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AMD

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Arcturan Mega Dragon (AMD), also known as David, is a Brisbane-based rugby league, football, cricket and cycling supporter.

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Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see any of the action today, but had a very pleasant afternoon listening in the car.

It sounded like Lanning played beautifully and the counter-attack from McGrath and Gardiner was very good.

'Brave and bloody tough' Mooney, England blow chances and leaders step up: Ashes Talking Points

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That’s the guy. A very sad demise indeed. But one of this country’s great athletes – Australia’s answer to Charles Burgess Fry.

The rugby league club graveyard: Balmain and the unhappy third merger (Part 10)

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League
 
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I thought that bit might get the Victorians going. 😊

I’m from Queensland by the way. I currently live in Brisbane, as I mentioned in part one.

I think Lowy was partly right. In terms of broader public appeal, he certainly had a point. In terms of the game’s history and future prospects, I think he was wrong about the value of the clubs formed by migrants.

You’re right that Adelaide clubs were much more stable than those from elsewhere. City nearly made all the way through the NSL.

The Sydney/NSW clubs were pretty strong until the end – Olympic and Wollongong won 3 of the last five NSL titles. Even Parramatta perked up a bit toward the end.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Glad I’m keeping you on your toes, JB 😊

I am familiar with some of Wilson’s work, and I know of that book, but haven’t got around to reading it.

I’m a little more interested in the socio-cultural/political history of the game, which is why I love Spanish football and writers like Phil Ball.

I tend to disagree with your assessment of Barça’s current status. They can’t flash money around because they don’t have any at the moment. The club’s actually mostly promoting from within – Nico, Gavi, Ferran Jutglá, Ezi Abde, Mingueza. The guy who looks like being their best player for the foreseeable – Pedro González – was signed for very little from Las Palmas.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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I’d love to hear more, JB.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Afternoon BT,

The Cosmos story is crazy – there’s a great chapter about it in Warren’s book.

I still don’t see why the so-called ethnic clubs were seen as problems, aside from the occasional bouts of crowd trouble which were always sensationalised by media.

They weren’t closed societies, they merely tried to carry on a tradition that had started in Europe. All were welcome.

In multicultural, 21st century Australia, it makes little sense to not celebrate the game’s tradition, including its European roots – that’s as Aussie as it gets.

The game’s still riding demographic change and probably – and hopefully – always will.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Thanks Midfielder,

We’re far from alone there. It’s not like league or cricket have always been run well. The story of rugby league in France makes football in Australia look like a picnic. Union’s been a bit of a basket case for a while now – I’d argue it always has been.

Looking abroad, Spain and Italy lurched from disaster to disaster until fairly recently. Real Madrid and Barça remain in precarious financial positions. It’s only a matter of time until the super league gets off the ground.

Major League Baseball – a multi-billion dollar industry – is effectively in stasis because the players and management can’t agree a new CBA. A player strike is still a possibility.

It’d be unusual if a sport like football – the fortunes of which have always been linked to social change, migration especially – was not dysfunctional. I think we should be aiming as high as possible and embracing the history of the game.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Thanks Paul (and DTM),

It was certainly a pleasant change to not be talking about the players carrying on like imbeciles (though some in the crowd did their best to lower the tone) and reading homilies from commentators with only a passing interest in cricket about they reflect badly on all of us.

On the pitches, I wonder how much the weather this summer influenced the state of the pitches, or is that not a factor with drop-ins?

The pitch here in Brisbane seemed to reflect the weather in the lead up – when it wasn’t raining it was intolerably humid. Sometimes it was both. You’d mow the lawn and it’d grow back about five minutes later.

Smith goes missing, no Archer and ball-friendly pitches: Ashes series disappointments

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Do you have some experience with such projects, Tony?

The rugby league club graveyard: Balmain and the unhappy third merger (Part 10)

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Thanks Para+,

I really enjoyed reading the book again – it’s been 20 years since I first read it and given how much has changed since then it was like reading it anew.

I only covered what Warren wrote about in his book and, as you and JB have said, there’s so much more that could be written about. I do hope you both consider writing some follow-up pieces about what I’ve missed or simply glossed over.

The NY Cosmos affair is one of the more entertaining passages of the book – the financial demands, tens of thousands of people forcing their way through the gates of the showground, people who actually purchased tickets being locked out and eventually having to be refunded, the organisers getting into trouble with the ATO about the payments made to Cosmos players. What a debacle!

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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All reasonable options. I think the Sydney area probably makes the most sense from a commercial standpoint.

Might it be worth testing the Tassie market?

For rent: The east-coast clubs that should host Perth Glory

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Football
 
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My pleasure Chris, glad you enjoyed it.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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It takes a fair bit to spark any interest from me in the BBL.

Smart move from the Sydney whatsanames.

'Absolute dog move' or 'very smart'? Cricket world reacts to Sixers' controversial final-over ploy

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Cricket
 
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More holistic. I love it. 😂

The rugby league club graveyard: Balmain and the unhappy third merger (Part 10)

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League
 
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Thanks for a great series, Tony.

Balmain was the team of league’s first couple of decades. What Jim Craig accomplished at Balmain, in Queensland and finally at Wests is one of the great careers. I’m not sure if he was ever prominent in discussions about immortals, but he should have been.

I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a book about his teammate Robert Craig, but I’d probably need to take a few months off to track down his relatives and dig into the archives. Maybe a retirement project.

The rugby league club graveyard: Balmain and the unhappy third merger (Part 10)

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Morning JB,

Excellent points, as always.

I wouldn’t even countenance attempting to write a history in ~2000 words. It’s about Johnny Warren’s book – trying to look back at things through his eyes.

I’ve written a bit of a primer – I’d be very happy for you to write a follow-up piece or two (or seven) about what I’ve missed or got wrong. 😁

All criticisms are most welcome.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Gawd, I can’t even remember Waz.

I occasionally do a bit of grocery shopping across the road from the Lions ground at Richlands.

It’s something of a metaphor for football. A big, fancy licensed club and associated infrastructure, with the old Dutch Club sitting very much in its shadow.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Hi Tigertown,

Broadly agree with you – we have to chase the corporate dollars for the game to keep growing.

Important to note that the ABC played an important role in the ALW’s development before Ten/PP came along.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Cheers, PR NSD.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
Today

Same here, Stevo.

The ’98 world cup was one of the things that reeled me in, even with the bitter after taste of Australia losing to Iran. I was already passionate about the game, but watching in ’98 made me desperate for us to be part of something like that.

I’m already nervous about tonight. Not sure how I’m going to get any work done today.

I quite like JJ – he’s a former Brisbane Striker after all. But seriously, the FA does seem to be communicating a lot better with fans of recent times, being a bit more transparent. There doesn’t seem to be any (or much) BS about the NSD – they’re obviously a bit nervous about deciding who should be in it and whether it’ll work, and so they should be.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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Thanks Grem, great comment.

I largely stayed away from arguing about what could or should happen because, apart from the obvious things like grassroots investment and getting more eyeballs on the elite game, I’m not sure I have the answers.

It is good to reflect on the past occasionally. Like everything in sport, business, politics, etc, there’s not much that’s genuinely new – it’s always a version of the past.

I’m cautiously optimistic – JJ’s a former Brisbane Striker after all – he must be good. 😊

I’m not sure what John Kosmina’s up to these days, but I’d like to see him involved in some way.

Before the new dawn: Johnny Warren, an old book and me (Part 2)

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Football
 
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The sad thing is I’ve already started thinking about how I might do an all-time table – both the complete version with every team and a weighted version which could change from year to year.

BTW, thanks for the kind words about my article from a few weeks back. 😊

Total knockout: Six reasons why we should remember the City Cup

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From what I understand, Di Stéfano’s appearances for Colombia weren’t officially recognised by FIFA. He played for Spain after gaining citizenship. Same for Puskás.

A tribute to Paco Gento, Real Madrid’s gale-force winger

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John Rheinberger got a ring – or more likely a medal – for about the same shift in 1975. And rightly so.

Didn’t Nathan Cleary’s protocol breach happen in 2020, or have I completely lost track of time in COVID world?

Players and player managers have power because there’s a market for their services. If nobody else was interested in TPJ, the Bulldogs might have been able to offer him what you suggest.

Million Dollar Man: Can Tevita Pangai Jr finally put it all together at the Bulldogs?

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Looks like the Martial deal is done.

In interesting news, Tyreece John-Jules – nephew of the Cat in Red Dwarf – has joined the Owls of Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Arsenal.

What could possibly go wrong?

Transfer rumours: Traore to join Spurs, Juventus swoop on Vlahovic and can Newcastle afford Carlos?

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