By Josh Barnstable After contesting in two Grand Finals in a row which resulted in victory to the Brisbane Lions on both occasions, the Pies are ready to have another tilt at the flag, and defeating the Lions would go a long way towards that dream that has eluded the Maggies since 1990. After forming [Read more]
AFL Round 18: I think Strauchanie should have been able to replace Presti
August 3, 2009 by 4 Comments
AFL Round 18: Crows almost win and I almost tip winner
August 3, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Josh Barnstable Despite not having a proper sleep since Wednesday night, I still get up to play footy against Tungamah. As they run out on the ground, I start to wonder why the Tungamah seniors are on the ground. Wait, that’s the under-17s team. As you would imagine the next couple of hours resulted [Read more]
AFL Round 18: North are the better team despite the result
August 2, 2009 by 22 Comments
Josh Barnstable “Do some work, Josh,” orders my substitute science teacher. “Nah,” is my reply. Who can work on plastics and metals when you’re going to the AFL? Not me for sure.
AFL Round 18: Pies win despite leaving kicking boots at home
August 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Steve Healy Another Saturday had come and I was off to the MCG for Collingwood v Brisbane. Going to the MCG at night is always an incredible experience. I was at the footy with my friend Tim, his Dad and brother and his brother’s friend. With the general admission ticket, I manage to snaffle [Read more]
AFL Round 18: North have Delicious midfielder but Carlton taste victory in the end
August 2, 2009 by 87 Comments
Danielle Eid Is it possible to get a degree in laundry-folding? If so I should receive honors. Mums got me doing laundry all week and it’s come to the point that I don’t even bother complaining; why waste my breath? All it will do is get Mum in an angry mood.
AFL Round 18: Saints just manage to keep unbeaten record intact
August 2, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Tony Dalton Usually I try to avoid attending or watching games between the Swans and the Saints simply because of its low spectator value. I can watch my students play “all on the ball” every other day of the week. I don’t understand the AFL’s scheduling, why these two teams twice a year? It [Read more]
AFL Round 18: No fairytale for Simpson as Blues edge closer to finals
August 1, 2009 by 13 Comments
By Damian Watson “What A big week it has been in football!” That Eddie McGuire catch cry was heard almost every week on The Footy Show and it is the perfect way to describe this previous week. The past seven days have provided the most off-field news so far this year beginning with the end [Read more]
AFL Round 18: Blues do enough to win but still have work to do
August 1, 2009 by 6 Comments
North Melbourne V Carlton By Steve Healy It was Friday. I had been home from school sick today, and was eagerly waiting for the arrival of this game come 7:40, or in this case 8:40. There was something special about the game. Adam Simpson’s farewell, playing his 306th and last game in the blue-and-white stripes. [Read more]
General Footy Writing: I don’t see how anyone can beat the Saints
August 1, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Tony Dalton I have now watched the full seventeen games of the Saints season, each week expecting to see someone, some team, run out, work them over and defeat them. Much to my surprise and delight it has not happened and I am now convinced that it will not happen this year.
Third Test, Day 2: Memories of glorious day at 1975 series get crowded out by tumble of Australian wickets
August 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Sam Steele I chose to do the “wrap” of this day not because of any sense that this would be a particularly significant day (although more of this later). Rather I picked it because it was 34 years ago to the day that I attended Day 1 of the Ashes Test at Lords with [Read more]
General Footy Writing: A lament for great old footy jumpers
July 31, 2009 by 12 Comments
By Chris Riordan While the AFL clubs’ marketing departments are developing gross jumpers, originality is losing out to functionality in the bush and burns. Buy in bulk. Cheaper and ready by order. Our fantastic footy culture was clarified to me one afternoon about 20 years ago when I was handed a jumper by the barman [Read more]
General Footy Writing: Hawks and Eagles match highlights jumper absurdities
July 31, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Sam Steele This was going to be another match report in response to Messrs Harms’ and Daffey’s hint that I play myself into form in order to be considered for “the book”. Sadly, my attention on a scrappy but nonetheless crucial West Coast v Hawthorn game was insufficient to complete the task, but my [Read more]
The Pre-Wrap: Top Pies in first flush of love, but will ardour fade?
July 31, 2009 by Leave a Comment
THE PRE WRAP – ROUND 18 What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. The long awaited Ménage à Trois is finally stitched up at McHale Stadium. We’re just glad that Archbishop Mannix and John Wren weren’t around to squirm with us through the courtship and wince at the ceremony. We wish them all the [Read more]
Third Test, Day 1: Watson’s prospects seems as good as the bream’s in our frypan
July 31, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Justin Kruger Some days have a surprise in the tail. It’s the same way with emails. A few days ago I get 2 emails from John Harms about a possible roster for coverage of the third test. They are clearly the sort of emails that might have attachments. Neither does, and I don’t think too much [Read more]
Poetry: A Local Bloke
July 31, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Bill Walker A box slips down with a humming sound, faces smile through tears the playing field a memory now, team mates succumbing to years Barney, Rat, Whinger, Knob and Doris from the canteen the team’s all there with silver hair, on a nostalgic crutch they lean a special bloke has had enough, slipped [Read more]
Jones Files: South Bendigo holds out fast-finishing Sandhurst in classic Grand Final
July 31, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Richard Jones SOUTH Bendigo won the Bendigo Football League’s sensational 1955 grand final by a point over hard-working Sandhurst. It was a day when weather conditions really played a huge part as the QEO was lashed by freak winds and heavy rain.
Local Footy: Peat Bog Champions emerge from Cora Lynn to put stamp on the game
July 31, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Bob Utber Those in the know acknowledge that Cora Lynn has the best football ground in Victoria, nay, Australia. With its peat bog soil it can take six inches of rain and you still do not get muddy. A huge amphitheatre, the ground is famous for staging the Grand Finals of the former West [Read more]
General Sportswriting: It really is time I let Gurner’s Lane and the 1997 goal umpire off the hook
July 30, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Chris Riordan My son knows that the merest mention of Gurner’s Lane can throw me off. Never mind that it was hardly Gurner’s Lane’s fault when Mighty Mal took off (with my cash) at the roundabout on the King in the ’82 Cup. I never backed The Enforcer (Mick Dittman) again in his long [Read more]
Ireland Correspondent: Kennelly subdued as mighty Kerry takes on tiny Antrim
July 30, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Peter Lenaghan Kerry is Gaelic football’s undisputed powerhouse. Its dominance goes back to early last century and includes several eras of domination. The county’s distinctive green shirts with a gold band across the middle are admired and feared. The Kingdom, as County Kerry is known, has won 35 All-Ireland football titles. The list of [Read more]
Sports Science: Ice baths and dips in cold water work against recovery
July 30, 2009 by 17 Comments
By Clint Youlden We live in strange times when you consider that recovering from physical activity now receives nearly as much attention as training. As an athlete and sports scientist for the past 10 years, I’ve tried every feasible recovery method. And I thought I might give a breakdown on one of those methods, the [Read more]
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