AFL Round 4 – Sydney v Geelong: The Swans/meat pie correlation

There seems to be a correlation between Sydney’s performance and the availability of meat pies at the SCG, writes Dan Hansen.

The Way-Too-Early 2013 Preview: Sydney

You never feel comfortable betting against the Swans, because when the pressure is on, few are better.

Loving the unloved

According to some commentators, GWS Giants fan Kath Presdee doesn’t exist. On the contrary, Giants supporters have heart and passion and they know the game.

Which team did you go for after the war, Grand-dad?

Writing dialogue between a grandfather and his grandson jolted Neil Anderson into thinking about events of sixty years ago and the changes to VFL/AFL in that time. How do you explain that to a child?

Third Test – Day 1: I won’t talk about it here

Smokie Dawson does not want to be mean-spirited, so he will not talk about the hubris affecting the Australian National Selection Panel, leading them to select an unbalanced line-up for this Test.

2012 Grand Final: A Hawks fan turns to A.B. Paterson for inspiration

Hawks fan Dave Goodwin has had a crazy notion for a few years now that 19th Century bush ballads could become a new form of sports reporting. What better game to test his theory than the 2012 Grand Final.

A grand final and a solemn march

Andrew Starkie attends the Grand Final then joins in the Peace March on Sydney Road the following day.

AFL Grand Final: Who Are Those Guys?

The Grand Final reminded me of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; the Hawks were Butch and Sundance, the Swans the hunting party they couldn’t shake. “Who are those guys?” the Hawks were asking all day; incredulous at the tenacity of their opponent.

Grand Final preview: Medals, smokies and the first goal

Resident tipster Sal Ciardulli makes his prediction and provides some smokies for the Norm Smith and first goal.

AFL Preliminary Final – Sydney v Collingwood: September breeze

Haiku Bob reflects on Collingwood’s final game of the season.

AFL Round 23 – Geelong v Sydney: Cats for breakfast

Fathers’ Day. Despite the kids wanting to bring me breakfast in bed, I’m not really a breakfast in bed kind of bloke. Besides, I wanted to get the paper and read about the footy; to immerse myself in the Cats’ victory over the Swans on Saturday afternoon. I was pleased to see that Greg Baum had written the piece. He understands a game of footy. His article would be a wonderful tool in the process of immersion.

AFL Round 22: Winners and Losers

If the Hawks-Swans match is a sign of things to come, then September is going to be a tremendous month for footy fans (Blues fans excluded). This was football. The SCG was rocking.

Sydney’s rich Australian football history

 By Miles Wilks It is a commonly held belief that Sydneysiders have had an almost non-existent role in the game at the top level, yet the fact is that as many as 80 players have been recruited from Sydney to the VFL/AFL.  Amongst the “no-name” players recruited from Sydney is a player who kicked the [Read more]

Round 9 Winners and Losers

Richmond beat Hawthorn by 62 points. Is that four horsemen I hear? Winners Richmond In a typical office block, passionate Tigers fan David approaches his manager’s office. “Frank, can I have a word with you” “Sure thing David, have a seat” “Cheers. Look, I know September is the make or break month for the business, [Read more]

The 2012 ‘Mopsy’ Fraser Cup – Round Four

  by Earl O’Neill Greetings Tipsters I was pretty damned close to Gary Rohan when he broke his leg but among our group, Robert, Shane and Tim were just that bit closer and they heard the bone snap. Tim picked it immediately. “I know that sound”, a broken arm sending him into premature retirement late [Read more]

It’s Business Time!

As the 2011 AFL season draws towards a close, this weekend sees two massive knockout games which genuinely could go either way. Injuries play a massive part in trying to determine who will get over the line this week. There is nothing more frustrating than getting injured at key times and missing big games; I [Read more]

The true key to AFL premiership glory

What is the biggest guide to which club will achieve premiership success in the AFL this season? Most people would suggest winning form is the key. While those more superstitious might say that luck on the day is all that is needed? Well, it is neither of the above, nor is it anything else that [Read more]

Swans a sleeping giant waking up?

  by Tom Bally There’s days when it seems everyone writes the Swans off.  Almost every week us Bloods fans are subjected to a barrage of negativity ranging from sly backhander comments to almost outright disgust that we’re even allowed to be part of the league.  Therefore it came as no surprise when the ‘experts’ [Read more]

September? Let the narrative be complicated.

August 29 and there is a hint of green on the birch and the possums have eaten every pink blossom off the peach tree. This has the potential to be a superb September, a writer’s treat. Sport always gives us stories, many of them wonderful, but this September promises a stack of possible complications. I [Read more]

Eight Years of Footy at the Sydney Olympic Stadium

Throughout its 11 years of existence, the Sydney Olympic Stadium located in the western Sydney suburb of Homebush, has served as the backdrop to many of Australian’s finest and memorable sporting moments of the 21st Century. Many would argue that this venue has captured the hearts and minds of the Australian public and has conveyed [Read more]