For someone who has spent much of my life fascinated and enthralled by sport, there are still many things I don’t get. Near the top of the list is why the sporting public can be enthused and excited by track and field each Olympic Games, but doesn’t turn up to good quality track and field [Read more]
2011 AFL Crystal Ball
February 25, 2011 by 6 Comments
By Domenic Favata Yes the NAB cup’s only just begun, yes some might say that it’s too early to call and yes some people will call me ridicule my projections. But the AFL season is near, its time to put our serious hats on and think about the long haul. Whether they are ambitious (like [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Diamond Day
February 25, 2011 by 15 Comments
Take my tip! For once, this is a sure thing. Get to Caulfield on Saturday where, in the promised benign weather, you’ll see really good horses in some outstanding races. What a mix. There’s a long time between now and the Heath – including a night on the bag at the Valley tomorrow (Friday)- so [Read more]
It’s never over til it’s over
February 24, 2011 by 1 Comment
It’s the end of summer, school is back but that’s the furthest thing from my mind as I stride out to bat in my U14’s grand final. Earlier GWB made an under par 132. It’s a hot day. I’m full of emotions. My determination to win leads a shaky backline of fear and disgust. You [Read more]
RON CAWTHAN: A LIFETIME’S SERVICE TO CASTLEMAINE
February 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
RON started playing footy at the tender age of eight when he turned out for the Wesley Hill club in the Castlemaine District Junior Football league. It wasn’t until 1971 that he first wore the Castemaine colors when he played for the Magpie under-18 side. He spent two seasons with the Thirds, finishing runner-up in [Read more]
In Motion
February 24, 2011 by 10 Comments
In the 1994 World Cup semi-final, an 80th minute strike from Brazilian star Romario denied 10-man Sweden a place in the final. Sweden went on to thrash Bulgaria 4-0 in the third place play-off at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena to complete a glorious summer for Swedish football – the likes of which they had not [Read more]
NAB Cup: Geelong v North v Bulldogs
February 24, 2011 by 8 Comments
This had been scheduled in for some months now. Even though I hadn’t asked Dad about it, my main means of transport to games, as soon as I saw Geelong v North Melbourne (and the Bulldogs) playing at Skilled Stadium on February 20 for the NAB Cup, I knew I’d be going. One, because it [Read more]
Tom Hawkins’ greatest fear
February 23, 2011 by 1 Comment
“Tom Lonergan’s public speaking.” …from the Geelong Football Club website
Scratcher
February 23, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Matt Zurbo The oval of the Otway and Districts Footy and Netball Club was packed like I’ve never seen it for Scratcher’s 500th game. Every ex-player, all my old peers, kicking around the boundary, milling between the gums trees that surround the oval, gathering around the oil drum fires, drinking, cheering, being happy, having a [Read more]
Footy Tipping Rego
February 23, 2011 by 2 Comments
Welcome to The Footy Almanac Tipping Competition which has been hotly contested in recent years. What you have to ask yourself is where you sit in the firmament of Almanac tipsters? Have you got the Waaia eye of Barnstable covered; can you compete with the Pie mind of Danni Eid; are you brighter than Peter [Read more]
Arma’s Club Corner – Edition 2
February 23, 2011 by 9 Comments
by Arma Nasco Adelaide: Could Lleyton Hewitt be behind the Crows’ latest interesting initiative, “The Tribe”? Apparently there will be 60 specially recruited Crows fans to become a part of The Tribe; their charter being to make noise. Sound a bit like The Fanatics? C’mon (everyone please point to your forehead now) !!!! OK, let’s [Read more]
Crio’s Q: The changing face of sporting etiquette
February 22, 2011 by 31 Comments
I’m interested in how sporting etiquette changes over time. Golf, for example, is a game of great disciplines and accepted protocol. When did players walking out the “front” (lip) of bunkers become acceptable? This was never allowed in my recollection, but has become commonplace – I saw a caddie lend a club to help wrench [Read more]
NAB Cup: Geelong, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs
February 22, 2011 by 26 Comments
By Steve Healy Travel- It’s a word that circulates through the realms of every footy lover’s soul, season after season. How will we get to our destination? Why are we going there? In this particular situation, it would’ve been quite hard to understand why, from an outsider’s point of view. Is it really worth it [Read more]
In A-League of Its Own – Issue 30
February 22, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Tom Riordan Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League The first week of the finals have come and gone, with all 3 matches ending in somewhat predictable results. The first of them was on Friday night from Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, where the Reds hosted Wellington Phoenix. With Adelaide finishing 3 places higher than the [Read more]
Knackers v Overland: a case for the mind, the body and the soul
February 21, 2011 by 18 Comments
by Straight Break Sport, some Greek with too much red wine in him decided, is about the mind, the body and the soul. That’s our problem. Of all the civilisations on which to base ours, we are stuck with the damn Greeks. They invented the gymnasium, which is not like the gymnasium in the United [Read more]
Almanac XI v Overland XI – Almanac Captain’s report
February 21, 2011 by 33 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz I believe it’s part of the unwritten ethos of the cricket commentating fraternity that at least once in a career the phrase, “well bowled, well played and well fielded; good cricket all around”, must be used. Had any of that fraternity been at Gillon Oval on Sunday to call the Almanac XI [Read more]
Almanac v Overland Photo Gallery
February 21, 2011 by 5 Comments
Evidence for the prosecution provided by Marion Butler (at least one family member had something to show for their efforts).
Flares for Dot Balls Campaign
February 20, 2011 by 16 Comments
Add your name to this petition I hope to take to those who run Cricket Australia. We the undersigned believe that bowlers are copping the raw prawn in T20 cricket and believe that flares should whoosh heavenward when the bowler delivers a dot ball:
NAB Cup: Essendon v Brisbane v St Kilda
February 19, 2011 by 3 Comments
Spraying the colour into my hair, I studied it in the mirror. It looked pretty good. My hair was now a lush green colour. It was the 2011 Numurkah Secondary College Swimming Sports Carnival at the local pool. My house, Gray, which is actually green house, was vying to against the three other houses, Christie [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Lightning Stakes
February 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Lightning Stakes (1000m, WFA) is a fair dinkum Group One. Look at the roll call – Takeover Target, Todman, Sky High, Storm Queen, Schillaci, Special, Mahogany, Miss Andretti, Choisir and Citius…there’s speed, power and class. This year’s edition (Flemington, R6) has generated profile with the return of the breathtaking Black Caviar. The little paper [Read more]
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