Canadian James Dennier, or Bash Brother as he is affectionately known around these parts, catapulted himself to cult status last year in a series of inexplicable events. It was also his first year with the Tokyo Goannas, and his first you playing Aussie Rules… ever. I got a chance to catch up with him…
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” This Andy Warhol quote is most likely framed and hung on every wall at AFL house, including those inside the lavatory. They are words heavily preached by Demetriou and his rules committee cohorts it seems. For them, the image and spectatorship…
Every once in a while the sporting Gods go shopping for human emotions, end up buying out the whole store, and then throw the entire purchase into one unsuspecting moment. What you end up with is Jesse Owens debunking the Aryan myth. You might even get the Springboks doing it for Nelson in ’95….
NO TOMORROW Minutes after the 25-point defeat to a spirited Komazawa Magpies unit, the Goanna men formed a circle around Rob Scarlett. Albeit a family club, there was no kidding about this time. Dress rehearsal or otherwise, the performance was not good enough. There was work to be done, and the boys were told in…
A FAMOUS AFFAIR Is there a more famous victory in football folklore than the 1970 Grand Final? For those unfamiliar, it was Carlton’s come from behind win over a steamrolling Collingwood side after reeling in a 44-point half time deficit. Without any hint of hyperbole, peradventure we have finally seen a rival – or perhaps…
THE POWER TO REMEMBER How does one write a match report without much of a memory? Thanks a lot Oges. After a bit of a mild migraine for two days due to some friendly fire courtesy of David Ogilvy’s thigh (thank goodness for some padding there), this reporter have let things stew for about two…
THEY CAN HEAR US COMING… On the surface, Tokyo Goannas’ 65 point victory over the Eastern Hawks in round 3 seemed to be the least eventful game of the year. Therewere no late withdrawals. No battles with injury. No wild fluctuation in momentum. There wasn’t even a boat race to contend with. In short, it looked like a…
2 IN A ROW– BUT NO ROW FOR THE BOAT Ok first things first. The Boat Race. An age old tradition going back before words like ‘swag’ and ‘yolo’ became popular. A challenge of strength, manhood, and gullet ability. A test so profound in its importance some say it rivals the actual football game that…
LIONS TAMED BY SOME LIZARDRY Stamina is a scarce and much needed resource at the Goannas. Historically and even more so now. That’s why, last Sunday on the remote grounds of Narita, when the bench dropped to two players before the first bounce and the sun decided to blaze an energy-sapping inferno, most pundits thought the boys…
IRISH YOU A HAPPY IRISH SPORTS DAY On a chilly, blustery Saturday devoid of any Springtime feel – a perfect day given it was an Irish sports day – the Goanna lads and gals, new and old, young and well-lived, came out to play some International Rules. Club stalwarts Sully and Trav were there pulling…