When Andrew Demetriou faced the media yesterday to speak about Blake Caracella’s neck injury, he had two choices. There was the easy path, one that would have appeased those shocked by the incident, and the difficult path, one that more or less stated facts, however unpopular they are in the broader football community. Demetriou had […]
Leading into opening round of the World Cup, Guus’s men can be well pleased with the 1-1 result, coming courtesy of a Tim Cahill goal (from another missed Mark Viduka penalty) in the 52nd minute. A 3-0 win would have been better, but a dogged draw is a better result against the world’s third ranked […]
Not only is Kevin Sheedy’s reputation as “super coach” taking a battering at the moment, it seems his rival at Richmond, Terry Wallace, is trying to steal his mantle as the AFL’s Big Ideas Man. Speaking on Fox Footy’s White Line Fever, Wallace acknowledged – in not so many words – that teams throw games […]
At Roland Garros yesterday, we saw arguably the next world number one in men’s tennis breaking Guillermo Vilas’s record of 53 straight victories on clay. There was a minor celebration, a special trophy awarded to the young Spaniard, with photographers lined up to capture the moment. It was Vilas who, somewhat begrudgingly, handed over the […]
Drama, drugs busts, accusations of bribery – this year’s Giro d’Italia had it all. Even in Saturday’s second last stage, eventual winner Ivan Basso was accused of offering money to Gilberto Simoni to let him win the stage, a claim Basso later denied. “I won’t allow anyone to ruin my victory,” he said after winning […]
It’s no secret that the Renault of Fernando Alonso is the car to beat in this year’s Formula One championship. Before the weekend however, a rejuvenated Michael Schumacher had shown he was still a contender, finishing at the top of the field consistently enough to give himself a chance at this year’s title and an […]
It won’t be remembered with quite the same “where-were-you” nostalgia as John Aloisi’s penalty shot against Uruguay at Telstra Stadium last year, but Josip Skoko’s strike from outside the penalty box 15 minutes into last night’s “friendly” against Greece could well be remembered as the moment soccer became a viable competitor for the AFL. When […]
Kennett being, well, Kennett. Hawthorn knew Jeff Kennett would not cut a shy, retiring figure when he assumed the Hawks presidency. For the struggling club, the brash public manner and business acumen of the ex-Victorian premier would have been attractive parts of the Kennett package. But did anyone suspect, six months into the job, he’d […]
Word on the street is that Australia is going to beat Greece this Thursday night. According to a reliable source – Yianni, the Greek taxi driver who drove me across town yesterday – the Greek players are so demoralised by missing out on this year’s World Cup that this week’s game is little more than […]
“How could we get it so wrong?” It’s a question Geelong’s supporters, AFL commentators, and one suspects Geelong’s coaching staff, are all asking following Saturday night’s drubbing at the hands of Collingwood. Before season 2006 began, Geelong were in everyone’s top eight, and in many people’s top four. Their time had come. Their list had […]
