Search Results for: john butler

Tennis: Things to look for at the Australian Open

By John Butler * Numerous folk called Bruce, Baz or Cheryl suddenly discovering long lost Swedish or Spanish heritage and a love of foreign flags and group chanting. * Maria Sharapova’s picture to appear at least daily in the major metropolitan papers. Some of the pictures may even relate to tennis.

Footy Talk: Richo and Hamlet ponder what might have been

by John Butler Setting: Matthew Richardson – magnificent, flawed prince of the Richmond Football Club. Recently retired after 282 games, no premierships and not enough finals. Hamlet- tragic, flawed prince of Denmark (long before the guy who married the Tassie realtor).

Could we please review the Review?

by John Butler An issue which has already commanded far too much attention this summer is the new review/referral system. So naturally I’m going to add to the clamour. My initial judgement on the changes made to this system were along the lines of “much ado about nothing”; that it would be just another of [Read more]

Second Test, Day 1 – Bravo Bravado

by John Butler The lead up to this game was again dominated by dire prognostications on the state of Test cricket, the state of West Indies cricket and various predictions on the state of the Earth (emanating mainly from Canberra). I leave the state of the Earth to those better informed, but can’t help feeling [Read more]

Cricket

CRICKET @ footyalmanac CRICKET: Good news for those disappointed by the loss of the PM’s XI to England on Monday. WestCoastDave is here to help us put it all into perspective. CRICKET RANT (3): Responding to John Harms’ piece, Craig Little, who knows something of the world of spin, picks apart Cricket Australia’s current version of it. [Read more]

Footy Talk: PT Barnum and Kevin Sheedy plan to put on a show

By John Butler Setting: PT Barnum: legendary showman and entrepreneur, founder of Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey’s Circus and famous for pulling hoaxes and working freak shows. Often attributed the quote “there’s a sucker born every minute.” It’s a surprise he hasn’t worked for the AFL before now. Kevin Sheedy: really needs no introduction. With [Read more]

No balls a problem for Windies bowlers – and Tommy

1st Test Gabba: Australia v West Indies- Day one by John Butler Preoccupations on a sunny Brisbane day Another Test season begins amid rain clouds over scenic Mount Helen (my humble abode). Break the champagne over the bow, or rather, wheel out Greigy and Heals for another pitch report. For a pitch that looks like [Read more]

Footy Talk: Mick Malthouse and Sun Tzu talk tactics (mostly off-field)

By John Butler Setting: Sun Tzu: ancient Chinese warrior general, author of the Art of War and in many ways the original Director of Coaching. Michael Malthouse: as we all know, is soon to be Collingwood Director of Coaching. In his never-ending quest to bring world’s best practice to the Lexus Centre, President Ed has [Read more]

Footy Talk: Ziggy Stardust & Chris Judd discuss the Messiah burden (and other matters)

by John Butler Setting: Fleeing the rock ‘n’ roll craziness of the 70’s, Ziggy Stardust ended up running an underground backpacker’s in Coober Pedy (a long story). He finds that he blends in with the local wildlife surprisingly well. His hair now tends more grey than fluorescent red, and a middle age paunch hangs over [Read more]

Princes Park Days: Blue Reflections

By John Butler Nostalgia is said to be a sure product of advancing age. It is equally sure that those of us old enough to remember the days of suburban footy grounds are susceptible to rose coloured remembrance. Like favourite songs forever linked to formative life experiences, each tribe has a repository of memories held [Read more]

AFL General Writing: He’s not a role model, he’s just a naughty boy

By John Butler A fine football season has reached a fitting climax. The rituals of triumph and despair will play themselves out in the competing team camps for some time to come. Grand Finals never turn out grand for everyone. Another growing post-season ritual has already snuck an early start. The annual Spot the Drunken [Read more]

BOOK LINE-UP

2011 Round 7 Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn Merryn Sherwood Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans Manuka Oval  David Butler Geelong Cats vs. North Melbourne Skilled Stadium Craig Down Richmond vs. Fremantle MCG Michael Allan Gold Coast Suns vs. Brisbane Lions Tim Pekin Essendon vs. West Coast Eagles  Andrew Else Melbourne vs. Adelaide Crows MCG Steve Healy St. Kilda [Read more]

Almanac Teams: Players that won a Premiership or made a Grand Final in their first year

Rodney Boyd is back at it again – this time he shares two sides (one luckier than the other) just in time for the AFL finals series.

Up the Mighty Murray! – Episode 8: Where the Darling meets the Murray

Peter Clark takes us further along the Murray River to where it meets the Darling River, and the footy of the Sunraysia Football League.

Round 8 – Collingwood v Sydney: To see a good game (Floreat Pica Society)

The Round 8 Floreat Pica Society match report comes from born-and-bred Pom Peter Butler, who took in his second coronation on Saturday night (first in colour!). The next day he caught the bus with others, hoping “to see a good game.”

‘Cricket’s Hot Gospeller…’ by GP Rosser and KB Hill

Ian ‘Harry’ Hildebrand, a Wangaratta native, is also the face (and heart) of cricket in Peru. A little while back he chatted with KB Hill and GP Rosser.

Qualifying Final – Geelong v Collingwood: Last Five Minutes Heart-Attack Territory (Floreat Pica Society)

This week, the Floreat Pica Society report of the Pies’ Qualifying Final defeat is by Peter Butler.

Almanac Music: The day Angela met Elvis

Not many Aussies met Elvis Presley but Angela did. Stan Kluzek tells the incredible story of the time his sister met Elvis Presley. [Ed: Wow, what an amazing story!]

Almanac Teams: (Footy) Life begins at Forty; Best of Number 40 (1980- )

The skipper on the bench and a 20-year-old with single figure games? The heat is really on now for Rodney Boyd to select his best sides in this his 40th such effort.

Round 12 – Hawthorn v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society Report

A cold and wet old day in Melbourne, but that didn’t faze Collingwood (winning makes you forget the cold) or Paul McKay (being in Thailand also helps with the cold…) as he wrote his piece for the Floreat Pica Society.