Essendon v Western Bulldogs I attended my first Almanac lunch with my parents in Melbourne at the All Nations Hotel. It was a great experience, meeting new people and putting faces to names. It was also great to sit and watch as Shane Morwood and Mick Gleeson recounted the 1990 Grand Final and other events [Read more]
Is Brian Lake an Alien?
May 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
I’ve seen the Bulldogs play an oddly high number of times this year. Conspiracy theorists might wonder just why the Bullies and my lifestyle are so compatible, but personally I’m prepared to give coincidence the benefit of the doubt for now. They’re a fun team to watch, so I haven’t minded at all really. It [Read more]
THE PRE WRAP – ROUND X
May 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment
What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. Since we last spoke Carlton, like an English summer, have been and gone. And like an English summer, you had you get up early to catch it. The Fuchsias snuck in BTNPM against The Chokers and are knocking on Heaven’s Door at 9th. Over in the City [Read more]
Racing: Brisbane and the Valley
May 28, 2010 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan Saturday’s feature meeting is again in Brisbane, highlighted by the exceptional Group One Doomben 10,000 which provides a smorgasbord of quality chances, headlined by Ortensia, Hot Danish and Whobegotyou. A very good meeting there and a crack race but I can’t possibly offer any direction for punters. Locally, Moonee Valley doesn’t get [Read more]
Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 9
May 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment
ROUND NINE Essendon versus Richmond Saturday, May 22nd, M.C.G. Dreamtime at the ‘G’ It’s not exactly euphoria, but me and Tommy are as happy as clams after our victory over the Sainters. Phew! We did a similar thing last year, knocked them over when we were least expected to. It’s becoming an annual event, like [Read more]
2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 1 of 8
May 28, 2010 by 3 Comments
By Domenic Favata This is the first part of eight of my 2010 FIFA World Cup preview. The biggest sporting event on the planet which kicks off on the 12th of June. Last time it was Italy who took the chocolates and held the title of champions. This time it could be anyone; the field [Read more]
Thommo not the only one left with a headache
May 27, 2010 by 2 Comments
North Melbourne versus Western Bulldogs 2.10pm, Saturday, May 22 Etihad Stadium I shouldn’t be here. I’m crook; lethargic and headachy. I should be home, resting, listening to the radio. But I can’t help myself. Missing a North game is like piking on a family gathering. I’m sitting alone in the top tier, southern end. My [Read more]
Round 9: Essendon v Richmond – Four quarters of football still too much to ask
May 27, 2010 by 3 Comments
Last week, the Richmond faithful saw something they hadn’t seen all year. Their team played four good quarters of football. No, Richmond didn”t get the win but we could see potential for the future. Going to this game that’s all we were hoping for. It’s not guaranteed but it is expected. The bar was set [Read more]
Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 8
May 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment
ROUND EIGHT St. Kilda versus Essendon Sunday, May 16th., Etihad Stadium The Contest Scheduled to take place during the Twilight Hours It’s Sunday, Mother’s Day, bleak at seven o’clock in the morning. Not cold, but not exactly motherly warm either, and overcast as only Melbourne can be overcast. It’s a lounging-about, coffee and Sunday papers [Read more]
Dees triumph in NT thriller
May 27, 2010 by 1 Comment
I love my footy. Always have; always will. That’s probably the main instigation in my relocation to Elcho Island, a remote aboriginal community located 500km east of Darwin. And even though my role as a Development Manager for AFL NT involves running footy programs 24/7, I couldn’t help but be excited as I travelled to [Read more]
Camels on the beach, at sunset, in Broome.
May 27, 2010 by 5 Comments
Tis’ an iconic Australian visual image that has me proclaiming every off-season: “yep, Subi trip this year, via the Cape, make a week of it”. It never eventuates. And yes I’m pretty sure Broome is not located on or ever referred to as “the Cape”, but still, it sounds an attractive description for such an [Read more]
How the Pies keep bookies in European cars
May 27, 2010 by 12 Comments
Friday night on a crisp Canberra evening. Greeting-card sunset. Chill in the air. The High Court and the National Library looking US-grand behind the autumn reds and yellows of the trees across the Burley-Griffin’s lake. In Melbourne, people bustle. A sense of happy urgency prevails. They are invoking their footy plans (which I’ve been cc-ed [Read more]
Local Footy: Goulburn Valley emerge from haze to win Victorian country crown
May 26, 2010 by 7 Comments
If Freo is known as the Purple Haze, the Goulburn Valley Football League should be known as the Purple Haze and a Half. On Saturday the GV combined team, which wears purple guernseys with a yellow monogram, went into its match against the Ovens and Murray to decide the best country competition in Victoria with [Read more]
The ‘Sore Head Loss’
May 26, 2010 by 3 Comments
Collingwood went into the Friday night blockbuster against Geelong brimming with all the confidence of Bindi Irwin. This was to be a marquee night for Mick’s maturing Pies, this was their big dance. Alas, they copped a lesson. And not just any run-of-the-mill primary school period between recess and lunch when everyone sits cross-legged in [Read more]
Killing the goose that laid the golden egg?
May 26, 2010 by 17 Comments
In light of the future expansion of sporting teams in Melbourne I was wondering if the “sports capital of the world” may be starting to spread itself a little thinly and start to test the capital’s reputation for turning up to anything including the opening of an envelope. Mondays night’s attendance of 55,000 to what [Read more]
Cats bring cheer to a hoarse throat
May 26, 2010 by 11 Comments
By Susie Giese This game will probably never be used in a promotional package for the AFL. There were no standout performers, no exceptional displays of skill. What this game was, though, was something quintessential to the game we all love. It was a contest. Tackle after tackle, pressure to match a game being played [Read more]
LINK: Mascot Hall of Shame
May 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The Alamanac editors once knew of a St Kilda Ruckle who got into a fully fledged punch-on while still in uniform (although the head fell off during proceedings). But this pales when compared to some mascot misadventures overseas. The Independent has compiled a photo gallery of the Mascot’s Hall of Shame. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/the-best-and-worst-sporting-mascots-1977011.html?action=Popup&ino=1
LINK: The True Cost of Sporting Festivals
May 26, 2010 by 1 Comment
As governments around the world clamour to host the world’s great sporting events, do we ever stop to consider who really wins from these deals? The Guardian Sportblog takes a disturbing look at the social dislocation resulting from New Delhi’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/may/25/commonwealth-games-delhi
Geoff Sinclair’s Home and Away Games- Rd 7
May 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
ROUND SEVEN Essendon versus Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium, Saturday, May 8th. Labrini stretches voluptuously, Greek-style, which includes a playful slap on my stomach and some tugging of the thatch on my chest. She’s combative, I have to admit, but in a loving kind of way. “Peter, that was wonderful.” “Good. It was wonderful for me, [Read more]
KEN PIESSE’S FAVORITES… from the BENDIGO LEAGUE
May 26, 2010 by 3 Comments
I love hearing stories about Laurie Nash, the champion’s champion of the ‘30s and ‘40s. He’d take a mark 50 out and ask the bloke on the mark which foot he’d like him to kick it with… his left or his right? Invariably they’d soar through. Post-high. Laurie was a hero even for the great [Read more]
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