Victorian football fans experienced something unique last weekend, the opportunity to cheer for Jonathon Brown, Adam Goodes, Ryan O’Keefe, Daniel Bradshaw and Luke Power, and it was sensational. Almost 70,000 fans turned out at the MCG for a match that had no backbone, it had no soul, it was without consequence, it undeniably lacked heart. Imagine how supported the concept would be if it actually mattered. But how can we make it matter? [Read More]

The recent “representative” match between Victoria and the Dreamteam has been looked at from almost every angle. Most people have embraced the game with perhaps the exception of channel ten who managed to upset almost everyone by cutting short the coverage. After taking it all in, the one conclusion I came to, is that while the players and coaches supported the idea they didn’t embrace it passionately. Ultimately players still pulled out of contests and coaches still didn’t want players with niggles risking injury and putting themselves on the line. [Read More]

Australia have dominated the game of One Day cricket for many years now, and when you look at a few telling aspects it is hardly surprising. Coming in at number three, we have a batsman who not only averages 44 with the bat, but also holds 4 of the top ten batting partnership records (for partnerships that have achieved at least 3000 runs) in One Day cricket history. These partnerships are with Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn and Mark Waugh. [Read More]

Well this edition of the Crystal Ball is certainly a non-Victorian affair. This third edition looks at my predictions for 5th through to 8th on the 2008 AFL ladder and I am sure, as always, it will be greeted with gasps of surprise and groans of disappointment. I’m not here to make friends people, just calling it like I see it. Oh god I sound like an umpire – not that there is anything wrong with that. Anyways, strap yourselves in, here comes another installment of the infamous OWAAT Crystal Ball. [Read More]

I know it's an early call, but I believe Bachar Houli and Callan Ward are both talented enough to play in excess of 200 AFL games. The nineteen-year-old Houli and eighteen-year-old Ward were drafted in 2006 and 2007 respectively, after both players had a couple of impressive seasons in the TAC Cup with the Western Jets. Amazingly, both young men hail from the same local Football Club of Spotswood in Melbourne's West. [Read More]

There has been a considerable amount of Richmond-bashing being undertaken over the past few months, seasons and decades. So I went hunting for a positive angle. I've often defended the loyalty and passion of their fans as a group. Despite winning just three games in 2007 the Tiges still racked up one of the league's highest average attendances of all 16 AFL teams. However, now I have figured out a way in which I can get the proud "yellow and black" back on top of the AFL. I give you 'The AFL Ladder of Club Songs', debate as you will. [Read More]