As a North Melbourne supporter, I’m disgusted at the weight of publicity regarding Max Rooke’s retirement. No disrespect to Rooke intended, but on the same day, another player called it a day. And nothing has been made of it. Nothing at all. Once again, the journalists and news reporters around Australia think that reporting on [Read more]
Book Review: This Sporting Life
October 16, 2010 by 10 Comments
By Phil Dimitriadis One of the early fictional accounts of a footballer’s life was This Sporting Life by David Storey. This work examines the contradictions and paradoxes that affect a footballer’s career directly and vicariously through the actions and attitudes of those involved with the main character, named Arthur Machin. Machin works at the factory [Read more]
Almanac Racing: CAULFIELD CUP DAY 2010
October 15, 2010 by 31 Comments
The key question for punters, of course, is what sort of track will be dished up at Caulfield for Cup Day this Saturday? Swoopers were doomed last week and then the track chopped to Heavy at the irrelevant midweeker (which must go). We’ve had perfect drying weather today (Thursday) but the forecast is dire! It [Read more]
Mr B- Gentleman Rhymer
October 15, 2010 by 2 Comments
Mr B layin’ down some grooves for y’all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSflRlHPay4
Exotic Fauna II
October 14, 2010 by 17 Comments
Time to call Neighbourhood Watch? Or just a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It seems “keeping a lid on it” hasn’t really taken root down in Tassy. Picture courtesy of Bill Walker.
Horse Names
October 14, 2010 by 37 Comments
It’s not always easy to name a horse. Some owners “cop out”, using an unimaginative combo of the sire and dam. Others try a clumsy mix of owners’ names – think Makybe Diva. Some “luck in” – legend has it that, after 99 rejections, Century was submitted and he became a track and stud star with a brilliant name [Read more]
TAB time
October 14, 2010 by 2 Comments
The spindly gait of Les, skinny, leathery Les, takes him down Pakington St to his local TAB. Les has coat-hanger shoulders, dark Brylcreemed hair, and teeth stained from 50 years of tobacco. “G’d morning’ Ron,” he says, greeting the manager. Les looks up to the boards, checking the columns of numbers and names. Dad staples [Read more]
Incidents That Stick
October 14, 2010 by 25 Comments
What could Helen D’Amico, Trevor Chappell and John Kerr possibly have in common? Maybe that the mention of their name is likely to have anyone under the age of about thirty-five scratching their head. But for those of us ever-so-slightly older, these names will bring an incident immediately to mind; an incident that is intrinsically [Read more]
The Albatross Rules: Grand Final vs Mt Logan
October 13, 2010 by 1 Comment
29. Grand Final, Albertville v Mt Logan (at Heathvale): A Note of Caution On the morning of the grand final there was a buzz of anticipation around town. For fans of the club the week’s training sessions had been boisterous affairs. In spite of all the fuss the boys themselves had remained composed and focused. [Read more]
Carlton 2010: Patience is a Learned Virtue at Princes Park
October 13, 2010 by 5 Comments
Assessments of a season are hard to separate from the expectations held going into it. In Carlton’s case, the departure of a certain erratic, ego-centric full forward had the Blues widely written off. Lost in all the Fevola fluff was football’s forgotten man, Nick Stevens, who’s forced early retirement confirmed he lacked that most essential [Read more]
Please Help Find Lost Answer to Trivia Question
October 13, 2010 by 15 Comments
Glenn Coleman in the 80s and 90s played between 60 and 70 games for each of Fitzroy, Sydney and Footscray. Only one other player has matched that feat of playing 50 matches at each of three clubs. I have been told the answer but I’m stuffed if I can remember. With the help of the [Read more]
In A League Of Its Own- Derby Edition
October 13, 2010 by 2 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League Ever since the A-League started, I have wanted to be able to realistically compare aspects of it to the English Premier League. Hopeful, yes, but although most is incomparable, one is now not. The standard of the games – incomparable, crowd figures – some teams yes, but on a [Read more]
AGONISING LOWS ERASED BY GLORY
October 12, 2010 by 1 Comment
You may need to excuse me for this entry. It has been a long few weeks trying to overcome a roller coaster of emotion that in some ways is still riding out. But as the recent rainfall approaches a record for September (and October), here is my efforts to try to describe the last couple [Read more]
Haiku Bob- Premiership Edition: earth and the times
October 12, 2010 by 11 Comments
last Saturday in September the sun beaten to a pulp grand final replay – the washing still hanging over my thoughts the chorus of magpies warm spring sun the Colliwobbles fade the earth and the times turned by his feet – Heater’s smother October sun Ball soaks up some heat between goals the coach wears [Read more]
AFL Recruit: Tendai Mzungu- One to watch
October 12, 2010 by 4 Comments
He may not have been the biggest name in trade week, but Tendai Mzungu has already accumulated a decent highlight reel in the WAFL for Perth FC. With 70 senior games to his name already, there may be another mature age recruit ready to make an impact in the big league. Thanks to Neil Allen [Read more]
THE LOVELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER
October 12, 2010 by 4 Comments
By Alex Wadelton I ran onto the MCG devastated. The last ten months of training, wasted. Legs like concrete, pain coursing through my veins, and my goal of running a sub three-hour marathon gone. One lap on the mighty G, thousands of people of cheering and all I could think of was failure. With fifty [Read more]
Crio’s Q…”Beware the wounded warrior”
October 12, 2010 by 49 Comments
As the Dogs tried to break the Saints in their recent semi, Kosi seemed to lend a hand, smashing in to Riewoldt who crashed, stunned, to the turf. Here, it seemed, was the moment. Instead, the great #12 dusted himself off and set about winning the match. Last week, as the Aussies turned the screws [Read more]
Maybe Footy Just Isn’t My Metier
October 11, 2010 by 3 Comments
Ok, I’ll admit at the outset that I was lucky to get there. I was a good footballer, but not a great one, and in junior teams I played with plenty of kids much better than me who never got the same opportunity. But what the heck, when the ball bounces your way, what else [Read more]
Queensland Gazza
October 9, 2010 by 10 Comments
John Mosig provided this scan of the Courier Mail, to let Cat fans know the version of events Queensland readers are getting.
Enough to try a Saint
October 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Brian Matthews didn’t get the fairytale ending, but this Eureka Street article still makes for a fine tale of football dependence syndrome. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=23516
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