstone I hate the divisiveness and rancor of public life and what passes for debate in our society. Carbon tax, refugees, sleaze, greed and opportunism. Leave me out of it. When we have so much – wealth, opportunity and social safety nets. How [Read more]
No expectations…no worries
August 28, 2011 by 8 Comments
No expectations….no worries (or from the toilet to the sky –a super performance) With the press in full flight this week of doom and gloom for St.Kilda, and North Melbourne’s good performances, Saints fans like me were quite reluctant to feel any confidence. A good six weeks after a nightmare year, a run in [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Just like the old days
August 28, 2011 by 3 Comments
It’s a wet, miserable day in south-east Queensland even though the temperature is that of a good spring day south of the Murray. I’ve slept poorly, up at 4.45am to pick up the paper from the driveway so it doesn’t get soggy. I can’t get back to sleep, so by 5.22 I’m in the lounge [Read more]
Jack Attack pride
August 28, 2011 by 10 Comments
That awkward moment when Freo names my Jack Anthony to play against my Collingwood boys. Friday, half time during my sports media Kerr lecture, chatting to the guys in my sports development group i admit my nervousness. – “i think i may have a heart attack tonight.” The guys probably assumed i was overexagerating, but [Read more]
Book Review: 1964 A GAME, A SEASON, A STATE
August 28, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Michael Sexton published by and available through www.sportswords.com.au Michael Sexton’s 1964 is a “niche” book. Those for whom “1964 SANFL season” strikes a chord – typically 50+ sports loving Croweaters – will cherish this wonderful snapshot of South Australian society and sport.
Dream Over?
August 28, 2011 by 2 Comments
Sydney and St.Kilda: two teams infamous for their slow style of football, and boring – at times frustrating – game plan. The flood, stoppage football and backwards kicking, were what most would have been expecting out of this game. Both though, found themselves playing a ‘mini-final’ in round 22 at ANZ stadium. For St.Kilda, a [Read more]
North left to think of the future
August 28, 2011 by 9 Comments
I can remember sitting at the computer, staring blankly at a word-document sheet in the early hours of Easter last year. My eyes were sore. I remember dabbing my eyelids with wet fingers to keep them open. North Melbourne had just been thrashed by St Kilda. 104 points. We were hopeless, they were irrepressible. [Read more]
How could the Cats lose at home?
August 28, 2011 by 19 Comments
27th August 2011 Geelong v’s Sydney Skilled Stadium – 2.10 pm Matthew Clark “What did I do wrong??” “What do you mean??” “Well, we never lose at Geelong. Someone must have done something wrong. Maybe it was me!!” Could it be that us turning up to the game 3 minutes late unsettled the Cats? [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – The Roosters and the golden point goose
August 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
As the clock ticked towards half-time and the scoreboard showed nothing but two big donuts I thought to myself: “Thank god I didn’t sit up and watch this last night.” Given regular Friday Night Football scheduling in the southern states sees matches telecast between the hours of midnight Friday and 4am Saturday morning, I’d taken [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Fish and chips and Friday footy
August 27, 2011 by 2 Comments
Don’t you all miss the days of Friday night Fish and Chips wrapped in old newspaper? Now it is all foam containers that lack anything of mental substance. If they were wrapped in old newspaper, I would be reading a sports section that told of the woes of two seasons. Parramatta and Eastern Suburbs. The [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – The Challenge Cup: a game I cannot see
August 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
The Challenge Cup 2011 (the game I cannot see) This Saturday the Challenge Cup will be played at Wembley Stadium London. The Challenge Cup is a competition based on soccer’s FA Cup, a knockout competition culminating in the last two teams playing the Final at London’s famous Wembely Stadium. Each year 90,000 fans make their [Read more]
Can we just win one please?
August 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
The season has ended and Imperials have finished 2nd in both grades. I have finished the year in the reserves but have ended in good form. I’ve been in our best in 3 of the last 4 games and on Saturday in a hard fought contest against fellow finalists Mypolonga I managed to kick 3 [Read more]
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