Like sanity at a One Nation convention, this blog hasn’t been afforded much regard of late. Addressing a gnawing curiosity whether I had a decent story in me and whether I had the skill to regurgitate it in a compelling and entertaining fashion has been a heck of a ride over the past 12 months….
The 7 Wonders of Reservoir
Approximately 2km beyond the outer reaches of Melbourne’s Hipsterville (Bell Street being the Mason Dixon Line), and just 12km north of the city, Reservoir spreads itself like Clive Palmer across 19 square kilometres. Yet there’s no North, South, East or West Reservoir. No Reservoir Heights or Reservoir Downs in a none too subtle attempt to inflate house…
Death Tracks; Beyond Motordrome
The spectre of danger, even death, has done little harm to motorsport’s mass appeal. But the attrition rates of the motordromes, which predated the Great Depression, were something else. As a world champion racer of penny farthings, it seems absurd that engineer Jack Prince’s second stab at fame would be to kick start the most…
The 7 Wonders of Preston
Since the first white resident Samuel Jeffrey set up digs in 1841, Preston has evolved to become a much sought after locale inhabited (and only rarely inhibited) by 30,000 constituents. A tough working class reputation was well earned however in recent years Preston has matured and mellowed. Consequently house prices have charted a similar trajectory as the career of award-winning Prestonian Christos Tsiolkas, author of The…
Book Review: the Scott Hodges story
When I unwrapped this on Christmas morning I knew my wife, bless her, hadn’t quite purchased the footy book intended – albeit I’ve always followed with interest and awe the fortunes of the SANFL variety of Magpie. Surprisingly, the subject of this biography has always, and still does, follow Collingwood in the AFL. Nonetheless, she…
The 7 Wonders of Thomastown
To my eternal surprise, a variety of respectable and not-so respectable publications used to pay to print my scribblings. But nothing has struck a chord like The 7 Wonders of Reservoir of which over 50,000 poor sods miraculously discovered. Like any self disrespecting writer, when the muddy puddle of ideas runs dry, the obvious solution is to revisit the past and punch out a crappy sequel….
For the love of Collingwood, it’s time Ed
After endless speculation Nathan Buckley’s coaching career appears it may be slowly, achingly lowered into the ground. Eddie McGuire’s tenure must surely be as tenuous . Oddly, El Presidente has thus far escaped the same level of scrutiny. When Ed took on the role the club was a basket case. It’s been a rollercoaster 20 year ride, but the undeniable fact is the club is once…
Bowie’s best & less known gems
By the 1990’s radio and MTV had long passed on playing David Bowie’s new stuff. Despite being light years ahead of contemporaries, apparently Ziggy was a fading star. As the fan base dwindled and failed to replenish, only true Bowiephiles remained in on the secret. It took the great man’s shock passing in January to jog the world’s memory of…
Election Day cray
As published by mX, 9 September 2013 “I’m a violent, paranoid schizophrenic”. The 15 hour-long day of an AEC polling official certainly has its moments. This is how one lady of advancing years chose to introduce herself to a fellow ordinary vote issuing officer. I’d never seen a real life Monty Python sketch before, until…
Era, era on the wall; 2011 –
Part 9 – Whatever it takes “Right now everyone’s angry and they’re angry for 100 different reasons.” Collingwood President Eddie McGuire, August 2015 Since Jock McHale was a boy players played because they enjoyed it and watchers watched because they loved it. Footy was a diversion, an emotional outlet, a way of feeling connected to a tribe and like-minded people. …
Era, era on the wall; 2000 – 2010
Part 8 – Lost in Transmission Docklands. Colonial Stadium. Telstra Dome. Etihad Stadium. By any name, the League’s new whiz-bang indoor venue (and headquarters) which ushered in the new millennium left punters feeling colder than its predecessor Waverley. It could be argued the stadium, more suited to inner city singletons and corporates, was a major tipping point for many…
Era, era on the wall; 1987 – 1999
Part 7 – Growing pains and gains Ablett, Daicos, Lockett, Carey, Brereton, Buckley, Hird, Matera, Jarman, Winmar, Harvey, McLeod, Dunstall, Williams, Kernahan… As the 20th Century drew to a close there was no shortage of bona fide champions doing the rounds and blitzing the finals. A more professional game bore relentless, attacking football. Although tagging emerged as an artform,…
Write Line Fever 