The mind games started the day before this clash at the Docklands. Opposing coaches, Terry Wallace and Rodney Eade, were once teammates at Hawthorn. Having since become career coaches, they had engaged each other in a battle of wits at various times in recent years. First it was Wallace with the Western Bulldogs and Eade [Read more]
North Help The Premiers Get Back On Track
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Josh Barnstable Ah it’s Easter. A special day that creeps up on us without as much significance as Christmas, which some kids count down the months towards. It’s the one day that everyone can forget about being guilty when eating chocolate, yet makes us feel guilty if we have any meat. As always, Easter [Read more]
Round 3
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
For the first time in two years I was actually at footy match, at the MCG to boot and starring the Cats and the Magpies. First up, for all of Dennis Cometti’s commentating skills, where oh where has the seconds warm up game gone? Oh OK, I am aware that this format went the way [Read more]
True love this time?
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
St Kilda versus West Coast 2.10pm Saturday, April 11 Etihad Stadium, Melbourne I went to this game for two reasons. I didn’t buy the Eagles of 2008. From 2,000 kilometres away, it looked like an opportune time to ride the wave of lost talent, invest in some elective surgery for its list and reap the [Read more]
Autumnal Bliss
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Autumn is the real season of love in Melbourne. The revolting heat of an uncouth summer has been relaced by beautiful mid-twenties sunny warmth and cool nights; short sleeves and jeans weather. Easter Thursday (is there really such a thing?) was a perfect example of one of these Melbourne autumn days and like any good writer [Read more]
Dees have a long way to go
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
When it’s Easter Sunday, your beloved Demons are playing interstate and you don’t have Foxtel, what do you do? Before I had answered that question, I reflected onto the game against Port Adelaide. Most people on Demonland didn’t think highly of our chances. After two unhealthy defeats, it was all up to whether we would [Read more]
Bombers Lift to the Hallelujah Chorus
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
How much warm inner glow can a person stand. The kids, a whole mob of them from across four families, have just returned from hunting Easter eggs. It’s a pagan pleasure that manages to retain an element of celebration. They’re all buzzing with an excitement that belies three holiday late nights that have left them [Read more]
The HCFU Stat
April 14, 2009 by 3 Comments
Fremantle v Adelaide, Subiaco, Sun 12 April 2009 Richard Arrowsmith When it happened twice in the first two minutes, and with memories of last week’s St Kilda debacle still fresh, I decided to keep count of the key Crows stat: The HCFU – the Handball Chain that – er, doesn’t work out. It [Read more]
The Joy of Betting Against Your Own Team
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
I’ve supported the Hawks for 17 years, rain, hail and shine, through the dark days and the bright. Today however is different, today I don’t know who to support. With our insipid rucking display against the Swans, injuries, suspensions and of course North’s recent success against us I added North Melbourne to a four leg [Read more]
The Lions Thai Up a Beer and Slippers Easter Saturday Night by Big Kev Witham
April 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
One of the problems with not going away at Easter is that your social options are limited on Saturday night. That said, I settled in with some Thai food and a few beers to watch the battle of the exiles, Sydney Swans (aka South Melbourne) versus Brisbane Lions (aka Fitzroy).
Canadian Pyke mounts his challenge
April 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment
by Merryn Sherwood I have to say, I’m already a little bit in love with Mike Pyke. Not just because his name rolls off the tongue so lightly, although that’s part of it, and not just because he is a Canadian international rugby fullback that just through he would give Australian Rules football a go, [Read more]
Power Failure or Costume Malfunction by Ian MacRae
April 12, 2009 by 1 Comment
Life for a footy follower in the West is a little like being on a diet: you only get fed every fortnight. So when at the table, eat more than your fill and store the rest for the coming winter of deprivation. Sound philosophy. That is unless you had a season like 2008. As [Read more]
Cats’ Do Enough Against Wayward Pies by Anthony Jensen
April 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment
CATS ASSERT SUPREMACY OVER MAGPIES Anthony Jensen 10 April 2009 GEELONG continued its unbeaten run in season 2009, ending up 27 point winners over near-certain finals contenders Collingwood at the MCG on a clear Thursday night in the opener to this Easter weekend of football. While Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse had hinted otherwise, there [Read more]
Holy Thursday and the Unholy Set Shot by Andrew Fithall
April 10, 2009 by 1 Comment
Mixed marriages can be problematic. Not religious mixes – football. Helen is a Geelong supporter and I am Collingwood. We have four children: two boys and two girls. A numerically well-balanced family. We would like our children to explore various religions and eventually make their own decisions about their beliefs. But football is too important [Read more]
Good Old-fashioned Footy Keeps The Long Room Rocking by Andrew Starkie
April 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Western Bulldogs versus North Melbourne 2.10pm, Sunday, April 5 Melbourne Cricket Ground I invited my mates, Adrian and Glen, into the Long Room for today’s game. Adrian turns the big Four O soon and considers extended celebration necessary for such a milestone. He’s a Yorkshireman right down to his Hull City FC [Read more]
Round 2
April 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
What with landscaping, church working bees and the like I now find that it is Tuesday and I haven’t yet got together my mish mash of thoughts re round 2. The two stand outs to me were on the one hand Dean Laidley praising his team after their performance against the Bulldogs. How refreshing this [Read more]
Football Denied by Matt Quartermaine
April 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
West Coast Eagles Vs Port Adelaide Round 2, Subiaco. Sunday afternoon was cleared earlier in the week with the relevant authorities (my partner) so that I could watch the West Coast/Port match down at the local. But the weekend didn’t start well. My 10 year old boy declared he didn’t like football. “It’s [Read more]
Bush Boys Beaten By Heat In Dubai by Rocket Gillett
April 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
It was more than a truly international clash on football’s latest frontier; it was a classic Bush Boys versus City Slickers encounter. The inaugural Middle East AFL Grand Final pitted the unbeaten Dubai Heat (based in the UAE) against the Muscat Magpies from neighbouring Oman. Dubai is an emerging 21st century megapolis while Muscat is [Read more]
Dees don’t deliver despite dominating early by Steve Healy
April 7, 2009 by 24 Comments
Before the game I checked up. Collingwood and Melbourne had played 221 times, 129 of those of those at the MCG. The Pies had taken the honours 138 times, the Dees 79, and there had been four draws. I wasn’t put off by this stat, I know that Melbourne play well against Collingwood. Collingwood are [Read more]
Broken Hill Outmine the Superdogs by Nick Kossatch
April 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
THE Riverland Superdogs ventured off to Broken Hill for their round one clash against the Masters Australian Over 35’s competition newcomers. Saturday’s twilight fixture was a success for the Silver City-siders as they overran the Dogs in the last quarter by 10 points. Canadian recruit Steve ‘The Puck’ Deighton unfortunately strained his driver in his [Read more]
Recent Comments