By Damian Watson Labour Day weekend was designed to honour those who undertake work and contribute to society with a reward of three days relaxation, although this Saturday was anything but. A significant hailstorm or using footy terminology – Waverley Park weather, hit Melbourne in the early afternoon causing chaos in all quadrants of the [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: St Kilda and hailstorm wreak havoc on an unusual Melbourne day
NAB Challenge: Point-fest at Visy Park
by David Enticott I like pre-season games. They tend to be played at traditional, old VFL venues that give spectators a much closer view of the action. This match against Richmond at Visy Park also offers the chance to see a few young players for each team and to look at the tactics that will [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: BBBB Hall sees Dogs Home in Tacklefest
Steve Healy A seventh NAB cup game decided by 14 points or less took place tonight, between a rampant Bulldogs outfit and a young and surprising Port Adelaide side. It was a game of tough contests aplenty, where the umpires put the whistles down and both sides put in an input of 164 tackles. It [Read more]
NAB Cup Semi: Dogs fall into a Grand Final
by Josh Barnstable After catching a cold mid-week, I fought out the remaining days of the school week before conceding on Friday; seeing as it was cold and pouring down, I didn’t want to go out in that weather and risk getting even sicker, so I spent the day home from school, in the warmth [Read more]
Interview: Peter Temple talks with Kerry O’Brien
Author Peter Temple was interviewed by Kerry O’Brien on Thursday night’s 7:30 Report. Here is a transcript of some of Peter’s comments. KERRY O’BRIEN: Well, just describe how Jack Irish developed as a character, how he emerged on the page. PETER TEMPLE: I wanted to have somebody who had… I’m interested in lawyers. I’m interested [Read more]
Racing: Crio’s Super Saturday tip – watch the weather
by Chris Riordan Flemington’s triple Group One Super Saturday promises to live up to its billing. The “Festival of Racing” has been beset with problems, especially the poor attendances and the withdrawal of anticipated drawcards. Negativity and Nikolic have too often been on sportspages instead of Starspangled and Little Lonhro. But at last the threatening [Read more]
Tragic History 101
by MCR When the tricolours take the field this Friday evening they will be attempting become the first Dogs side since September 1970 (the 28th to be exact) to play in a Grand Final……..of any sort ! Our team that night was
Team-mates who are the best of enemies
Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards are team-mates who have managed to play in the same side despite a public fall-out many years ago. The Guradian’s Lex Sim recalls some infamous soccer “friendships” in his article below. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/03/football-team-mates-enemies-knowledge Have a read and then return here to regale us with tales of your favourite sporting “enemy” team-mates.
Billy Miller’s Lakeside Oval lament
Home of the original Night Premiership and the Commodore/Comedy (and Army Reserve) Cup, the Lakeside Oval was the home of the Swans until 1982 and the scene of many battles for the “Lake Premiership”. Billy Miller tells more. (Click on the link below.) http://www.aroundthegrounds.bellestorie.com/lakeside/lakeside.html
Footy: Personality matching game
Let’s play a game of match maker, AFL style. My regular readers know that my writing is ‘different.’ While some dive into stats, I dive into which player has the best hair. If you want to read a piece about how many push-ups Juddy did last training session, or how many times the ball went [Read more]
Motor Racing: Build it and they will come
The expression build it and they will come has been an affirmation for many grand projects throughout time. The vision of an entrepreneur, the courage of an architect, has resulted in buildings and monuments that have thrilled people for centuries. The Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and that great shrine of sporting worship, the [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who is your Money Man?
When watching a penalty shootout last weekend (two, in fact, and with no emotional or financial attachment) I wondered at the nerve it took to “step up” or, as a keeper, to stare down your nemesis. These sorts of defining moments make and break careers, even lives. Kevin Muscat has never, I think, missed a [Read more]
NAB Cup, Round 2: Freo beat Roos in a match worthy of the real season
By Steve Healy I’m on my way to the footy again, for the second week in a row. Last week it was Geelong V North Melbourne, this week, the Roos are up against the Dockers. Both of which, twilight games at Etihad Stadium. Does it matter? I think not. I’m meeting up with Almanacker and [Read more]
World Footy: Desert derby is a pointer to Middle East Grand Final
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi now virtually owns Dubai Inc. The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is now named after the ruler of Abu Dhabi. However, the one piece of reality that Abu Dhabi does not own is the Middle East AFL crown. Competition leaders Dubai Heat are still unbeaten after two seasons of [Read more]
Footy: A blue and white trail to new grandeur
I marvel at the crisp, clean lines of North Melbourne’s new Arden Street edifice each time I pass. It is a truly impressive, and long overdue, development in the evolution of the club. Not having yet been inside the facility, I also wonder at the magical qualities which must surely lie within. For I have [Read more]
Film Review: Bullock’s Blind Side is well-meaning but misses mark
Film: The Blind Side Release: 2010 Director: John Lee Hancock Starring: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates Reviewer: John Butler Anyone with an interest in the USA – and largely thanks to Hollywood, that would be many of us – would probably agree that part of the fascination lies in the many paradoxes and contradictions [Read more]
Footy/Soccer: Geelong stadium suggestion fuels my anger over World Cup
By Susie Giese The recent bid to upgrade Skilled Stadium to a 44,000-seater square pitch by no means solves the issue of a stymied AFL season. After State Government announced plans late last year to upgrade the MCG for its appeal to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, newspapers Australia-wide received an influx of [Read more]
You can never go back: Football returns to Princes Park
by John Butler It seemed like a good time to revisit the old girl. Admittedly, a stinking hot February afternoon doesn’t exactly scream footy, and it was only another edition of the pre-season Hit and Giggle Cup (sorry, Challenge), but you never know when opportunity will next present. Besides, whispers had it that a certain [Read more]
NAB Cup, Round 2: It’s hard to find a score in the bathroom
It has been one of the worst days of my life. After hearing the bad news that I couldn’t make the trip down to Melbourne for a second consecutive week to the footy, I confide myself to listening and watching the game on the internet. As I log onto the computer to check the latest [Read more]
Footy: Hawthorn’s left footers v right footers
Left B: Brent Guerra, Josh Gibson, Matthew Suckling HB: Grant Birchall, Ryan Schoenmakers, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson











Recent Comments