Melbourne
Sydney FC fans have woken up this morning feeling like they’ve had their wallets stolen – but they’ve got no one to blame but themselves.
Melbourne Victory’s major semi-final extra-time winner yesterday afternoon was typical; clever Kevin Muscat exploiting the situation, too-quick Archie Thompson putting the ball in the back of the net.
But what were Sydney doing? Ball-watching? Waiting for the ref? Checking their haircuts? In an open and entertaining game, Melbourne always seemed most likely to grab the all-important away goals that would earn them a home grand final.
Continue reading "Melbourne slips another one past sleeping Sydney" »
Yesterday The Punch went to Footscray in Melbourne’s West to talk to its people about crime and racism following the stabbing death of a young Indian student in their suburb.
Footscray is not a particularly nice place. That’s not to say it’s a bad place, but there’s a reason the yuppies in the “run rabbit run” Melbourne tourism ads didn’t play hide and seek around Footscray station.
Footscray is the kind of suburb that is pretty typical of outer urban suburbs throughout the world: a working class suburb close enough to the city that becomes a cheap base for brand new arrivals to live and set up shop. The suburb’s density and multicultural population means it often described in terms like “cultural melting pot” by people who see it as a great source of authentic Pho soup.
It’s also the suburb where 21-year-old Nitin Garg was stabbed to death on his way to work at the local Hungry Jacks.
Continue reading "Talking crime, violence and racism with Footscray" »
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Andrew G says:
Spot on Fred. The Western Buldogs are pushing for social housing on their site, next to the oval. Their president who has been very vocal about this, David Smorgan, lives in Toorak. Why isn’t he pushing for more social housing in Toorak? Read more »
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Fred says:
Correct, he is representing the rate payers who elect him. When 250 social housing units get built in Malvern or Toorak or Camberwell, then it will be ok to build them in Footscray. Alleviating poverty is about social integration. It should not be about creating welfare ghettoes in one small… Read more »
If you read the headlines, late-night violence in Melbourne is out of control.
To a degree this is true, but we have little chance of curbing the problem with illogical solutions.
Take some of the measures proposed in the past fortnight, for example. Firstly, there was the party promoter who banned “metrosexuals” from the Ding Dong Lounge.
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Knightyme says:
Further to my comment above. The DL smart card would also enforce a 0% blood alcohol limit for at least 50% of the time someone is on restricted Alcohol conditions. I say restricted, because I think it fair(ish) that they cant buy alcohol but their friends can. The catch is… Read more »
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TLC says:
So true. The best statement I read in years. Read more »
The biggest problem for the AFL in getting a successful presence in Western Sydney won’t be the choice of Kevin Sheedy as coach, it won’t be the home ground or sponsorship and isn’t even the popularity of rugby league as such.
No, the largest hurdle for the AFL in setting up shop in Western Sydney is this: Australian Football is still predominantly a white Anglo/Celtic sport with a culture that doesn’t look anything like Western Sydney.
Right now the AFL doesn’t even reflect the ethnic make-up of its own Melbourne heartland, so how does it expect to sell itself to kids and their parents in the most ethnically diverse part of Australia?
Continue reading "A game white people like: the AFL’s West Sydney problem" »
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Steve of Sydney AFL/NRL fan says:
This is quite possibly the worst article ive ever read to compare majak daw (a sudanese refugee) to someone like george gregan (half australian who immigrated here when he was 1) is ridiculous i love league and aussie rules and theres room for both in west sydney. And to say… Read more »
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A Kiwi AFL fan says:
Regarding Pacific Islanders and the AFL, it’s worth noting that the national sport of Nauru is in fact Aussie Rules football. Another one of Shanahan’s arguments takes a tumble ... Read more »
The ABC has been criticised for not mentioning the “M” word in their coverage of the arrest of the alleged terrorists in Victoria, for planning an attack on the Holsworthy army base in Sydney.
There have been calls from media pundits that members of the relevant community condemn terrorism.
As a member of the relevant community I’m not afraid to use the “M” word: Melburnian.
Continue reading "As a proud Melburnian, I denounce all terrorism" »
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Josh says:
No Real point to that article. Plus you left out that Vic has a substandard replacement to NRL (yes I knocked AFL). Get over yourself Read more »
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LM says:
Steven, I see how it’s not easy to understand the logic behind what I’m saying. But you see it’s just that where you were born or even live for a certain period of time doesn’t often accurately reflect your ethnicity or how you identify yourself and it’s difficult to explain… Read more »
THIS is the story of two games of football, the first of which proves that the AFL is an absolute powerhouse which is rightly the envy of sports administrators the world over, the second of which casts doubt on its ability to extend beyond its tribal powerbase in the civilised AFL states.
Carlton-St Kilda at Etihad and Sydney-Collingwood at Stadium Australia.
I was lucky enough to be at the first match. It stands as one of the greatest games of footy I have ever seen. And like many people in Sydney I could have got tickets to the second match but piked due to the drizzle, the fact that it was televised, and also because I (rightly) suspected the Swans would lose.
Continue reading "Sydney’s fair-weather fans no match for Melbourne passion" »
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kdawg says:
AFL doesn’t get covered properly in Sydney. The telegraph doesn’t file match reports on non-sydney games, only swans games are shown live, its hard to find even swans games on the radio sometimes. On top of that, both southern cross and seven network have delayed afl games beyond what can… Read more »
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JG says:
“the envy of sports administrators the world over”??? Srsly? Oh, yeah, NYY’s Steinbrenners and co must be green. Read more »
The actual killing itself was quite professionally done. Track him down at the coffee shop and, you know, to be waiting there as he walked in the door was quite good.
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Dr. JOHN says:
Dr. John, said to Chopper when is your cook book coming out? GO woods. Read more »
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mary collingwood says:
chopper your views are the most refreshing insight to this sad affair..Someone get the man to do a screenplay. Read more »
Updated: The strange thing about big historical events, the really big stories, is that they creep up on you in increments.
They bubble away in your head as you flash a glance at the news or take a longer than usual look at the international headlines.
Like little pop-up icons in our collective consciousness, bits and pieces of news on an issue begin to coalesce and we begin to take notice.
Then it reaches its crescendo and everything changes: the wall goes down, Suharto is gone, Milosevic is ousted and Obama is elected.
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Reza says:
Its touching to see all these people gathering for a same cause. But believe it or not iranian are being toys subject with all this gathering to the west.Ayattollah are rnjoiying the power and money westers countries are enjoiyng cheap sources of mineral and other elements which come from that… Read more »
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JK says:
I think Iran is onto something, I demand another USA election because the media rigged the election, Ron Paul didnt get fair coverage. Lets all get together in Washington next wednesday… and shout STOLEN VOTES, and start burning cars. Obama wont touch us, he says we have the right to… Read more »
This graphic from news.com.au today:
In case you’ve been buried in spreadsheets or meetings all afternoon:
JUDY Moran is one of three people arrested over the murder of her brother-in-law Desmond “Tuppence” Moran.
You can read the story here.
Police say a 43-year-old man is expected to be charged with one count of murder, while a 64-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman are expected to be charged with being an accessory to murder.
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Despite the seemingly inoperable state that Rugby League can appear to be in at times, the advent of the three-match State of Origin manages to redeem it as an amazing sporting spectacle year after year. It is also a venue in which players are still given the green light to punch on.
Although nothing quite like this anymore (keep an eye on the Blue’s 13 whose idea of tackling is just to come in swining along with a young Paul Vautin)
This year the first match is in Melbourne and some deluded weirdos argue (see below) today that Origin has no place being played in AFL’s heartland. But I say let Origin be staqed in whatever city can guarantee a packed stadium of enthusiastic fans engaging in the lost art of interstate hatred. Furthermore if Melbourne wants an annual Origin clash we should give them one.
Continue reading "Punch: play Origin in Melbourne every year" »
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Dave says:
The worst thing about not being at the game is having to listen to Phil Gould commentate (especially now that Roy & HG aren’t on…) He called everything an ‘origin moment’ - things like picking up the ball in the in goal, making tackles, scoring tries - things that happen… Read more »
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Rod says:
Haynes disallowed try: The linesman was so close up and couldn’t see he put a foot on the line? Because he didn’t and the video ref changed the entire game. Along with other decisions, a poor match by the ref’s and linesmen. Bad decisions also by the nsw fullback, Lyons… Read more »
Tonight State of Origin travels south to Melbourne. It should be the last time it does so.
Sure, it’ll be a great chance for the several dozen Melbourne Storm fans to get together, along with several thousand ambivalent corporates who will be chatting over Crownies about whether Terry Wallace jumped or was pushed as Richmond coach.
As a spectacle though it’s an insult to real league fans in Sydney and Brisbane - which offers nothing to Melburnians who simply don’t get the game, and will no doubt be shouting “high!” and “ball!” at inappropriate junctures tonight.
Continue reading "Counterpunch: Alice Springs should host the curling" »
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Ange says:
Well, bring SOMETHING to Alice Springs, please. It’s now cold enough to host curling, tho… Read more »
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Ant Sharwood says:
The funny thing about your analogy about curling in Alice Springs is that Centrebet is based in Alice Springs. And Centrebet offers odds on a huge range of wintry, icy sports because a huge portion of its clients are Scandinavian, who for one reason or another trust Australian bookies. Centrebet… Read more »
Coffee snobbery is getting out of control. The other night my request for a dash of milk in a post-meal espresso at a hip new eatery drew a firm shake of the head. “We do not have milk,” the French owner sniffed. She didn’t mean they’d run out - they simply don’t serve milk with coffee. Not a drop.
Much like Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi, eatery owner Catherine Chauchat sets high standards for her patrons. Her chalkboard menu vetoes soft drink, and a cup of any tea other than obscure herbal digestives is out of the question.
And you can bet if she ever puts steak on the peasant-style menu, eaters won’t have the option of it served well done.
Continue reading "Full-cream fascists: just let me have milk in my coffee" »
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jason says:
The customer is not “always right” - that’s such an 80’s “my money will buy anything attitude” bullshit. Avocados aren’t in season but you want one - “Such wankers! If I want avocados my $3 should be able to buy one”. Aria doesn’t serve your favourite $10/bottle crap wine -… Read more »
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Helene says:
Well, I understand from a business perspective not offering soy or decaf - but people such as myself don’t make wanky requests for the fun of it. There are those of us who can’t tolerate dairy - and I refuse to heed the coffee snobs who maintain that “coffee with… Read more »
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