by Andrew Starkie Down the phone from his home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Jack Rennie has a softly scoured, Brando like voice. He is welcoming, patient and as he speaks, his memory opens and he joyously recounts one of our great sporting moments. ‘He was king of Australia at the time,’ recalls Jack, former trainer [Read more]
Brown’s Lions Record a Sterling Victory over the Gallant Blues
April 2, 2010 by 2 Comments
AFL Round 2- Brisbane v Carlton To be perfectly honest I didn’t have any knowledge of what to expect from the Blues on this Easter Thursday night. Much anticipation has been directed towards this match over the past 6 months with a fiery, physical contest expected although most experts are tipping a Brisbane victory. To [Read more]
AFL Round 2 – Brisbane v Carlton: Lions win leaves unanswered questions
April 2, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Josh Barnstable This was the day to mark on your calendar. Brendan Fevola running out on the Gabba turf against his former side for the first time, and Lachie Henderson returning to Queensland, pitted against his old teammates. It was a day to look forward to for many people, but myself and my family [Read more]
Brown drags Lions past wasteful Blues
April 2, 2010 by 3 Comments
Round 2: Brisbane v Carlton Theories, opinions and conventional wisdoms: footy is awash with them, this game more than most in its anticipation. Ever since Carlton offloaded Brendon Fevola to Brisbane, consensus thinking on these teams has the Lions vaulting into top 4 contention, whilst the Blues were expected to struggle up forward and face [Read more]
Round 1 – Ess v Geel: the wait is over.
April 2, 2010 by 2 Comments
When I was a kid in Shepparton, I remember that long, long wait for footy to start. Cricket had finished and the linseed oil was put away, and the sports pages were filled with footy again. I remember the first Saturday morning of the season when I was about seven years old. Getting up and [Read more]
AFL Round 2: Brisbane too strong for the Blues
April 2, 2010 by 1 Comment
by Jeffrey Paterson After waking up at 8:00am, going to work at 9:30am until 4:00pm and footy training where I did dismally due to shin splints, I finally get home at 7:40pm. Enough time to shower and eat tea before the big match. Carlton v Brisbane, Henderson up against his old team Brisbane and of course [Read more]
Horseracing: Barmy Oakbank and a wet Rosehill offer plenty
April 2, 2010 by 5 Comments
Turning my racing calendar to April has clarified the scheduling confusion caused by an “early Easter”. Monday, it seems, has been conceded to glorified midweekers at Moonee Valley and Canterbury and the AJC will get the subsequent three Saturdays for Randwick’s Autumn features. Easter Saturday is a racing bonanza, from the quirky Oakbank via some [Read more]
Ken Piesse’s Favourites of the Bush: City slickers who loved the bush
April 1, 2010 by 2 Comments
by Ken Piesse City reputations mean nothing in the bush. Ask charismatic ex-Brownlow Medallist Neil Roberts (pictured). ‘Coco’, as he is known to all and sundry, had been talked into playing a game or two up at Echuca in the early ‘60s by ex-Woodsman Bill Serong. A wealthy local had guaranteed the star St Kilda [Read more]
AFL Round 1 – Sydney v St Kilda: The Swans offer hope!
March 31, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Kieran Croker “There’s always next year”. That’s what my Dad used to say. And growing up a South Melbourne supporter in the 60’s, the hope of the next footy season was what you held onto. That and perhaps a glimpse of seeing Bobby Skilton play. In those days as kids we were only ever [Read more]
Footy Talk: Andy D and TV do business
March 31, 2010 by 2 Comments
by John Butler TV- The ubiquitous, all seeing eye which rules our lounge rooms and inhabits our imaginations- at least that’s what the advertisers hope. It is the bringer of drama, pathos, bathos, banality and Karl bloody Stefanovic. It also runs a side interest in sport. Andrew Demetriou- Grand Supremo of the AFL. He’s very [Read more]
AFL Round 1 – Port Adelaide v North Melbourne: Kangaroos on the right path
March 31, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Andrew Starkie 12.40pm, Sunday, March 28 AAMI Stadium I’m at the Rose Hotel, Fitzroy. The magnificent 1899 Fitzroy team photo hangs on the wall while a few regulars sit at the bar. I’m chatting to Sean, a fellow Roo, who I often see at games and exchange a ‘G’day’ with. We shared a [Read more]
Round 1: Same old story for Tigers v Blues
March 31, 2010 by 5 Comments
What a difference a year makes. 12 months ago I went to the opening match expecting a Richmond victory that would lead us to a finals berth with nothing but big things ahead. This year all I’m hoping is that Richmond are competitive. The spiralling downfall that was ‘Richmond ’09 has left me no hope [Read more]
Haiku Bob – AFL Round 1 – the cackle of magpies
March 31, 2010 by 2 Comments
first game of the year arriving at the ground too early early lead recalling last year’s early lead so humid the defensive line fans out windless afternoon – Harry’s dreadlocks still swinging one more drops into the hole Barry fills no sweat Medhurst plucks the ball from the muggy air wherever he goes Johnno [Read more]
AFL Round 1 – Sydney v St Kilda: Swans lose the toss again
March 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Neil Jackson As a devoted Swans supporter of 14 years, I was so excited about this Round 1 clash. Sydney had had its best preseason since 1856. Then there was the appearance of no less than 6 new recruits on board, (Bradshaw, Mumford, Seaby, Kennedy, McGlynn and Jetta), plus the return of the prodigal [Read more]
AFL Round 1 – Fremantle v Adelaide: Are these the Dockers’ true colours?
March 30, 2010 by 2 Comments
by Josh Barnstable After a slightly uneventful day which saw Port Adelaide withstand a fast-finishing North Melbourne outfit by 14 points and Collingwood surprising everyone, dominating the Bulldogs to win by 36 points. I was feeling a bit down after the Roos lost to the Power, but I looked forward to the prospect of a [Read more]
AFL Round 1 – Richmond v Carlton: Tiger fans need patience of a Saint
March 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Steve Healy You could argue that footy never went anywhere, with all the media fuss over the off-season. There were old replays on the new Channel 7 Two; there was many a conversation between me and friends about our great game. I watched many a tape, had many a kick to kick and followed [Read more]
Comment: The “Football Club”
March 30, 2010 by 31 Comments
by Tony Robb Along with the increasing use of the check side, banana, lay it off your boot techniques employed by the modern day footballer to disguise his ineptitude kicking with their opposite foot, there has emerged another insidious trend that his penetrating the very core of footie. I refer to the use of the [Read more]
A Pie feast on several levels
March 30, 2010 by 2 Comments
The pre-season has brought many good things to Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. For the Pies the acquisition of Jolly and Ball will give further grunt and skill to an already accomplished midfield. For the Dogs the NAB Cup gave them some long-awaited silverware, while the recruitment of Barry Hall was an inspired choice. On [Read more]
Dons improving, but Cats too good.
March 30, 2010 by 4 Comments
ESSENDON V GEELONG MCG MARCH 25 There wouldn’t be too many people who could imagine what the name of George Goninon could mean to our family. Up until he came to Essendon in 1948, Geelong was the only club that we thought was “different ” in the VFL. We had absolutely no love for any [Read more]
Close Encounters
March 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Darren Smith Sydney Airport – Round 1 Eve It wasn’t meant to be like this. We were on a break. My heart had been broken. That was six months ago when I decided that I could no longer commit the necessary effort and dedication. I had turned my back. As with many chance encounters [Read more]
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