Australian Footbal Stories

[Take_a_Screamer]

I just obtained this 50c book in Vinnies
"Barassi Australian Football Stories" 1981. Foreword by Jack Dyer

Lots of short stories, which I'll relay here from time to time. Feel free to add yours.

P17. In the beginning...
It's often being said that Aussie Rules is a religion. Creation of football might have taken place in Biblical days as:

On the First Day, God created football Presidents
On the Second Day, God created football Coaches
On the Third Day, God created football Players
On the Fourth Day, God created football Supporters
On the Fifth Day, God created football Grounds
On the Sixth Day, God was due to rest - but he couldn't - he had to check with Ron Barassi to see if he'd done everything the right way.

P75. Weiderman's Mistake
Motivation has suddenly become a very fashionable word in football, but coaches were trying to motivate their players long before I was given my first nappy, let alone football boots.

But then, as now, it was possible to over do it and the result was often not quite what the coach had in mind.

Murray Weiderman was Collingwood's all-time glamour player, but he perhaps wasn't quite so successful as their coach. Before one vital game for the Magpies he tried to rev up his players with magnificent promises of what was in store for them should they win.

"Win this one," he said enthusiastically, "and the whole lot of you are on a trip to Fiji."

The players' eyes brightened and they could hardly wait to get on the ground. Weiderman was sure that it was in the bag, but he decided to throw in a bonus for good measure, "And what's more, we'll invite your wives along as well."

The fires died, their feet turned to lead, and they lost dismally.

[Take_a_Screamer]

From BigFooty forum
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/funny-stories.453/

1973 SANFL North Adelaide V Glenelg at Prospect oval.

Peter Carey was playing for Glenelg at CHF that day. It was before the interchange bench so if you went off you were off for the rest of the game. Anyway he got caught short with gastro & pooed his pants during the 2nd quarter & couldn't come off. Apparently it was running down his legs! At half time they hosed him off in the showers.

The thing is, he played a blinder during the 2nd quarter because no one was game to tackle him. Or so the story goes...

[Culprit]

https://www.bairnsdaleadvertiser.com.au/news/sport/1258-swan-reach-stripped-of-points#:~:text=Omeo%20District%20Football%20Netball%20League,the%202023%20Player%20Points%20Policy

Omeo District Football Netball League (ODFNL) ladder leader and premiership favourite, Swan Reach, has been stripped of all its 2023 wins after being found guilty and penalised for intentionally breaching the 2023 Player Points Policy.

[LaurieHolden]

I was a bit reluctant to post this given the nature of the content, and perhaps belonged in the VPT, but "this is the biggest verdict for an abuse survivor in Australian legal history".
If it opens pandoras box and the discussion drifts to the victim / impact / broader comment, I'll move it to the VPT.

My interest relates to the strain that this will place on an already struggling Club. $5.9m! That'll wipe out the 2022 seasons profit.
I can only imagine what a strain it'll place on football resources let alone the membership offerings.

The Club must be stunned by the jury's settlement.

Source :
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-09/afl-western-bulldogs-child-sexual-abuse-compensation/103085628

[LaurieHolden]

Which AFL teams have the best young cores in the league?

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/11/30/ranking-the-young-cores-of-all-18-afl-clubs-in-2024

[Take_a_Screamer]

Billy Brownless' Best Jokes From 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOX3iQiYvLs