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Roar Guru
Joined April 2014
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Sydney based writer with a particular interest in the history and culture of sport. Likes Sydney FC in the A-League and Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.
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It is one of the biggest Australian club football games in years. The 1908 New South Wales Gardiner Cup final pits Glebe, the league champions, against Pyrmont, league winners for the past three seasons.
Could a nearly 100-year old trophy be the icing on the cake of the proposed national second division?
The marketing for this year’s A-League is practically invisible, with reports an advertising campaign was pulled at the last moment because not everyone would sign off on it.
Here we are in September and my thumbs have blisters from so much twiddling. All this clear air is hurting my lungs. I want to watch some A-League now.
For Australian football fans to make the distinction between the winners of the league and the winners of the grand final, we should come up with a new name for the A-League champions.
One of the feel-good stories of the new European football season is the appearance of Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Imagine if every time the Socceroos stepped onto the pitch it was for competition points. No more tiresome friendlies.
If sports fans were after someone to barrack for in this year’s series of The Voice, they should look no further than ex-Test cricketer Henry Olonga.
On the 28th February this year a significant event took place at FFA headquarters in Sydney.
I learned two things about the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Firstly: their home stadium is not actually in Kansas. Secondly: their seemingly straightforward march to the top seed of the AFC has hit a snag.
Houston Texans’ nine-game winning streak was halted and the New England Patriots blew the chance to wrap up the AFC East in a helter skelter round of the NFL.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the Lone Star state hosts two of the biggest football teams in the land.
For the first time this season, the New Orleans Saints have taken over as the number one seed in the NFC. In fact, they now have the best record in the NFL.
The Hollywood scriptwriters must have been hard at work prior to the hugely anticipated clash between the offense-crazy Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 10 of the NFL opened at Heinz Field when Pittsburgh Steelers hosted an in-form Carolina Panthers.
Halloween serves as a convenient halfway point of the NFL season. After the weekend’s games every team has played at least eight of their 16 fixtures.
Week eight of the NFL began with the Houston Texans hosting the Miami Dolphins.
The Western Sydney Wanderers take on Sydney FC this Saturday in the first Sydney derby of the 2018/19 A-League season.
Who’s in an NFL tipping competition? I am and I’m running dead last. My average score of 50 per cent is no better than someone randomly picking wearing a blindfold. It’s a score on a par with a marsupial or a fence post.
American football moved offshore for the first time this season, with Wembley Stadium in London hosting the match between Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders.
Maybe it’s the crowds but I have found the Matildas games better to watch than the socceroos. Women’s football possibly has potential for more growth than men’s football in Australia – I’m sure Ch10 and FA will be watching the ratings with interest.
It's early days yet, but Network Ten might just have saved football
Great article AMD. My dad went to see the great French RL teams at the SCG in the 50s. He always reckons they were the best international sides (in terms of excitement and style) that ever came out. PS do you know when the photo of Puig-Aubert at the SCG was taken?
Rugby league in France: The two kings
Surely they’ll come to their senses and change the name before they play their first game. It defeats the purpose of expansion if a new club has no geopgraphical roots.
What's in a name like the Dolphins?
Nice story Mike. For me, of an earlier ahem..vintage it was Johann Cryuff and Gerd Muller (loved them both). I have thought in this tournament England have done an “Italy” – started off slow but improving all the time. It should be a great contest between the two best teams. Good luck Michelangelo Tuckarelli !!!!
The two romantic reasons I'm an Italian in disguise
I honestly think Auckland should be about the first expansion team picked. Interesting times ahead!
How many expansion teams would work in winter A-League?
16 teams playing home and away for 30 games plus FFA Cup and finals will give every team at least 31 games. Considering how much travel there is this would be a good outcome. A good comparison geographically is Russia which has 16 teams in its top flight. The latest broadcast deal pretty much answers the question on winter football – it won’ t happen any time soon – maybe never. As much as I think winter football is great, money talks and football money doesn’t talk winter.
How many expansion teams would work in winter A-League?
All the very best Daniel, and thanks for the great advice and feedback over the years, provided with courtesy and professionalism. Good luck with everything.
Four incredible years of sport: My farewell to The Roar
I think this first week of the finals was good. CCM and Brisbane finished higher and get the home ground advantage. If these matches were over two legs then you would have Syd FC and Melb City sitting out for two weeks. I think there is some merit in next week’s matches being played over two legs however, just so the 1 and 2 teams aren’t knocked out straight away after being rusty from having a week off. Play the second legs at the higher placed team’s ground. It would make the finals series a week longer which is not such a bad thing for a broadcaster.
Did the Central Coast and Brisbane get what they deserved from the A-League finals?
Cheers Grem. The Championship is wide open I reckon.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 24
Good debate Stu. I reckon Archie Thompson will be the first one picked for the Channel 10 broadcasts. He’ll appeal to the young demographic plus he has more A-League experience than all the others combined (except perhaps Cornthwaite). Plus, after a few early hiccups he is proving to be a natural analyst. Obviously I’d go with Simon Hill and Mel McLaughlin if she’s available. For a talk show I’d love to see Kossie, Bozza, Aloisi and Kevin Muscat – (would probably need to hire extra security guards though.)
What should football’s new Network Ten/Paramount+ commentary team look like?
This from the Guardian “Western United’s A-League clash with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park will be played behind closed doors, while Melbourne City’s match against Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park on Saturday has been postponed.
A decision on United’s game with Macarthur on Monday night will be made in the next 48 hours.”
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 23
Has anyone heard how the Victorian lockdown will affect the A-league this weekend?
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 23
“Macarthur have already beaten the Mariners this year? Please explain?” – it was the other way around wasn’t it – I even picked that result – well spotted. They definitely learnt from that game. Adelaide: have beaten Victory, City, CCM then WSW away from home – Goodwin back, some great young kids – they might have just turned the corner.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 11
“the man they call ‘70’s Mo’ struggled somewhat.” grumble…grumble…
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 10
I’d like to see the 40/20 rule expanded to 50/10, 30/30, 20/40, 10/50. i.e any kick from within your own half that finds touch (not on the full) and has nominally travelled 40 metres you get the ball back.
Two-point field goal included in new NRL rules
But is the round of 32 open? From what I read the round of 32 was going to be regionalised to an extent to ‘create’ derbies. Australia Cup is a good a name as any – keep it simple – and is gender nuetral. Standalone weekends at the end are good. Neutral venue is theoretically a good idea as long we are Ok with a crowd of about 3,000. I think just draw it from a hat from one of the 2 finalists is the best compromise. 2 legged finals – eeeech! please no. After playing hundreds of one off knockout games why would you suddenly change it for the final? And it’s about as thrilling as kissing your sister
The FFA Cup is back, different and begging for a new name
Great article Pat. I was a nipper at this stage and a bit too young to remember the series BUT there was quite a bit of folklore surrounding it. The number one talking point in my family was Bill Lawry declaring while Rod Marsh was on 92. My aunties/uncles, grandparents and parents would always talk about this one point. I think no wicket keeper had scored a test match century at the time. My grandfather went on about this for YEARS! They always reckon Lawry ended up getting shafted because of it. Great memories!
The 1970-71 Ashes: 50 years on
“with Paul Nicholls and Tom Williamson making up the numbers ” !!! What happened to ‘we’re all in this together” OK, that’s it, I’m spending every spare minute checking the form – I’ll be camped outside Valentine Park spying on the Phoenix.. 😊
The Roar’s A-League expert tips and predictions: 27 in 28 (Part 1)
Maybe we could have an alphabetic series on an alphabetic range of sports. Start with abseiling, badminton, canoeing, dog sled racing, equestrian … you get the picture…
As sport goes into lockdown, what do you want to read on The Roar?
Mike, does any team have a Pokemon type critter as a mascot, or some Godzilla type monster? I’d go for them. Great read by the way.
Why we should all pick a J.League team to support this season
East Adelaide! Nice. At least you read it – I’ll see if the powers that be can make the changes 👍
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 7
They still have draws in Ice Hockey don’t they? How many points for a draw?
Golden-point bonus points are unfair
Are you sure? This would only make sense if a win in regular time was worth three points. What you have described couldn’t have come from the minds of humans surely? Brain-dead zombies maybe.
Golden-point bonus points are unfair
In that case can I just comment by cutting and pasting last weeks inspired/lame comment? Seriously good stuff, Geoff – I learned something… I think
The Wrap: The art of writing the recurring rugby column
A movie sounds like a great idea.
Joe Davidson: Australia’s early black football star