By Wednesday night the attention of the vast football public will turn to the premiere of the revealing and highly anticipated Ben Cousins documentary. The well-documented two-part series is set to provide a greater insight into the Brownlow Medallist’s publicized drug addiction and with the support of his family and friends the documentary will attempt to convey the beginning of Cousins’ personal road to recovery. The documentary is predicted to captivate audiences around the nation as it documents the rise and fall of a football champion. This film could potentially appeal towards the younger demographic as the nasty influence of drugs and alcohol continue to become more apparent in modern society and this documentary attempts to capture those negative effects. Host broadcaster Channel 7 has claimed, “This documentary is about more than football” and more than the multitude of awards and honours that Cousins has accumulated throughout his football career. Indeed it has been indicated that the documentary focuses on conveying the dramatic ups and downs within the life of a high profile sporting figure in this country.
In the wake of the production’s imminent release I have decided to compile 5 of the best Australian Football related documentaries ever to hit our screens. Read the rest of this entry »

by Damian Watson

It is an issue which continues to accelerate debate in the world of sport: Do we adopt new forms of technology and implement it to combat mistakes within our respective sports? Or do we agree with a traditionalists view and maintain the current regime which allows human error?

The use of technology regarding the interpretation of calls from an umpire/referee has been successful to an extent in sports such as tennis, cricket and rugby league. However, sporting codes such as the AFL and World Soccer have been reluctant to introduce forms of technology which have the ability to confirm a mistake from the umpire and ensure that the right call is made. The two codes mentioned that have not implemented a video replay format are currently facing intense scrutiny in regards to this issue.

Indeed FIFA are continuing to face criticism following the Frank Lampard fiasco at the recent World Cup in South Africa which was partly responsible for England’s early elimination from the tournament. The English midfielder’s strike that seemed to have deflected off the crossbar and over the goal-line was not recognized as a goal.

Now it is the AFL’s turn to face the music following a string of goal umpiring errors in the recent round of footy. Although the issue has suddenly accelerated to large proportions, the truth is that the issue has always been amongst discussion within the football public. It was suggested as far back as 33 years ago by footballing legend Ron Barassi that two goal umpires should occupy each end of the ground to prevent any incorrect or farcical decisions within a match, particularly a Grand Final. In the past decade however, many have requested that the AFL claim hi-tech support to assist goal umpires within a match as the expansion of technology in sport continues to rapidly rise. Read the rest of this entry »

Well it is fair to declare that the hot topics in the football world at the present time relates to long-term injuries. The loss of star Fremantle mature-age recruit Michael Barlow to a broken leg is a blow not only for the Dockers but also to the competition in general as many would agree his sensational form has provided one of the good news stories this season. His comeback next year would surely create mass amounts of anticipation. Speaking of anticipation, another one of the competitions high profile figures in Saints gun forward Nick Riewoldt is favoured to return from a long stint on the sidelines this weekend after recovering from that infamous hamstring injury suffered in Round 3. All eyes will be on the legendary St Kilda forward at the Gabba on Saturday, however Saint Nick hasn’t been the only footballer to make a highly publicised return as many other have gone before him.

So I have decided to compile a list and count down the Top 10 footballers who have made memorable returns after enduring the rigours of a long term injury. Read the rest of this entry »

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 the sporting elements of both incredible ecstasy and unbearable agony throughout the many events that have occurred at the Olympic complex. Recognizable high-profile athletes such as Cathy Freeman, Marion Jones, Johnny Wilkinson and John Aloisi just to name a few have entered their names into sporting folklore right around the globe by performing on the big stage. Read the rest of this entry »

By Damian Watson

Throughout my short life there is one question that has left me pondering about Port Adelaide. How can a suburb with a less than adequate reputation produce one of the most successful clubs in Australian Sport?

This is by no means a scathing attack on this Adelaide suburb after all the club has a broad support base in any case, however 34 SANFL Premierships and 1 AFL flag is a mighty impressive record for a club that is situated in a township which has been portrayed in the media to consist of many ‘bogans’, ‘ferals’ and ‘wharfies’. Even at the present time the Magpies’ AFL affiliate, the Power, are currently slipping under the radar in this 2010 season with a 5-2 win/loss ratio in the build up to what has been described as a crucial match.

For the past fortnight I have touted this clash as one in which my Blues would be facing a side which are in a similar position in the competition in both the quality and statistical department. In the circumstance when either of these sides have their game plan in motion, they can break through an oppositions’ structure extremely quickly but inconsistency can be the enemy for both of these line-ups.

Unfortunately a dose of the flu has struck once again, so I pass the time tuning to the various Sunday football shows and catching up on Exam Study. Eventually the live coverage commences, however it disturbs me how the Power’s guernsey appears to be more navy blue than Carlton’s newfound white jumper but I should accept the concept of the clash jumper, even if the old Dark Navy Blues can’t live up to their title.

Throughout the early minutes the usually speedy Carlton side are struggling to clear the defensive zone but the Power are failing to capitalize on their dominance. Fortunately the big Irishman, Setanta O’hAilpin out muscles his opponent to mark and score from close range. In recent weeks I have been struggling to find a fitting description for Setanta, however Channel 7 caller Dennis Cometti provides the simple answer, “he’s a footballer who does the unusual usually”. As soon as I can blink, maturing key forward Justin Westhoff produces the quick reply for the Power from close range as a result of a stiff free kick. The game follows this pattern for the remainder of the term as the lead frequently fluctuates. Too many skill errors are committed and the play is congested however the match continues to be entertaining. Carlton midfielders Chris Judd and Kade Simpson are having their usual influence around the contest while Power tough nuts Domenic Cassisi and Kane Cornes are thriving in the tight scrimmages. A proving kick from Simpson just manages to clear the line and the Blues take a slender 4 point lead into the first break.

The Power gain the ascendancy early in the second stanza extending their lead out to three goals halfway through the term. Daniel Motlop proves that his bag of tricks is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean using his power and miraculous goalkicking ability, while the knee of elite Power midfielder David Rodan is as agile as ever as he darts around the pack to dispose of the footy. While I find some tissues to aid my sneezing fit the Blues find some resilience and peg the deficit back to a point by the major break. Juddy is lifting his work ethic while underrated contributors Denis Armfield and Chris Johnson provide pace through the corridor and a willingness to reach the contested footy first. These efforts set the stage for a ripping second half.

The second of the three amigos in Chris Yarran breaks the shackles to boot his first and the Blues are temporarily in the drivers seat. Suddenly the Power are suffocating their opponents running game forcing a man on man contest. The Power relish the opportunity as they boot four consecutive goals and I begin to lose faith in our chances. Youngsters such as  Jason Davenport and Cameron Hitchcock are continuing their impressive form, each booting inspirational goals and as Steve Salopek manufactured a momentum booster for the Port side late in the third I severely doubted our chances of taking the four points back home. The Power seem galvanized while the Blues are rattled and lack composure and discipline. This is evidenced by Jarrad Waite’s ferocious elbow that cannoned into Davenport’s eye which created a scar almost as large as the one located on Mark Bickley’s head many years ago. Strangely the Power lost focus and as a result Ryan Houlihan drifted forward and converted a crucial goal that split the middle. All of a sudden the match is set to become a grandstand finish with the Power leading by a bare two goals at the last change.

To mention that the Blues started the better in the final term is an understatement, booting two majors in as many minutes to hit the front. I pose the question as to whether the Blues can continue to surge and maintain their fitness levels. The short 6 day break does nothing to effect our efforts as the Blues romp down the home stretch to register a 4 goal to 1 for the rest of the final term. Matthew Kreuzer conveys his mobility and goalkicking skills kicking two majors for the term, almost reminiscent of his match winning performance against the same opponent almost two years earlier. As Chris Yarran covers himself with glory halfway through the quarter with a brilliant goal from an acute angle, I know the Blues are home.

As the AAMI Stadium siren sounds, the scoreboard indicates a satisfying 26 point victory and suddenly I realise the Blues have the capability to compete for a Top 4 spot if we can maintain this form. It is also pleasing to note the character of the Carlton side as a whole, who faced adversity at one stage in the third term but had the ability to weather the storm and post their second victory in Adelaide for the season.

On the other hand Port Adelaide supporters and many of those wharfies in pubs, will solemnly be drinking their West End Beer tonight, realizing they have missed yet another golden opportunity.

Carlton  4.1  8.4  11.10  17. 16 (118)
Port Adelaide  3.3  8.5  13.7  14.8 (92)
GOALS
Carlton: O’hAilpin 3, Kreuzer 3, Houlihan 2, Waite 2, Yarran 2, Carrazzo, Garlett, Simpson, Judd, Scotland
Port Adelaide: Salopek 3, Motlop 2, Hitchcock 2, Westhoff, Schulz, Ebert, Gray, C Cornes, Davenport, Surjan

My Votes: 3. C.Judd (carl)     2. M.Kreuzer (carl)     1. K.Simpson (carl)

Is there a bigger rivalry in Australian Sport?

Although this has been claimed frequently in the press, I’ll repeat that no matter where these sides are situated on the ladder, a clash between these two combatants always guarantees a large attendance. On this occasion Carlton and Collingwood are both in superb form. The rejuvenated Blues knocked off the reigning premiers in a splendid performance last week while the Pies are as hot as a Caribbean summer following their humiliation of Essendon on the big stage in front of 90 000 on Anzac Day.

There is only one more frustrating viewing point than a seat in the final row of the top tier in the Great Southern Stand, witnessing the delayed coverage on Channel 7. As I claim a seat on the couch the full house at the MCG erupts in the wake of the opening bounce. Read the rest of this entry »

Isn’t it interesting how the sporting landscape can change so immensely in the space of just 7 days?

It had been an enjoyable week on a personal level as I completed my Work Experience at Channel 10 and felt thrilled as I took a glimpse at the professional work involved in the fascinating medium of sports broadcasting. It had been a huge week at Princes Park to say the least, albeit not for the traditional owners in the mighty Blues but their co-tenants; the Melbourne Storm. The successful NRL franchise was almost effectively erased as the club are forced to relinquish their premiership points, past success, dignity and reputation as a result of breaching the salary cap. All of a sudden the Storm aren’t exactly invincible!

Many thought my Blues were fortunate to lose a couple of draft picks and a large sum of money for their similar offence 8 years ago. However the large debt and mediocre on-field performances that followed conveys the fact that getting caught red-handed in that regard can deeply affect a club. Fortunately as we enter a new decade, it is fair to claim those demons have been brushed aside from the proud Carlton Football Club. Read the rest of this entry »

By Damian Watson

Over the past seven days the football press have dubbed this match as a “D-day” for both of these proud and talented clubs in 2010.

The Crows who at one stage throughout the summer were predicted to be Top 4 finalists this season have somewhat been disappointing in the eyes of the folk in the City of Churches due to their winless commencement to 2010, which has been compounded by numerous injuries.

My Bluebaggers on the other hand produced a dreadful display last week against the Bombers and will no doubt be keen for redemption, particularly with the long-awaited return of the inspirational skipper Chris Judd. I can assure you there is more than the standard four points at stake for these two outfits in the context of this season!

Following my nerves and preparations in regards to Work Experience, co-incidentally at the assigned broadcaster of this match Channel 10, I take comfort on the couch to watch the live coverage (almost a rarity on Free to Air TV in this era). As the match spirals into motion the cloudy and overcast weather hovers over AAMI Stadium, a stark contrast to the clear skies in Melbourne.

At the selection table this week Carlton Coach Brett Ratten dropped the gauntlet on experienced stalwarts Jarrad Waite and Brett Thornton, leaving three crumbers to freely roam in the forward half as a result. Many experts claimed the move to be ambitious but are proven wrong in the early minutes. The three musketeers in Betts, Garlett and Yarran apply offensive pressure and contribute to a scoreline that sees the Blues with the opening four goals. The Adelaide side begin to obtain the bulk of the possession however they fail to capitalise on the scoreboard as inaccuracy looms large. Forwards Richard Douglas and Brett ‘Birdman’ Burton provide some respite, however one receives the sense the Crows are struggling to produce their A-Game.

The insightful Eddie McGuire labelled the South Australian supporters as ‘feral’, however they are uncharacteristically quiet this afternoon as the Blues hold a 2 goal buffer at the first change.

In the second stanza the Blues manufacture an irresistible period of footy to effectively snuff out the oppositions chances. I marvel at Chris Judd’s ability to ignite his teammates through his sheer confidence to break away from the scrimmage with ease and deliver a pin-point pass with precision. His talent and presence enables his teammates to walk taller as the likes of Kade Simpson and Marc Murphy link up through the centre effectively. Others such as Mitch Robinson courageously throw their body on the line in a desperate bid to win the hard ball. Even the relatively uncoordinated Setanta O’hAilpin pulls the rabbit out of the hat to pluck the ball in his lap and boot his first major from the resulting set shot.

It is occasions like these where I am proud as punch to be a Carlton supporter, witnessing a fine exhibition of hard and tough footy from this Blues line-up. It pays dividends on the scoreboard as the Blueboys boot four consecutive goals. A debatable 100 metre penalty resulting in a goal to Crow Scott Thompson leaves the Blues undeterred as they extend the margin to a substantial 37 points at the major break.

Jeff Garlett adds a second goal to his tally within the opening 30 seconds of the all-important third term and I am as relaxed as a senior citizen in a sauna. However the Crows are beginning to press forward through the likes of veteran Andrew McLeod who continues to provide pace in the midfield. Inaccuracy continues to be the enemy of the Crows as they squander frequent goalkicking opportunities. The Carlton defence remains reasonably solid as Andrew Walker and Jordan Russell impose themselves on the match as they clear the ball from the danger zone. Despite a consolation goal to young gun Taylor Walker I am confident the margin of 38 points will prove too insurmountable for Adelaide in the final term.

The Crows open their account in the last quarter with two goals to key forwards Scotty Thompson and Chris Knights, the former with the aid of another 50 metre penalty. All of a sudden the Adelaide contingent finds voice as their side whittle the margin back to 4 goals. It almost feels like my situation as a schoolboy on a Friday afternoon watching the clock hand tick down extremely slowly.

Fortunately the underrated Ryan Houlihan sends one of his prodigious punts through the big sticks indicating yet another goal for the Blues, locking the four points away from their opponents. In the following minutes it is apparent the Crows have conceded the result as Garlett and Houlihan increase the margin to beyond 40. Carlton’s new recruit Lachie Henderson adds more of his input on the contest taking an uncontested in the goal-square and placing the final nail in the coffin from point blank range. The final siren finally blares to indicate a comfortable 8 goal victory for the navy Blues.

The improvement of the composure, accuracy and disposal from the Carlton side will no doubt signal relief for Blues supporters and a pleasing result for Coach Brett Ratten who had the courage to take a gamble with the selection during the week. If the Blues can maintain this form I have no doubt in our ability to reach September for the second consecutive season.

On the other side of the spectrum the Crows remain winless and at this stage with a 0-4 ratio it will take a herculean performance for the club to make an impact in the 2010 finals race. Their decision-making and judgment was a key weakness in their transition of play in this contest.

The Crows like myself, will look forward in both anticipation and nervousness in what the following week will bring.

Adelaide  2.7  3.9  4.15  6.19 (55)
Carlton  5.1  10.4  12.5  16.7 (103)

GOALS
Adelaide:Thompson 2, Burton, Douglas, Knights, Walker
Carlton: Garlett 3, Houlihan 3, Yarran 3, Simpson 2, Betts, Henderson, Judd, O’hAilpin, Scotland

My Votes: 3. C.Judd  2. A.Walker  1. M.Murphy

By Damian Watson

I am in the midst of another lazy Saturday Afternoon and while recovering from laser surgery on my teeth I make the observation that footy certainly has the ability to both cure and compound on the resulting pain. Read the rest of this entry »

By Damian Watson

In the eyes of the teenage folk, the end of March represents the beginning of a two week break from school. On Saturday fellow Almanacker Steve Healy, trying to shield himself from witnessing another Melbourne annihilation at the hands of Hawthorn, accepted my suggestion that we should roam around suburban Melbourne at some stage throughout the week visiting a number of the old grounds used in the VFL’s halcyon days. One may suggest that we are blatantly ripping off Billy Miller’s insightful documentary however we look at this journey from a different perspective. Firstly we have never had the opportunity to venture to these historic venues in the past and have never experienced the outer at Victoria Park or the sight of Plugger booting frequent bags of goals at Moorabbin; it is basically a maiden voyage.

We are also too young to afford the luxury of a car so there is a heavy reliance on public transport and don’t worry there are setbacks along the way.

I am anticipating a great afternoon while being amongst the morning train rush from Glen Waverley to Flinders Street. I am targeting to be back by 6 in the evening but I realise it is wishful thinking. I meet Steve at the station and it is fairly appropriate donning his Melbourne jumper as we catch the tram down St Kilda Road to the Junction Oval, the venue the Demons have called its training base since 1985.

Junction Oval: I must confess I have barely stood within a 2km radius of this ground and I sound similar to a broken record asking “Are We There Yet?” As we arrive at the ground the factor that strikes me is the pristine condition of the surface despite the obvious morning dew. The old scoreboard still stands with the information from a Premier cricket game held on the weekend and the two famous grandstands sit empty almost lonesome on the wing. I seem to obtain a fascination with Grandstands and the two that are located at the Junction oval are sensational as they really describe the characteristics and trademarks of the venue. Due to Heritage Listing the old Kevin Murray Stand isn’t accessible but amazingly the old Press Boxes towards the back of the Blackie Ironmonger Stand are unlocked. Steve and I are in awe as we enter the room, organizations such as the Herald Sun and The Age are labelled on the desks. A microphone, old Televisions and the siren is within our disposal; even a carton of Orange Juice is located inside the fridge. Great journalists have observed and reported on matches within the realms of this room, I’m sure that even the great sparring partners Daffey and Harms have entered this diminutive box. On the boundary line Steve’s bag contains the essentials; a camera and a footy for kick to kick. I try and emulate one of Bernie “Superboot’ Quinlan’s racking drop punts from 60 meters on this ground with the new state of the art buildings in St Kilda serving as a backdrop behind the big sticks. I fail to reach the goal square.

Lakeside:  Bob Jane Stadium, formerly known as Lakeside Oval was home to the South Melbourne Football Club. No I am not referring to the Hellas, I’m alluding to the Bloods or Swans the club where Bob Pratt, Barry Round and Bobby Skilton casted their names into footy folklore with their eye-catching performances on the field. Steve and I wonder around the Albert park lake and witness the construction workers removing the wreckage and structures around the circuit of the recent Grand Prix. We sneak through a hole cut through the surrounding fences to enter the ground. Steve scoffs at the soccer clinic held on the pitch and notice that the only monument dedicated towards the old VFL venue is the rusty old grandstand. As we climb up the ladder towards the old 3XY commentary box, Steve unintentionally kicks me in the face almost sending me plunging to the concrete ground staring from below, talk about Boot in Mouth!

There is a stark contrast between this box which contains the odd chair and a power point to the air-conditioned press room located on the other side of the Lake.

Moorabbin: If anyone who resides in Melbourne told me it effectively took 2 hours to travel from St Kilda to Moorabbin I would have received the impression that you are a stark raving lunatic! However due to the so called ‘convenience’ of public transport and my lack of knowledge, that was the amount of time spent striving to travel to a venue barely 10km away. After weaving our way through the streets of Prahran (the VFA team that recruited the likes of Kevin Sheedy) via tram to Toorak station, our hopes of hopping on the train bound for Moorabbin were short-lived. Because of the express route throughout the area we had to catch the train back to Flinders Street. Hoping to gain some respite and rest we ate lunch at McDonalds, while carefully guiding my meal up the stairs my Coke splatters to the ground to the tune of the embarrassing groans surrounding the room. Just to add a bit of salt to the wound the drink isn’t refundable! Anyway enough of my misfortune, we finally reached Moorabbin, the home venue for St Kilda for 27 years in the VFL/AFL competition. Steve and I re-enact the Phil Carman head butt before trying to kick impossible goals from the boundary line. The Huggins Stand and Social Club is still imminent at the ground and as we sprint back down Linton Street I ponder the fact that they managed to squeeze 50 000 fans into the complex in its opening match.

Victoria Park: The afternoon has flown by, it’s 4 in the afternoon as we approach our 4^th ground the spiritual home of the Magpies. The roofs of the Rush Stand, labelling the many Collingwood legends that graced this ground has been removed. But many artifacts that represent the history of the arch enemy still exist, the cramped corporate boxes in the Sherrin Stand and the far from stable wooden scoreboard at the Yarra Falls end. Steve tries to perform his best Nicky Winmar impersonation while I grab some of the sacred turf off the ground. As we walk down the famous Collingwood race the door is again unexpectedly unlocked and we enter the main Umpire Headquarters of the AFL. We have a look at the memorabilia and equipment in the old Collingwood change rooms and strangely nobody seems to mind our presence. We walk back out on the surfaced realising that many Collingwood diehards spat, wept, celebrated, cheered and commiserated at this ground until the end of the century. However the old ground will be somewhat rejuvenated on Saturday afternoon as the Collingwood VFL entity lines up against Williamstown.

Punt Road/MCG- There is no complete tour of VFL/AFL grounds without the hallowed structure that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After having a kick on the magnificent ground on Saturday we decided to circumnavigate the outside of the precinct with statues of the calibre of Bradman, Ponsford, Strickland, Matthews, Miller and Reynolds carved to honour the G’s historic significance. Across Yarra Park is Punt Road home venue for the Richmond Football Club until 1965. Once again we sneak through a hole cut inside the fence to have a kick at the Northern end of the Ground in front of the Grandstand. New constructions have commenced at the ground as the cars speed by this magnificent ground. I’m just thankful I opted not to don my Carlton Guernsey or a bullet could have been lodged in my back following last week’s result.

As we conclude our journey at Richmond station I suggest to Steve that visiting VFL grounds located within the perimeter of metropolitan Melbourne is an outing every football supporter must experience in their lifetime. We still have venues such as Brunswick St, Whitten Oval, Princes Park, Windy Hill yet to be ticked on the list.

As I try to purchase a packet of chips at the station I mishandle my $2 coin as it misses the slot and falls down a gap within the machine. However no streak of misfortune can compare with an ultimate experience of these wonderful grounds.