The pathetic attempt to avoid the issue of Vichy by the French union historian – an Englishman – speaks volumes for the series. The BBC should be ashamed of that effort.

The program was suddenly axed in late 2008 without any rational reason being given and replaced by yet another fillum review program presented by a simpering un-mellifluous Mrs Bruce Petty and some sycophantic sidekick.

Fortunately have kept an archive of shows from 1999 to January this year online at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/

Sports movies can be very hit and miss. Let’s hope they get it right because it is a fantastic story.

I’d recommend Patu! to anybody. It’s a fascinating documentary about the Springboks’ 1981 tour of New Zealand and the mass protests it sparked. It has incredible footage from inside protests and it really captures the feeling around an event that ripped apart families…”One Two Three Four We Don’t Want Your Rascist Tour!’

There’s also a French made (Canal Plus) documentary series called Great Sporting Rivalries. One of the episodes deals with the ABs v the Springboks and has in depth analysis of individual matches, centering on the legendary 1956 tour. Interviews with ABs greats as well as terrific retro footage make this worth a look for rugby fans.

yep, I too am waiting on a doco on the history of Australian Football…….oh, in ’96 there was a centenary of the AFL/VFL doco that wasn’t bad.

I’m reading a book on Thomas Wills now that’ll make a great doco/dramatic recreation.

im still waiting for a doco on the history of Australian Football. there has been too much mess, heart ache, corruption, colour, war zones, witch doctors,stars and now revolution.
for this part of history to be swept under the carpet would be tragic.

…im waiting

I look forward to the day I can get a laugh out of my kids by telling them when I was young I went to see the Socceroos play a World Cup Qualifier at Marden!

KB, you too mate.

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KB

Anyone heard of it before?

- Jackie Stewart – The Flying Scot.
- The F1 Saga. Like the History of Football this series traces the history of the sport. Hard to find nowadays.
- A Star Named Ayrton Senna – one of the best doco’s in my opinion. As far as I know it is only available on VHS.

I thought it was a dive. But it was a dive worth a penalty let’s say.. I though Bresciano had a lot to do with the penalty as well though.

I say no to the video ref. Football needs the drama. It also needs the basic elements of a ball, two goals and some players to exist. This is why it is played everywhere. Because it is so simple. FIFA won’t change it.

Sam,
what are your thoughts on Lucas Neill penalty was it or wasn’t it .?. btw I thought it wasn’t but again that’s football at the risk of upsetting some of my Italian friends, I thought it was a dive to be honest and was most upset with the ref at the time however truly over it…. I think you could not blame the ref nor the player as it happens at real speed and only the ref can make the decision from where he is position and call it how he sees it.. Again that’s football and I wouldn’t have it any other way .. Video refs have farked League and I would hate to see football go that way…

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KB

Sam,
yes I thought it was offside too .. But as they say; that’s football and I think Venables not selecting Ivanovich was the making of our down fall; if he Ivanovich had been in there it would have been totally different.. We could have done with Okon also who was injured for the entire campaign I think..?? Now that was an unfortunate occurrence, as Okon was at his peak as a player during that time but never featured .. Knee injury after knee injury, playing for Lazio .. ( ? )

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KB

That interview is in The Night After – the coach admitted Australia deserved to go through and I think he went as far as to say it was a tragedy that we missed out. He was very honest given that his side had just made the World Cup out of nowhere.

KB – As I’ve said before I have no recollection of the match at all and I have no desire to watch a replay at this point. I’m glad it is out of my mind. I remember the 2001 loss well though and again I’d say I’ll never watch a replay, unless it is with my kids or something like that. Also, the loss to Italy was very painful and when I was watching the SBS World Cup review I turned the TV off when that game came on. To me, watching old defeats is a bit like watching a video of your wedding after you find out your wife is cheating on you with your best man.

If you look at the team then: a young and in form Kewell, an agile and skilful Viduka, the clever and skilful Aurelio Vidmar, defenders such as Tobin and Ivanovich, Zelic in midfield (I think) and Bosnich in goal.

I really rated that team and I have never seen an Aussie team dominate so much in a first half. I remember clamping my hands after we missed sitter after sitter.

By the way the first Iran goal was offside. This makes it even worse!

“The year of the dog”

and the yet to be seen Ben Cousins doco is apparently worthy of a release that may not happen.

Recently SBS screen the doco series “Alive and kicking” about footy locally across Tasmania and King Island……that was a brilliant watch.

There was on ABC a doco recently about the rebirth of the ‘Fitzroy Stars’ (an inner Melb indigenous footy team)………of interest in the old Syd vs Melb NRL vs AFL is the reporting of this program (at the time, the day before screening) in the SMH – - read the last 2 paragraphs first, if you will. (talk about disingenous.)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/breaking-the-codes-indigenous-players-lead-the-way/2008/09/19/1221331205871.html

- – - – my favourite of all though – cricket – Calypso Summer. 3 DVD Set … Over 5 hours of Match Highlights from the 1960-61 West Indies Cricket Tour of Australia, including the famous “Tied Test”.

Sam – Johnny Warren’s Football Mission isn’t listed on the SBS site which suggests it is out of print, so you might have to look on eBay or in shops that sell second-hand DVDs.

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KB

Craig Foster said on TWG that he has not seen a replay of it till this day and refuses to do so .. but has a tape of the match and said he will give it to his son to watch it … the emotion is still very deep .. I even can still feel it myself to this day.. Boy was it painful that night… ;(

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KB

On that night I remember Mike Tomalaris interviewing the Iran coach who almost was embarressed to win. Then he tried to interview one of the Iran players who was celebrating in an extremely annoying way and showed Mike no respect at all. I remember the look on Mike’s face how and he wanted to just grab the bloke and..:)

Sadly a lot of these documentaries are not on DVD or VHS.

I remember it, KB. Maybe when we qualify for 2010 they’ll show it again. I don’t think that one is on DVD.

A couple of old ones I have on tape that I like are the two Euro 88 docos – Tor! and Road to Munich. That Dutch team was really something special.

Today I had lunch with some rellies and afterwards we watched SANFL The Way It Was ’82, narrated by a young Bruce McAvaney. Classic stuff.