©Noelene Goodwin First appeared in The Launceston Examiner 3rd August 2008 Charlie was a fisherman and he supported his family of five children with the limited catch taken from the Don River in Devonport. When his daughter was growing up she was told by her father, “If anyone asks if you’re related to Don and [Read more]
Brand Bland – Why is the Australian cricket team unpopular?
January 10, 2011 by 38 Comments
Was it just me, or were you increasingly aggrieved by those merciless TV ads as the summer of Ashes discontent dragged on? You know the one’s – Vodafone, VB, the bloody Colonel. Over after over. Session after session. Day after day. While a guest spot on The Gruen Transfer is perhaps beyond my capabilities, my [Read more]
My favourite drop kick, part four
January 10, 2011 by 8 Comments
The latest instalment in Vin Maskell’s tangential series. Are the Dropkick Murphys a bunch of punk-folk frauds? None of their names are Murphy and I doubt any of their songs are about that once noble expression of grace and distance, the Australian Rules drop kick. The Boston-based band of seven sing about work and unions, [Read more]
COMMENT: What has happened to the world?
January 10, 2011 by 59 Comments
Fair dinkum, I’m going nuts. And if it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny. It’s sad because this is the world my kids are growing up in. It’s a world where the disingenuous thrive, where mendacity is trumps, and truth is the currency of fools. Well call me a fool. And take me to [Read more]
Homicide’s credibility, worth pays price for social network self gratification
January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Michael Scibilia For a man with a lot to say, Corey Williams’ medium of choice is an odd one. The Melbourne Tigers import was the centre of attention during his side’s clash with Perth on Friday night, entering the game on the back of accusations that he’d defaced a courtside banner belonging to the [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Home Ground Advantage or Toss?
January 10, 2011 by 5 Comments
As South Australia demolished the Bushrangers at Adelaide Oval in their “BIG BASH”, I posed to Tom – what has the greater bearing on a game’s outcome; the toss or home ground advantage? He plumped for the local “dung heap”. The stats don’t support him. Whilst only half of the home sides have won thus [Read more]
In A-League of its own – Festive Season edition
January 8, 2011 by 3 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League The Christmas period can bring joy or suffering for clubs, with the busy schedule not helped when it’s just over halfway through the season, and everyone is vying for finals or premiership honours. Ladder leaders Brisbane came through their festive season undefeated. They managed to draw 2-2 with Gold [Read more]
No picnic at Caulfield
January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Chris Riordan Mid-January is usually a time of VISA bills and economic tightening and Race Clubs tend to keep their powder dry with pretty average cards at all major venues – though keep an eye on the Gold Coast where, weather permitting, some exciting events take place around the Magic Millions extravaganza. Will Gerry [Read more]
Australia Left Only With Questions
January 7, 2011 by 4 Comments
Though the weather briefly attempted to emulate dreary Australian spirits, it couldn’t prevent the final rites being enacted on this Ashes series. Steve Smith and Peter Siddle did their best to delay the party, but as English players and fans swung into full celebration mode, it was left to a humbled Australian cricket scene to [Read more]
Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary (13)
January 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
ASHES DIARY Entry 13 Thursday January 6, 2011 With Walkman in ear, I went for a stroll around the quiet, sunny streets of Reservoir during the morning session, day 4. Lawn mowers grumbled and old ladies waited for the bus. The singlet wearing Italian from up the road proudly gave me a few apricots from [Read more]
Cook pops Australia’s bubble
January 6, 2011 by 5 Comments
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND 5TH TEST – DAY 3 Matt O’Connor We caught the Ferry to the cricket. As a Melbourne boy, I don’t get to say that too often. Actually it was something called a River Cat, the river in question being the Parramatta. And if this is a river, then the Yarra needs a [Read more]
And the Australian disappointment continues
January 6, 2011 by 19 Comments
Sydney Test – Day 3 The big thing about this Test series is how disappointed cricket-lovers across Australia feel. Not the sort of disappointment that has you lamenting the half a metre of water that is rushing under your Queensland house, but disappointment of a sporting time. This was a series set up for cricket-lovers, [Read more]
Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary (12)
January 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
ASHES DIARY Entry 12 Tuesday, 4 January, 2011 Australia’s first innings in Sydney was fairly typical of its performances during this Ashes series. Hughes and Watson’s opening partnership should have been a solid foundation. Johnson and Hilfenhaus’ rewarded swinging at the end either saved or provided further embarrassment for teammates sitting in the dressing room. [Read more]
2010 – The Year of the Tight Tiger
January 4, 2011 by 10 Comments
The title above does not refer to the Richmond, Glenelg or Hull City Football Clubs nor to a constipated Siberian in Melbourne Zoo but more so a poor/clumsy alliteration on what has been one of the closest run years in sport (& politics) for a long time. So what will 2011 be like in comparison? [Read more]
UPDATE FROM THE ROCKY FLOOD
January 4, 2011 by 3 Comments
Hey lads, thought people would like to really know what it is like around the Rockhampton region as it does flood. Especially important for the sporting precincts in the area as well that some may or may not know. We are still waiting for the peak, but it’s now at a level where the roads [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Captaincy
January 4, 2011 by 4 Comments
Geelong and St.Kilda, as usual, saw it differently. Whilst the Cats used “expert consultants” to appoint the low-profile Tom Harley, Grant Thomas declared an annual rotation of figureheads at Linton St in a bid to spread the load. In an era of leadership groups, specialist coaches, shrinks and mentors, the question of captaincy remains vexed. [Read more]
The new Clarke of the course of Australian cricket
January 4, 2011 by 10 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz With Ricky Ponting absent, Michael Clarke became Australia’s 43rd Test captain yesterday. Clarke is one of those characters who tends attract the latterly popular term, “polarising”. And in recent times, it seems that many more people have been gravitating to the negative pole than the positive. Perhaps this is the reason the [Read more]
The Making of Michael?
January 3, 2011 by 2 Comments
Any boy who has ever played a backyard test match has likely imagined himself captain of Australia, but only a rare few are able to convert those boyhood dreams into reality. When it happens, the anointed one is expected to cherish the honour with the utmost reverence. More people dream of captaining Australia than ever [Read more]
Ashes Sydney Test Blog
January 3, 2011 by 61 Comments
The Ashes stay with England. But important questions remained unanswered. Can Australia save face by levelling the series? Is it worth levelling the series, anyway? Should Australia be more concerned with rebuilding for the future rather than winning in Sydney? And with Usman Khawaja set to make his debut, the really big question is just [Read more]
There is hope
By Damian O’Donnell Recently on this forum John Harms asked “What has happened to the world?” He made the point that we live in a world where “the disingenuous thrive, where mendacity is trumps…..” and he lays a lot of the blame at the feet of “rum-fart academics who have been seduced by the faddish [Read more]