“What’s wrong Dad?” my young son Liam asked me. I must have looked somewhat anxious and disturbed. “Nothing really” I said “The Bombers have made a comeback and they only trail by 5 points.” “That’s terrible” he said, looking decidedly anxious and disturbed.
Crio’s Q: yo me frio o lo sophlo?
June 14, 2010 by 19 Comments
The Clash voiced a quandary faced by all sports fans at various times…”Should I stay or should I go now?” Channel Ten commentators on Saturday night noted that, despite the breathtaking Geelong clinic taking place, about half of the crowd had left – big trek to Essendon! – before the final siren. I hope that [Read more]
LINK: Michael Gleeson’s Cakewalk
June 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Those of us lucky enough to attend the last Almanac lunch at the All Nation’s Hotel were thoroughly entertained by Michael Gleeson and Shane Morwood’s recollections of the breaking of Colliwobbles in 1990. Cakewalk has now been published, and you can read an excerpt from it here: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/history-in-the-making-20100608-xtnn.html And please remember the next Almanac lunch [Read more]
Maradona Still Demands the Spotlight
June 13, 2010 by 11 Comments
World Cup Game 3: 12/6/2010 Johannesburg- Ellis Park Stadium Group B- Argentina 1 v Nigeria 0 The Olympic Games’ only rival as The Greatest Show On Earth is with us once again. Unlike the Olympics, which seem more bound by official rules, protocols and pomp, the World Cup always has much more the feel of [Read more]
Magpies in Philadelphia
June 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
When you visit Philadelphia there are a few non-negotiable must do’s. You ring the Liberty Bell, watch big Sav punt for the Eagles, eat a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and best of all, finish the day with the famous run up the Rocky’s stairs in order to pay homage to the great boxer. You can [Read more]
Brunswick Revisited – A Day with North Old Boys
June 12, 2010 by 1 Comment
At the place where Sydney Rd meets Albion Street rise two distinct buildings, the Edinburgh Castle and Don Bosco Boys’ Hostel. Passing these landmarks I recall flickering images of youth. Twenty years ago I boarded at Don Bosco with many other students and apprentices new to the city. A few of these made their way [Read more]
FIFA World Cup Preview: Part 7 of 8
June 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment
GROUP G (‘The Group of Death”) Brazil: The giants of this group of death will go into the tournament, like always, as favourites. And with a good reason too, as they produce magnificent players left, right and centre. Coach Dunga, has opted for a steady game that Brazil have not been known for. A mixture [Read more]
Roos put on a Friday Night Special
June 12, 2010 by 9 Comments
25 years of Friday night football. Pioneered by North Melbourne, people will always remember seeing the Krakouer brothers, Wayne Carey, Anthony Stevens, Mick Martyn, Corey McKernan, David King, Glenn Archer, Shannon Grant and the like strutting their stuff on the big stage of Friday night. Sadly though, North have not received their fair share of [Read more]
North Burn Those Friday Night Lights Again
June 12, 2010 by 4 Comments
The AFL loves to celebrate the game’s great traditions… as long as it doesn’t interfere with business. North Melbourne have been rightly lauded as the club responsible for popularising Friday night footy. With the 25th anniversary of the near riot that launched the first Friday Blockbuster, we have been regaled with tales of the King’s [Read more]
Forecast for Saturday is… Eagle Farm
June 11, 2010 by 13 Comments
Melbourne…Cloudy. Showers. Winds west to southwesterly averaging 15 to 25 km/h. Max 14 Brisbane …Fine Max 20 Here’s a tip. You’d rather be at Eagle Farm! That’s not to decry Melbourne’s racecard, as it is actually a good Flemington winter meeting tomorrow. But who’d want to shiver in that wind tunnel of a betting ring [Read more]
WHEN THE DONS PLAYED THE SWANS IN SYDNEY
June 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment
I felt the sniffle coming on when I woke up on Saturday morning. My throat was sore, my head was beating, my eyes were slightly watery and my nose was running wild. It was only the fact that I couldn’t possibly be sick that made me discount the fact that perhaps I was coming down [Read more]
Based on a True VFL Story…
June 11, 2010 by 1 Comment
Following the salted air through the backstreets of Williamstown, our disparate mob stumbles its way toward Morris St. Truth be told, none really knew what we were doing there; the luring prospect of a cheap can and a decent blue could not be discounted. Disenchantment with the corporate code and its roofed and soulless monsters [Read more]
Poms Provide Prospective Punting Pillage
June 11, 2010 by 6 Comments
One of the many great things about using Betfair to satisfy your deepest punting needs is that you are betting with the world. The entire world. It would be brilliant to get a print-out of who your bets were matched with: fifth-at-Cranbourne wagers matched with the blackberry-using Telstra technician parked under a mango tree in [Read more]
Footy’s Final Frontier
June 11, 2010 by 1 Comment
The AFL’s relentless push into new territory is a little bit reminiscent of the Americans planting a stars and stripes flag on the surface of the moon. Boldly going where no code has gone before, whether you like it or not. Outer space is pretty much the only region that hasn’t yet felt the sensation [Read more]
THE PRE WRAP – ROUND XI
June 11, 2010 by 2 Comments
FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL MARNGROOK FAN What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. The World Game gets its four yearly carnival under way tonight and the planet stops to watch. At least it’s got Akka & chequebook football off the pages for a bit. These pages at least. So what if Football’s most unstable bottom [Read more]
Link: Sometimes the best ones are right in front of you
June 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The speaker at the next Almanac lunch is Melbourne footy identity Bernie Sheehy, who’s coached premiership teams in the Amateurs and the VFL as well as coaching Essendon and Fitzroy reserves. He was also Neale Daniher’s right-hand man at Melbourne. The always interesting Bernie was quoted extensively by Almanacker Peter Hanlon in this article in [Read more]
Levi’s wobbler keeps Roo hopes alive
June 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
North Melbourne versus Brisbane 7.10pm, Saturday, June 5 Etihad Stdium, Melbourne Just when you think all hope is gone, footy gives you reason to believe again. When one victory brings your season back from the cliff’s edge. That happened on Saturday night. I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was supposed to be at home [Read more]
Haiku Bob, Round 11- the short road
June 10, 2010 by 4 Comments
onset of winter – the game begins with brisk movements still life – Fraser stands the mark a nip in the air – taking the short road to goal a gull glides from the rafters – Leon curls one in cold winter night the ruckmen lock arms watching closely but not understanding the umpires winter [Read more]
LINK: Ajax’s Player Factory
June 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Dutch club Ajax’s junior soccer academy is not called De Toekomst — The Future for nothing. In fact, it makes our attempts at player development seem positively half baked. This extensive New York Times article explores an institution which has become a virtual player factory. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magazine/06Soccer-t.html?pagewanted=1&ref=global-home&adxnnlx=1275490919-Cyaxrq7Cvoe2eKBiQsfTjg
Community Cup: Espy Rockdogs Pie Night
June 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Hi All, Yes, my old band, The Nubiles, are reforming for one show only as part of the Fabulous Community Cup. Dust off your rocking pants and come down to support a very good cause. Hope to see you there. For more information visit the Espy website. http://www.espy.com.au John Weldon
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