The Australian Football League differs from the Victorian Football League in that rather than seeking to consolidate a local, state league as the premier competition of Australian rules football, the AFL seeks to broaden the game’s popularity, participation and fandom. This has an impact on the game’s culture and the kind of teams that are…
Football without a goal is like capitalism with bankruptcy or religion without hell. This is according to Tony Schumacher, the German goalkeeper who was condemned by the world when he knocked out the teeth of Patrick Battiston, a French player, during the 1982 World Cup. Goals are indeed inseparable from football, for it is goals…
The AFL was criticised throughout the 2015 season, and subsequently, for not having dealt earlier with the persistent booing of Adam Goodes in previous years. Here was a legend of the game, being tormented week in, week out, on the footy field: his work place. Mr. Goodes left the game without fanfare. He left the…
When I was in primary school, I already had a strong wish to be a journalist. So, I would retype articles from the newspaper: and most of the articles I typed were about sport. Most of the articles were about football, but, of course there were many articles about badminton [that sport at which Indonesia…
The Richmond Football Club has an alliance with Rumbalara Football Netball Club (see this article). This alliance is a means for Richmond to recruit talented young footballers from the north of Victoria. Rumbalara is on Yorta Yorta Country. These are the lands of notable figures such as William Cooper, Sir Doug Nicholls, Jimmy Little, Deborah…
Growing up in Melbourne during the 1980s, Princes Park was one of the regular grounds I attended with my father and brother. I was an Essendon fan (I have long-since renounced them) and my brother was a Carlton fan: he has renounced them too, along with Australian rules. And so, my father would alternate taking…
My name is Ery. I am a 24 years and come from Purwakarta – a small city in West Java, Indonesia. I’m a little bit chubby and I’m crazy about sport. Lately, I’ve been crazy about footy. But before I get to that, here is a little bit about growing up playing sport in Indonesia…
I walk towards the stadium. Its grey walls loom over the trees. Chatter amongst us grows louder and denser. We are funnelled along pathways; broad footpaths; all moving in the one direction. Now and then the crowd is split by a singular and still figure standing at a small desk selling Records – or in…
Some Thoughts on Amir Khan and Cathy Freeman* The lanky teenager bedecked in red stepped into the ring: eyes wide. The Union-Jacked fan club stood cheering in the stands, providing their last minutes of support before the fight that would determine the 2004 Olympics gold-medal in the 57-60kg division. Britain’s youngest ever boxer at the…