By Damian Watson In the eyes of the teenage folk, the end of March represents the beginning of a two week break from school. On Saturday fellow Almanacker Steve Healy, trying to shield himself from witnessing another Melbourne annihilation at the hands of Hawthorn, accepted my suggestion that we should roam around suburban Melbourne at some stage [Read more]
North in need of a higher power.
April 4, 2010 by 9 Comments
Well, what can I say? Only one thing needs to be said really. St Kilda dominated, and North Melbourne were insipid. Do I really need to relive the pain of this match by writing up a report? I had to sit through it all, so I might as well. After spending the day listening to [Read more]
Review: Callinan kicks a goal with The Merger
April 3, 2010 by 1 Comment
Readers of The Footy Almanac would recognise instantly the sensibility of Damian Callinan, the comedian whose show The Merger is on at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Callinan knows footy, every nook and cranny of it, sometimes despite himself. (His nature is to shy from the get-stuck-into-’em aspect of the game.) He’s also got an [Read more]
From Many Wins to the Must Win
April 3, 2010 by 3 Comments
By Paddy O’Keeffe The 2009/10 summer of cricket has finished. More than 120 days ago, Jerome Taylor trapped Watson plumb in front for nothing. Taylor would only contribute a further 8 overs to the summer, while Watson made up for lost time by scoring a mountain of runs. Much has changed in the time that [Read more]
Review: Damian Callinan – The Merger: Sportsman’s Night 2
April 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Ciannon Cazaly 28 March 2010 The saga of the Bodgy Creek football club continues in this follow-up to the hugely successful Sportsman’s Night of 2000/2001. Ten year old documentary filmmaker Neil returns to check in on the fortunes of the Bodgy Creek Roosters bringing with him a cast of characters both old and new. In [Read more]
A VISION SPLENDID
April 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Round 1: Sydney v St Kilda Cheyenne spent summer by the sea, determined to read the winds until he received a Season 2010 Sainter vision. Finally, Ross Lyon appeared, hovering above Cheyenne’s tepee. He was sitting in a small canoe, continually bailing out water, a huge smile on his face. Most would have considered his [Read more]
MATCH REPORT – GRAND FINAL : DUBAI HEAT v ABU DHABI FALCONS
April 3, 2010 by 1 Comment
by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rocket It was great to have our boys play in the Grand Final. It was exciting to be involved. Everyone in the club was determined to enjoy it – and enjoy it we did. The elephant in the (locker) room was the absence through injuries and unavailability of some of our [Read more]
Country Footy: Tough year ahead for Waaia
April 2, 2010 by 1 Comment
by Josh Barnstable It’s that time of the year again. That time of the year when all the hard yards you put in at training pays off on that one day in September, albeit a bit less significant compared to that ‘other’ one day in September. Country football is back, and the Picola League is [Read more]
Two Kings
April 2, 2010 by 7 Comments
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]
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