By Stephen George I sat back and thought about what the Fab Four from Merseyside would sing in these situations. I convinced myself it would be something along the lines of needing help from somebody, but not just anybody. For the last 19 years, supporters of one club have been searching far and wide for [Read more]
Soccer: Australia’s tough draw leaves me wondering what’s in store
December 5, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Tim Ivins “The punishment an Almanacker and Socceroos tragic will put himself through,” I thought to myself as I turned off the alarm at 3.30am. The kettle goes on and so does the TV as beautiful Cape Town streams in. It’s an exciting time, the World Cup Draw, and probably the closest I will [Read more]
Second Test, Day 1: A uniform performance from a team that doesn’t know how to play the Safe way..
December 4, 2009 by 639 Comments
By Steve Healy After spending my first holiday morning at the uniform shop with my Mum, the cricket couldn’t have come at a better time: The West Indies won the toss and elected to bat, Adrian Barath and Chris Gayle strolled onto the brilliant Adelaide surface at the picturesque Adelaide Oval, with an attacking mindset. [Read more]
Second Test, Day 1 – Bravo Bravado
December 4, 2009 by 1 Comment
by John Butler The lead up to this game was again dominated by dire prognostications on the state of Test cricket, the state of West Indies cricket and various predictions on the state of the Earth (emanating mainly from Canberra). I leave the state of the Earth to those better informed, but can’t help feeling [Read more]
Launch: Top night at Adelaide launch
December 4, 2009 by 1 Comment
Crows fans partied like it was 1998 in the Adelaide Lutheran rooms during the SA launch. Add your comments on this night of mirth and midfields.
Boxing: It’s tough when you wait so long for something that’s over so quickly
December 4, 2009 by 658 Comments
With footy season over, I do my best to substitute footy with other sports. With the big Green v Jones fight tonight, I think it might be worth checking it out. I’ve never been a big boxing fan. My boxing knowledge spans only from Danny Green v Anthony Mundine to Rocky Balboa v Apollo Creed. [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who is the best sports commentator?
December 4, 2009 by 38 Comments
Thanks to Peter Flynn for this instalment. It’s been inspired by Britain’s Daily Telegraph, whose readers have voted Murray Walker as “the greatest sports commentator of all time”.
Launch: A time to acknowledge our comforting, yet slightly mad, friend
December 4, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The Footy Almanac 2009 Perth launch speech by Dr Ken Spillman, delivered at the Subiaco Football Club, 27 November 2009 What an honour it is to launch The Footy Almanac 2009 in Perth – particularly so because the invitation to do so recognises the place of a book I conceived and co-edited almost 25 years [Read more]
Footy: Full points for goal umpire who relishes his part in the game he loves
December 3, 2009 by 7 Comments
I often mused when growing up: “What on earth would make someone take up footy umpiring and endure the insults and abuse that came with it”? During my childhood, I was sure it was normal practice to be an overzealous critic of umpires and it was OK to hurl foul language at them. After all, [Read more]
Footy: A day in the life of Jack Anthony and his WAG
December 2, 2009 by 183 Comments
Jack: “Danni, where’s my tie, honey?” Danni: “It’s in the cupboard on the left, darling!” *muffled noises* Jack: “I can’t find it! Do you know which one I’m looking for?” Danni: “Hold on sweetie I’ll be there in a sec.”
Cricket: Love of the game develops into family adventure
December 2, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Darren Dawson Cricket has consumed great slabs of my time over the past thirty summers. It’s cost me many life experiences: trips to the surf coast with mates as a teenager, weekends away with friends, long summer holidays with my young family. The only Derby days I ever attended were when the cricket was [Read more]
Cricket: I was there as Slasher took on Windies in best Test at Adelaide Oval
December 1, 2009 by 6 Comments
By Peter Schumacher I was at the Fourth Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide from 27 January to 1 February 1961 for 4 of the 5 days, and on that memorable fifth day I was present in the outer in the general vicinity of where the Chappell Stands are now located. [Read more]
Footy Talk: PT Barnum and Kevin Sheedy plan to put on a show
November 30, 2009 by 1 Comment
By John Butler Setting: PT Barnum: legendary showman and entrepreneur, founder of Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey’s Circus and famous for pulling hoaxes and working freak shows. Often attributed the quote “there’s a sucker born every minute.” It’s a surprise he hasn’t worked for the AFL before now. Kevin Sheedy: really needs no introduction. With [Read more]
These sides ain’t half bad!
November 30, 2009 by 530 Comments
by Josh Barnstable After asking my Mum if there was such thing as a ‘half-decade’, she said she had not heard of such thing, unlike the popular saying of half century. But, I’m going to make half-decade a proper saying in this report, a report of the Team of the Half-Decade for each team. So [Read more]
Noel McMahen: City superstar, country legend
November 30, 2009 by 7 Comments
by Mark Gullick Many people know the cliff notes of Noel McMahen’s time in Rochester, but the full story has rarely been told. It is the tale of high stakes, high pressure and high achievement. McMahen was a VFL superstar. Debuting in 1946 with Melbourne, McMahen struck success in 1948 as part of a winning [Read more]
West Indies batting is bad news
November 29, 2009 by 160 Comments
By Steve Healy It was a day that started with the West Indies at the crease, and ended with the West Indies at the crease, a day where 15 wickets fell, all West Indian ones. Adrian Barath was the clear highlight of the day, with an inspiring 2nd innings century on debut, in a West [Read more]
First Test, Day 2: Gabba Test not quite the same when you’re working in Canberra
November 27, 2009 by 18 Comments
by John Harms I’m always at this Gabba Test. Mainly because I haven’t had a job since 1991, when the West Indies still ruled the earth and had blokes who could bowl quicker than any radar gun said they could – or says this current crop can. But life moves on. And I start the [Read more]
Anson Cameron: Silences Come and Gone
November 27, 2009 by Leave a Comment
by Paul Mitchell Intro: Melbourne author Anson Cameron’s debut novel, Silences Long Gone, which dissects the issue of Aboriginal land rights, has received unanimous critical acclaim. A pleasing result for a man who knew himself from a young age to be a writer…but didn’t write… Drinking coffee is meant to be a relaxed, friendly pastime. [Read more]
Off Season Overload
November 27, 2009 by 1 Comment
by Pamela Sherpa The season’s over, it’s time for a break To rest up weary bodies, slacken off the pace Tortured, overworked muscles are screaming for a rest After a long hard slog, it’s time to de stress. Triathlons, time trials, boot camps in excruciating heat Just reading about it, “Phew! ‘I feel [Read more]
Day One: Two exams and one Test
November 27, 2009 by 142 Comments
First Test: Australia V West Indies, Day 1 By Steve Healy Exams. They’re not as bad as you think, especially when you get to go home early. All day, my mind is on the cricket and of course the Draft, not school work. I get through my science exam unscathed, but then again, where will [Read more]
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