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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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.
On the outside of Churchill’s Sports Bar in Kingsford is a collection of life-sized sporting posters. The NFL one is of a quarterback in classic throwing pose – a quintessential American football image.
We are lucky in Australia to have such a great variety of sports and last weekend was a perfect example.
As a proud Australian, I followed every play of Jarryd Hayne’s brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, which made me appreciate the game a lot more.
The Matildas will go into the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France full of confidence. Currently (August 2018) ranked eighth in the world, they showed at the 2018 Tournament of Nations what a class act they are.
Waking up at 4am to see the blood moon brought back memories of the World Cup.
Dick Smith Electronics was a revelation when it first opened around 50 years ago. It was the era where anything electrical or technological was like a drug to the new consumer class of techno-nerds.
Absolutely Griffo. Quite a few changes – hopefully the Stajcic case was the lowpoint.
Confirmed: David Gallop stepping down as FFA CEO
Awesome read.
What the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup - and everything before it - means to me
Such a soft penalty that one. These pitch side reviews are farcical – I see the Premier League are going to cut down on most of these in their VAR which is a good thing.
But USA far too good and congrats to them. Great game by the Dutch keeper as well
When you play like the USA, you can say whatever you want
Fascinating sub-plot to the World Cup – just as America starts to gear up for the next Presidential election. Mr Trump will want to score political points but as the US team is so popular at the moment he would need to be careful how he does it. Ms Rappinoe seems to be a forceful personality – will the whole team stand with her? Is it a bad look for woman’s soccer if they decline the invitation? Will be interesting to see what happens.
Rapinoe vs Trump: Disrespectful or inspiring activism?
I think people underestimate the strength of RL and soccer in the west of Sydney. Parra and Penrith have massive followings even if they are reluctant to go to games. I also think GWS did themselves no favours by aligning themselves with Canberra – it’s given them an in-built identity crisis from day one.
GWS are tearing up the AFL, so where are the fans?
I have hardly looked at the Rugby columns for a while and am wondering why considering how good this article is (although the tech videos are a bit distracting!) It does say something that I have come to this page after watching the great sporting package that is state of origin. If anything, NRL is getting more popular in Oz and Rugby seems to be losing its way. I just wonder whether we shouldn’t just embrace this – let the players go to UK and France for as much money as they can get. Put pressure on IRB to have International breaks so the best players can be picked for internationals and at the same time reduce the number of internationals that are played – I’m actually getting bored of playing NZ so many times. Is there some kind of transfer system in Rugby? Could clubs/states/provinces be rewarded for helping produce good players for overseas clubs? Maybe if Aus rugby was just a feeder comp for Northern Hemisphere rugby then we might at least see some very competitive young players going around. Club football (soccer) in Brazil and Argentina is still fairly popular even with the best players in Euro clubs. I do have a soft spot for the great sport of Rugby that my father played and loved and hope there is a resurgence in the Australian game soon. Great read, Nic.
Will Australian rugby become a farm for the north?
A good optimistic piece Stuart … although “the new 13-team A-League season” I counted only 11 !! But that’s neither here nor there. On point 1) Great idea but the fact we are only getting 1 not 2 new teams and therefore still just 5 games a week means it feels slightly half-hearted. I’m truly baffled why they didn’t go to 12 straight away. Thoughts? I’m more looking to the following season when there are 12 teams.
5) I think this one is massive – if the new stadium doesn’t boost WSW and the league then there are problems. They have made a great start by playing Leeds Utd – hopefully that sets the bar – as long as seats are not too expensive I would like to think WSW could average 20k next season.
And… go the ’tildas !!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is the state of play in football after another stagnant A-League season?
Great article Jordan. Isn’t football a game for the people? Surely Perth Glory represent the people of Perth. This game is a showpiece – let’s get it out of the garage and put it on the big stage.
This A-League grand final bandwagon talk must stop
Interesting how this worked out and it’s hard to argue considering the criteria you set. At the end of day there are 4 Victory players but only one Glory player. My changes: Reddy in for Thomas, Davidson for Deng, O’Neill for Isais and sorry to say I don’t think Ninkovic has been at his best this year – I would swap him for Castro.
The Roar’s A-League team of the season are Johnny Warren Medal contenders
Wasn’t the exact tweet “Sydney can’t lose from here”? In which case he was technically correct?
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 25
Champers? Compliments of The Roar? Is it Pinot Roar? Yes, yes, sharing is caring.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 25
The Crowd are on a roll – the people have spoken!
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 24
Was a great venue and a great weekend. Such great potential in the future for football journalism and literature and football itself. Good to see such a diverse group, young and old, men and women. Very good write up Stuart and on a personal note you did very well in your session!
Punter, Stevo, AG074, Nemesis, Midfielder – get yourself along to next year’s conference!
2019 Football Writers Festival: An inspiring weekend with Jens and Foz
Very well said Matt. Relocation is not expansion – it is robbing passionate RL fans of their sport and dropping it into an area where no-one gives a toss. In anti-corporate terms it’s a lose-lose scenario. The Bears would be massive.
Relocation is madness. Bring back the Bears
Hi Mr Football. I was interested to note that when questioned about it just the other day, the new SW Sydney franchise people said they absolutely welcomed promotion and relegation. Just a bit of bravado or is this representative of a new way of thinking?
What do football fans want from an Australian second division?
Financial viability is a huge factor Redondo but who really is an expert on this aspect? Not me. Mr Nogarotto and co. have made some pretty bullish noises about this – I expect they are in a better position than me to make it happen.
What do football fans want from an Australian second division?
Cheers Nem. There are so many facets to this I could have kept writing and writing but if you gaze too far ahead you’ll never see the challenges right ahead of you. The thing that impresses me (and even surprises me) is the absolute enthusiasm and commitment of the people involved.
What do football fans want from an Australian second division?
Should we demand a recount Griffo? (Although I’d probably go backwards if we did)
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 21
All 13 home games. Does that mean next season will have 26 or 27 rounds?
Western Sydney Stadium is the feel-good story the A-League needs
Thanks for the grand walk down memory lane. Well played David
A lifetime of great sporting memories
Trophy? Please make those enquiries Stuart. I’m clearing a space on my mantle piece just in case.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 20
My bad. Castro of course. Well spotted Haydos.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 19
So my one point was actually good? Well it’s certainly tight at the top. Should be another cracking round this week.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 19
What a fantastic game of cricket. The rules re super over were well known in advance – no complaints from me. Knowing that with 1 ball left in the super over there could only be one winner made it all the more exciting.
England win World Cup final in thrilling super over finish against New Zealand