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: Full points for goal umpire who relishes his part in the game he loves
December 3, 2009 by 7 Comments
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]
No balls a problem for Windies bowlers – and Tommy
November 27, 2009 by Leave a Comment
1st Test Gabba: Australia v West Indies- Day one by John Butler Preoccupations on a sunny Brisbane day Another Test season begins amid rain clouds over scenic Mount Helen (my humble abode). Break the champagne over the bow, or rather, wheel out Greigy and Heals for another pitch report. For a pitch that looks like [Read more]
First Test, Day 1: Ivins on edge in the office; Aussies have edge on the field
November 26, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Tim Ivins That there is excitement leading up to the first test has been a testament to the Cricket Australia’s spin doctors. Articles of Hauritz developing a ball that will actually spin and the future of test cricket have created interest in the media. The bagmen clearly think the West Indies loss to Bangladesh [Read more]
Review of the 2008 Footy Almanac
November 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Review by Bernard Whimpress John Harms and Paul Daffey (eds), The Footy Almanac 2008: The AFL Season One Game at a Time, Penguin Viking, Melbourne, 2008, pp. xxv + 507, pb, $29.95. John Harms, Neville Turner, Bob Speechley and I were into our third bottle of shiraz over a long lunch at the Pumphouse Hotel, [Read more]
Footy Talk: Mick Malthouse and Sun Tzu talk tactics (mostly off-field)
November 26, 2009 by 2 Comments
By John Butler Setting: Sun Tzu: ancient Chinese warrior general, author of the Art of War and in many ways the original Director of Coaching. Michael Malthouse: as we all know, is soon to be Collingwood Director of Coaching. In his never-ending quest to bring world’s best practice to the Lexus Centre, President Ed has [Read more]
Daniel Harris speeds to another level in six sessions with the Cannonball
November 25, 2009 by 14 Comments
The challenge for me, Clint Youlden, along with Daniel, is to re-program his body to be more coordinated, run faster and more efficiently. This will give him greater speed and agility as well as enable him to run out the game better and faster. In order to do this, we will have to go into [Read more]
A blast from drafts past
November 25, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Damian Watson Well folks the 2009 AFL National Draft is fast approaching! It’s that brief moment in summer where the sole sporting focus shifts to AFL Footy just one more time before we enter the New Year. It is a day where the best young talents wait anxiously to hear the recruiters announce their [Read more]
What can we reasonably expect from the First Test?
November 25, 2009 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan What are reasonable expectations for this cricket test? If Australia make 500 it is due to the visitors’ popgun attack. Windies get 300, we lack penetration. Tourists always struggle here anyway, which is why Sth Africa was such a jolt recently, as was Australia’s retaliation on their soil. Aussie supporters, despite noble [Read more]
My favourite footy memory
November 24, 2009 by 162 Comments
by Josh Barnstable It’s a question I would have to work hard to find the answer for. But I would enjoy sifting through the memories my brain has stored. What is my favourite moment I have experienced in a game of AFL footy? It would have to be from the Round 19 clash between North [Read more]
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