by Mark “Makybe” Freeman Amazingly wide Caulfield Cup this year, punters. With obvious favourite Speed Gifted missing and next in line Predatory Pricer (barrier 16, jump from 14) and Vigor (22, jump from 18) drawn poorly, the internationals are the default favourites. Despite racing in top quality races across the globe (in fact Cima De [Read more]
Racing: The Caulfield Cup is a raffle
October 15, 2009 by 27 Comments
by Chris Riordan I love having a beer over the Winning Post on Thursday night. There’s no rush and the possibilities are endless. Mind you, it’s stressful in a way as there’s 40 odd hours of indecision between now and disappointment. The greatest challenge of all, without doubt, is the old bugbear of track conditions [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who are the money munchers?
October 13, 2009 by 22 Comments
There are at least two types. There’s the annoying nag who catches your eye early and fleeces you throughout the Carnival. You just know that as soon as you jump off it will salute at odds. Shocking is the yoke for me this time in and possibly the Hisser for Makybe soon?? But there are [Read more]
A wholly satisfying half-marathon
October 13, 2009 by 5 Comments
by Darren Dawson I will always be proud of the fact that I am a member of that small percentage of the population who has completed a marathon. In fact, I have competed in four of those 42.2 k runs, with a couple of half-marathons thrown in for good measure. And so it is with [Read more]
A change of Gears at the Caulfield Guineas
October 13, 2009 by 18 Comments
by Mark Makybe Freeman The mistake I made, punters, was to agree to frock up and take advantage of the corporate largesse on offer. Gears had lucked into some passes handed over by a buddy, and in we went under the assumed names. I’m still only coming good now – the reason for this “come [Read more]
Caulfield Guineas: Down down at The Heath
October 12, 2009 by 11 Comments
Saturday morning. For the first time in a couple of years, Clare and I are heading off to the track at the same time. (She called heads and got to attend the Derby Day car park last year and I spent my first eight hours straight as a single father, changing seven nappies, feeding four [Read more]
Princes Park Days: Blue Reflections
October 12, 2009 by 1 Comment
By John Butler Nostalgia is said to be a sure product of advancing age. It is equally sure that those of us old enough to remember the days of suburban footy grounds are susceptible to rose coloured remembrance. Like favourite songs forever linked to formative life experiences, each tribe has a repository of memories held [Read more]
General Footy Writing: Diary of a Top End Saint
October 12, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Joc Ledwidge A bonza ten days. Friday: Flew in lunchtime of Preliminary Final day. Picked up by West Melbourne-dwelling, Essendon-barracking mate, so hung around Puckle Street then Lygon Street and witnessed a few Saints scarves (a future theme as it turns out). Bought some additional winter warmers, in colours of course. Transport Bar pre-game. [Read more]
Racing: You want winners? Look no further than this site
October 11, 2009 by 17 Comments
By Chris Riordan Every Saturday and most public holidays I stand in the betting ring, bag around my neck, grabbing money from the dreamers and the greedy. Inevitably I am asked for a tip. “You must know?!” It bemuses me. I want to point out that I’m the one who is working during everyone else’s [Read more]
AFL Grand Final: Victory belongs to the people of Geelong
October 11, 2009 by 6 Comments
By Ramon Fowler If there is anyone out there who still doubts that the MCG is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the founding spirit of our game is alive in our time, who still questions the sheer magnificence of Australian football, then the 2009 AFL grand final is your [Read more]
AFL Semi-Finals: Bulldogs fire in my first finals match
October 11, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Callum O’Connor This year, I had expected to go to the finals. I would be there, urging on my Tigers with my uncle as they played their first final since 2001. Well, here I am. Going to the finals? Check. To watch a big cat team with a relative? Check. Pity it’s the wrong [Read more]
Racing: The Mug gets an early whack on The Beaver
October 11, 2009 by 8 Comments
It was set up to be a magnificent day’s racing at Caulfield yesterday, and it was. I have been extremely conscientious in fulfilling my duty to celebrate the premiership properly which has meant I have not paid much attention to the form guide. However there is nothing like a couple hours in an airport and [Read more]
Crio’s Question: Who’ll take No.5 at the Demons and other quandaries
October 10, 2009 by 12 Comments
All those players traded to new clubs during the week will have to find a new number as well as a new jumper at their new home. I’m happy for Barry “The Brawl” Hall to wear No.1 at the Doggies, though I’ll be demanding a bit more physicality than from previous lockermen Farren Ray and Simon Minton-Connell. [Read more]
Local Footy: Sydney footy makes up for unfortunate events of a century ago to claim new home at Blacktown
October 10, 2009 by 5 Comments
By Rod Gillett The recent Sydney AFL Grand Final was played at the new stadium at the Blacktown Olympic Park, which has become the new “home” for local footy in Sydney. It is significant location given that the GWS AFL team is to be based at this facility. GWS is of course, the acronym being [Read more]
AFL Club Awards: Barnstable’s breakdown on Crows’ top ten
October 10, 2009 by 433 Comments
By Josh Barnstable One of the most exciting seasons for the Adelaide Crows, the Red, Blue and Gold hoops finished 5th on the ladder and were third favourite to win the flag going into the finals after an enormous second half of the season, in which the young team blitzed the competition with an amazing [Read more]
Racing: If you’re having a quaddie, make sure you close the gate
October 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By LES EVERETT I’ve tried hard not to mention this. I do so as a Spring Carnival service. In the weeks to come the punting gene will be reactivated in some of us while others will believe a year of betting and studying will have somehow set them up for Group 1 success. Whatever our [Read more]
General Footy Writing: You leave my Jack out of any trade deals
October 10, 2009 by 568 Comments
I’ve always wanted to create an alter-ego for myself, not too unlike my character , just different enough to still be true. So now I present to you the WAG of Collingwood’s Jack Anthony. Jack is in one of those moods again, I think it’s all this trade week drama!
Racing: Denman the logical choice in an intriguing Guineas field
October 9, 2009 by 7 Comments
By Chris Riordan Early prognostications for Caulfield. Great meeting. Always a beauty and yet to reach the public pandemonium of the next three Saturdays. Go (unless you’re at the Manangatang Cup!). The feature race, The Guineas, is, as has been recounted, “vintage”. I doubted Denman could stay up this long but he seems bomb-proof. Logical [Read more]
Racing: Guineas looks a vintage edition on my favourite race day of the year
October 9, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman Magnificent card at Caulfield on Saturday, punters, and the weather is shaping up perfectly. My favourite day of spring, and easily the best to get along to. The Guineas looks a vintage edition, with those classy Sydney colts set to battle it out. I like Trusting from his last effort, and [Read more]
General Footy Writing: All over, bar the weeping
October 8, 2009 by 17 Comments
By John Kingsmill Every year fifteen teams run out of air. Some are shot early in the season; coaches walk, players have operations, fans think about a second team or go back to reading books. Two teams exit in the first week of the finals. Two others tease their fans only to experience a ruder [Read more]
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