Political correctness is a movement to promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance. I’m sure it is a valid movement as far smarter people than I have implemented it, advocated it, and supported it. To me though, it is un-Australian, at least in some part. The “Aussie” persona has been built on the knockabout, “she’ll be right [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Moonee Valley 20 August
August 19, 2011 by 4 Comments
I don’t expect bookies to get any sympathies from punters. Sworn enemies, their motive is, of course, to get each other’s money. It is a simple stand-off, but in some ways also a reason why there’s a history of grudging mutual respect on a changing landscape. Once upon a time I’d only bet with a [Read more]
Sal’s Tips Round 22: The Great Rip Off
August 19, 2011 by 4 Comments
Sheez it really does feel like Round 22 – but on we go! I left a teaser last week for this week’s topic and that is the AFL plan to further rip off the fan by reducing the length of the game. Seems like it is almost a done deal after listening to Vlad on [Read more]
WBA v Man U
August 18, 2011 by 9 Comments
I’m not sure where you’re reading this, probably in Reservoir, or Tooleybuc, or Tearabagapart, but if you are from one of those little Lanchy villages in the north-west of England (where third grade Australian cricketers have passed themselves off as batting all-rounders for rent, a job washing soot from window sills, and a pint or [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Fire Up
August 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Fans who enjoy Rugby League can consider this the end of the rainbow because they have just found their pot of gold Stephen Ferris and I (Brett Oaten) host a rugby league “show” every Friday morning on FBI 94.5 in Sydney and have done so for many years. Our standards are so low that not [Read more]
Country footy: Waikerie Milestone
August 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This week’s Football People story focuses on Waikerie ruckman Brooke Hoad and his achievement of playing 300 senior games. http://www.countryfooty.com.au/FootballPeople.htm
Haiku Bob Round 21: length of the wing
August 18, 2011 by 7 Comments
full moon Leon in every passage a forward thrust as far as Tarrant’s fist and no further six points such cheap reward for Wellingham’s goal buds begin to flower — Fasolo plucks one from the pack tucked under [Read more]
Keep The Rules The Way They Are
August 18, 2011 by 2 Comments
(An ode to Kevin Bartlett and the Rules Committee) by Michael Viljoen (Sung to the tune of Just the Way You Are – B. Joel) Don’t go changing the rushed behind rule We’ll try to keep the ball in play, Mmm Sometimes I fumble across the goal line Disguised in my own [Read more]
One Hundred Years Ago: Round 16, 19th August, 1911
August 18, 2011 by 12 Comments
The VFL was more prepared to make allowances for interstate football one hundred years ago than it would ever consider today. The 50th jubilee of the codification of the games’ rules had seen a grand festival of football held in Melbourne in 1908 under the nominal auspice of the Australian Football Council. With nationalist fervour [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Rugby League comes to The Footy Almanac
August 18, 2011 by 5 Comments
Growing up as a young Canterbury diehard in Orange, when all you would get were two games a week on television and your main contact with the Big League came through Rugby League Week and The Daily Telegraph, the highlight of every Christmas was David Middleton’s Rugby League yearbook. The book was a goldmine for [Read more]
The Krakouers
August 18, 2011 by 19 Comments
In 1982, I was in Grade 6 at St. Pius X West Warrnambool and obsessed with the Krakouer brothers. I kept scrapbooks of newspaper clippings that said ‘BLACK MAGIC!’ and ‘KRAKOUER MAGIC!’ I wrote ‘JIM 3 KRAKOUER’ and ‘PHIL 8 KRAKOUER’ all over my books and pencil case. I sat in the filtered sun in [Read more]
The Best and Fairest excuse
August 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
So I called the boss at the newspaper the other day. Said I wasn’t coming in. He asked why. “General soreness,” I said. “A bit of this, a bit of that. You know how it is.” “Um, no,” he said. “Not able to take the mark like usual. Not able to fly into the contests.” [Read more]
Berrigan boys
August 17, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Glen Davis I tried a while ago to select a team from Berrigan, and adjacent areas in that part of the Riverina, but fell a few players short. How I left out/forgot Shane Crawford is staggering. I have taken on board the comments of fellow Almanackers such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rocket, and his [Read more]
DA’s Clue of the Round (22)
August 17, 2011 by 1 Comment
by David Astle (http://davidastle.com/) A chewy one this week: No 3 is a Bomber dynasty; No 5, a defensive Saint; No 7 goes for the Blues But a chiselled athlete he ain’t. No 8, a one-time Demon Is now running round in stripes; No 20 is a Roos rebounder; While the next two [Read more]
Rocket’s rocket
August 17, 2011 by 22 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz LOONY VERSE OF THE WEEK: Rodney Eade no longer coach True or a piss-take? True it is I’m sad to say I think it’s a mistake Yes, it’s true folks. Sadly (in my opinion), my anagram from earlier this year – ROCKET RODNEY EADE = YEAR ROOTED? NECKED! – has become [Read more]
The Cats that ate Paris
August 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Ken Haley As a lifelong St Kilda supporter, I’ve never been afraid of lost causes. The heartbreak years fall into two classes – those when we could believe feel that Cup within our grasp – 1965, 1971, 1997, 2009 and 2010 (there has only been one of glory, as the entire world knows) [Read more]
Going broke getting rich
August 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Peter Edwards I’ve always been a bit entrepreneurial; always been open to the thought of a quick and easy buck; always been curious about the Bransons, Packers, and Murdochs of this world. I’ve attended many a seminar; read many a book; talked to many a mentor. But without the genius of Gates, the [Read more]
This Sat’dy… 20 August 2011
August 17, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan My sides seem to have gradually slipped from contention and, with the races getting more interesting, it is easy to lose track of the various comps, many of which are finishing the fixture and facing finals fates. For some comps it is an “early September”….for example, my plans for a weekend [Read more]
The meritocracy of sport
August 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Lee Carney What is it about sport that sucks us through the gates by the millions every year, makes us pay ridiculous amounts for merchandise, upgrade our Pay TV subscriptions and spend countless hours that would be better spent with our partners and/or family’s, watching grown men play children’s games. The most common [Read more]
From anxious to frustrated
August 16, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Jake “Cobba” Stevens It was a few weeks ago since I had last been to a Swans game. And it was fair to say that their previous efforts hadn’t satisfied me. Last weeks result against Essendon was disappointing. A few weeks ago Fremantle (and Chamberlain) had gotten the best of the Swans. [Read more]
Recent Comments