Sitting in the doc’s waiting room this morning as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin’ chairs waiting for my prostate check and PSA result. All good in the end, so to speak, so nerves should have dissipated, yes? But no, still nervous about the Tiges tonight. Nervous like I was [Read more]
The Wrap: Round 1 Pipe Opener
March 24, 2011 by 8 Comments
THE ROUND I PIPE OPENER For the Philosophical Marngrook Follower So it’s the Blues v The Tigers to set the season going again Wrappers. O’Brien’s have loaded up the pie warmers at The G and have promised the $10 pots of light ale will be icy cold for the Punters. The last two Pipe Openers [Read more]
Round One Blog
March 23, 2011 by 31 Comments
With the first bounce just hours away, hopes, dreams and delusions are still alive. Will the Magpies enjoy a cakewalk? Can the Saints and Cats hold on? Who will be this season’s bolter? Tell us what you’re thinking Knackers. Does hope spring eternal? Or has resignation claimed you already? Fire away!
The next ‘Big Thing’
March 23, 2011 by 3 Comments
By Domenic Favata As we all await the season opener, we continue to speculate our club’s talent and search for the next ‘big thing’ who will emerge from a box of talent and evolve into superstars like Gary Ablett and Dane Swan did. Often earmarked the ‘breakout year’, a year that often establishes a successful [Read more]
A Painful Debut
March 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
On Thursday night, the new AFL season begins. Many fans are having trouble containing their anticipation. Sure, I’ll be at the MCG to see the “traditional” opening game between Richmond and Carlton, but the overt passion that I should be displaying will be masked by an aura of stoic resignation. Forty years of barracking for [Read more]
No country for old men
March 23, 2011 by 5 Comments
With the ‘Great Review of Australian Cricket’ just around the corner, I think it is important to address an issue that I’m sure will be at the bottom of the review panel’s ‘to-do’ list – cricketers in their thirties. Cricket Australia have made it quite clear in recent years that there is no place for [Read more]
Footy exPIEriment
March 23, 2011 by 33 Comments
Being a student in the faculty of psychological science, i couldn’t help but try and conduct a small experiment to do with footy. We all know how people react to Collingwood supporters, so i took note of the reactions of my new classmates and lab buddies to see if it effects how they act to [Read more]
My favourite drop kick, part five
March 23, 2011 by 16 Comments
The latest in Vin Maskell’s occasional, indulgent series The new edition of The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers once again records the careers of thousands of players, listing their vital statistics and describing their skills and style of play. Of all those players, going back to 1897, only 57 are noted for their talent for the [Read more]
The Language of Football: A Barthesian Perspective
March 23, 2011 by 15 Comments
by Phil Dimitriadis At this time of year conversation turns to footy in earnest and in jest. We take it for granted in Melbourne, reasoning that it has always been part of our cultural communication. It really is a language spawned by the game that intends to be a portal of inclusion and connection. Generally, [Read more]
Business as usual
March 23, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Nick Sculley After yet another tumultuous off-season the Saints have adopted a siege mentality. The St.Kilda versus the world idea has been enforced by coach and captain alike, and to an extent it has acted to deflect any excess attention away from the club. As a loyal St.Kilda supporter this summer’s indiscretions and controversies [Read more]
Crio’s Q: The pre-season grind
March 22, 2011 by 12 Comments
The serious stuff is about to start but no doubt the clubs have been putting the players through some pretty interesting pre-season drills over the summer. And variations of such things would have filtered through to suburban and country level pre-seasons. There’s bound to be a story or two out there of a training drill [Read more]
The Match Committee Ep 1
March 22, 2011 by 2 Comments
The Roosters are working through the telling issues which are part and parcel of a modern footy club. They deal with them in their own way. Episode 1 can be found at www.thematchcommittee.com Have a look and return to make your comment.
Crio’s Q
March 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Chris Riordan Apparently another Pies Flag is a given. The world, it seems, is back on its hyperbolic axis – despite their last consecutive (can’t bear “back-to-back) premierships being over 70 years ago! Here’s a way to stay interested in what will manifestly otherwise be a “cakewalk” – using the increasingly popular “head-to-head” betting. And it is [Read more]
A Difficult Conversation
March 21, 2011 by 14 Comments
When his daughter, upon learning of Gary Ablett’s departure north, asked “Daddy, do we still barrack for Geelong?”, Gerard Whateley knew he’d reached a pivotal moment. Read his response. http://www.geelongcats.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/109483/default.aspx
Strike?
March 21, 2011 by 10 Comments
Does anybody recall much about the Essendon player strike at the start of 1970. I think around 6 players were in dispute, Geoff Pryor, definitely; Gosper, John Williams, and Don Mckenzie i think were amongst them. Lost to Carlton in R 1 , with Les Stillman kicking 6 for the Dons, but beyond that my [Read more]
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
March 21, 2011 by 12 Comments
Different things stir our spirit; reach into our soul. What stirs mine may not stir you. I suppose it’s what makes the world go around. Recently on this site Peter Flynn wrote about the mighty Black Caviar. The sight of it powering away from its rivals obviously captured him. I can understand that. A horse [Read more]
Should he stay or should he go?
March 21, 2011 by 23 Comments
A special investigative feature, looking at the truth behind the Malthouse Buckley rumours. By John Weldon Is it too early to begin speculation about the possibility of the Malthouse Buckley succession deal falling through at the end of this season, should Collingwood win (or not win) the2011 flag? No it’s not. Well not according to [Read more]
Tipping Rebellion
March 20, 2011 by 3 Comments
If there’s one thing I like, especially in Football, it’s tradition. One of my earliest memories is Dad coming home from work with the footy tipping cards. He’d call me into the kitchen before tea, and read out the eight games to me. What I thrill I got from choosing what team I wanted to [Read more]
Willaston Dreams
March 20, 2011 by 1 Comment
Pictures by Almanacker Peter Argent It’s a great time of the year for footballers around the country. Wherever they might be. Some have been hard at it all summer. Running with squinted eyes through the shimmery white heat, loving and hating (at once) the beads of sweat which trickle between their shoulder blades, down the [Read more]
Harms on footy commentators
John Harms measures the current crop of footy commentators according to the Sid Waddell scale. Check out his article from the Age, and return to leave your comment. Footy talk: too good to be scripted www.theage.com.au