Round 20 – Sydney v Collingwood: With bruised bodies and broken bones, the Swans eke out the four points.

August 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Jan Courtin’s round 20 match report

Round 20 – North Melbourne v St Kilda: Saints (and Denise) fail to get the chocolates.

August 17, 2015 by 2 Comments

Yvette travels to beautiful Hobart to watch the Saints take on the Kangas at Blundstone Arena.

Todd Goldstein: Tall Order for Brownlow

August 17, 2015 by 3 Comments

Callum O’Çonnor asks the question, could Todd Goldstein be the man to break the modern day trend of the Midfielder’s Medal?

Round 20 – Essendon v Adelaide: Revenge, A Dish Best Served Very Cold

August 17, 2015 by 11 Comments

Revenge is most certainly a dish best served cold; even if that dish has been stewing (no pun intended) since the 1993 Preliminary Final. Swish Schwerdt and the Pie Girl watch Eddie Betts put on a clinic as Adelaide dismantle a hapless Essendon at the Docklands.

Round 20 – Fremantle v West Coast: Tora, Tora, Tora

August 17, 2015 by 17 Comments

Peter Baulderstone’s Christmases have all come at once. Forty thousand Dockers supporters waking to nothing under the tree (again). Santa only comes to good girls and boys (Alex Silvagni take note).

Round 20 – Sydney v Collingwood: Mates

August 17, 2015 by 14 Comments

Joe Moore watches the Swans knock over the Pies with an old mate.

Round 20 – North Melbourne v St Kilda: The Traianidis factor in the ancient city of Athens

August 17, 2015 by 5 Comments

Athens, an old Saints favourite and Talking Heads all feature as Jennifer Muirden sees St Kilda marching in, in the not too distant future

Round 20 – Essendon v Adelaide: A Bradman win at Etihad by the Crows

August 17, 2015 by 65 Comments

Blacks, Greys and the Bombers are blue. Rulebook covers the Crows’ biggest ever win in Melbourne and imparts a couple of blows to the AFL and everyone’s favourite coach while he’s at it.

Not for this old Bomber.

August 16, 2015 by 3 Comments

In his eighth decade, Rod Oaten was not anticipating this. If his club had a keener sense of right and wrong it would have acted differently he argues. The Essendon players are not the only ones caught in sadness.

VAFA – Old Brighton v Fitzroy

August 16, 2015 by 1 Comment

Phil Hill follows the Roy Boys to Beach Oval as they take on Old Brighton

The Women’s Ashes 2015 – Only Test: Australia set it up; knock it down

August 15, 2015 by 7 Comments

The Australian Women’s cricket team is presently in England, playing for the Ashes. Their only Test match ended last night, with a big win to the Aussies and David Wilson summaries the match, with links to audio and visual snippets from Canterbury.

Round 19 – St Kilda v Fremantle: Devotion comes in many forms

August 15, 2015 by 1 Comment

The match was forgettable for Yvette Wroby, but the cast of characters — masters of Tai Chi and Legends footy and cheer squad organising, a family featured in the Age five years back, a dedicated supporter who sees the game in her own way — quite memorable.

Junior Almanac – Footy Days (“My Country” added verse)

August 14, 2015 by 5 Comments

10 year-old Oakleigh State School student Abby Lennon from Brisbane’s inner-west has penned an extra verse for Dorothea Mackellar’s classic “My Country.” It has a decidedly sporting flavour.

Fitzroy Rotary Pick One – update after round 19

August 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Eleven tipsters still remain. Click through for this week’s state of play.

Almanac Rugby – The Forgotten story of Steve Merrick: Rugby Union’s last amateur (first published in The Guardian)

August 14, 2015 by 1 Comment

An outstanding yarn from Patrick Skene ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider against the All-Blacks at Eden Park on Steve Merrick, Rugby Union’s last amateur. The story of how a coal miner from the Hunter Valley turned down SANZAR and World Rugby Corporation megabucks and went back to the pits.

Round 20 Preview – Saturday’s Alright for Footy – but which one?

August 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Sal Ciardulli previews and gives his tips for Round 20, in a round which is important because its getting tight for the top 4 and the 8. Sal also asks the question, if it’s so tight, where are the fans?

Can Collingwood win a premiership with their young list in the next five years? Part Four: Coach and Final conclusion

August 14, 2015 by 2 Comments

Nicholas D’Urbano’s series on Collingwood’s premiership hopes over the next 5 years concludes, with analysing the coach and giving a final conclusion on whether Collingwood can win a flag in the next 5 years.

Almanac Racing – Getting better!

August 13, 2015 by 22 Comments

It’s a teaser Saturday for those whose underperforming footy side is driving them to the racing section of the sports pages. While black type races are back on the card, don’t get too excited just yet advises Crio. Keeping your wagering powder dry and paying attention now, will pay dividends in the weeks ahead.

Remembering Hafey’s Heroes

August 13, 2015 by 9 Comments

Collingwood under Tom Hafey produced some of the most memorable footy – and players – in the club’s illustrious history. While the ultimate prize eluded Hafey’s Heroes, Jeff Dowsing revisits his childhood and recalls some fond memories of the late 70s when’T-shirt Tommy’ was at the helm of his beloved Woodsmen.

Who shot Mr Burns?

August 13, 2015 by 3 Comments

In the wake of the Ashes disaster, it is time to lay the blame on somebody or something. Selectors? Batsmen? Or both?