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]
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]
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