Peter Vesty is not sentimental about his home away from home for the past 30 years, the Port Melbourne scoreboard. “I’d like to blow it up or burn it down,” he says, in-between hanging up numbers for a reserves match between Port Melbourne and Werribee. Read more about Peter Vesty and about the 80 year [Read more]
The Discovery of Bob Pratt
June 9, 2011 by 12 Comments
While I never played football at the Highest Level, I think I can legitimately lay claim to being one of the game’s greatest archaeologists. For it was me in 1995 along with my good friend Mike Lefebvre who rediscovered the man, the legend, that was Bob Pratt. During that year, Mike and I were researching [Read more]
Racist takes a bath
June 9, 2011 by 1 Comment
The recent spate of ugly racism from footy supporters brings back a couple of memories from earlier days. As a very young Essendon fan who regularly followed the Dons with his parents , I would hear racist remarks about one of our great footballers Norm McDonald in the late forties and early fifties. We would [Read more]
One Hundred Years Ago: Round 6, 3rd June, 1911
June 9, 2011 by 2 Comments
It will surprise many that Richmond, the club that wears “Captain Blood’ as a badge of honour, initially regarded itself as a bastion of the ‘right and proper’ way to play the game. Furthermore, the colour of their jumper wasn’t originally yellow and black. What will not surprise is that they have long possessed a [Read more]
Sat’dy arvo at the footy: June 11 2011
June 9, 2011 by 9 Comments
The major suburban matches highlighted in this column last week threw up interesting results, with the top sides losing in the EDFL, NFL and EFL. Maribyrnong Park’s stranglehold on the EDFL title is now under serious challenge after Damien Peverill inspired Aberfeldie to victory. Luke Livingstone, king of the Marby goal square in recent weeks, [Read more]
DA’s Clue of the Round (12)
June 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by David Astle (Don’t forget to visit http://davidastle.com/) As winter nears, And the alpine horde disappears, What well-known brand Seen across Snow Land Comprises a racing star (Not on ski, not in car) Sitting side-by-side A footy great glorified By his Norm-Smith day? Though wait – he runs the other way. Solution to DA’s Clue of [Read more]
Nicknames
June 8, 2011 by 39 Comments
Crazyhorse is still the best nickname I’ve ever heard on a footy field. The Galloping Gasometer was a close second. What was it about North Melbourne in the 70s? They were the Kangeroos, and had a gun ruck-rover called Tiger. Richmond had Disco, The Ghost, The General, Whoosha, Hungry, The Flea, who was damn tough. [Read more]
So what’s the score?
June 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
There’s been a lot in the media recently about the ugly parent syndrome at junior football matches, where feral mums and dads disgrace themselves by behaving badly on the sidelines. But what about the technologically-challenged parent syndrome? The game is definitely changing. I’ve had a go at most things in following the footy career of [Read more]
flinging shadows
June 8, 2011 by 4 Comments
remnants of the sun — Goddard strikes the first blow leaves tumble… tonight Cloke marking everything floodlights flinging shadows — a hurried snap for goal sharp cold — late goals before the long break bite the Saints autumn [Read more]
Leather fish bonding
June 8, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Margaret McCarthy The silence that follows the thud of the ball shouts ‘Run!’ I jog backwards, staring high into the dark tree backdrop, one hand raised to shield the glare from my eyes. The ball is a speck, a bird, a comet hurtling to earth. The mighty football seeks its target: me. I position [Read more]
It may be the punch
June 8, 2011 by 4 Comments
by John Richardson You know it’s going to happen. The ball will come. Maybe direct, maybe from the flank. More than fifty metres away, it is there, in their hands, in space, and the guiding hand does its job. The thud of leather on boot, a powerful strike and a beautifully weighted drop punt makes [Read more]
WAFL Blues
June 8, 2011 by 8 Comments
by Mark Simms Here in WAFL land, WA, we’ve just just enjoyed our Foundation Day round in perfect Perth winter football weather. Brilliant but soft sunshine ensured it was warm on the outer banks underneath the gum trees- though it was still a bit chilly in the shade of the 1950’s stands when the wind [Read more]
Colonial memories
June 8, 2011 by 7 Comments
by Kerrie Soraghan I attended my first Footscray match in utero. My mother, a passionate fan, prided herself on missing only one match for each of her four pregnancies, which, to her annoyance, coincided with the winter months. She would stand for three hours at a time in the outer, rain trickling down her neck, [Read more]
JB and Dad do it again
June 8, 2011 by 3 Comments
North Melbourne v Adelaide by Josh Barnstable I hate being sick. Dad and I both do. We’ve both got a cold (although he says its the flu). I’d much rather have the flu than a cold. But, Dad and I, braving the icy weather, made the trip down to Melbourne for our first match of [Read more]
Q and A dream panel?
June 7, 2011 by 26 Comments
Much discussion today about the disappointing Q and A last night. Was it disappointing? Who is your Q and A dream panel?
The View From Shepparton: Round 11 (and 10)
June 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Peter Schumacher Felt good a week ago. The Lions had won two in a row, were on their way to the final eight having given everyone else seven games start and I was un freezing myself in Darwin. Can’t remember much more about round 10 and anyway what else was important enough to remember? [Read more]
Monday morning, June.
June 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Something is missing. I can’t pick it. Cold morning. The Big Issue seller at North Melbourne station must be feeling it. Should I shout him a coffee? Nah. I’m sure the blokes who run the caf there look after him. A coffee and a muffin. 3 sugars. They’d charge him two bucks. He’s a teammate, [Read more]
Crio’s Q: What is sport?
June 7, 2011 by 22 Comments
by Chris Riordan When I was a kid we reckoned it involved either a ball +/or a bet! The oldest definition of sport, apparently (1300), is of anything humans find amusing or entertaining. There’s the rub.
The Thrilling ‘Fields
June 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Shane Goss Old Ivanhoe and Caulfield Grammarians played out a thriller in round seven of the VAFA Premier B section last Saturday at Chelsworth Park in Ivanhoe. It was first against third. The Fields had been promoted from Premier C the year before and were going into the game undefeated. Old Ivanhoe had only [Read more]
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