Local Footy: Greeny and Unicorns delight after Grand Final win over Oakleigh

By Rod Oaten I was in a dilemma on Saturday morning, two Grand Finals on either side of town: Fitzroy playing out Essendon way and Melbourne High School Old Boys playing Oakleigh down at Sandringham. The north wind was blowing a tornado-like gale, so I planned the ride on the bike from Carlton North to [Read more]

AFL Finals–Week 1: Lions overrun Blues on a memorable, multi-code night in Brisbane

Converting the locals one win at a time.

AFL Semi-Finals: Superman saves the world again

Well, here we go, it’s do or die time for my Magpies. I have been waiting anxiously all week for this game to come and now that it’s finally here, I’m terrified. The number of footy conversations I’ve had at school this week was probably more than the norm. With my fellow Collingwood supporting peers [Read more]

AFL Semi-Finals: Never-say-die Pies prise prize from under Crows’ eyes

By Steve Fahey Floreat Pican John Ramsdale wrote last week of his sense of déjà vu in watching our ordinary performance in our opening finals appearance.  This week the Pies’ stunning last-gasp win over the Crows gave me a double sense of déjà vu. Why a double sense ?  Firstly because this game was nearly [Read more]

Racing: Review of Moonee Valley and Rosehill on 12 September

Mark Freeman writes: Mark Kavanagh’s  Moonee Valley blinkers trick worked a treat again today, just like it did on Maldivian in last year’s Cox Plate. By whacking the shades on Whobe, he was much sharper, and you could see when Oliver pushed him along at the school he responded immediately. He was too good for [Read more]

AFL Semi-Finals: Justice is done as Dogs bundle out Lions

By Damian Watson Finally! Yet another school week completed and another weekend of highly anticipated finals action to look forward to. We have now reached the Semi Finals which indicates that the remaining teams have entered a sudden death situation with a loss signifying the end of your campaign and it’s time to pack for [Read more]

General Footy Writing: We shall fight them at the stoppages

By Ramon Fowler I myself have full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, Geelong shall prove themselves once again able to honour our bay-side home, to ride out the storm of September, and to outlive the menace of [Read more]

Racing: Preview for Moonee Valley, Rosehill and Launceston on 12 and 13 September

Chris Riordan writes: Makybe, Let’s move on from this afternoon’s distractions and enjoy the racing while it is still with us. Here are some preliminary observations for your consideration please. Perhaps, because of my bookie background, I look too hard for value. Whatever the reason, I struggle at the Valley and have little confidence punting [Read more]

Racing: Jockeys strike over whip ruling

By Chris Riordan Racing’s hopes of leaving the jumps drama behind and cashing in on the spring carnival hit a metaphorical hurdle this afternoon when, mid-meeting at Ballarat, Victoria’s jockeys called an immediate strike upon hearing that the Australian Racing Board had dismissed their calls for change.

Local Footy: My love for my club grows stronger with age

By Darren Dawson It’s been eleven seasons since I last pulled on the boots for the Williamstown CYMS Football Club. As the years pass, the number of players with whom I played continues to diminish, but strangely my attachment to the club grows stronger as I get older. When I finally hung up the boots [Read more]

The Pre-Wrap: Semi-Finals

THE PRE WRAP – WEEK II OF SEPTEMBER For the Philosophical Marngrook Follower What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie*.  Who ever thought the Solarium Kid had it in him to coin a phrase?  But here it is – Tuesday With Terry has given us The Down Hill Skiers.   I suppose if the Icelandic [Read more]

Local Footy: Memories of Tungamah

By Jack Sheridan My first recollection of seeing the Tungamah footy team would have been as an ankle-biter in the early 1930s when they played in the green and gold — like  the old Northcote team in the VFA, green with a gold yoke and collar.  My father played for Tunga. I recall that during [Read more]

General Footy Writing: A good hard look at free-kick figures for travelling teams

By Dave Warner Hi fellow footy enthusiasts, welcome to my analysis of AFL umpiring 2009. Halfway through the year I sent a missive to my football cronies that set out how for years I’ve had a feeling that AFL umpires are biased to home teams when games are played between clubs of different states.  I’ve [Read more]

General Footy Writing: What on earth are Carlton and Judd up to?

By Peter Schumacher Patrick Smith has been talking up the new culture at Carlton, a club he said was prepared to make tough decisions; witness the club-imposed imposition on three players who broke disciplinary rules. I could hardly believe it therefore when according to the 1pm ABC News Carlton is further appealing against Judd’s suspension.

In the Sheds: Teague falls just short of flag aim after going back to his roots

By Paul Daffey While many AFL people keep their footy roots in mind, none match the determination of former Carlton and North Melbourne defender David Teague to maintain those roots. Teague played in a premiership at his home club, Katandra, just north of Shepparton, when he was 17. Now 28, he’s the coach of VFL [Read more]

Ireland Correspondent: Hurling fans the winners as Plan B swings into action after All-Ireland final

By Peter Lenaghan They asked politely. They gave everyone plenty of notice. They explained why it was necessary. They even promised a fireworks display. They were wise enough to have a back-up plan. The first breach of the orange-clad security barrier seemed to come at the bottom of Hill 16, soon after Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling [Read more]

AFL Finals – Week 1 – Haiku Bob – riding the roar

  September – Collingwood’s defeat has the run of the house     afternoon stillness the absent drift and pause of Pendlebury     seconds later Presti arrives punching air     in nearby worlds forwards who kick goals     sun and cloud we hit the front briefly     day begins to shrink [Read more]

Local Footy: Bordonaro in the clear but on the outer

By Paul Daffey Joe Bordonaro, the Mirboo North reserves player who last month was suspended for five years for tampering with umpires’ best-and-fairest vote cards, is not expected to play in his team’s grand final this Saturday despite having his sentence overturned.

Footy seminar: A strange case of code-shifting

Beginnings of a Switch Hunt: The Strange Case of the Slavia-Victorian Football League Game School of Sport and Exercise Science Sport and Culture Group Research Seminar 1.30-2.30 pm, Friday, 11 September 2009 Building A, Room A432, Footscray Park Campus, Victoria University Presented in association with the Football Studies Unit and Sport History Unit at Victoria [Read more]

Poetry: If

By Phil Dimitriadis If Crompton stayed dour in ’64 … If Potter had’ve kicked in ’66 …