NAB Cup, Round 1: CAT-astrophe as Cats made to look human

How to overreact by Tabloid “Journalist” Caroline Walls-Sheahan (aka Alex Wadelton) Geelong is staring into the abyss created by the selfish decision of ex-captain Tom Harley to establish a happy life with his new wife in Sydney. The vacuum left by being forced into retirement by his wife was obvious to all and sundry in [Read more]

NAB Cup, Round 1: Go you Roo boys!

by Josh Barnstable What a great way to start the NAB Cup for North Melbourne with a first round match against Geelong, just terrific, thanks a lot AFL. Despite the fact that I knew we would get absolutely flogged, Dad and I planned to go to the game, and soon enough we had all planned [Read more]

Book Review: All praise to exploration of Ablett enigma

Book: Playing God: The Rise and Fall of Gary Ablett Writer: Garry Linnell Publication: HarperCollins, 2003 Reviewer: Phillip Dimitriadis Some may consider Garry Linnell’s book, Playing God: The Rise and Fall of Gary Ablett to be a work of fact-based, journalistic non-fiction. It is an unauthorised biography that at times has an unnerving mix of [Read more]

Footy: Geelong v Geelong … it doesn’t get any better

By Alex Wadelton When I first heard that the mighty Cats were coming to my adopted home of Sydney for an intraclub match, I giggled like a schoolgirl being attacked by a feather duster. Because living in Sydney and following Geelong is a lot like being one of Paris Hilton’s brain cells…  lonely. So, having [Read more]

Footy: Weighing up just which club is Geelong’s true rival

By Susie Giese It truly baffles me what can be considered a rivalry these days. It seems every week the television stations are promoting a “clash of arch rivals”. Granted, the VFL/AFL has been around for 113 years, so that gives clubs ample times to make plenty of enemies, but do all the rivalries still [Read more]

Footy: How I seduced my wife (with a little help from Max Rooke)

By Richard Naco It was Saturday 11 June 1995 when sheer dumb luck introduced me to the most amazing woman in the world.  It was the Matisse exhibition at the National Gallery (in Canberra), and although this was beyond the normal scope of my activities, I took the advice of friends who had ventured forth, [Read more]

Footy: Linga a worthy leader of my All-Ranga team

By Adam Bulman Cameron Ling, the new Geelong captain, is famous for being one of the ugliest and most popular players in the AFL, due to his red hair, burnt, creased face and his skill and tenacity on field as well as his friendly and down-to-earth nature off it. The man known as the Paddle [Read more]

Footy: It couldn’t get any better for a Cats fan, could it?

By Susie Giese I will admit it. I am a footy tragic. A completely untalented footy tragic, much to my chagrin. You’ll run into your run-of-the-mill fanatic who can remember every stat from the last hundred games their team played (and sometimes the games of other teams, too). There are people who can recall a [Read more]

Footy: Every time I relive the Grand Final, I’m a joyous Cat all over again

It’s early in the last quarter when I decide to play the reverse psychology card: ‘We’re gone, that’s it.” I say this to my long-time football compatriot, Paul T. It’s all I’ve got left in my hand; the rain is like ice and I’ll know in half an hour whether or not the footy gods [Read more]

Link: Stand up and fight like hell!

Peter Flynn’s rollicking report on the Grand Final in The Footy Almanac 2009 (Go Travis!) concludes with the following memorable scene: On Sunday, I call in at The Lord of the Isles. Chappy signs the Courty ard Bar’s blackboard. I congratulate Chappy. He is humble, gracious and polite. Brilliant. The replay of the last quarter [Read more]

Footy: A midsummer reflection on the rise of the Cats and the Saints in light of 2004

By Sam Steele When it’s 44 degrees outside and the rest of the family are on holiday, what else is there to do but bung a couple of old footy tapes into the VCR and relive some of the great games of the past. As fate would have it, I chose to have a look [Read more]

Barney’s 2010 AFL Crystal Ball Part 4: Geelong and Hawthorn

by Josh Barnstable Geelong Cats: The premiers, in decline maybe? You wouldn’t think so, as the only major loss from the premiership side of 2009 is captain Tom Harley, but form in the second half of the season pointed towards a change of form in the next couple of seasons. The forward line lacks a [Read more]

Memoir: My Father, My Football

This piece was written in 2000, and has not been published before. By Terry Chapman My life’s first footy moment comes courtesy of a black-and-white image of me in Grandma’s backyard in Coburg. I’m about four. Mum would have been behind the old Kodak 126, freezing forever the opening entry on my life’s stats sheet. [Read more]

Footy Talk: Gary Ablett jnr talks to God (not his Dad, the Guy Upstairs)

Gary Ablett jnr: You’ve already met. God: What can I say? Allegedly the only bloke (blokette?) who can hit a one iron. Initial negotiations with GC17 had been unfruitful… and rather baffling. Gazza felt no closer to resolving his dilemma. Having finally made it back from Queensland, his Manager decided to be proactive. Player managers [Read more]

Ireland Correspondent: Saints’ new Irishman likened to big Cat

By Peter Lenaghan The speculation chased Tommy Walsh for the best part of two years, across Ireland, all the way to Australia and back home to County Kerry. Each month a story would appear in the Irish press and headlines would declare that the imposing and gifted youngster was “considering a deal” or “on the [Read more]

The cream of the Cats

Geelong’s Best and Fairest By Steve Healy The Carji Greeves medal took place earlier this month, and what a surprise the result was. Gary Ablett and Corey Enright were tied winners, even though Ablett was easily the best player in 2009. Footy is a strange game. But let’s speak more about the actual team, who [Read more]

AFL Grand Final: Victory belongs to the people of Geelong

By Ramon Fowler If there is anyone out there who still doubts that the MCG is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the founding spirit of our game is alive in our time, who still questions the sheer magnificence of Australian football, then the 2009 AFL grand final is your [Read more]

General Footy Writing: The Geelong DNA is strong

By Ramon Fowler I have a confession to make: I’m in love with a Pies supporter; have been for nearly three years; didn’t plan it. These things just happen, I guess. It was the off season; I had other things on my mind apart from football. I don’t think I even asked her which team [Read more]

AFL Grand Final: It’s a great game that can bring tears on a neutral supporter

By Sam Duncan Generally if Essendon isn’t playing I don’t really care who wins.  I love watching footy – I love observing the match-ups, the contests, the tactics and the play.  I love observing the raw, unbridled emotions of the fans.  I love how much Australia’s very own game means to Australians.  You only had [Read more]

AFL Grand Final: What a day! I feel privileged to have been there

The MCG carpark is always buzzing on Grand Final day. People are kicking the footy, barbecues are cooking sausages and radio booths have been set up all around the ground. It’s good to be back after being overseas this time last year. I head over to the Triple M booth. They start throwing out freebies [Read more]