It was my brother’s birthday. Dinner was followed by cake and then the presents came out. The time wasn’t on my side. Luckily, I made it on to the couch just in time to see the game between the Bulldogs and Geelong.
The Pre-Wrap: The less noise out of Punt Road, the better
August 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment
What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. The Artful Football League tops up its coffers with a tidy little earner from Saturday’s non-contest at THOF and THE TIGERS make an even tidier one from the sale of autographed Jake King Jumper remnants. Bid big at the auction as it’s tipped that Junk Yard Jake [Read more]
Fifth Test, Day 1: Gasometers and elephants make for intriguing final Test
August 21, 2009 by 5 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz The Oval is a ground that always makes me think of the North Melbourne Footy Club. It was the scene of the so-called “Battle of Britain” in 1987 when Donald McDonald, Alistair Clarkson and their North mates “went the knuckle” in the post-season exhibition match against Carlton. Ian Aitken’s jaw is still [Read more]
General Footy Writing: More attention should be given to footy’s dams as well as sires
August 21, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Bob Utber If footballers where racehorses we would always know their sire and dam, wouldn’t we? Pakenham is probably the best-known racing town outside metropolitan Melbourne. It’s the home of that great racing family, the Bourkes, one of whom, incidentally, is married to the caretaker North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker.
Racing: Look, Mum, a Waterhouse!
August 21, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Chris Riordan Not just old-timers can amuse me in the betting ring. Last year my brother, his wife, their 8-year-old and I ventured to the Valley one night to watch his horse run. He gave it a rough show so we went into the betting ring to plan our attack.
Jones Files: My dozen favourite Geelong players
August 21, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Richard Jones HERE’S a compilation of 12 of my favourite Geelong players. Not in any particular order, except for Polly Farmer as No. 1. Some of these stars, such as Bobby Davis and Bernie Smith, were going around more than half a century ago. Others are far more recent. I didn’t see any Geelong [Read more]
Racing: Moonee Valley, Saturday, 22 August 2009
August 21, 2009 by 5 Comments
PREVIEW Mark “Makybe” Freeman writes: Punters! Best tip I’ve got for you this week – and it mostly applies to scumbags like me who refuse to fork out a pineapple a month to filthy Rupert for Foxtel – is that the puppies at BigPond have finally allowed customers of other ISPs access to their racing [Read more]
AFL Round 20: Swans are better thanI expect but I still want them to change their game plan
August 20, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Josh Barnstable After an eventful day, I want nothing more than to sit down and watch a good game of footy. But then I I realize Sydney is playing. At ANZ Stadium. I’m in for a boring night. I look for other things to do. Play footy on the Playstation; continue reading my book [Read more]
AFL Round 20: My shoulder pain is nothing like the pain the Tigers should feel
August 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Josh Barnstable Needing to wake up at 8:15 on a Saturday, which is absolutely crazy, just to get to the local footy ground of Rennie, the opposition today. It’s the last game of the year, and I’m quietly hoping to kick a few goals and hit the lead in the goalkicking for Waaia. I’m [Read more]
AFL Round 20: Hawks’ performance in battle of birds deems them unworthy of finals
August 20, 2009 by 41 Comments
By Josh Barnstable After completing yet another week of school, I was looking forward to getting home and enjoying the footy and resting up for a big week ahead of me. I pick Adelaide confidently on the radio, but I have a feeling the Hawks can win if they are serious about finals, which up [Read more]
Local Footy: Good-time Tigers keep eyes on the prize
August 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Paul Daffey Peter Davis, a committeeman from the St Bede’s-Mentone Tigers, lets out a chuckle as he leads me towards the rooms before the senior match at the club’s home ground in Mentone. “A few of the boys have pre-game superstitions,” he says. I played with a handful of players who had pre-game rituals [Read more]
Harms: Elementary, my dear, as Watson unravels Saints’ claim
August 19, 2009 by 2 Comments
Our little bloke, Theo, 21 months old, is running around madly and chatting away (“Jlong”). He loves balloons. He plays balloon-footy, which is more like balloon soccer, until the balloon goes in the air. He puts both hands up, reaching, waiting for it to float down, and than double hands it away, like Brendon Lade. [Read more]
Ireland Correspondent: Tipp top Greens on blue day for Limerick fans
August 19, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Peter Lenaghan The gags start flowing from the Limerick fans’ mouths after 20 minutes and three conceded goals. “Oh, congratulations,” one yells at the players wearing green, as another attempted score sails off target. “We’re now in front by four wides.” When Gavin O’Mahony finally puts the ball over the bar for Limerick, another [Read more]
In the Sheds: Warrandyte warrior expects no favours despite taking field with brain tumour
August 19, 2009 by 2 Comments
AS THE Warrandyte players ran on to the field to host Whitehorse Pioneers in their final-round clash in division three of Melbourne’s Eastern Football League on Saturday, their ranks included one footballer who was playing his first game for the season — with good reason. In February James “Jimmy” Logan turned up to training in [Read more]
General Footy Writing: Why Glenn Archer was my sporting hero
August 19, 2009 by 18 Comments
By Josh Barnstable Glenn Archer played for AFL club North Melbourne. Archer was born in Victoria on the 24th of March, 1973. He began his career with North in 1992 after being recruited from Noble Park. Archer was a troubled youngster, and says that playing AFL prevented him from going down a path of drugs, [Read more]
Haiku Bob – AFL Round 20 – holding it all together
August 19, 2009 by 1 Comment
early resistance over before my first beer shaking off winter Swan loses another tag late winter squall spot fires stretch across half-forward dust settles… magpies go back to feeding on remains fragmented sky Didak holding it all together kick out – passing clouds bunch up empty paper bag [Read more]
AFL Round 20: Amid much swearing and confusion over flirting with form, the Cats get home
August 19, 2009 by 3 Comments
Sydney v Geelong, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 15th August 2009. Sydney are coming off annihilating a pitiful Richmond, while Geelong were comfortably beaten by Carlton. A lot of criticism has been directed the Cats’ way, especially against Gary Ablett and Steve Johnson. Be interesting to see how the team responds against tough opposition tonight.
Racing: As old Jack shows, you still meet some cracking characters in the betting ring
August 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Working at the races does give you access to some unusual characters, and I try to make sure that I don’t get bogged down in the greed of the betting ring and that I enjoy some of the identities. My Dad, a long-time bookie in Adelaide, always loved the wags and saw them as part [Read more]
AFL Round 20: There’s no point trying to be calm when your Bombers lead the unbeaten Saints
August 18, 2009 by 3 Comments
After the disappointment of last week’s draw with the Lions I decided to approach this week’s St Kilda game with calmness. Thinking about our great effort against the Saints earlier in the year gave me heart and hope. There’s something called bouncing back and I was hoping last week’s loss would stir us.
Gigs’ Stats: St Kilda loss marks four weeks in a row that games have been decided after siren
August 18, 2009 by 10 Comments
TEAMS KEEP TRYIN’ EVEN AFTER THE SIREN By now most footy fans area aware that St Kilda’s dream of a lossless season came crashing down on Sunday evening when Nick Riewoldt’s post-final-siren shot sailed wide. What many may NOT be aware of is the fact that Riewoldt’s last-ditch attempt was the fourth time in successive [Read more]
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