Many players have pace. Even the AFL’s plodders are quick by any other league’s standards. Many of them can mark. Not just hold one, but squeeze that damn ball under hard physical pressure. Many of them can weave. Man, Brent Harvey can weave! Or get stats. Garry Jr, he can really rack ’em up. What [Read more]
Footy Rich and Poor
May 2, 2011 by 17 Comments
An American cousin of mine lives in Pittsburgh, and is an avid supporter of that city’s baseball team, the Pirates. On a trip to the USA some years ago, I asked my cousin Jim how he rated his team’s chances in the Major League Baseball season which had just commenced. He looked at me incredulously. [Read more]
QClash stunt enough to make you QEasy
May 2, 2011 by 22 Comments
The media alert was mysterious, intriguing and enticing. The CEOs and captains of the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns were going to make a joint ‘major announcement’ ahead of their NAB challenge match. Luckily, journalists had to endure only one sleepless night before they found out what this major announcement was. Could the [Read more]
Book Launch: Ted Hopkins
May 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Ted Hopkins shot to fame when he replaced Bert Thornley at half-time in the 1970 Grand Final, kicking four goals to lead Carlton to victory. Although Hopkins played just one more game, he was to come back to footy in years to come – in a significant way. The collection and analysis of statistics started as a [Read more]
The Five Stages of Death and Dying
May 2, 2011 by 4 Comments
Denial: I got my NAB Cup footy record so I’ve got my list of all the opposition players, as well as my TV recording as well as my comfortable armchair. So my feet are up after a day in my studio listening to North Melbourne get their first win for the season. I have been [Read more]
THE WRAP – ROUND VI
May 2, 2011 by 2 Comments
WHERE LIFE IMITATES FOOTBALL What a round it’s been in Footy Eddie. Is The Competition a movable feast or what? First up – on the Thursday night over on the balmy Indian Ocean Shore – The Fuchsias fell in a screaming heap against The Weagles. For the Friday night we switch to the Harbour City [Read more]
Essendon V Gold Coast
May 2, 2011 by 2 Comments
By Steve Healy A game of football holds thousands of variables. But one known fact had already been set in stone- Essendon would win this match. As a result of that, it’d be a fantastic, fun and ambitious day with my favourite loyal, Essendon supporting friend James Rate. And what a pleasure this would be, [Read more]
True Blue Bloods Shine
May 1, 2011 by 17 Comments
Many seemed preoccupied on Friday with a certain royal to-do over in old Blighty (not Malcolm), but those of a more discerning palate would have been privileged to watch a pair of true Blue bloods in action: firstly at the Clyde Hotel for the Footy Almanac lunch, where Ted Hopkins entertained and illuminated as guest [Read more]
A new deal, a wedding, and the football
May 1, 2011 by 2 Comments
Yesterday the AFL signed away their television rights for 2012-2016. They will receive $1.25 billion from Foxtel for the rights to broadcast every AFL game live on Fox. It’s a win for the X% of the 30% of Australians who subscribe to Foxtel and are interested in the game. For everyone else, well there’s a [Read more]
Notes on Tom Wills Paintings
May 1, 2011 by 1 Comment
By Richard Webber *The Predestination of Tom Wills (Acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 inch) *Tom Wills Death Scene (Acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 inch) Thomas Wentworth (Tom) Wills has been popularized as the iconic (heroic?) personality behind the inception of Australian Rules Football. The AFL ‘Tom Wills’ Round, an MCG statue, Geoffrey Blainey’s [Read more]
Friday Night Swans Hit Wrong Note
May 1, 2011 by 5 Comments
As the wise Rebecca Black once said, “It’s Friday, Friday, Gotta get down on Friday”. It turns out that the Sydney Swans did just that. Sydney was hosting Carlton at the SCG last Friday night. It was a different experience for the Swans who hadn’t played a Friday night game in a home and away [Read more]
Tough Thursday for Waaia and Melbourne
May 1, 2011 by 2 Comments
I remember just a couple of seasons ago, a game at the MCG late in the season between these two sides. The stands at the grand old stadium were basically stripped bare as two former great teams fought it out, trying to keep themselves furtherest away from rock bottom. The likes of Jack Watts and [Read more]
Contenders and Pretenders: the story of the Eagles and Melbourne
April 30, 2011 by 3 Comments
Part of the joy of football is playing out the what-if scenarios before a game. That is why sports betting has become so popular – we all like to think we have some unique insight into how our teams will perform. Melbourne against the West Coast at Subiaco on a Thursday evening after Easter (can [Read more]
Only one thing going for him
April 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
It’s Sunday evening and the dining room at the Missionaries of Charity Men’s Refuge and Soup Kitchen, Fitzroy, is almost empty. The men have eaten, scraped their plates in the bin and headed into the night. I’ve mopped the floor and piled the chairs, but one man is hanging around. He’s new, I haven’t seen [Read more]
Friday II
April 30, 2011 by 12 Comments
You ever wake up and think: what happened to the rest of the Clokes? Where’s Martin Pike these days? Damn, he was a gun! Seeing him line up on a pretty boy like Hird was a compliment to both of them, and football. How good would Darren Bewick have been if given one more year [Read more]
In between days
April 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan This is truly the “in between” weekend. Proof is that, clearly, the best “city” meeting on Saturday is at Hawkesbury, where an excellent Guineas Day deserves its metrop status. In the feature, Torio’s Quest has been backed for a stack. With Sydney’s Easter Cup races finally over, national focus will soon move [Read more]
The Pre Wrap – Round VI
April 29, 2011 by 4 Comments
by John Mosig FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. The Gnomes in the Bowels of Jellymont House have extracted $1.253 billion from the broadcasters for the Ayatollah’s next five-year plan. We haven’t heard from the Oval Office yet but Sydney’s Dual Brownlow Medallist has put his hand up [Read more]
Football indulgence
April 29, 2011 by 6 Comments
by Pamela Sherpa I’ve just had what I call a wonderful week of football indulgence. Having lived in NSW for the past 20 years I always enjoy going home to Victoria for a ‘footy dose’. When I drive south during school holidays there are two things that I always look forward to and notice- the [Read more]
Well I guess Chappy’s happy…but Hawks should not despair
April 29, 2011 by 4 Comments
By Sasha Lennon Last week I berated one Paul Chapman for boldly claiming that “never again” will the Cats lose to the Hawks in a Grand Final. Actually, he meant never again, full stop. And sure enough Chappy was true to his word. I still reckon the Cats are doing it the hard way (did [Read more]
The Jumper
April 29, 2011 by 10 Comments
by Andrew Fithall April 1965. Prep at St Joseph’s Numurkah. The school spanned from Prep to Form 4. Dad had come from his teaching job at the local state primary school to our school to take some boys for football training. My oldest brother Chris was in Form 2 and was staying for training. He [Read more]
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