A story from deep in the early days of VFL, when there were no lines between family tragedy and footballing career. John Donegan writes the story that needed to be told of Alf Dear.
Round 7: Essendon v North Melbourne: A Win’s a Win, Especially Against Essendon.
May 19, 2015 by 6 Comments
We should not underestimate the wisdom and counsel of the local greengrocer in this day and age. Andrew Starkie leaves the Docklands less than thrilled with the Kangaroos defeat of the Dons, then receives a zen-like interpretation of the victory amidst strawberries and tomatoes at Preston Market the next day.
Round 5 – St Kilda v Essendon: Holding My Breath in an Honourable Loss
May 8, 2015 by 3 Comments
Yvette Wroby ponders loss – on and off the field – as the Saints are pipped at the post at Docklands.
Round 5 – St Kilda v Essendon: When the best laid plans come unstuck
May 4, 2015 by 6 Comments
He’s back! With a cold and wintery Sapporo behind him, Japan’s number one St Kilda fanatic checks in from Osaka, where first the Mayweather v Pacquiao stoush and then a Rugby League international trumped his local pub from showing the thriller at the Dome. On the plus side, could love be in the air?
Round 4 – Dr Hooke’s Collingwood Life: I enjoyed that…
April 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A gritty, hard-fought win in the wet to the Woodsmen on ANZAC Day. And Dr Hooke is most pleased.
Round 3 – The Pre-Wrap
April 17, 2015 by 8 Comments
For the Philosophical Marngrook Follower… Here’s the Wrap’s crystal ball look at round 3.
AFL Round 2 – Essendon v Hawthorn: Post Game Kick to Kick
April 15, 2015 by 7 Comments
With the game over, Andrew Else takes in some kick-to-kick action on the hallowed MCG turf
Why it pays to be optimistic!
April 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Another chapter in the rivalry between The Bombers and the Hawks was written on Sunday afternoon. Max Wiggins shares how his day panned out while trying to get some last minute homework sorted and keeping an ear on events at the ‘G.
ASADA, Essendon and the AFL – Is it over yet?
March 31, 2015 by 1 Comment
It’s decision day for 34 current and former players at the Hangar in Tullamarine. Will the tribunal findings put a much needed full-stop on the story, or do we all just end up at another square-dance?
Essendon and their Curiously Scheduled, Possibly Generous and Definitely Soft NAB Challenge Games
February 25, 2015 by 7 Comments
The Bombers have a very ‘interesting’ NAB Challenge schedule ahead of them, argues Sean Curtain. Have the undermanned Bombers (self-imposed, it must be pointed out) been spared the rod by AFL in being drawn to meet three of last season’s strugglers in the pre-season competition?
Leap Year
January 14, 2014 by 4 Comments
Who will leap into the finals after finishing in the lower portion of the ladder last season? Will it be resilient Essendon; much-hyped North Melbourne; unlucky Adelaide; talented Gold Coast?
2013 – A Season In Song: Round 7,8,9 – An Early Bye
January 3, 2014 by 1 Comment
After a Champy-enforced rest, Swish Schwerdt is back for Round 9, but is starting to wonder if the coach is playing favourites.
Word Association Football
November 26, 2013 by 8 Comments
Mark Schwerdt has set himself the task of associating each AFL club with both an Australian and overseas musical artist. There’s a couple of gaps that need your input.
A review of the 2013 Best and Fairest results (so far): an insight into game plans, what the coaches look for and backmen winning awards (?!)
October 14, 2013 by 8 Comments
It’s AFL Best and Fairest season, with all but the WA results now in. Sean Curtain gives his take on each of the clubs – what do you reckon? And who do you think will take out the remaining two?
AFL Finals Week 1 – Preview: Fire Up for Finals
September 6, 2013 by 2 Comments
It’s a busy weekend for sports nuts and Sal Ciardulli has cast a discerning eye over a few highlights in footy and racing. What to consider when backing your favourites? Plus, the season gone – how did the vanquished fare against predictions?
AFL Round 23 – Essendon v Richmond: The Claytons’ match
September 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The fans had paid their money to see an Essendon last stand for 2013 against a Traditional Rival or a Tiger mauling of The Team That Dare Not Speak Its Name. Neither was forthcoming. JDM was one of the Struggletown Faithful on the day and finds something to inspire in an uninspiring display.
AFL Round 19 – Collingwood v Essendon: Pies versus Pincushions
August 5, 2013 by 3 Comments
Ramon Dobb is pretty rapt in the win, although a bit distracted by a certain topic.
The F Word – The race to the top 8
July 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Cobba Stevens reckons it’s mathematically possible for Gold Coast to make the finals. Now we’ve all paused to contemplate and dismiss this possibility…where will your team end up heading into September? Statistics tell all. Also, Cobba wraps up the stats on another sad week for Melbourne, and checks out the history of first vs second.
AFL Round 18 – Review: Drugs, Borat and Homer Simpson
July 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Stuart O’Grady gets it wrong; GWS meets Borat; and the Dogs take a scalp. It’s the week in review with Paul Thomson.
AFL Round 15: The View From Shepparton on Round 15 and Other Things
July 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Was watching the rugby instead of Geelong-Hawthorn a good move? Not when you’re turning to Wikipedia to find out what’s going on. It was a varied weekend in sport for Peter Schumacher, but there’s still plenty to say about Round 15.
Recent Comments