Horse racing at Gunbower dates back to1881.The “Gunny” races used to be held in the heat of January but last year the date was changed to the more weather-friendly first weekend in October. Gunbower is a small town on the Murray Valley Highway, half an hour from Echuca. The flat plains stretch out on the south side [Read more]
Racing: Makybe’s lowdown on the tipsters
October 7, 2009 by 13 Comments
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman While your correspondent got lucky on the weekend and other Knacker racing contributors, Crio, Budge, Craig and Peter, have done same in recent weeks, what of the pundits out there on the airwaves and in the dailies? Since some of you Knackers will find yourselves trackside in coming weeks, it’s timely [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Given Victoria’s triumphs in so many codes, does footy have anything to fear in its heartland?
October 5, 2009 by 6 Comments
When “other” national codes begun a concerted push in to Melbourne, many “dedicated” AFL fans (and the parent body, I suspect) exhibited ill-will towards them. It was us or them. Even the Socceroos and the Wallabies were not to be supported lest a foothold be conceded in Victoria. According to my son Tom, untainted from [Read more]
Racing: Melbourne punters need to note tricky track traits
October 5, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Chris Riordan Despite the relatively fine weather, cracking fixture and healthy attendance, it was pretty much business as usual in the main betting ring at Flemington on Saturday. For bookies it was predominantly a winning day after a tough start. The Turnbull Stakes and Gilgai Stakes put the ledger in their favour, although the [Read more]
AFL Draft: Fev sideshow further darkens footy’s big anti-climax
October 5, 2009 by 12 Comments
By Jason Feldman Just as Grand Finals are the climax of the footy season, trade week is the true anti-climax. For weeks the tension builds. Player X is being traded to team Y for pick Z and player W. Footy websites crack under the traffic of footy fans eager to scrounge any information on, say, [Read more]
Horseracing: All not silent on the Freeman front
October 4, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman Like our Sally McLellan would have it: “Did you see him go?” All Silent’s the guy we’re on about – we were aboard, and not since Shaftsbury Avenue slayed ’em in the Lightning have we seen such a blinding finish in a quality sprint race. The Mercedes-driving bookies we mentioned in [Read more]
AFL club awards: All the best-and-fairest top tens
October 3, 2009 by 4 Comments
Adelaide (Malcolm Blight Medal) 43 Bernie Vince 41 Jason Porplyzia 39 Simon Goodwin 38 Michael Doughty 38 Graham Johncock 38 Kurt Tippett 36 Scott Thompson 30 Tyson Edwards 30 Andrew McLeod 29 Chris Knights Brisbane (Merrett-Murray Medal) 57.5 Jonathan Brown 56.5 Simon Black 54 Mitch Clak 51.5 Luke Power 45 Justin Sherman 41.5 Daniel Rich [Read more]
The Wrap: Don’t say I didn’t warn you
October 2, 2009 by 3 Comments
HEADLINES WE’LL BE SEEING IN 2010 Here you go Wrappers. We’ve just got the Wrap Crystal Ball back from the dry cleaners. We gave it a bit of a rub and these are the headlines that materialized out of the mist. How do they match up with your crystal ball? PRE SEASON AFL CEO Ayatollah [Read more]
Racing: Red Ruler’s my Turnbull tip under the conditions
October 2, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Chris Riordan I’m heading to Flemington with a spring in my step but hopefully a zip on my pocket as I’m keen to look but not commit yet. By tomorrow night we’ll be scouring the doubles boards, but it is a tough meeting which will need careful strategy. Sydney races, too, will be tempting. [Read more]
Horseracing: Black type everyhwere on Turnbull Stakes day
October 2, 2009 by 19 Comments
by Mark “Makybe” Freeman Wow, punters (he barked, with eyes lolling and tongue wagging), Turnbull/Epsom Day is as big as ever this year. For footy fans joining us, this weekend is similar to the first week of the finals – the early home-and-away-like skirmishes are done with and we have top level racing in multiple [Read more]
AFL General Writing: He’s not a role model, he’s just a naughty boy
October 1, 2009 by 1 Comment
By John Butler A fine football season has reached a fitting climax. The rituals of triumph and despair will play themselves out in the competing team camps for some time to come. Grand Finals never turn out grand for everyone. Another growing post-season ritual has already snuck an early start. The annual Spot the Drunken [Read more]
AFL Grand Final: Go St Killdog! Having two teams leaves me doubled up in pain
September 30, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz If there’s one piece of advice that’s been delivered ad nauseum to investors, it’s that they should diversify. Put all your eggs in a single basket, they say, and you’ll be regretting it when that basket falls under a steamroller. But put a little here and a little there and if one [Read more]
AFL Grand Final – Haiku Bob – a thin mist
September 30, 2009 by 4 Comments
Grand final day every seat taken on the couch clouds black and blue the crunch of bodies to kill the ball no goals… wild applause greets a smother shots for goal sprayed far and wide like Goddard’s nose all day the rain Ablett not falling [Read more]
AFL Grand Final: It’s a great game that can bring tears on a neutral supporter
September 30, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Sam Duncan Generally if Essendon isn’t playing I don’t really care who wins. I love watching footy – I love observing the match-ups, the contests, the tactics and the play. I love observing the raw, unbridled emotions of the fans. I love how much Australia’s very own game means to Australians. You only had [Read more]
Fantasy Fixture 2010: Steve whets his appetite for next season
September 29, 2009 by 263 Comments
We have come to the end of the footy season, which means that all minds turn to the release of the upcoming fixture. I have made my own fixture, while keeping in mind of the rules that the AFL uses (no teams play each other twice within seven rounds, one game at Subiaco per week, [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who are the perennial losers?
September 29, 2009 by 35 Comments
St Kilda has lost another AFL Grand Final. Glenelg has again bowed out early in the SANFL finals. South Africa is out of the Champion’s Trophy. Who are the other perennial losers?
AFL Grand Final: What a day! I feel privileged to have been there
September 29, 2009 by 312 Comments
The MCG carpark is always buzzing on Grand Final day. People are kicking the footy, barbecues are cooking sausages and radio booths have been set up all around the ground. It’s good to be back after being overseas this time last year. I head over to the Triple M booth. They start throwing out freebies [Read more]
AFL Grand Final: Chappy’s heroics help Cats win a pearler
September 28, 2009 by 9 Comments
By Josh Barnstable It’s that day again. The one day in September that we all speak of. That one day is here. After a whole season of football that started in February, it’s time to decide which is the best team of the year 2009. Will it be St Kilda, back in the Grand Final [Read more]
Gigs’ Stats: Rats, Cats, why did you have to spoil a good sequence?
September 28, 2009 by 5 Comments
Andrew Gigacz’s Grand Final Stat. Declaration CONGRATS TO THE CATS Well done to Geelong on winning the flag. Apart from transforming the house I was at from being one of the noisiest in Melbourne to one of deathly silence in a matter of minutes, here are some other statistical fur balls the Cats’ coughed up [Read more]
View From Shepparton: Magnificent match reminds me of Kline-Mackay final-wicket partnership in Adelaide
September 28, 2009 by 9 Comments
To all of you Almanackers and everyone else, as the self-appointed writer of the “The View” I always try to think about John Harm’s idea on writing, which as I recall is to the effect of: write something that others will find interesting and that you would want to read yourself. As I sit here [Read more]
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