By Peter Lenaghan The first game of the new AFL season was played while Emily and I waited at Tullamarine for our flight to London. Ben Cousins was the talk of the town and the Tigers were, once again, considered a genuine finals prospect. By the time we landed in the UK, the recovering drug [Read more]
General Footy Writing: The state of Tom Hawkins’ play
July 7, 2009 by 9 Comments
By David Hyland Being an avid football follower I have never in my life of 39 years seen a developing young player subjected to such harsh analysis and vitriol as Tom Hawkins. Firstly I have to declare an interest in Tom Hawkins the young man. I have been his player sponsor at Geelong for [Read more]
Round 14: The View from Shepparton
July 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
by Peter Schumacher Well what a match that was. The grab from Gardiner was certainly as has already been pointed out very reminiscent of Leo Barry’s effort a couple of years ago. I don’t agree with those who argue that the result proved nothing, in fact it proved that St Kilda are the premier team [Read more]
Round 14: Jimmy and us
July 6, 2009 by 474 Comments
by Steve Healy It had been a big week for the Melbourne football club to say the least, with the shock announcement from Jim Stynes that he was suffering from cancer, and would temporarily stand down as president. This came as shocking news for me, and all other Melbourne supporters, along with Jim’s family and friends. [Read more]
Round 14: Saints win the one we’ve been waiting for
July 6, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Josh Barnstable Wow. It’s here. It’s finally here. The moment we’ve all been waiting for since about Round 5. St Kilda, unbeaten after 13 games, takes on Geelong, also unbeaten. Saying there was a big build-up to this match is an understatement, and there were even plans to relocate this match from Etihad Stadium [Read more]
Local Footy: Slick River Murray steam over Superdogs
July 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Nick Kossatch The Riverland Superdogs failed to capitalise on their midfield centre clearance dominance to go down by 32 points against River Murray at Mannum Oval on Sunday. The under-strength visitors were off to a sluggish start but were encouraged by the efforts of East Murray recruit Dave Francis. The [Read more]
Sports Science: Clint Youlden reckons he can have you kicking longer in an instant
July 6, 2009 by 4 Comments
The Cannonball – “Instantly ad metres to your kick” by Clint Youlden If you are a right-hander (and presumably a right foot kick) and I asked you which leg is your strongest leg, most of you would answer “my right leg `cause I kick with it”, you would however, be incorrect. Most people believe that [Read more]
AFL Round 14: Please keep those Hawks to nought
July 6, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Damian Watson For me, it has been a somewhat relaxing first week of the school holidays mainly consisting of junior football, attending movies, watching hours of sport on that heavenly channel One HD and of course writing for the Almanac. However a busy weekend has seen me attend exquisite American parties as they celebrate [Read more]
Round 14: John Mosig’s Footy Wrap
July 6, 2009 by 1 Comment
THE PRE WRAP – ROUND XIV THE LADDER ST KILDA 14 0 170.44 56 GEELONG 13 1 145.04 52 FOOTSCRAY 10 4 130.37 40 CARRINGBUSH 9 5 118.39 36 ADELAIDE 9 5 102.90 36 BRISBANE 8 6 105.10 32 CARTOON 7 7 107.85 26 THE BOMBERS 7 7 101.36 24 ——————————————————————- THE POWER [Read more]
Round 14: Floreat Pica Society – Bombers come unstuck
July 6, 2009 by 3 Comments
By Timothy O’Leary Before leaving for the train station I was noticeably toey, and it’s times like this that my superstitions come out. Not that I believe them, and I know they’re irrational, but that doesn’t stop them. The night before we’d scored a chest of drawers put on the nature strip in [Read more]
AFL Round 14: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn: I should have watched Pulp Fiction
July 6, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Sasha Lennon I thought about watching a movie but decided to watch the game. And now the only way I know how to put myself out of the misery of writing this report is to take a leaf out of Quentin Tarantino’s book and start at the end before cutting back to somewhere near [Read more]
AFL Round 14: Melbourne v West Coast: Stynes inspires Demon win
July 6, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Josh Barnstable This was always going to be a victory to the Melbourne Football Club after the announcement that their president and saviour, Jim Stynes, the one who pulled Melbourne out of a big dark hole, was suffering from cancer. After surgery to stop the spread of the disease, Stynes was hospital-bed ridden for [Read more]
AFL Round 14: Collingwood v Essendon: Tangents provide food for thought
July 5, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By David Enticott It has been a long day. At 6.29pm I am running to catch the train at Boronia station, having briefly popped in to a family dinner (making the briefest of cameo appearances). I guzzle down the ribs and then race for the train to Richmond station. As I sit down I wonder [Read more]
General Footy Writing: Being a fan keeps us young forever
July 5, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Michael Mueller I wish I could remember from where I read this particular snippet of information, but a survey of British football fans a few years ago revealed that the loyalty they show to their clubs– albeit tempered by periods of extreme desperation and agony – far exceeded the loyalty and perseverance they displayed [Read more]
AFL Round 14: Collingwood v Essendon: Revenge is sweet
July 5, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Danielle Eid Last time these teams met the red and black crowd was up and my tears were streaming down. Never in my life I had I been so annoyed at Channel Ten for removing the clock off the screen. My team was leading, the clock had disappeared, and surely the time was up! [Read more]
AFL Round 13: North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs: I like Roos’ approach but Dogs do enough to win
July 5, 2009 by Leave a Comment
North Melbourne versus Western Bulldogs 2.10pm, Sunday, June 28 Melbourne Cricket Ground By Andrew Starkie It’s funny what the mid-season break, a new coach, Boomer’s return and school holidays can do. I’m looking forward to today’s game. There’s a freshness in the air, like the start of a new season. I have another reason to [Read more]
The Pre-Wrap: Round 14: Barry Hall deserves our sympathy
July 3, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By John Mosig What a week it’s been in Footy Eddie. The embarrassing loss to Arch Rivals Essendon has seen the big timber tumbling around at Royal Parade. First to get the axe was ex-President in Waiting John Elliott. With Big Jack’s moral compass awry again he found himself catapulted back into yesterday. And just [Read more]
Weekend Read: Irish and Australian football are different and that’s a good thing
July 3, 2009 by 7 Comments
By Paul Daffey I enjoyed Irishman Cormac McCormack’s piece on the lack of humour and connection in the AFL, and although I can’t help but think that Cormac is looking at sport in his homeland through porter-coloured glasses, I agree with much of what he says.
AFL Round 14: St Kilda v Geelong: Cats by a whisker
July 3, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Ben Jensen This is the clash of the season. Although both sides are unbeaten, the Saints have been smashing sides with such regularity that they’ve got a percentage of 177.5%, to the Cats’ 149.7%. The Geelong back six will be tested by St Kilda forwards led by Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne and [Read more]
General Sportswriting: My ten best sports films
July 3, 2009 by 26 Comments
By Paul Daffey Rocky (1976): While the later Rocky sequels are rightly regarded as cinematic featherweights, the original Rocky outstrips all contenders in the battle for the heavyweight sporting film of the world. One of only two sports films to win the Oscar Award for Best Picture, it features a storyline that happens to feature [Read more]
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