damon's blog » Football

Footy fans, welcome back

damon — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:42:49 +0000

Today is a sweet day for all AFL fans. The pre-season comp starts tonight. I know that for many purists, the pre-season is a big fat waste of time, with crazy new rule trials and teams that are choc-full of reserve players. I agree to an extent, but I’m just looking forward to seeing some form of the game on our nice new big TV. The cricket was fantastic on it, I’m sure the footy will be just as good.

We are having a tipping comp at work for the pre-season. Here are my tips for this week:

Adelaide to beat Port
Collingwood to beat North
St Kilda to beat Brisbane
Geelong to beat Richmond
Sydney to beat Western Bulldogs
Essendon to beat the Carlton
Melbourne to beat the Hawthorn
West Coast to beat Freo

Wish me luck.

So close… (1)

damon — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 10:01:25 +0000

The poor Bombers. They were so close to having a win today against the Saints. They were in front for almost the entire game, only to be pipped at the post by 3 points. That makes 14 straight losses, equaling the longest ever losing streak in the club’s history. Playing Carlton next week gives us a chance to avoid setting a new record, but I’m not holding my breath.

Berlin pranksters play hard ball with soccer fans

damon — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 22:01:56 +0000

World Cup pranksters in Berlin injured at least two soccer fans by inviting them to kick soccer balls that they had secretly filled with concrete, authorities said on Tuesday.

At least six concrete filled soccer balls were found chained to lampposts, trees and handrails across the city next to the spray-painted message “Can you kick it?”, Berlin police said.

“Two young men kicked the balls and suffered bad bruising on their feet,” a police spokeswoman said. “We still don’t have any leads in the case.”

Berlin is due to host the World Cup final on Sunday.

Source: Reuters UK

Socceroos vs the Azzurri

damon — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:19:06 +0000

Caught on video: the dying moments of the match between Australia and Italy…

Chalk one up for the ref

damon — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 01:01:38 +0000

So the Socceroos lost this morning in a match that was decided by an “iffy” call by the referee.

I think the fundamental problem with soccer is allowing a single man try and cover the entire pitch, while staying close enough to the play to call it fairly and correctly. The ball can move so fast from one end to the other, it is impossible for a (usually middle-aged) man to keep up. Why do you think there are 3 field umpires in the AFL? Even in basketball, where the playing area is 95% smaller than a soccer pitch, there are 3 referees to keep control of the game.

For an interesting analysis of the refereeing throughout the World Cup, read Referees rule the pitch by Mark Bechtel.

Anyway, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it’s frustrating to come so far and have it all end in this way. All credit to the Italian defense though, it was standing firm even when they were a man down.

And finally: Well done Socceroos!

Round 2…bring it on!

damon — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:39:06 +0000

What an extraordinary game of soccer. An early Croatian goal, a missed penalty for Viduka, a penalty goal followed, a monumental stuff-up by the Aussie keeper to let through a 2nd goal, then our mate Harry comes through with the equaliser.

Lets not forget the missed handball by Croatia in the square and the 2nd red card for Simic who then stayed on the pitch.

All that aside, it was a great draw (read win) for the Aussies who are in the 2nd round for the first time ever. Cool.

Where’s the theme song?

damon — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 04:04:07 +0000

I don’t know how this can be called a real World Cup when there isn’t a Ricky Martin song blaring over the top of any footage even remotely connected to soccer.

On second thoughts, I’m very glad that there is no Ricky music this time around. Cup of Life was about as much any normal human could endure.

Happy birthday, Betty

damon — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:20:04 +0000

I would like to thank Queen Betty Windsor for living to see another birthday and thus, giving us a public holiday. You trivia buffs might be interested to know that today isn’t actually her birthday. It’s really 21 April 1926.

So, back to work tomorrow for another short week. Dont get too used to it though, because the next one isn’t until Melbourne Cup Day.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.

PS: Good luck to the Socceroos tonight as they play Japan in their first World Cup finals match in 36 years. Any boss who doesn’t let you go into work late tomorrow, a result of staying up all night to cheer on the boys, is a nasty-pastie.

Essendon vs Port Adelaide

damon — Sat, 27 May 2006 07:04:02 +0000

We are just about to head off to watch Essendon thrash the pants of Pt Adelaide (wishful thinking perhaps?) at the Telstra Dome. This will be my first live AFL match for 2006, hopfully the boys can do the right thing by me.

Australia vs Greece

damon — Thu, 25 May 2006 09:10:20 +0000

Melbourne is buzzing with “world cup fever”. Tonight’s match between the Socceroos and the ______ (whatever the Greek team calls themselves) should be a corker. I know there are lots of Melbournians who hate football (soccer) but I think you should still get into the spirit.

Even at 4:30 when I was riding home from work, there were soccer jersey-clad fans all around East Melbourne and the MCG. Hopfully we will see a few flares and plenty of Oscar-winning injury fakes to add to the entertainment.

My prediction: Aus 2 – Greece 1 (only because of home ground advantage, which doesn’t make a lot of sense because the crowd will probably be mostly Greeks and the Socceroos don’t really play on the G very often, do they!?)

As for the World Cup propper, I don’t think the Aussies will progress very far, but there will still be plenty of good matches to watch.